Contributed by guest author, Beau Boutwell
Not long ago, a short video conflagrated across social media. I’d like to take less than a minute to look at it.
Not long ago, a short video conflagrated across social media. I’d like to take less than a minute to look at it.
The message is simple. Sin enters our lives and taints us. We call upon the name of Christ and He takes our sin onto himself, but that sin has no power over the perfect God-man and he washes us whiter than the purest snow.
What an amazing reminder encapsulated into such a simple message in these days and times. However, there’s another “liquid” example that I’d like to offer today in my entry and I’ll admit up front that I didn’t come up with this example, I saw it in a sermon by Francis Chan and was so moved and convicted by the simple effect, I felt compelled to share.
From a bag, Francis pulled out a bottle of lemonade, saying that among drink possibilities, that lemonade was a favorite. He opened it and took a drink, savoring the sweet and sour mixture before setting it down and reaching into the bag a second time. This time, he pulled out one of those cold frappuccinos and opened it, sipping it as well, while exclaiming that this drink he also loved. He then picked up both drinks, one in each hand and began his object lesson.
He said that he doesn’t understand how we can say that we love God (he takes a sip of the lemonade) while tearing down a co-worker who makes us miserable (he takes a sip of the coffee). He said that he doesn’t understand how we can say that we serve a mighty Creator (again, he sips the lemonade) all the while coveting our neighbors new pickup truck (again, the coffee). He said that he doesn’t understand how we can say that we belong to a Savior (lemonade) even when we sleep with our boyfriend so that he won’t dump us (coffee). And finally he said that he doesn’t understand how we can say that we follow a merciful Counselor (lemonade) when we spend our nights reveling in the sin of pornography (coffee).
As you can imagine, the crowd was mortified at the idea of drinking from lemonade one second and iced coffee the next. I don’t drink coffee, so I can’t really compare, but judging from their reactions, it doesn’t sound good. He goes on to say that it’s no wonder that we feel our lives being torn apart with stress and strife. We try to live a double-life, speaking one thing but practicing another. The important point that he showed was that we don’t drink from the frappuccino because we hate it, but because we love it. We love our sins.
What an amazing reminder encapsulated into such a simple message in these days and times. However, there’s another “liquid” example that I’d like to offer today in my entry and I’ll admit up front that I didn’t come up with this example, I saw it in a sermon by Francis Chan and was so moved and convicted by the simple effect, I felt compelled to share.
From a bag, Francis pulled out a bottle of lemonade, saying that among drink possibilities, that lemonade was a favorite. He opened it and took a drink, savoring the sweet and sour mixture before setting it down and reaching into the bag a second time. This time, he pulled out one of those cold frappuccinos and opened it, sipping it as well, while exclaiming that this drink he also loved. He then picked up both drinks, one in each hand and began his object lesson.
He said that he doesn’t understand how we can say that we love God (he takes a sip of the lemonade) while tearing down a co-worker who makes us miserable (he takes a sip of the coffee). He said that he doesn’t understand how we can say that we serve a mighty Creator (again, he sips the lemonade) all the while coveting our neighbors new pickup truck (again, the coffee). He said that he doesn’t understand how we can say that we belong to a Savior (lemonade) even when we sleep with our boyfriend so that he won’t dump us (coffee). And finally he said that he doesn’t understand how we can say that we follow a merciful Counselor (lemonade) when we spend our nights reveling in the sin of pornography (coffee).
As you can imagine, the crowd was mortified at the idea of drinking from lemonade one second and iced coffee the next. I don’t drink coffee, so I can’t really compare, but judging from their reactions, it doesn’t sound good. He goes on to say that it’s no wonder that we feel our lives being torn apart with stress and strife. We try to live a double-life, speaking one thing but practicing another. The important point that he showed was that we don’t drink from the frappuccino because we hate it, but because we love it. We love our sins.
“Wait, what! No, I hate my sin! I want to tear it from my body and throw it on the ground and crush it into the dirt, never to creep into my life ever again.”
Is that true? Between me, you, and the air between you and your screen, do you hate your sin? If you do, why aren’t you confessing your sin to God and asking for forgiveness from that co-worker? If you do, then why aren’t you confessing your sin to God and seeking contentment with your own pickup truck? If you do, then why aren’t you confessing your sin to God and breaking up with a boyfriend who uses sex as a bargaining chip in your relationship? And finally, if you do, then why aren’t you confessing your sin to God and installing filter software on your computer and phone and finding partners to hold you accountable?
Why? Because, we like our sin. We love our sin. And we’re miserable in this back-and-forth in our lives.
Chan went on to say that while we see ourselves in this back-and-forth swing in our lives between lives devoted to God and lives devoted to self, he said that if this continues, that swing dynamic changes. He then pours some of the coffee into the bottle of lemonade, to the horror and gasps of the crowd. The lemonade turns this sickly yellow-greenish-brown as he shows it to the crowd and he says that this what your spiritual life has turned into, a life permeated by a sin which you won’t release; a sin that you love.
Chan goes on to say that this… (pointing to the bottle) this is what you offer to God and you wonder why the Bible says that all of our righteous acts are like filthy rags to a holy and loving God.
You know, in the Spanish language, when talking about parts of your body, you never use a possessive to describe that part. For example, in English we’d say “my face.” In Spanish, however, you’d say “la cara” which means the face. Spanish speakers would instantly know that you’re not a native speaker if you said “mi cara” or my face.
I think that we should take this example to realize that our lives and our bodies are not our own. God gives us each and every breath and as such, isn’t it only fair that act like that truth is real in our lives? God gives us His best, we should give ours back without question. Much love to you all.
Beau is the pastoral assistant and CrossRoads ministry leader at CommUNITY Church.
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If you're interested in seeing the Francis Chan sermon from where I pulled my examples, it can be found here!
Is that true? Between me, you, and the air between you and your screen, do you hate your sin? If you do, why aren’t you confessing your sin to God and asking for forgiveness from that co-worker? If you do, then why aren’t you confessing your sin to God and seeking contentment with your own pickup truck? If you do, then why aren’t you confessing your sin to God and breaking up with a boyfriend who uses sex as a bargaining chip in your relationship? And finally, if you do, then why aren’t you confessing your sin to God and installing filter software on your computer and phone and finding partners to hold you accountable?
Why? Because, we like our sin. We love our sin. And we’re miserable in this back-and-forth in our lives.
Chan went on to say that while we see ourselves in this back-and-forth swing in our lives between lives devoted to God and lives devoted to self, he said that if this continues, that swing dynamic changes. He then pours some of the coffee into the bottle of lemonade, to the horror and gasps of the crowd. The lemonade turns this sickly yellow-greenish-brown as he shows it to the crowd and he says that this what your spiritual life has turned into, a life permeated by a sin which you won’t release; a sin that you love.
Chan goes on to say that this… (pointing to the bottle) this is what you offer to God and you wonder why the Bible says that all of our righteous acts are like filthy rags to a holy and loving God.
You know, in the Spanish language, when talking about parts of your body, you never use a possessive to describe that part. For example, in English we’d say “my face.” In Spanish, however, you’d say “la cara” which means the face. Spanish speakers would instantly know that you’re not a native speaker if you said “mi cara” or my face.
I think that we should take this example to realize that our lives and our bodies are not our own. God gives us each and every breath and as such, isn’t it only fair that act like that truth is real in our lives? God gives us His best, we should give ours back without question. Much love to you all.
Beau is the pastoral assistant and CrossRoads ministry leader at CommUNITY Church.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you're interested in seeing the Francis Chan sermon from where I pulled my examples, it can be found here!
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