Random acts of kindness - really??

"Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty." This quote (bumpersticker/fb sticker/etc) has always irritated me. It sounds good on the surface. But I don't want to practice random acts of kindness. As a Christian I should long to practice consistent, meaningful, acts of kindness. Not for my own "I'm OK because I do something good once in a while" emotion. In quiet, humble, often unseen ways I want to practice consistent kindness because I am NOT good. In spite of my selfish, glory-seeking deceitful heart I want to be kind to others because Christ has showered kindness and mercy and love and grace on me anyway. I want my acts of kindness to be so natural and numerous that people don't even notice them because they come from the heart of God, not from my own desire to feel better about myself.

And "senseless acts of beauty"? Really? Are there such things as "sense"less acts of beauty? Can beauty be seen or appreciated without using senses? Doesn't the Creator Himself use all senses to show us the organized order of beauty such as the stars in the universe and petals on a flower?  Or if by senseless you mean without a purpose or no real depth (or even foolish), then are they beautiful?

Now before you jump and say I am too harshly criticizing this quote, I will say it for you. Yes, I am being overly critical of probably what started out as a simple off-the-cuff well-intentioned remark. But the reason this quote rubs me is because I often follow it myself. My acts of kindness are often self-seeking and random rather than Christ-glorifying and consistent. Acts of beauty on my part are often senseless, meaningless, and probably pretty far from being beautiful in the eyes of the One who created true beauty. I think that's the real problem I have with this bumper sticker. It sticks too close to my own heart.

What is Sin?

Our pastor is beginning a series on a very unpopular topic - sin. We actually left a church a few years ago that voted out the pastor because "he just wanted to preach about sin" ! If you went to a concert would you try to kick out the musicians because "they just want to play music"? The church should be the place we hear about sin. If you do not think you are sick you won't go to a doctor. If you do not think you have sinned you don't need to go to church or read your Bible or look for a solution to a problem you do not know you have. So here D and I are reading/listening to some books/tapes by Ray Comfort and the topic - knowing you are a sinner. I was in the middle of reading "Christ Among Other gods" by Lutzer and got to the section about other religions and yep, whether or not they describe us as sinners. And I was listening to an old cassette tape from Miss Bertha about how we want to rank sins so that we don't have to face the ugliness of our own sins. (I think I'm getting a message here.)
Well, what is sin? Murder? yes... Adultery? yes... Drunkeness? yes
But what if I am "better" than these? What if I don't struggle with these? Aren't my "good" actions better than my bad ones? Nope. Never.
Because GOD is Holy. And HE abhores sin. Not just a little distaste, but absolute disgust and horror at even a sinful thought in our heads. That's why He doesn't forgive our sins. Yes, that's what I said - He doesn't forgive our sins. He looks on HIS righteous Son who paid the penalty for us and He sees HIM - not us. For years I thought I was a "forgiven sinner" but I'm not - I'm a dead sinner because sin always, always causes death. But I am a "Covered Sinner" - covered by the blood of the sinless Christ and when God looks at me he sees Him instead - the "propiation" for my sins. Not me forgiven. Christ's blood. I don't know about you but it's an amazing thought to me....

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal. 5:19-21

For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. Titus 3:3

being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:29-32

What is the same to GOD as murdering someone? How about coveting? being untrustworthy? undiscerning? unforgiving? approving of wickedness? whispering and backbiting? boasting? being proud/foolish/hateful?

Hmmmm... pretty much covers all of us doesn't it? Looking forward to learning more and leaning more (on Christ, His blood and the Holy Spirit!). Stay tuned as we study....