Follow, Read, Listen, Grow #3

Solid Christian resources have become my love language in the last year. I am also a girl who loves to write without an abundance of time. I plan to post resource recommendation posts once or twice a month in hopes that I can share tools the Lord has used to grow me, as well as keep the rust off the writing portion of my brain. 

Previous Post

FRLG #1

FRLG #2

***Christian resources are a wonderful gift from the Lord to stir our affections for Him, but they are not meant to replace corporate worship and community with the local body of Christ. If you currently do not have a church home in the Purcell area, please consider visiting Emmanuel Baptist Church. If you do not live in the same area, please do not hesitate to reach out for help in finding a gospel-centered church in your location.***

Follow

Twitter: Matt Smethurst

I have no idea when or how I came across Matt, but I frequently find myself retweeting, liking, and meditating upon the nuggets of truth and thought-provoking tweets he posts. He is the managing editor of The Gospel Coalition. In the last week, he has shared a lot of great content. Follow him and catch up!

Instagram: Kristin Schmucker

Kristin is the founder of The Daily Grace Co., which you know I geek out over on the daily. I recently started following her personal Instagram account and have been so encouraged by her testimonies each day and the snippets she shares of her studying endeavors. 

Facebook: Tim Challies

Tim reviews a LOT of Christian resources. I find several books of interest and steer clear from a few based on his reviews. He also blogs and shares quotes from authors regularly. You can (and should) follow him on any social media platform!

Read

Bible: ESV Study Bible

Everyone needs a good study Bible and this one is my personal favorite. My BFF Jen only likes for us to use commentaries after we have dug into the Word on our own, but anything that I question or wrestle with beyond a week of study, I look up here. Verse by verse commentary is the tool I use the most, as well as the introductions and historical context given at the beginning of every book. 

Christian Classic: The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

This book is a classic for many reasons. I read it for the first time this year. It is one you could chew on for a lifetime. It was extremely convicting. This specific edition had a short biography of Bonhoeffer at the beginning of it. I think it only made his writings all the more weighted. He lived out what he believed. May it be the same of us!

Theology: None Like Him: 10 Ways God is Different From Us (and Why That's a Good Thing) by Jen Wilkin

Yes, I put that in the correct category. Women can write theology, too! ;) This was Jen's second book, the first in looking at the characteristics of God. None Like Him focuses on the characteristics of God that are distinctly God's. For example, the book covers His omniscience, eternality, and sovereignty. Jen does a great job exalting God and showing our limitations as humans, and why it IS good thing.

Christian Living: A Little Book on the Christian Life by John Calvin

Sometimes I think many people are scared to read books authored by well-known theologians. Truth be told, I am not sure I would have ever found this specific book on my own. It was a free gift at the TGCW conference this summer. It could easily be in the "Classic" or "Theology" section, but I loved how this excerpt from one of Calvin's longer writings brought out so clearly how our theology (what we believe about God) directs our everyday, practical living. 

Womanhood: 12 Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur

The subtitle was really long to include above: How God Shaped Women of the Bible and What He Wants to Do with You. MacArthur takes an up close and personal look at 12 women in Scripture and pulls out timeless truths about God in their lives that can apply to all women today.

Marriage: Happily Ever After: Finding Grace in the Messes of Marriage by Desiring God

Desiring God (John Piper and many others) put together this 30-day devotional. My husband and I went through it together a couple of years ago. For a month, I felt like it covered a great variety of topics that always need to be discussed in any Christian marriage. 

Orphan Care: Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches by Russell Moore

Russell Moore is one of my favorite authors, ever. Adopted for Life was what first introduced me to him. Orphan Care is a new category this round. This book had to be the first mentioned. It is a close look at the doctrine of adoption and the command of James 1:27 for EVERY Christian.

Children’s Book: Psalms of Praise by Danielle Hitchen

My son has recently fallen in love with songs and books that have to do with motion. This movement primer is one of our favorites. Each page has a movement command and scripture reference that pairs. We read it nearly every morning. 

