Expectations

 

  I pass this church sign every day to and from work; and it consistently has postings that I find challenging, thought-provoking, and inspiring.  This day was no exception, and I even had to take a picture!  It says "Expect the ungodly to behave that way.  Repentance begins with God's people."  I  love this, and feel it portrays a current stirring in Christianity.  It seems like often we expect the unsaved to behave as if they were... we want them to be sanctified before they are even converted (something I've blogged about several times before).   It seems like lately though maybe we're starting to see this blind area for what it is.  This sign is a great example and reminder of how we should instead be thinking.  We should not only not expect the ungodly to act as though they're saved, we need to actually expect them to behave ungodly... because they are!  Instead, we need to be the ones aspiring to greater levels of sanctification.

   This also reminds me of something new I learned about a passage I'd heard several times.  A pastor was preaching on 1 Corinthians 5, specifically vv. 9-13:

"When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin.  But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.  I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.  It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.  God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, 'You must remove the evil person from among you.' ”  ~NLT

"I wasn't talking about unbelievers..."  "I meant... anyone who claims to be a believer"...  Huh.. light bulb?

Here we are specifically and clearly told NOT to worry about the unsaved's behavior.... but to instead worry about fellow Christians' behavior (starting with ourselves- Matt. 7: 3-5).  I have heard this passage so many times and often what is emphasized is the sins listed in it, instead of who the sinner is in it.  And who it is not.

  So maybe we can shed more light on this blind spot.  Start caring more about the souls of the unsaved and not their behavior.  And start taking our sin more seriously.