There are always consequences.

Be very careful, then, how you live

not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Therefore do not be foolish, 

but understand what the Lord's will is.

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One of the most foolish aspects of the culture we live in, is the self invented mirage we've created that behaviour doesn't really matter, and that consequences can be avoided if we are clever. This is the idol of "carefree living", which never exits in reality, but seeks the possibility that life will be free of any consequences or accountability. This will never be possible,  consequences of living will ultimately catch up with us one way or another. 

• Observe the tailgater who does 95mph on the motorway (113kmh on the interstate or freeway). Is success not being caught by the radar gun because we have a camera detection device in the car, or not killing someone (a deeply loved parent, mother, grandad or child)  who is comparatively slow because they stick to the limit?
• Observe the two teenagers or many middle aged commuters who rather than cycling on cycle path (part of the road in Christchurch) decide to do the same speed on the pavement (walkway) every day. Is success defined by beating the traffic which moves so slowly in rush hour, or not knocking me and my dog, my elderly next door neighbour or my friend on his mobility device into the hedge?
• Observe the young actress or presenter, who believes that to progress her career and fanbase she needs to publish a tiktok or tweet with clothing which leaves little to the imagination, or accidentally leak her "sex tape". Will she not attract a certain kind of audience which may in fact limit her career even if she keeps unharmed and not impacted by their growing observance, unwanted intrusion and obsessions. 
• Observe those who walk onto the crowded Indian suspension bridge (Morbi)  in order to add to the bounce. Is having fun in life always more important than walking safely or securely, is the bottom line for maintenance safety more prescriptive to us than the possible consequences of cutting corners ? 
• Observe the many adults who look happily and habitually at pornography thinking that it will not change the way they think of themselves, or other people (the respect they show others in the workplace, family life, or honesty/ commitment they observe in close relationships). 
• Observe the cabinet minister
  
  
  and knight of the realm, who writes a "private" email in order to threaten a colleague so that his career might be advance further. Is success defined as not being found out, being promoted, or not being despised/ detested by everyone they know when they find out and should be serving regardless of all the above ? 

There are always consequences resulting from our behaviour. 

Why?

1) Our creator has set this law as integral to life and nature (Ecc 3:1. Romans 1:18-23) . We live before the living God who sees our hearts as an open book, and one day we will all without exception stand before him. (Heb 9:27, 2 Cor 5:10) 

2) However much self help books tell us we are masters of our own destiny, there are higher powers to which we remain accountable to. (This is part of the issue in UK society were authority has been diluted. We think government, police, doctors, church ministers, courts have no authority left and therefore we hedge our bets thinking that the consequences will be negligible compared the benefit of sin. A speed awareness course can be stomached, especially if there are biscuits and sweets right ? Accidentally driving over the limit will at worst be something we can put right by a slight rearrangement in our calendar. It's ok to knock someone over in rage, if I am caring towards someone else, isn't it ? ). 

IS ACCOUNTABILITY ONLY FOR OTHERS ? 

• Behind part of the Sir Gavin Williamson story is an arrogance which says (like many in any establishment) "I am untouchable and lines or limits on behaviour do not apply to me". We are keen to point this (hypocrisy) out as a society and seem to increasingly enjoy the full fall of the arrogant, yet in every sense this merely illustrates what goes on in each of our own minds and hearts as we look to excuse our own behaviour. The Christian world and establishment is not free from this arrogance as many high profile falls and fails will illustrate. Actually I would say we are especially prone to it at this time. 
• 
  Consider also the just stop oil protester who straps themselves above the M25. They are keen to call the government to account for undeniably reckless behaviour re: environment and the climate, and yet not so keen to be called to account on accidents and impacts of their protests for thousands. Is it ok for a Police officer to die if we make our point about the planet ? Do ends always justify the means?

CHILDREN OF CHRIST SHOULD KNOW THERE ARE IMMOVABLE LINES: 

All this is even more true for the Christian, as three further considerations bear down on our choices of behaviour. 

A) THE LINE OF GOD'S SIGHT: Being careful with our hearts and lives mean we ask the uncomfortable question... Will this action or attitude commend and please Christ who lives in me by his Spirit, and has set his eternal love on me, saved me and persevered in patience with me for good works?