Bible Study: Better: A Study of Hebrews by Jen Wilkin

A group of church ladies and friends abroad completed this study over the summer. It was a phenomenal time diving into the Old Testament references and seeing Christ as better--our Prophet, Priest, and King. It is another free study with weekly audio teachings. Do it alone or grab a group of friends!

Daily Devotional: New Morning Mercies by Paul Tripp

Here is another new category! I have got to share a little behind-the-scenes reason for this new one. A few weeks ago I was at a conference lunch when a woman shared what daily devotional she used and was just going on and on about it. Instead of speaking up and offering a more biblically sound option, I missed a good opportunity and just sat silent. So, I decided this category is necessary for any and all who come upon it. 

I have only ever used a handful of daily devotionals, but most of them have 365 days and are significantly better than what you'll find at the airport bookstore. Tripp's is a great one!

Blog: Ask Pastor John, Guest: Jen Wilkin

Piper had Jen join him for three episodes of "Ask Pastor John" at the end of last month. The link is only for the first episode, but you can easily access the other two from the page. I know this also could fall into the podcast category. I prefer to read the transcripts when possible. Reading is kind of my thing. ;)

Consider the Lilies Throwback: The Bride

Have you ever heard our wedding story? Well, this is the post that began the blog way back when. This post shares more truth that I STILL have to remind myself of. There is a much funnier version that you can look for or wait until October's post. 

Listen

Podcast: Risen Motherhood

They are BACKKKK! My Wednesday morning breakfast, boy bath time, and kitchen clean up routine involves Risen Motherhood. From snacks to evangelism, they cover the ins, outs, ups, and downs of motherhood--always, always pointing listeners back to the gospel. Added bonus: This week's episode featured my girl Jackie Perry as a guest! 

Conference Session: He Will Hold Me Fast: Exhausted Mothers and Our Inexhaustible God by Aimee Joseph at TGCW18

The room was PACKED at this conference with young moms and nursing infants. It was by far my favorite workshop that I attended in Indianapolis. I had never heard of Aimee before then, but I knew as soon as I saw the title of the workshop that it was for me. That it was! She made sure we all knew we weren't going to walk away with a fix-all. I know I walked away with more--and even a practical application on Sabbath rest from her testimony. All exhausted moms, give yourself the time to listen!

Sermon: The Gospel Centered Home by Wally Kelly

Parenting is clearly a repeated theme in this post! My pastor finished the book of Ephesians since my last set of resources. This specific sermon covered Ephesians 6:1-4. It was an excellent reminder of the importances of parenting as Christian parents. 

Song: Death Was Arrested LIVE by NorthPoint Inside Out

I have loved this song since I first heard it on the radio. A few weeks ago, I was listening to Pandora and this LIVE version came on. It is even better than the original version. I have since listened to it a TON and still get goosebumps every single time! 

Grow

Scripture Memory: Scripture Memory Cards

Prayer: Prayers for My Marriage

Journaling: Highlighting Guide

The above are still all from The Daily Grace Co. I just continued to be extremely impressed by the quality and intentionality of their products. I am a fan for life!

Bible Study Tools: Sing a New Song: A Guide to the Psalms

I left out the "women" part of the title because I've been reading a psalm a day for 30 days and using this book as a guide. There has not been any material that is gender-specific. It has been a really helpful tool for understanding each psalm's context and digging into each one a little deeper.

Currents

Nightstand: The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield

Headphones: Austin Stone Worship on Pandora (shouldn't change what isn't broken)

Kitchen Table: Living by the Book by Howard and William Hendricks

Thanks for checking out the resource post #3! Let me know if you have followed, read, listened, or grown using anything mentioned before or after this post. If you have any specific questions about something or someone listed or your own recommendations for me, reach out on social media! 

At His feet,

~Madi

Follow, Read, Listen, Grow #2

Solid Christian resources have become my love language in the last year. I am also a girl who loves to write without an abundance of time. I plan to publish resource recommendation posts once or twice a month in hopes that I can share tools the Lord has used to grow me, as well as keep the rust off the writing portion of my brain. 

