I am a Sinner, not a Saint

I am a sinner, not a saint.

I am a woman with conviction, not uncertainty.

I am a daughter of the most high king first, then wife, mother, and American.

People want to redefine me, label me, shove me in a corner, and shut me up.

I embarrass them they say. We carry the same label of “Christian” they say–so I give them a bad name.

I am a good wife, I’m a good mother, and so they compartmentalize me. In this area they call me friend.

But don’t you dare open your mouth about God they say. Freedom of speech isn’t for you Christian…

You have no place to shame others by defining sin. Or even living a life of righteousness–because that offends! You have no place to speak what is wrong–or for that matter what is right.

Don’t you see that in saying something is good you are proclaiming something else is bad? That is the society in which we live. So polarized. There is no longer any room for debate. The line is drawn and you are on one side or the other.

“The world is changing and you can’t make a difference, so you just shut up over there before you give me a bad name” they say. “Live and let live” they say,  while others with no values and morals push their agendas onto my children! They may have given up on me, but they are after the minds of my children. NO! You can’t have them. That is why I can’t “live and let live.” Don’t you see it plainly?

I would rather die fighting for freedom of speech and liberty than dying in your box. Tiptoeing around everyone I “might” offend.

“Christian may just be a title, but “picking up your cross” is a way of life.”

ENOUGH is ENOUGH. No matter how I live I’m going to offend someone. At some point we all must stand for something no matter who we offend. We all draw a line somewhere. For the Christian that line is already drawn. We should hold ourselves to a Biblical standard. Of course this is unobtainable (thus our need for a Savior), but the Bible commands us to strive for holiness. The Holy Spirit propels us into holiness. So, to the Christian who calls me “self-righteous” for drawing the line before them I have this to say; I am not “self -righteous” or “morally superior” when I espouse the truth written in my Bible. Did you notice the word choice there, “espouse.” That means to adopt, embrace, and live out. Living as a Christian means striving for holiness (Romans 6). Christian is just be a title, but “picking up your cross” is a way of life. When you strive for holiness everyone will notice because your fruits will be evident.

They’ll notice if you keep chaste for marriage and they’ll laugh and mock. It is your choice after all (your life), but your convictions show their folly so they sneer at you still. Live and let live is a one way street! Don’t believe me? Just try standing for something. Abortion, monogamy, biological sex even, and they’ll attack you.

They’ll notice us stumble and fall as well, but this is the time to point to Christ. Psalm 40:2, “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” I give God the glory! My “righteousness” might be filthy rags (Romans 3), but that doesn’t exempt me from striving for holiness (Romans 6)! I am a sinner, not a saint. Only Christ sanctifies me!

Still they tell me to fit in, just turn a blind eye, but I can’t. My convictions won’t let me fit in here. Instead I will place my feet firmly on the rock of Jesus. I will build my house, which is my family, on His word and I will not cower to your demands to shut me up, or live like the world. Truth can’t be hidden.

I am a voice in the wilderness preparing the way for my Lord (Isaiah 40). “Repent and Believe” were HIS words, and now they are mine.  But that offends doesn’t it? Calling for repentance implies there is wrong being done. That is why Jesus says in Matthew 10 the gospel divides.

Tell someone they need a savior and they tell you, “no.” Tell them they are sinners and they’ll say, “no, I’m a good person.” Why does someone “good” need a savior? Why do they need to be saved from sin? What sin? You can’t run from it Christian! You don’t want to “call it out,” but you can’t avoid it if you are sharing the gospel.

“You don’t believe Christ has the power to change lives, so instead you call evil good and good evil.”

They don’t believe Christ has the power to change lives, so instead they call evil good and good evil. Does it hurt you to call evil what it is?

Now days it is hard to call evil what it is because progressive christians have changed the name of the gospel. They’ve made it all about love, not faith to repentance. While God is love they redefine the word to fit their agenda. Love, in their terms, is acceptance.  Following this progressive logic calling out sin means you don’t love. On the contrary biblical love does not mean accepting things that He abhors. Love is patient, love is kind, it does NOT delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. In yet they hate me because I proclaim the truth. They say I’m sending people to hell by judging them. Have they not read John 3:16-21? Or do they just stop at 3:16? “Whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only son of God. And this is the judgement: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” You see, I don’t send people to hell, people send themselves to hell with their unbelief and wicked behavior. They hate me because the truth is light and exposes their wickedness.

But you get me wrong. You think exposing evil for what it is is self-righteous judgement. To prove myself “better,” “cleaner,” or “more worthy. ” No, it applies to me first of all! I’m a sinner and not hesitant to admit it. This is why I NEED a Savior. Calling out evil is a warning of a future judgement, not an effort to lift myself up as righteous. Paul says he is the worst of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) in yet he still condemns sin!  Do you think the Bible is true? John 5: 28-29, ” an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice, and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of the life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”

Those who have done evil will be judged by it, but you say I’m not allowed to teach what evil is? I’m not allowed to warn people of coming judgement? Unfortunately the Bible is quite offensive to those who love evil. You say you believe it, live by it even, in yet, you call me offensive for proclaiming what is in it? And you say I give YOU a bad name. You give Christ a bad name when you don’t stand for holiness (Ephesians 5:11).

I am a sinner saved by grace. I don’t claim to be a saint aside from Christ.

Matthew 10:16

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

**In other words, don’t become the wolf. **