NO ROOM FOR FINGER POINTING

There is no room for finger pointing when it comes to sin and repentance. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). In the political debate this year, one would think that sex and homosexuality were the only sins, the only things that God finds offensive. Paul, in Galatians 5:19-23 lists sexual immorality among the works of the flesh that keep us separated from God. “Now the works of the flesh are evident; sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality…” But there are more things listed; ones that don’t get mentioned because they have become accepted in our daily lives. Things like, “Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like this.” All fall short of the life God has planned for us; a life of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.”

It’s easy to point fingers at those who are living a sexually permissive life, either gay or straight. That’s when we hear the comparison to Sodom and Gomorrah, cities God destroyed because of their sin. But Ezekiel 16: 49, 50
Reveal something else as to what displeased God. “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom; she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them when I saw it.” That kind of puts things in perspective. All fall short…

Repentance means a change of heart, mind, and actions. We become children of God and we do things that are pleasing to God. John the Baptist explains what the fruit of repentance is in Luke 3:10-14. “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise; tax collectors are to collect no more than you are authorized to do; soldiers are not to extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusations, and be content with your wages.” God is concerned with sexual immorality to be sure. But he is equally, if not more concerned with economic fairness and social justice. Once again, all fall short…

I remember when I was 9 or 10, going to a church service on the naval base we were living on. The preacher pointed his finger at the congregation and said, “Remember, when you are pointing your finger at someone, there are three fingers in your hand pointing back at you.” I have never forgotten that message.

We all fall short of God’s standard, so there is no room for finger pointing. A more fruitful and productive action would be to lift our hands in repentance to God, and then join hands with one another and work to bring the principles of economic fairness, social justice, and love, peace, and joy of the kingdom of God to earth. “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”