Previous Posts
FRLG #1

***Christian resources are a wonderful gift from the Lord to stir our affections for Him, but they are not meant to replace corporate worship and community with the local body of Christ. If you currently do not have a church home in the Purcell area, please consider visiting Emmanuel Baptist Church. If you do not live in the same area, please do not hesitate to reach out for help in finding a gospel-centered church in your location.***


Follow

Twitter: Ray Ortlund

I found Pastor Ray Ortlund on Twitter through Beth Moore. (Hey now! Watch it. Stop hating. She will show up here soon enough.) Ray tweets almost daily with 280 character truths to point his followers to the Gospel. Twitter can be scary these days. Ray's serious tweets and pictures of his dog make it a better place to scroll!

Instagram: Risen Motherhood

RM will be mentioned over and over again. They have rich, gospel truths for mamas in the trenches. They post the same material on every social media platform, but their Insta stories are phenomenal to catch throughout the day. 

Facebook: Desiring God 

John Piper founded this web ministry in 1994. (Wait--they had internet then?) Desiring God has many, many different resources on widespread topics all rooted in glorifying God by being most satisfied in Him. Several articles or videos are posted every day to DG's Facebook page.

Read

Bible: ESV Premium Gift Bible

My sweet, big dog (RIP Rumble) chewed up my ESV thin-line Bible three days before Christmas last year that I had had since my freshman year of college. I was devastated because no amount of tape would repair it. Thanks to Amazon Prime, I got this beauty before Christmas. This is the Bible I use for everyday use!

Christian Classic: The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

The categories may change from post to post due to me forgetting books read over the years and deciding what category certain books fit in. This classic by C.S. Lewis was probably the first "Christian classic" I read. My husband and I talk about it at least weekly. It brought spiritual warfare to my attention unlike ever before. Lewis's letter format between a demon and his nephew makes it an interesting read on its own, but it is filled with many warnings and encouragements to followers of Christ.

Theology: Everyone’s A Theologian: An Introduction to Systematic Theology by R.C. Sproul

Is it crazy to call a book on systematic theology your favorite? Go ahead, call me crazy! I will be returning to this one for specific questions often. Sproul is known for making difficult ideas easy to understand. He also makes the case in his introduction that we are all theologians. It is not a matter of if we study theology or not; it is a matter of if the theology we have is good or bad. I do not know about each of you reading, but I want mine to be good.

Christian Living: Onward: Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel by Russell Moore

We are living in such a divisive political climate right now. I mean, I struggle with not jumping in mud pits on Facebook every day and I am not confrontational in the least bit. Moore's book is such a timely read for American Christians. He elevates seeking the Kingdom of God over seeking political victory. It is a convicting read for Christian conservatives, liberals, and every category in between.

Motherhood: Missional Motherhood by Gloria Furman 

This is one of my most favorite books on motherhood because Gloria did such an incredible job steering into realms of SPIRITUAL motherhood, not just strictly biological and adoptive. I would encourage every WOMAN to pick this up and see mothering in different capacities as a God-given mission.

Marriage: The Mingling of Souls by Matt Chandler

This book is hardly on my book shelf at home. It is constantly being borrowed. I think Matt does a great job fighting the cultural fluff and craze with looking at how God designed marriage and intimacy. He uses examples that are relatable to every one of us and stays very real and transparent throughout. Matt and Lauren often do LIVE streams over The Mingling of Souls. They also have a Bible study and DVD series to go through with a small group. 

Parenting: Show Them Jesus by Jack Klumpenhower

Parent, grandparents, youth ministers, Sunday school teachers--basically anyone that knows a child--you need to read this! As someone who grew up in a Christian home and the church, I think this needs to be read again and again to remind us we are not after moralistic gains in our children. We are after souls that need to see Jesus as their Savior! Klumpenhower pairs the why and the how-to's so well in showing children and youth Jesus.

Children’s Book: The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones

Speaking of seeing Jesus, this has by far been my most favorite children's Bibles to date. Why? "Because every story whispers His Name!" The illustrations are fun and engaging, even for my rambunctious 18-month-old. Every story ends with a focus on Christ. Upon reading it through for the first time, I saw Jesus in stories I had not seen him in before, even as an adult. (Where were these solid children resources when I was little?)

