Avoidance Ethic

There is a great phrase from years past, "I don't smoke, I don't chew, and I don't go with girls who do." Brings to mind a spiritual principle...

John Piper talks about an "avoidance ethic" - the idea that my personal spirituality or dedication to Jesus is categorized by all the things that I avoid. I don't do this, and I don't do that, thus I am really doing well as a Christian. The problem with this is that I can avoid alll the cultural taboo sins and still have hate in my heart, be greedy to the core and persist in silent judgementalism.

Outward behaviors may be easy to regulate, the greater challenge comes with the state of our heart. Jesus taught about this over and over in the Sermon on the Mount. He took all the commonplace and familiar rules of the day that were based on outward appearances and took them down the heart level. For example, Matt 5:21,22 says ""You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." Murder is easy to regulate, hatred is not. Jesus calls us to be consistent. May there be no disconnect between inward heart workings and the outward behaviors.

All this to say, this should drive us to dependance up on the Holy Spirit. None of us can change ourselves, but we must surrender before the cross and believe that God will change us from the inside out as we submit to him and experience the great joy of obedience. Luke 11:11-13 is a great encourgement:

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"