B) THE WITNESS LINE AND WHO IS WATCHING: Will this commend Christ to a world which is looking for the answer to big questions, and watches us at pivotal moments without warning ? 

C) THE LINE OF SACRIFICE WHICH WAS CROSSED FOR US: If any of us should know there are laws which remain and behaviour which has consequences it is the Christian, who kneels at the foot of the blood stained cross.

The only way Christ could purchase our freedom was by taking the total punishment and total judgement for the totality of our sin. If anything should prompt us to careful living it is the knowledge that Christ has released us from the consequences of what we truly and absolutely deserve, and has given us the composite power to say no to sin. 

The way we often navigate this uncomfortable subject (to squirm out of the idea of accountability), is compartmentalisation. We in our own false wisdom believe that we can decide which situations and at what time our behaviour is more strategic or important. We can be judge and jury. 

• Is it possible for example for me, (say as an evangelist) to excuse my excessive speed on the motorway because of the importance of the upcoming appointment (I am on my way to share the gospel in order that those who are in such great danger without Christ might see their eternal destiny resolved. There is nothing more important ! (code for... I am important and God needs me)
• Can I excuse my wrong harsh thinking about someone and judgemental attitude because they will not hear what I am saying about them, and therefore it will not cause any harm will I ? (forgetting the fact that my thoughts are known by my Heavenly Father who loves all without favouritism, I have turned a blind eye to the repeated wisdom of God's word that thoughts result in action and are as consequential as actions.) 

The bible thinks and calls us to accountability differently: 

• For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. Matthew 15:19
• You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matt 5:27-28, John 8:1-11. 
• Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:15

Our view of sin, justice and judgement has become a caricature, divorced from reality.

• Our view of a judge has become something in-between kind, friendly and humorous 
  
  
  Judge Rinder, ....

 Stupid and adorable judgemental muppets Statler and Waldorf

•  and foolish wayward establishment.
  
  
  

In reality it is God who decides the boundaries and importance of our behaviour and not us. In the age where we all believe we are "astute" educated experts, (internet , schooling, degrees and post grads)  this is a humbling lesson for us.  In the evaluation of life and in his word God reveals that before him none of life is compartmentalised, but rather all of life is lived under him, all of life is to be redeemed and sanctified in his children, all of our beings are to display his grace. His character as our creator, redeemer and judge should be mirrored in us,  his perfection should be reflected in both missional heart and absolute purity whether in loving disposition or activity. God's character, dimension and actions of pure love are so much higher than ours, so rich, so manifold, so consistent, so beautiful compared to our definitions of Holiness. 

TIMELESS GOD: 

THE HEART OF THE MATTER IS ALWAYS A MATTER OF THE HEART, AND NOT CULTURE OR HISTORY. 

Part of the issue here for believers is that we are somewhat subversively conditioned in our thinking by historic perspectives on behaviour in church history. In past generations many Christian cultures prioritised, defined, and taught about Holiness more often by connecting it primarily with behaviour rather than principle. This did not translate well in new missional contexts as the gospel spread across the globe. 

• In every age (and missional frontier) we need to reform under God's timeless word and principles of holiness in order to understand (see clearly) where our boundary lines are.  Note Ryle's definition of holiness that means we don't go to the English dancehall, or Augustines inappropriate interest and passion for pears. The issues here are much wider than the act. For Ryle, it is a matter of what is pleasing to Christ (and issue of loving Christ more and this world less), and for Augustine it is equally a matter of the heart, that Christ should control our passions, our thoughts should be taken captive him. Out of closeness with Christ and his enabling comes self control (Christ control). These brothers knew this and express it well at times, but they are now (in our culture and missional era) more known for their antiquated over specification of what was appropriate in culture. 