Fiction: Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

As noted before, I do not read a whole lot of fiction. Francine Rivers is one of my favorite fictional authors because she uses the Bible as a launching pad for creating her stories. Redeeming Love is a fictional retelling of the story of Hosea. It is a story of a relentless pursuit of someone who the world would deem "unworthy," which clearly points to the larger story of God pursuing us as sinners. 

Bible Study: God of Creation: Genesis 1-11 by Jen Wilkin

I grew up in the church. I thought I knew these stories by heart. I know firsthand that the Word is living and active, but I never dreamed there was so much more information between the pages of Genesis 1 and Genesis 11. Jen is my favorite Bible teacher and she did an incredible job in this 10 week study bringing things to light that I had never seen before in the God of Creation.

Blog: Know the Neighborhood by Jen Wilkin 

I warned you the first time around you would see Jen's name often. Everything she writes or says just clicks with my brain so well. Although I had no idea what movie she was talking about, the tourist versus local analogy in reading the Bible resonated with me. I want to know Scripture like I know the streets of my little hometown. 

Consider the Lilies Throwback: Sole Purpose

August means BACK TO SCHOOL. In a different life (Just kidding! Only a couple years ago...), I spent my summers preparing to return to a classroom of littles in August. I wrote this at the end of my first year when I recognized my sole purpose as an educator. I hope it is an encouragement to new and seasoned teachers alike!


Listen

Podcast: The Broken Loaf Podcast by Wally Kelly

My pastor has a daily devotional podcast. It is an excellent resource to begin or enhance a quiet time. He mentions the daily readings first for listeners to pause and read. Then he ends with a 3-4 minute devotional and prayer over a specific section within the daily reading. 

Conference Session: A House Divided Cannot Stand by Matt Chandler at MLK50

There is so much I could say about this conference altogether. I listened to most of the sessions trying to understand race issues in this country and especially within the Church better. The whole topic is something I do not want my brothers and sisters in Christ to see me as apathetic towards just because it is uncomfortable and unfamiliar. Listen with humility and learn.

Sermon: Expressions of the Gospel-Centered Walk by Pastor Wally Kelly

What should the Christian look like? Well, imitators of God for starters. Pastor Wally walks through Ephesians 5:1-21 tackling temptations and sin that are so prevalent in our time and exhorting Christians how to love, be pure, be wise, and be spirit-filled as we strive to walk as children of light. 

Song: Your Mercy by Austin Stone Worship

Ahhhhh. This song is beautiful and amazing and has been on repeat in my house and car to get that silly Blippi tractor song out of my head. I learned of Austin Stone at TGCW18 and now they are my new favorite worship band.



Grow

Scripture Memory: Daily Grace Scripture Memory Journal by The Daily Grace Co.
Prayer: Adore Card Set by The Daily Grace Co.
Journaling: Bible Pen Set by The Daily Grace Co.
Bible Study Tools: Be Still Journal by The Daily Grace Co.

I decided to jump in with both feet and become an affiliate with The Daily Grace Co. I have just been overly impressed by their products. Every piece I have purchased is beautiful and most importantly, intentional. I have been sharing my link on my Facebook and Instagram, so keep your eyes peeled for great sales. 


Currents

Nightstand: The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges

Headphones: Austin Stone Worship Station on Pandora

Kitchen Table: Raised Together: A Study on Colossians by Gloria Furman



Thanks for checking out the resource post #2! Let me know if you have followed, read, listened, or grown using anything mentioned before or after this post. If you have any specific questions about something or someone listed or your own recommendations for me, reach out on social media! 

At His feet,
~Madi

Follow, Read, Listen, Grow #1

Solid Christian resources have become my love language in the last year. I am also a girl who loves to write without an abundance of time. So, Consider the Lilies is being revived (yet again) with bi-weekly resource recommendation posts in hopes that I can share tools the Lord has used to grow me, as well as keep the rust off the writing portion of my brain. 

