Get out of the Bath and into the Street.

One of the prominent complaints about Christians is that they are “Holier than Thou” or self-righteous. The sad truth is that the complaint is often justified. A real Christian is the last person to be self-righteous. A Christian knows that he is worth something only because of Christ.

Part of the problem is that we continue to focus on cleaning ourselves up. We need to get out of the bath and into the street. OC reminds us: “Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the Gospel of God.” Some of us need to hear that again. “Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the Gospel of God.” If we didn’t spend so much time in the tub maybe the dust on others wouldn’t offend us so.

But you might say, and are probably saying, “But aren’t we to be holy?” Of course but,  “[p]ersonal holiness is
an effect, not a cause.” Our holiness is an effect of His redemption of us. Our holiness doesn’t cause anything. Isn’t it just like us to come to God recognizing we can do nothing about our condition. He creates us anew. We become new creatures. We become proud of what we have done when we have done nothing.

It reminds me of all the Saints fans who now proclaim “We’re going to the Superbowl.” When the Saints were the “Aints” the proclamation was: “They’re terrible.” But I digress.

Remember to be “holy” means to be “separate.” “Paul did not say he separated himself, but – “when it pleased God who separated me. . .”  As long as our eyes are upon our own personal whiteness we shall never get near the reality of Redemption. God cannot deliver me while my interest is merely in my own character.”
We are holy; that is separated by God for one purpose – to proclaim the Gospel of God.

So climb out of that tub, towel off, hit the streets, tell ’em what He’s done and
Be blessed.
Nick