Within the age…

“For, since we are all naturally prone to hypocrisy, any empty semblance of righteousness is quite enough to satisfy us instead of righteousness itself. And since nothing appears within us or around us that is not tainted with very great impurity, so long as we keep our mind within the confines of human pollution, anything which is in some small degree less defiled delights us as if it were most pure just as an eye, to which nothing but black had been previously presented, deems an object of a whitish, or even of a brownish hue, to be perfectly white.” – John Calvin

Many seek to do what is acceptable in God’s sight. This desire is common in our churches, colleges, and seminaries. Our houses of worship are filled with parishioners that are wondering what the minimal level of sacrifice is to please God. They avoid pornography but consider The Office, Lost, and Family Guy good entertainment. They rejoice that Sunday evening church is cancelled so they can watch the superbowl.

You can not offer God partial devotion, just as you should not offer the President of the United States leftover casserole, it doesn’t matter if Mama made it and it really is good. If our focus is on finding worship that is just acceptable to God, and living a life that is minimally offensive to Christ we are missing the point. The Kingdom of Heaven is not a used car that you try to make a very small down payment on. We would do well to read and re-read Matthew 13:44-46.

Then, if you have not yet looked into getting a copy of William Law’s “A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life” you should do so.

Christian devotion is not just a minimal sacrifice Sunday morning thing. Calvin was right. Modern Christianity has become enamored of that which does not even have a whitish hue.