***Christian resources are a wonderful gift from the Lord to stir our affections for Him, but they are not meant to replace corporate worship and community with the local body of Christ. If you currently do not have a church home in the Purcell area, please consider visiting Emmanuel Baptist Church. If you do not live in the same area, please do not hesitate to reach out for help in finding a gospel-centered church in your location.***

Follow

Twitter: Jackie Hill Perry

Can you use emojis on blog posts? (No!) Because this girl is FIRE! Do not just stop at Twitter. Follow Jackie on everything. She speaks truth. She is hilarious. Enough said.  

Instagram: Only The Gospel

Jamere is a college friend who runs this account with the intent to bring posts directly from Scripture to your Instagram feed. All the frilly, cute stuff that fills our feeds is usually taken out of context and elevates you more often than God. OTG’s posts are going to exalt Christ, point to the gospel, and make you think. They may even make you slightly uncomfortable and that is a good thing. 

Facebook: The Gospel Coalition 

TGC is an organization that provides all sorts of encouraging and educational Christian resources. They post several articles every day pertaining to a wide-variety of topics. 

Read

Bible: Charles Spurgeon CSB

Y’all—it has Spurgeon’s handwritten notes in it. That is so cool! Plus, the Christian Standard Bible version is great!

Theology: The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer

I was so excited to finally read this classic on the attributes of God at the beginning of this year. I am normally a quick reader, but I had to really slow down to digest each chapter. Favorite quote by far: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

Christian Living: Radical by David Platt

If you have not read this, you are slightly behind. There is still time, so go ahead and put it at the top of your list. It turns American Christianity on its head. If that does not sound good to you, that is reason you should read it all the more. 

Motherhood: UnsuperMommy by Maggie Combs 

I read this book when my son was just a few months old in 2017. Maggie did an incredible job attacking motherhood fleshly desires and concerns and replacing the lies with Gospel truths. 

Marriage: This Momentary Marriage by John Piper

One of my best friends is reading this now per recommendation (well, if you call showing up at her house with a stack of books when she really only asked for one a recommendation, then...). It dives into the mystery of marriage and what earthly marriage represents spiritually. 

Parenting: Parenting—14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family

I like Paul Tripp A LOT. Even though I have not had a chance to read his two most recent books, his parenting book was by far and away my favorite work of his thus far. He also does a live simulcast conference on marriage or parenting a couple of times each year. 

Children’s Book: The Biggest Story--How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden by Kevin DeYoung

It is safe to say this may be my favorite children's book ever. I read it to Rhettson in the womb and I am pretty sure we have read through it at least 20 times in his relatively short life. I have also been known to take it to bible studies and read portions out of it. It is a must have, for children and adults.

Fiction: A Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers

It has been at least 7 years since I read this book, but I still find myself thinking about it and talking about it often. Francine covers the women in the lineage of Christ from a fictional standpoint and it is absolutely fascinating. 

Bible Study: James by Jen Wilkin

James was my second Jen study that I completed one-on-one with a friend. I refer back to the notes I took at least weekly. You are going to see Jen’s name A LOT on my recommendation posts. She is a gifted teacher that graciously provides free bible study and audio resources. She has several book studies to order, as well. Like I said, she will be back (again and again and again).

Blog: Risen Motherhood

Mama friends—do yourself a favor and follow RM on Facebook to see their daily blog posts. They post each mid-morning, so I usually have been covered in yogurt, yanked at my own hair, and changed 2 diapers by the time I see it and need to be reminded there is much more going on in my home than I realize. 

Consider the Lilies Throwback: Isaiah 61

I occasionally enjoy recalling the days where I wrote a little more often. Here is a personal favorite from 2014.

Listen

Podcast: Pastor Talk

Skylar, another dear friend from college, now pastors the church I attended in Weatherford. He is joined by Trinity’s Worship Pastor, Larry, to discuss a wide variety of topics through a Christian lens. You are made to feel as if you are in the room discussing with them. They usually post on iTunes every Thursday. Do not worry if it is not there a week, chances are I have already texted Skylar to file a joint complaint. 

