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Apples of Gold
Radio Script for October 9, 2009
“Is Christianity Just a Bunch of Don’ts?”
Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.
Brad Pitt told Parade magazine that Christianity is mostly “about what you can’t do.”
He was raised in a Christian home, he said, “But it was very stifling.”
“To me, I just found Christianity to be, ‘Don’t do this, don’t do that.’”
So what do you think? Is Christianity just a bunch of don’ts? What is Christianity to you?
To me it’s about Jesus saving me from sin. I am forgiven and I can walk with God without sin coming between us, both for now and for eternity.
However, I do still have a sin nature and I have the responsibility to keep it in check. And that’s where the don’ts come in.
Now if you only see Christianity as a bunch of don’ts, that’s like seeing football as a bunch of don’ts. Don’t hold the lineman. Don’t block in the back. Don’t step out of bounds.
It’s like seeing parenting as just a bunch of don’ts. Yes, there are a lot of don’ts, but there is a good reason.
Now listen closely to this next line.
Every action moves us toward a consequence.
See, our lives are not standing still. We are barreling down the highway of life, and every move of the steering wheel stands for something we do. Our actions affect our direction.
Imagine flying down I-10 at 70 miles an hour. Can you do just any old thing with that steering wheel?
Yes, you can. And every action will move you toward a consequence.
As long as you limit your steering, your consequence will be good. But as soon as you steer the wheel too far in either direction, your consequence will be bad.
So when steering, there is a wide range of don’ts, and we disobey them to our peril.
The same is true in life. Yes, there is a wide range of don’ts, but they keep us on the road to good consequences.
Now some people act like they are steering a parked car. “I can whip the wheel this way and that! I’m having the time of my life!” They are only thinking about the thrill of the moment, but nonetheless, their life is moving forward, and every action is moving them toward a consequence.
So anyway, Christianity is a lot more than just a bunch of don’ts, but even if you just look at the don’ts, it’s a good thing. God gave us those don’ts in order to protect us from bad consequences.
And really, you can sum them all up in this: Don’t sin.
Why not?
Galatians 6:8 says, “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction.”
Sin is just like oversteering your car on the freeway. It leads to destruction. There will be damage and pain.
So just like parents have a lot of don’ts for their child, God has a lot of don’ts for us. Here are just a few I gleaned from the New Testament.
Don’t murder.
Don’t commit adultery or any sexual immorality.
Don’t steal.
Don’t lie.
Don’t swear or slander or let anything unwholesome come out of your mouth.
Don’t covet or envy.
Don’t be arrogant or proud or conceited.
Don’t grumble.
Don’t get drunk.
Don’t get harsh with your wife or exasperate your children.
Don’t look down on children.
Don’t cause anyone to stumble.
Don’t judge.
Don’t worry or fear men or be anxious about anything.
Don’t take revenge, or repay evil for evil.
Don’t conform to this world or be yoked with unbelievers.
Don’t store up treasures on earth.
Don’t be foolish.
Don’t let anyone lead you astray.
Don’t be involved with witchcraft or idolatry.
Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit.
Don’t be ashamed of Christ or the Gospel.
Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath.
And don’t give in to evil desires or the sinful nature.
Yes, I can see where someone might say that Christianity is a bunch of don’ts, but that’s missing point.
The main thing about Christianity is Jesus paying the price for our sin so we can be forgiven, opening the door for sweet fellowship with our Heavenly Father both for now and for eternity. And then, out of love for us, He gave us certain don’ts to keep our sinful nature in check.
Yes, in Christianity there is a wide range of don’ts, and that’s a good thing because it’s the don’ts that help keep us on the road to good consequences.
Comments?
E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.
May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)
Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.
Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000
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