Disappointing is the word that comes to mind.  Why?  Because God has been in the news a lot lately.  Let me be more clear.  God’s NAME has been in the news a lot lately and it has been less than flattering.  God has been tied to a host of mistakes by influential people (Sanford, Ensign, etc, etc.),  and  God’s Word has been used as a means to keep powerful people in place while others are marginalized (namely women within the church).  It seems that Christianity is becoming more of a punch-line for late night comedians than the answer for the world.

Let me also be very clear here.  We all make mistakes.  We all are fallen and in need of forgiveness. Not one of us can stand on our own merit before God.  Thanks be to God for forgiveness and mercy in my life.  I am not throwing stones at anyone.  I am begging us as a people to be more cautious when speaking “for” God.

For the sake of the Kingdom, please let us begin to refrain from using God as a crutch or as a means to manipulate others or as a means to justify our own desires.

Rather, I am calling us to have as our goal Scriptural Holiness and nothing else.  A Holiness (separateness from the world) based upon God’s Word and not our desires.  A call to sacrifice.  A mandate for choosing to serve rather than be served.  A plea for living out what it means to be a people of forgiveness and justice.  A call for personal devotion mixed with outward works of mercy toward others.