Friday, May 14, 2010

What is the Christian Standard?

Christians Pattern

And look that thou make them after their pattern as was shewed to thee in the mount. Exodus 25:40

This week as part of one of my devotions I read from Exodus 25 where God gave Moses the blueprint for the Tabernacle.  For those of you who are not familiar with the story, as the Israelites journeyed from Egypt to Canaan - the Promised Land - God decided to provide them with a symbolic dwelling place where His presence would remain, where He could meet with Moses and where sacrifices would be made.  The Lord did not leave anything to Moses' imagination, but told Him what should constitute every nook and cranny of His Tabernacle.  God's blueprint of the Tabernacle is found in Exodus 25.

At the very end of the chapter the Lord told Moses to ensure that everything was built as he had been instructed.  Wow!  Build it just as God had described!  While most of us may say, "It is tough do it as God commands," the thing to not overlook is that God gave him every bit of minute detail.

I believe that is what the Lord did when He gave us the Bible. He said, "Read, seek understanding and do what's written." As I read Exodus 25:40 this week, it dawned on me how much we are off pattern.  We have moved away from what God has provided as our compass, guidebook, or pattern for Christian living and have created our own sets of instructions.

It was just few days ago I heard that the Lutheran Church has now decided that gay leaders can serve their parishioners openly.  Who told the Lutheran authority that that was acceptable?  Who told them that people living in a gay relationship can act as representatives - priests - of God?  I know that God did not tell them that because the Bible clearly states in Romans 1 that homosexuality is an "abomination" in the sight of God.  While God loves the gay person as his creation, He hates the sin and wishes that all who indulge that lifestyle would repent.

The same is true for many of us who call ourselves Christians but cannot forgive a wrong.  We prefer some people over others.  Some Christians even entertain racism.  This too is off pattern or contrary to what God orders.

Remember what He said to Moses, ...build according to the pattern I gave you.

It is time for all of us to strive to live by God's guidelines - The Bible.  Christians should not run around lying like others, cheating on our spouses, holding grudges, showing partiality, indulging immoral movies, shows or anything immoral.  Our world needs a standard and we are it.  But if live like the neighbor who does not profess Christianity, how can we show him or her way?

I encourage you and myself - let us build God's Kingdom, based on the pattern that He has given.  It is not always easy, but if our intentions are pure God will provide the power we need to succeed.



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