We Are Defective

As a kid I think there was a period of 10 years that any type of electronic device I received for my birthday or Christmas was in some way defective. I remember having my Sega Genesis 16 bit game system. I would get a new game and run upstairs to play it immediately. In my excitement I would rip the packaging and put the game in annnnnd......................nothing. The screen would be jumbled, the game non-responsive, it was defective. I didnt do anything to it, there were no external factors that I did to make the game like that. So of course you had to take it back and wait in the longest line possible to return for store credit.

Recently I purchased a blackberry. I was excited once again. I felt like a CEO executive, I could text with speed, search the web and get little applications to do vitually anything. Brand new in the box, turned it on, did all the instructions indicated and it worked! Well for about 3 mins and then cut off and restarted. It continuously did this till I called my wireless phone company and they sent me another one brand new. That one failed me also, so we went with a third one, which died on me also. One last time and it finally worked. When I called and asked what in the world was going on and if I DID something wrong, the tech guy told me "No, there was something inherently wrong with the phone."
UNknown to him, he was describing not just an electronic gadget but the human race as a whole. They were defective in a small or large way that affected the rest of it so that it didnt function correctly.
We are not so different. We are defective. There is something innately wrong with us. We are selfish, arrogant, self seeking people. We are born defective. The psalmist details this out in
Psalm 51:5:
"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me."

Contextually David is writing about creating a new clean heart in him. Vs. 3-4 he is telling of how he has sinned against God and that God is just in his judgement against him. He understands by verse 5 that he was "brought forth"or the Hebrew Tanak (a more direct Hebrew translation) says "I was born with iniquity" What this tells us is that we (like David) are born defective items. Now in no way does this mean that the human race is just a defective being whom GOd made a mistake. Rather its grasping at a larger theological concept that Psalm 51, Romans 5:12-24, and Romans 3:23-24 are teaching: original sin.

RC Sproul says this,
"Original sin does not mean that sin belongs to human nature...nor does it mean that the processes of reproduction and birth are sinful...rather it means that sinfulness marks everyone from birth, in the form of a heart inclined toward sin, prior to any actual sins...it is transmitted to us from Adam."

First Sproul says that original sin:

1. Marks everyone at birth (Refer to Psalm 51:5)
We know that it affects everyone and not just David. Sin knows all races, and ages.

2. The form---a heart inclined toward sin
(This is bolstered by Genesis 6:5 and Gen. 8:21-both indicate that every single inclination of man's heart is evil and that he cannot think of good--(primarily good meaning the glory of God)

3. This occurred PRIOR TO any actual sins.
(What most people want to argue is that there is a certain time when we sin (action) and we are punished for it. They tend to read scripture and where sin occurs they think of wrong actions. Hence when Paul makes lists in his epistles come time mind almost immediately. I shouldn't do this....or that... This is true but our actions STEM FROM our heart.
Jesus indicates this in Matthew 15:16-20 that out of the heart comes evil things. Not things that affect th heart FROM the outside.
(*This theory has several problems because we know that sin taints every aspect of the human heart, and mind. Biblically speaking there is nothing that supports an "age of accountability". Most responses in this area are more emotion driven rather than biblical--See Romans 5, Psalm 51:5)
So we are a defective product. Adam was our representative in the Garden, like our President represents us as a nation. Our representative fell, disobeyed God and so we fall. (See Romans 5:12-25) Tainted with sin from birth, unable to escape it.

How oh God do we remove this crimson stain? This defective product!!

Be Blessed.

Service

Well if anyone has been on the East Coast for the past 2 weeks they know that they have been covered in several feet of snow. Grant it people in New England, Buffalo, Colorado and the Antartic are probably laughing at us. Stores closed, the government even shut down for 4 days!! I know by now people are probably having cabin fever and want to get out as much as possible. Trust me though I think snow is a product of the all mighty God (as he produced the seasons) the amount of snow I believe is a consequence of the fall and fallen people). With that I am not a fan of snow. I have always disliked snow. Grant it I love to tackle people in it and used to as a kid love to get my sled out and find a steep hill, but as I have grown up I realized that I dont like it. Several reasons can be inserted here but for sake of tangents I wont dive into it. There was something taht I have learned over the past 5 days: something about service. I love a deep discussion about God, and I love studying theology. Theology for me is my main way of getting to know God more as I love to teach or turn to someone and say "hey did you know..." Theology for me isnt something thatI want to keep to myself rather share with other believers to help them in their walks, defend their faith, and be encouraged. Though theology is good I think James hit the nail on the head in
James 2:15-18 (paraphrased):
"Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.....and if you say Go I wish you well and do nothing...what good is it? In the same way faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead."

How true does this ring in churches today? Many times churches and Christians love to talk a good game about serving and loving, yet do the opposite. Now by all means I am not bashing the church as I am part of it. I sit through meetings, and sermons, and write sermons and have meetings on the importance of serving others. Yet in the church we can't even serve each other when they are in need. I write this from my own heart. I had the priveledge of riding around with one of our church members finding people who needed their driveway or sidewalk shoveled. These members were in the 80's and 90's and had no money to pay someone to do it. To see their faces and how happy they were to see someone care for them, love them through action was amazing. Something as simple as shoveling snow brought joy to their faces.

Theology is wonderful and strong faith is necessary, but without serving others it is useless, worthless and no good. Thats the problem James had: people who were claiming to have their faith yet doing nothing . Paul had a similar issue in 1 Thessalonians where people werent working (for wages) and relying on the wealthier believers because they just sat back and were waiting for the ressurrection to happen.

In regards to service, Jesus emphasizes the importance of servicing others:

Matthew 25:39-40: "Then the righteous will answer him Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in....when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? The King replied....whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine you did for me."

In this context Jesus is seperating the believers from the unbelievers declaring that the believers served when they didnt know they were serving Him. Their hearts were pure and so were their motives.

I have not been in church the past 3 weeks due to snow. As much as I love seeing everyone Sunday morning, worshipping and fellowshipping I had church everyday this week. Serving those who could not serve themselves. Helping those in need. Man if you could see their faces, I saw Christ. I hope and pray that I do not forget those moments. Because those are the moments where I feel like a pastor: serving my community, my church, my area to display the kingdom of God to those who have never seen it. And to remind those who have that there is still work to be done. That they are loved, valued, cared for, and watched over.

Be Blessed.