Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

[The Australian]

Ever since the Mitchell Report came out a few months ago we have seen numerous ways of responding to the charges made in the report.  The report claims that many baseball players have used illegal performance enhancing drugs improve their playing and make their career last longer.  

Most of those named in the report acknowledged that they did use the drugs.  Some apologized. Others have kept quiet.  But Roger Clemens has gone on the attack to clear his good name.  I want to believe Roger.  I was never a Red Sox, Blue Jay or Yankee fan but I admired the way he played the game.

When Roger was named in the Mitchell Report there were many people who said he should come out swinging.  And swinging he has.  He has gone on 60 Minutes, made a You Tube video, held press conferences and testified before Congress that he did not use performance enhancing drugs.  He came across to me as believable.  But here is the problem.  His best buddy Andy Pettitte who was named in the Mitchell report and was trained by Brian McNamee.  Pettitte admitted that he used HGH.  But Roger flatly denies that he has taken drugs or any performance enhancements.  So what is it?

Then Roger files an anti-defamation suit against Brian McNamee.  Now team McNamee are pulling out all of the stops.  They are saying that Roger Clemens had a long time affair with Mindy McCready, a country music singer who has had her own illegal drug problems.  Truth is stranger than fiction.  You couldn’t write a more juicy story in Hollywood.

Here is the problem for me.  If Roger had admitted he took the performance enhancements would this have just blown over?  What if he had just kept his mouth shut?  Instead he makes a big deal and I think it is making him look worse.

What does this mean for us?  I usually can tell when my kids get defensive about something, they probably are guilty. When they calmly deny something, they usually are telling the truth, but when they get vocal, they are “usually” guilty.  It is probably the same for me.  How many times to we angrily argue with the police when we get pulled over for speeding (hypothetically, of course)?  I’ve found myself getting defensive with my wife and my kids and usually it is when I’m wrong.  I’m ashamed to admit that but it is true.

So what do we do?  I think the Bible gives us the best advice.  We should share our sins with one another.

James 5:16

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Had Roger just said, yes I took the HGH and steroids this story would have probably passed.

Sometimes it is best to keep our mouths shut.

Proverbs 18:2

A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.

Proverbs 10:10

He who winks maliciously causes grief,  and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

Proverbs 17:28

Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Had Roger just kept quiet the rest of the junk about his personal life would probably stayed out of the news.  This whole incident is sad because he is married and has children who are probably hurting.  

What do you think? 

Proverbs 6:16-17

16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:

17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,

Now to refresh why we are talking about these sins is because there are accusations (some are justified) that Christians only focus on a few sins.  The truth is we shouldn’t dwell on any sins but our focus should be on Jesus.  But for argument’s sake I thought we could look at  The Big 7 that the Lord hates!

I took the advice of Les from yesterday and looked at the original Hebrew of today’s sin.The word for lying is “lashown“ which is a noun that can mean a literal tongue or “tongues of men,” speech, etc…

I wonder who hasn’t been guilty of this sin?  If you say you haven’t then your are probably guilty right now.

Why do you think lying is so damaging to God?  Adam and Eve lied to God when He asked about them eating the fruit.   Lying is recorded by many of the great men and women in the Bible.  What is it that makes us lie?

Here is what I think.  Lying is damaging to any relationship.  If a person is known to lie then how do you ever know if you can believe them.  When followers of Jesus lie, I believe it damages our testimony.  If our word can’t be trusted then why would someone want to trust in our God?

I would dare say that this is one of the most common sins among believers.  But the good news is that if we completely exchange our lives and let Jesus live through us we don’t have to lie.

What do you think?

The new ministry we will be serving is a “Grace-filled” church.  I was asked to read GRACE WALK and we went to Grace Life International training last week.  There are many ministries that teach the “EXCHANGED LIFE” message that Hudson Taylor taught years ago.  Steve McVey has a video blog where he shares  101 Lies Taught in Church Every Sunday.  I encourage you to check them out.

Once you have been freed from legalism you are truly free. I can’t tell you how many times I left churches feeling like I didn’t measure up.  Guilt, shame, etc… that isn’t the abundant life!  I don’t believe God intended us to live with so much bondage.   Jesus came to free us!

What do you think?