• 
  Sadly our age has swung the pendulum
  to the other extreme from the position and passion of Ryle and Augustine, believing that whilst their illustrations are somewhat legalistic and culturally outmoded (which is undeniable) , the discipline of repentance and watchful living is also not needed (which couldn't be further from the truth). 
• There are issues of conscience and culture which mean that one person, or their take on cultural holiness cannot always be "copied and pasted" across the world of Christendom, but equally there are absolutes by which God deals in, regardless of his unconfined grace and rescuing love which will never be changed. Understanding this is not judgmentalism but wisdom which protects us and others in his love. 
• As we apply the character of Christ into a new missional culture or crossculture we see the beauty of his rescue more and more. In many ways this is the epitome of "abiding in Christ", who is the ultimate frontier missionary from whom we learn, whose reputation to even his enemies was as "the friend of sinners". True holiness engages graciously in some way with those who live most permissively, without ourselves being conformed to such and knowing clearly what is both acceptable to God and commendable to man. (Romans 12:2, Matt 5:13-16, 1 Peter 2:12) 
• I have often reflected recently, how privileged I am with so many of our team / colleagues in mission who have such a wonderful balance of grace and truth at work in their lives. I'm sure their missional role is a key part of God working on this balance. When cross-cultural mission is relegated, our doctrines of grace become theoretical and harsh, a limited understanding of the grace of God as if it were only for our monoculture. 
• When the mission of God is responded to in obedience, so our hearts learn how to cherish those that God loves, and not to elevate ourselves above that highest of the undeserved privileges we've been given as witnesses of grace. The famous line (I think D.L moody) "we are simply a beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.", is an excellent summary of the calling of the Christian life. Whether we do it in the tone of our evangelism, the grace of our teaching, or the outward behaviour of our routine, this humility should stand firm. 
• Living at the missional coalface, having to give an answer for the hope we profess, keeps the motives of our conduct clearly in view, and is an expression of the sanctification we know as we confess Christ as Lord over our lives. (1 Peter 3:15)

PREVAILING CULTURE DOES NOT CHANGE THE REALITY OF THE HEART: 

We prioritise sincerity of attitude in our age above appropriateness of action...

 If our intention was right we are covered whatever we do... REALLY ?

Is this why we as people don't see the need to apologise so much anymore, but we provide reasons for why we were late or selfish, individualistic or arrogant, harsh and without compassion ? ("this is just who I am" or "this is just the situation I ended up in"). Facing up to our own accountability will also mean apologising for our many failings, losing our default mode of self justification (core constituent of sin) and relying on Christ to both deal with our failings and work in us his character to a better conclusion, and deal with others who are watching us either judgmentally or prayerfully. In many ways this is the true reality of what we search for in carefree living, as we walk with the God who is big enough and gracious enough to deal with it all. 

PREVAILING CULTURE SHOULD MAKE US CAREFUL ABOUT TONE: 

Why has our world seen fit to gravitate towards such a caricature of God and Satan and how should we converse with it? 

IT'S JUST A JOKE, LIGHTEN UP !
The fancy dress shop is full of Devil costumes, designed to make a bloke laughable and a women saucy. The impotent grandad with fluffy beard who sits on a cloud and knows nothing is a blasphemous portrayal of God without omniscience or omnipotence.  The Simpsons version however is relatively tame compared to others. There are many films which Christians would likely switch off, that display fully how many of our friends would love to think of God in their own eyes. Reduction to humour and fun is a common escapism technique, but sadly however creative and "clever" it is used it will not change who God is, or the reality of what they and we all face before him. 

Would this portrayal of Allah be permitted in the Muslim world? How should we react as followers of Jesus Christ ? by stoning the cartoonist for crossing the line ? 

Lets go back to the women in (John 8:1-11)  who stands naked before a group of men who judge her,  to deflect form her in grace (v6-8), and challenge their own guiltiness before Christ. Judgmentalism also always has consequences, which is why Jesus graciously diverts their eyes to the ground and moves their gaze away from the women who couldn't feel any more shame and worthlessness than she had already. 

Part of the beauty of Christlike people is that their hearts are so considerate and careful about how they live themselves, but also exceptionally more generous about how others behave. The deflected judgement we have escaped, will one day come upon those who have not received Christ also. This should prompt compassion in our hearts, care in our words and actions, mercy which puts a wall in front of our tongues to stop us saying anything which is higher than our pay grade. He is the judge and not us, we are the benefactors of his grace, and should act accordingly.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy (Matt 5:7)

Thoughts which may help as we put this into routine and ask Christ to work on our instincts:

1) Help me guard my heart Lord. (Prov 4:23).  Consider especially your first thoughts of the day. Do you wake up with news or views... judgments of the presenter or talk show host / phone in audience ? How would your life view change or trajectory for the day alter if things started instead with a prayer on your knees full of thankfulness, or with God's worldview in his word ?  Whatever our routine, God is bigger than it, we can trust his help and it is not all down to us if we are reliant on his grace, however there are basic wisdom habits we can put in place to show that our prayer is more than just words. 

