Self Imperfection

[AngelusSax]

OK, so we as humans are great at looking at other people and voicing what we see as their flaws. Now let's try something new. Instead of keeping score on a tally sheet for others, let's keep one on ourselves.

I'll start.

In the past 2 days, I have gotten unduly angry and yelled at my mother. I've since repented, but it happened, and that's an imperfection. I have also had lustful thoughts. I've been lazy.

Alright, your turn. Let's all feel free to come here and voice the imperfections within ourselves as they happen. Even if they're not sin (it's possible I suppose).

[ChiRho]

OK, so we as humans are great at looking at other people and voicing what we see as their flaws. Now let's try something new. Instead of keeping score on a tally sheet for others, let's keep one on ourselves.

I'll start.

In the past 2 days, I have gotten unduly angry and yelled at my mother. I've since repented, but it happened, and that's an imperfection. I have also had lustful thoughts. I've been lazy.

Alright, your turn. Let's all feel free to come here and voice the imperfections within ourselves as they happen. Even if they're not sin (it's possible I suppose).

I have not been blunt enough with the rabid heretics that I have encountered.

[SPALATIN]

I have not been blunt enough with the rabid heretics that I have encountered.

Tsk Tsk such a sin. If you were Roman I would tell you that you have to pennance and rectify the situation.;)

[Zoomer]

My sin is the belief that there is an ultimate Truth. I guess I havn't been completely indoctrinated by society yet. *chastizing myself* Bad Zoomer, Bad Zoomer. I must agree with the masses. I must agree with the masses. I must agree......

[Protoevangel]

I have not followed Jesus' example of calling hypocrites, fools and the dull, what they truly are. I have accepted sin and false teaching without exposing it. I have held fellowship with those teachers.

Forgive me.

[SPALATIN]

I have not followed Jesus' example of calling hypocrites, fools and the dull, what they truly are. I have accepted sin and false teaching without exposing it. I have held fellowship with those teachers.

Forgive me.

But Dan, Wouldn't Jesus just want us not to argue about this???? ;)

[Protoevangel]

But Dan, Wouldn't Jesus just want us not to argue about this???? ;)Yes, I suppose He did teach us just to get along, and not to care about the truth. Let's all just sing!

Koom by ya.
Oh, Koom by ya.
Someone's crying Koom by ya.

There, that's all better, isn't it!

[SPALATIN]

Yes, I suppose He did teach us just to get along, and not to care about the truth. Let's all just sing!

Koom by ya.
Oh, Koom by ya.
Someone's crying Koom by ya.

There, that's all better, isn't it!

Can we sing "Jesus Loves Me" next?:D

[Protoevangel]

Can we sing "Jesus Loves Me" next?:DI don't know, do you think it might offend some Lutherans who don't believe in Jesus? :P

[ChiRho]

Scott, that is insulting! We have the new revised edition, "Me love Jesus!" It is more betterly put, doncha think?

[AngelusSax]

OK, can we get some serious replies in here instead of veiled (very thinly veiled) attempts at bashing those who don't look/dress/think exactly like ourselves?

[SPALATIN]

OK, can we get some serious replies in here instead of veiled (very thinly veiled) attempts at bashing those who don't look/dress/think exactly like ourselves?

I don't want to take you personally. And we aren't bashing. We are making fun of you but we aren't bashing.

[AngelusSax]

Well, the thread for making fun of anyone is... well it's elsewhere. This was meant to be a serious self-reflection thread. Consider it the online form of Confession, only without a pastor to voice God's absolution of your sins.

EDIT:

Here's another reason to self-reflect. We gotta remove the plank from our own eye first before we seek to rmove the speck from another's eye. Also, perhaps in keeping a tally sheet for ourselves, we'll realize this truth:
If God keeps a tally sheet for all of us, then Heaven will only have the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit... as no one can pass the test by their tally sheet scores. No matter how perfect they (we) think they (we) are.

[Protoevangel]

You want self-reflection here? OK, here we go.



I am an idolater, I have little gods that I place my hope in. I repent.
I am a blasphemer. I malign God's holy name in speech, action, and thought. I repent.
I do not observe a Holy day for God. I pursue selfish desires seven days a week. I repent.
I dishonor and despise my father and mother. I do not hold them in the esteem they deserve. I repent.
I am a murderer. By my inaction I allow and even encurage the murder of innocents. By my action and thoughts, I express anger for my brothers and sisters, which is murder in my heart. I repent.
I am an adulterer. By my thoughts and actions I do not live the chaste life I am called to live. Both hetero and homo erotic lust. I repent.
I am a thief. I take that which does not belong to me, both in the form of intellectual property and material property. I repent.
I am a liar, I bear false witness against my neighbor. I repent.
I am a coveter. I want to own more than I have been given by God and more than what I have worked for. I repent.
AngelusSax, this only scratches the surface of my knowledge of my own sinfulness. You want ugly? I can show you ugly. Thank God that we are saved by His Grace, and not our own works, for I would be the first to be rejected.

Don't even begin to think that when i speak of truth abd what the church must stand for is self-righteousness. Nothing is further from the truth. Paul was the "chief of sinners", but still taught correct doctrine. You must learn the distintion.

[AngelusSax]

Yes, thank God He sent Jesus to die, and that as John 3:16 states, all who believe in Jesus will be saved.

Thank you for being serious.

[Willy]

I appreciate the sentiment of your question. This is a much better place to start than where some others want to start. But this kind of reflection is what ideological bantering keeps us from. If we keep the focus outside of ourselves we won't have to deal with ourselves. There's much for me to confess. I want to think on it and reply later.

