Monday, June 25, 2007

exposed in public

what if we all had to wear signs listing our sins?



A Tennessee mother fed up with her daughter's misbehavior
took an unusual tack in for latest punishment, making her
stand on a busy street corner with an attention-getting sign.
Tashara Wilkins, 13, held a sign Sunday reading, "I don't obey
my parents, I'm a liar. I steal from my mom. I
have a bad attitude."


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286676,00.html

those who have grown up in church have heard it said a million times that god sees everything, even what we do in private.

but why is it that we cringe at the thought of publicly displaying our sins but knowing that the lord sees all doesnt phase us?
we go through our day so care free when no one else knows of the hatred, resentment, jealousy, lust, in our hearts. how do we get through our day without feeling mortified?
we shudder and feel sick at the shame we would feel if anyone knew *everything* we have done, still do, think and feel.

yet someone does know.

why do *i* do these things?

it is because we fear what other finite people think of us. we want to protect our reputation. we want to be liked. we want to be thought well of. and as long as we can keep these things secret, we can have them.

its not the shame of the actions, attitude, or thought.. its the shame of being caught. as long as we can keep them hidden, we are ok with doing these things.

so what does that say about how much we value god ?

do we fear god because of his holiness or are we simply scared of being caught and being punished?

do we hate sin because it makes us feel guilty, or because god calls us to be holy and sin keeps us from that?

o that the lord (who sees what is done in secret [matt.6]) would grant me a hatred for sin, and that i would be more humiliated for sinning once against my god than a thousand evil deeds exposed before men.