We are ungodly. We can be saved. Acts 8:1

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And Saul approved of their killing him.
There are certain passages of Scripture that just cut to the heart. Today, Day 2 of my reading of Acts, this line hit pretty hard, probably because of some recent conversations I have been having about calling sin sin. Saul, I was reminded, is a murderer. This devout Hellenistic Jew, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee, someone who is supposed to be one of the Good Guys, conspired in the arrest, trial, conviction, and punishment of Christians. Saul was excellent at persecution. And here, he led the charge in stoning Stephen to death.

Saul is a murderer. You understand what that means don't you? Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him (1 John 3:15). For out of the heart come evil thoughts — murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person (Matt. 15:19-20). Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? (1 Cor 6:9)

It's all over Scripture. The ungodly ... the murderers, the sexually immoral, the homosexuals, the idolaters, the thieves ... will be punished. The ungodly, people just like Saul, deserve death. The ungodly ... you, me, and Saul ... deserve death. The ungodly will be condemned. Unless ...

God saved him. That's right, God saved Saul! We will read about his conversion tomorrow. But today, Saul deserves death. Why? Because Saul refuses to recognize sin. Saul refuses to honor God. Saul refuses to love his neighbor. Saul refuses to recognize his need to repent. ... At least today he does. .. Tomorrow, it will be a different story.

Why do people who call themselves Christians allow themselves to "become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity ... full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice." Why do we allow ourselves to be "gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful ... inventing ways of doing evil." (Romans 1:29-30)

Why do we tolerate it?

In America, our faith is under assault. And Christians all around us are crumbling to the cries of equality ... from women, so they can have the "right to choose" murder of their unborn children ... from men, who insist that Christians legitimize same-sex marriage.
"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Gal. 6:7-9).

Why do we tolerate sin?

There are many answers to this complex question. And I know at least one answer: It's because there are lines in Scripture that cut to the heart. The law shines a light on the things we are doing wrong. And we don't like it. But they "love" each other, we want to say. Government doesn't belong in the "middle" of marriage, Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk just said.

We have skewed the meaning of love. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O Israel? (Ezekiel 33:11). Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Repent, our Lord calls. Repent, everyone of you, and be saved. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!

We do we tolerate sin?

God, who is faithful, will forgive you.

If only you will believe.

There is no reason to doubt the Scriptures. The Law isn't a burden (Matt. 11:30). In fact, it is good for you, because when you obey the Law, you will be loving God and loving your neighbor. How is loving anyone a burden?

Unfortunately, too many people have forgotten what it means to love, and have redefined its meaning.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8). Yes, God has shown us. Yet we refuse to believe.

So, take Paul's advice to the Colossians: Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. (Col. 4:2-4)



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