[RedneckAnglican]

my confession is in my journal in the "Christian Journals" room...I have a number of them sins of comission and omision...Gluttoney, pride, and anger top the list...

GOD forgive me of the things I have done and left undone...

[Qoheleth]

I have not been blunt enough with the rabid heretics that I have encountered.

The Sacrament of Private Confession/Absolution seems to be the ticket here.

:>)


Q

[SPALATIN]

The Sacrament of Private Confession/Absolution seems to be the ticket here.

:>)


Q

Well I have seen a lot of confession but not much absolution.

[revjpw]

I have not followed Jesus' example of calling hypocrites, fools and the dull, what they truly are. I have accepted sin and false teaching without exposing it.

Doing so will get you banned. You could very well become the first CF martyr.:angel:

I am reminded of this passage:
1 Thessalonians 2:2-4, "We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts."

This is forbidden here.

[Protoevangel]

Doing so will get you banned. You could very well become the first CF martyr.:angel:

I am reminded of this passage:
1 Thessalonians 2:2-4, "We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts."

This is forbidden here.Shame on you for quoting the Bible on CF! If the Bible were anything more than poetry, it might get you banned! ;)

[Qoheleth]

Well I have seen a lot of confession but not much absolution.

Just in case, here is an older Lutheran Absolution:

"The almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ would be gracious
and merciful to you. He wants to forgive you all your sins, and this
because his dear Son Jesus Christ has suffered for them and died for
them. In the name of that same Jesus Christ, because he has mandated me
to do this, in the power of his words where he said: 'Whosoever sins
you forgive, they are forgiven,' I say to you that all your sins are
forgiven. They cannot hold you captive. They are altogether forgiven
you as abundantly and completely as was won for you by Jesus Christ
through his suffering and death, and which he commanded to be
proclaimed in all the world through the Gospel, and this is now said to
you, to comfort and strengthen you, as I now speak this to you in the
name of the Lord Christ, for you to receive it gladly, setting your
conscience at peace, as with a faith that cannot be shaken, your sins
are surely forgiven you, in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit. Go forth in peace."

Q

[Flipper]

Can we sing "Jesus Loves Me" next?:D

Hey, I like that song. I learned it at an LCMS Lutheran VBS (that has close communion and no women leading) when I was like, 6.

I also like the Joy Joy Joy song too.

Thank you, God, for leading my mom to send me to Lutheran VBS's growing up even though I was Catholic.

[AngelusSax]

I confess that I have been too slow to forgive people on many occassions in my life. I did not follow Jesus' instruction to forgive perfectly (seventy times seven, or 77 times depending on the translation).

I confess that I have judged people. Not just actions, but people.

I have been too soft on rigid legalism within religion, and I have, in the past, tried to say Grace could be earned by doing anything at all, such as abstaining from a certain sin or a certain number of sins. I know better know, as I realize Grace is either free or it isn't Grace at all.

Of these sins and more, I repent.

[SPALATIN]

I confess that I have been too slow to forgive people on many occassions in my life. I did not follow Jesus' instruction to forgive perfectly (seventy times seven, or 77 times depending on the translation).

I confess that I have judged people. Not just actions, but people.

I have been too soft on rigid legalism within religion, and I have, in the past, tried to say Grace could be earned by doing anything at all, such as abstaining from a certain sin or a certain number of sins. I know better know, as I realize Grace is either free or it isn't Grace at all.

Of these sins and more, I repent.

Just so long as it isn't cheap grace.

[AngelusSax]

Just so long as it isn't cheap grace.

Cheap implies you still gotta pay for it. Free says you don't. ;)

I get what you mean though. I don't consider the Cross a cheap price, and I don't consider daily repenting because of Grace already received to be all that cheap either.

I confess that I've committed most, if not all, of the seaven deadly sins, virtually every day. I've gotten angry, been lustful, had pride, partaken of gluttony, been greedy, been slothful, and been envious. Also, I've relegated sin to being specific actions of myself and other people, and not acknowledged Sin as a part of the human condition which defines us all in our fallen nature.

[SPALATIN]

Cheap implies you still gotta pay for it. Free says you don't. ;)

I get what you mean though. I don't consider the Cross a cheap price, and I don't consider daily repenting because of Grace already received to be all that cheap either.

I confess that I've committed most, if not all, of the seaven deadly sins, virtually every day. I've gotten angry, been lustful, had pride, partaken of gluttony, been greedy, been slothful, and been envious. Also, I've relegated sin to being specific actions of myself and other people, and not acknowledged Sin as a part of the human condition which defines us all in our fallen nature.

Cheap does not imply that. What it implies is value. What Christ did for us was of the greatest value because the Father gave him up to pay the price for our sinful existence.

There is nothing free about what Christ did because it cost him everthing. But he did it because he loved us. He created us and we rebelled and sinned and only he could redeem us and what value did he place on us? He placed the life of his only begotten son as payment for return to Grace. It is where he intended us to be from the beginning, but it was us who turned our back on him and went our own way and the Lord laid on his son the iniquity of us all.

So we cheapen grace by assuming that it will still be there by continuing to sin. We Cheapen it by thinking we have a free ride and that no matter what we do we have Grace. It is taking Grace for granted that cheapens it.

[Willy]

Grace is no excuse for sin, Scott. I agree with you on this one. The grace that flows from the cross is a grace that puts to death our self centeredness. There is no more loving crucifixion than that, since our self preoccupation (our need to justify our lives) is our biggest problem.