Conference Session: A Matter of Life and Death by John Piper

I probably should not start with the closing session of The Gospel Coalition Women's 2018 conference, but it goes real well with this post’s song...plus, WOW! Three pages of notes was still not enough.

Sermon: Elements of Your Gospel-Centered Testimony, Ephesians 4:17-32 by Wally Kelly

Here is a close look at who Christians were before coming to Christ and what we should look like and continue striving towards afterwards. 

Song: “Great is Thy Faithfulness” by Austin Stone Worship, added verses by John Piper

This song was recorded live at the conference mentioned above and has a real cool story to go along with it! 

Grow

Scripture Memory: How to Study the Bible Cards by The Daily Grace Co. 

Prayer: Weekly Prayer Cards by The Daily Grace Co. 

Journaling: Highlighter Set by The Daily Grace Co. 

Bible Study Tools: Bible Study Cards by The Daily Grace Co.

The Daily Grace Co. is basically my new obsession, as you can tell. Men, everything listed above would be great tools for you, too. You can easily look passed the floral prints. ;)

Currents

Nightstand: Everyone’s A Theologian—An Introduction to Systematic Theology by R.C. Sproul

I am totally geeking out over this one, y’all! Currently, I am over halfway through and will most definitely share more details about this gem soon. 

Phone App: New City Cathecism

This app is amazing! My app lives in the child version and has worked itself in our morning routine due to the awesome songs for kids. We listen during morning playtime. Rhettson likes to dance and Mommy memorizes the children's version of the cathecism. 

Kitchen Table: Daughters of Grace Bible Study by The DailyGrace Co. 

This is the first study I have purchased from TDGC. Wow! It is surpassing my high expectations! Side note: The Daily Grace Co. has a Facebook group called "Lamp and Light" where they complete online Bible studies together. This is the study they are starting on August 7. 

Thanks for checking out my first full list of resources! Let me know if you have followed, read, listened, or grown using anything mentioned before or after this post. If you have any specific questions about something or someone listed, reach out on social media! 

At His feet,
~Madi

Trinity.

Dearest Trinity,

I walked into the doors of your gathering place for the first time nearly five years ago on August 8, 2010. I came to you as a little, typical church girl, only missing church a handful of times throughout my life. With that type of background comes a certain number of usual experiences. I had seen the worst kinds of hurt within the walls of a church building affect those near and dear to my heart, and I had lived the lifestyle that comes with a ritualistic routine of attending church every Wednesday and twice on Sundays, being whoever I wanted to be the rest of the time. 

Before jumping to any sort of conclusions, I was still a “good kid.” Looking back, I know there is so much more to the daily walk of a Christian than how I lived from age 6 to 17.  At age 17, God shook my idea of church and a Christian life up by moving us to another church about 20 miles away from home. Bless my parents’ hearts; I fought them to a nasty end. I realize now that I was only fighting the discomfort of the needed growth that I knew should take place. Really, God was using that country church to prepare me for my five years with you. He shook up my life, just a little bit, to break me out of the same ol’, same ol’ and desire more.

Then, I met y’all. Instantly, Trinity became the place I would call home for the rest of my adult life. You became my family. The church was real, open, loving, and most of all, gospel-centered. You created an environment that this little church girl was unfamiliar with—whether that was at the worship gathering, prayer meeting, Sunday lunch, Christmas parties, or in the middle of Downtown Diner. For the first time, I was truly experiencing the church being the people, not the building where they meet.

Words are not adequate in explaining how God has used you to shape me into who I am today and who I will be until He calls me home. Trinity has definitely had an eternal impact on my soul. You have shown me the lasting importance of the gospel and preaching it to myself each and every minute of each and every day. You have cultivated a love for the Word that I had not enjoyed before. You created a place for me to use my gifts by teaching Sunday School for three and a half years. You fueled my passions of caring for the orphans around the world. You walked with me through the worst and best times of life, maybe not even knowing. Your love and grace allowed me to be open and honest. You always pointed me to Jesus.

