While the distinctiveness and preeminence of local churches has dominated my meditation and blogging recently, I’ve been barreling down a bunny trail in my head that at first seemed to be leading a different direction but actually seems to be staying parallel to the main road. This alternate thinking route relates to how we understand sin; and I think by way of application, how closely a church’s perspective on sin is connected with its pursuit of the NT priorities for God’s Church.
Let’s go to the video tape (uh, I mean, the proverb of the day):
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But those who keep the law strive against them. Proverbs 28:4It is impossible to miss from this proverb that personal obedience to the law determines one’s relationship not only with the law itself, but also one’s relationship with law-breakers.
The contrast is between “those who forsake the law” and “those who keep the law.” The first crowd is made up of those who “forsake the law,” they are disobedient to God’s command. Even if their departure began in ignorance, the noncompliance cannot help but become purposeful and defiant. The second band are those who “keep the law,” that is, they are obedient to God’s commandments. This group is purposeful to make their ears attentive to His instruction, and having received His words they seek to conform to His will.
Scripture has line upon line that portrays the conflicting results of obedience and disobedience to God. Proverbs 28:4 gives us just one of those consequences: those who forsake the law “praise the wicked” and of those who keep it “strive against them.”
The way of the wayward is to praise others like them. This may be more than accepting them, it probably has the idea of actually calling them good. Since they are personally unwilling to do as they are told by God they are no longer able to discern good from evil in another. They not only practice sin, they give approval to others who do the same (Romans 1:32).
In the other corner are those who “strive against” not just unrighteousness, but the unrighteous themselves. They “contend with” (NKJV); they “struggle against” (NRSV); they “resist” (NIV); they “plead against” (YLT) the disobedient. This is not the passive approach. This is not the silent treatment. This is a battle. We must plead for God to break the law-breakers while striving against their sin.
Of course, as Christians, our motive for the fight is love. But first it is love for God and His honor. This requires fearing Him over men, and hating their evil more than we love their person. It also requires us to consider that the most loving thing we can do for them is to confront their sin, which not only dishonors their Creator, it is deserving of His eternal condemnation. In fact, I believe that we are guilty of resisting the law ourselves if we do not resist outstanding offenders.
This has implications beyond our personal relationships. Where is the fighting against law-breakers in our churches? And is it right for the unrighteousness to be accepted, let alone applauded without so much as encouraging them to examine themselves to see if they be Christians? I think we will find ourselves in great trouble if we cry “Righteous. Righteous,” if there are none righteous.
