Following the letter of the law

The first mail I opened this morning told me that we needed to obey 'the letter of the law', anything else was to permit wrong attitudes in the world and we are told to make it 'pure'. Now while I agree with the sentiment (even if not perhaps the words) I am also extremely aware that the Church, let's not go as far as the world at the moment, is full of sinful and fallen beings. I know this because I saw one first thing this morning and recognised him even though he was hiding in a mirror! (Funny how he looks like my Dad these days too!)

When it comes to keeping the Christian race 'pure' I do struggle a bit because this is a wonderful intention (I have it every morning as a personal goal) and yet is something that isn't going to happen because we're all sinful and because, to be honest, lots of the sinful bits either let us do what we want to do, let us be who we want to be or are rather enjoyable (at the time anyway).

The problem is that we each appear to have the ability to sift the sins such that we have:

1. Big and important sins - these are usually what we're not and we decide that these are the especially defining sins. Depending which group you're with they vary greatly.

2. Ordinary sins - the normal day-to-day stuff that we do and try not to do.

3. 'You can ignore these' sins - these are things that we excuse away or totally ignore as unimportant.

Now here's today's shocker - if it's is a sin then it's wrong! We cannot excuse it away or assign it a greater or lesser importance, it's a sin! The problem here is that if we lived in a world where only those who were without sin threw the first stone we wouldn't be able to stand upon our (self-confirmed) righteousness and denounce others would we?

Perhaps we need to remember the words of Matthew seven which tells us that by the way we judge others we too will be judged. Or that we can't do eye surgery on others when we're blinded by our own sin. We need to ensure that we act with clarity of vision and purity of life. (Actually I prefer 'holiness' but perhaps this is just me). We are also told in Galatians six that when we come across those caught in a sin that we should restore them gently. Don't see much of these two passages being used, by any of the groups struggling in the Church, at the moment.

How's about trying to live each day seeking to be holy - thinking, saying, seeing and being the right thing - a holy and righteous person? How's about trying to be righteous rather than being 'right'?

Sadly, nothing makes a sin right or a person righteous, other than stopping sinning and choosing to do what is right and good in God's eyes. So regardless of where we stand theologically or in our life choices - we have but one choice today - living as God commands or living for ourselves.

Which path you taking?