Having had the amazing opportunity of worshipping, living in community, and being apart of the faith family for the last five years, I know Trinity is familiar with transitions. People come, and people go. As Ryan and I prepare to go in a couple of weeks, I felt led to try to put into words my abundant thanks for all you have been to me. God has used Trinity in mighty, glorious ways, and He will continue doing so, even with little church girls, like me.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:3-6.

Love always,

Madison Russ

Unstained.

Let’s just cut to the chase. This world is full of pollution. Wait, wait, wait. My post today will not be about the damaging effects of smog, litter, or hairspray (I do think God has called us to take care of the world we live in, but it is not the most important issue). No, this post is about an even worse type of pollution that fills the world and has since Genesis 3: sin.

Every day I am reminded of the disgustingness of sin. I cannot open social media, drive down the road, watch television, or step off my front porch without seeing open rebellion against God. It is disheartening and discouraging to my soul, whose citizenship is elsewhere (Philippians 3:20).

Where does the Christian fit into this world? If we speak out against this pollution, we are labeled as close-minded, bigoted, and irrelevant. If we agree, we are literally at odds with our own souls, the Bible, and God, who is our ultimate authority. If we stand silent, we are doing a disservice to the lost.

James 1:27 says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” I have written a post over the first half of this verse, but today I would like to focus on the last half. “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this…to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

Unstained. Whoa. Another version says, “to keep oneself from being polluted from the world.” This pollution seems so prevalent, though, especially with the immediate access we hold to the entire world that is usually within an arm’s length. It seems as if there is no point to abstain from what the world says we should accept, what the world says is okay, what the world says is accepted by our God.

My least favorite introduction to people’s posts on social media about “controversial” issues always begins with something like, “I am a Christian, but…(insert something blatantly against God's word).” No, NO, NOOO! I can just picture that person wearing a brand new white shirt while beginning that statement. The written junk that follows the word “but” is always mind-boggling to me. By the end of the thought, I can imagine the shirt no longer being white as snow, but full of the worst kinds of stains. They have allowed the world to contradict the Word that should hold supreme control on our opinions and responses to the pollution. We are not the authorities. We cannot make up the rules as we would wish. (Otherwise, I would ignore the sin of withholding forgiveness as discussed here).

Followers of Christ hold the cure to the pollution, to sin, to eternal separation from God. We should hold it out, instead of lowering God’s standards to please the polluters only for a short while.

Sin is hated by God, all sin—everything from a lie to murder. (Psalm 5:4-6)

Sin separates us from the Holy God for all of eternity. (Revelation 21:8)

We are all sinners. If we break one law, we are guilty of breaking it all. (Romans 3:23, James 2:10)

In our own strength, we have no chance of recovery. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

(And this is where I really like the word “but”).

But God sent His own Son to redeem.  (1 Corinthians 6:11)

To redeem means to buy with a price. (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 6:20)

Jesus did that by dying on the cross and taking on the sins of the world. (Matthew 27:50-55)

That’s not the end of the story, though…

He died, was buried, and rose again—conquering death for all of eternity. (Luke 24:1-8)

Those who put their trust in Him are reconciled to God, marked with the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:11, Titus 3:3-7)

The sons and daughters then carry that message of reconciliation to the world. (2 Corinthians 5:14-20)

I would highly recommend looking at those scriptures. That, my friends, is the gospel. The gospel is what each of us must hold fast to in our own lives, proclaim wholeheartedly to our neighbors, and use to remain unstained from the world. When we do not speak out against homosexuality, gossiping, bitterness, racism, murder, etc., we are withholding truth that leads to the eternal remedy to sin. We are lying to the lost, allowing them to believe they are okay. We are withholding Love--the ultimate Love that will win. His name is Jesus.

1. "Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
2. Striving to please Him in all that I do;
3. Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
4. This is the pathway of blessing for me.
5. 
   
6. Living for Jesus, who died in my place,
7. Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;
8. Such love constrains me to answer His call,
9. Follow His leading and give Him my all.

Living for Jesus, wherever I am,

Doing each duty in His holy Name;

Willing to suffer affliction and loss,

Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

Living for Jesus through earth's little while,

My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;

Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,

Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,

For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;

I own no other master, my heart shall be Thy throne;

My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ for Thee alone."