• There is a reason we need a  reminder that God's mercies are new every morning and we deserve none of his grace, we are forgetful people. (2 Peter 1:12-15) (2 Peter 3:3) (Jude 5-8) (Israels Reminder in Deut 2-5) 

2) When last did you meditate on the revelation of God's holiness and the seriousness of Sin? Is Leviticus in the bible for a reason that we are foolish to ignore. How does Christ meet all the issues of Leviticus with his grace and how can we read this book through the lens of his finished work and active work in us today ? How does God reveal this to us in Christ ? (John 1:17) 

For the law was given through Moses; 

grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

3) How can every aspect of our day be lived between the bookends of loving the Lord our God with all our hearts, and loving our neighbours as ourselves. When the driver cuts you up at the lights, or the arrogant media writer tells you what to think, can you decipher the heartfelt fact that God loves all those he has created. Is your instinct compassion or pronouncement? Is there something in what they say which comes from a noble ambition or motive, however wrongly it has been applied or communicated ?

4) ALWAYS, ALWAYS remember that you and I are rescued undeserving sinners who need to act in grace towards other sinners. 

Romans 3:23  "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"

Because we have all crossed the line and there was not return other than in Christ, we need to approach those who fail with undeserving love not judgement. If Jesus' actions and heart in Matt 5 teach us anything it is that to be Christlike means we act in grace not judgement. Ultimately we are not the judges (Heb 9:27, Romans 12:9, 1 Peter 4:5). Praise God his judgment is faithful, rightful, total, consistent and appropriate. In this there is great liberty for us to be freed in our minds and hearts to love and act graciously towards others. My fear is that contemporary evangelicalism is known more for hammering those who are broken (to assert lines of "holiness") than we are for asserting the grace of God.

Pray for care and grace in the church of Christ: 

GRACE KEEPS LOVE AND TRUTH IN BALANCE:

• There is a line between illuminating the evil of casual abortion and the crushing of an unborn child, and the crushing of those who have gone beyond this line only to hear the church condemn.
• There is a line between wisely challenging young people about their sexual behaviour, abstinence or future plans, and making them think the church is obsessed with sex or making them curious / experimental about things they weren't interested in before. 
• There is a line between being obsessed about defined behaviour and loving those who need compassion, forgiveness, restoration, and the way of return. 

Are you walking dangerously as believers or in the freedom and Joy that Christ has purchased for us ? 

Lord help us as your people, to display your character in balance. May our drive for purity and truth, be for you alone and not our glory or self promotion. In response to your unfathomably loving dealings with us, may our compassion and mercy to any (who like us are in so desperate need of your ongoing grace) pervade all our actions, motivations and interactions. 

 

Lord save us from a hard heart. Perhaps forgetting to pray this kind of prayer on a daily basis is one of our greatest dangers...

FORGIVE US THIS DAY... OUR MANY SINS ...

AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US. 

This is only the half of it... Christ's salvation is more than just being forgiven or even wiped clean, (amazing and transformational though that is),  it is about the life of God in us, lived out before a world which needs to see it. We are free from death and sin, but also made alive to live for Christ. We are here to show the world what a life free from condemnation (Romans 8:1) looks like, to demonstrate the active grace of God at work in us, and his life morally, mercifully, dynamically, gratefully pointing to the finished work of Jesus. 

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 These 5:9-11

I pray for you as I pray for myself, that we might walk in true liberty with Christ, ever mindful both of the cost of our salvation and the purpose of it. 

• Pray especially for the friend we have heard of this afternoon, wrongly imprisoned in Asia (without a charge as yet) simply because they follow Christ.

Lord give them strength to be sustained to live like you for however long it takes, and if it be your gracious will, please release them soon having made a beautiful and gracious stand for you.