Born Again by "C-Section" ?

A Caesarean section, is a surgical procedure in which one or more incisions are made through a mother's abdomen and uterus to deliver a baby. The term Caesarean has also been explained as deriving from the Greek verb caedo, 'to cut', with children delivered this way referred to as caesones or 'cut ones'.

Health experts in the United States say that the Caesarean section births are at an all time high. These experts fear what once was (and still is) a solution to a life threatening natural birth situation has now become a simple matter of convenience. Convenience has become a fixture in American society. As life grows more fast-paced, people look for more corners to cut (no pun intended) and ways to save time. But should the desire for convenience extend to one of the most fundamental natural functions -- the act of childbirth?

I won't attempt to answer that question here, but I would like to draw your attention to a parallel idea that should garner our full attention. Natural birth into this world has resulted in a life threatening situation. God has not prescribed a C-Section as the cure, but has told us in His word that we "must be born again".

Should the desire for convenience extend to one of the most fundamental spiritual truths of the Christian faith -- the act of Christian conversion?

In John chapter 3 verse 3 Jesus told a religious leader named Nicodemus, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus replied, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born can he?"

Jesus went on to explain to this religious leader that salvation or spiritual re-birth is the act of God whereby the soul of a sinner is cleansed from all sin and impurity and brought to new life by the powerful and mysterious operation of the Holy Spirit. Notice, Jesus did not tell Nicodemus to be baptized, attend confession, raise his hand and pray a sinner's prayer, fill out a status card or to perform any other religious right or action. Even more importantly, Jesus did not tell Nicodemus to gird up his loins and make a decision for Christ. Jesus did not attempt to short cut the new birth by giving Nicodemus a spiritual C - Section.

I am afraid that most professing Christians today have been born into the professing Church as a result of a Spiritual C-Section of sorts. Instead of being born again by the Spirit of God, they have been cut away from the Spirit in the name of "convenience". Surrounded by a results oriented, fast paced culture, religion has sought to short cut God's work of grace and it it's place has put a C-Section religious mentality. I would call it a Convenience Section, rather than a Caesarean Section.

Convenience has no place is God's plan of redemption. In fact, I would argue plainly from the Scriptures that if a salvation experience is not inconvenient, it is not of God. I will base my conclusion on three points drawn straight from the text surrounding John 3:3.

First and foremost the new birth is inconvenient to man, because of "what is in man". Directly before the conversation with Nicodemus (John 2:23-25) many people were observing the signs that Jesus was doing and believing in His name. "But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew 'what was in man'."

Salvation is not convenient because it is absolutely contrary to the fallen nature of all mankind. By nature men do not seek for God or understand God (Romans 3:11). It is absolutely inconvenient for anyone to take time out of their schedule to pursue something or someone one they have no desire to pursue. Salvation is not only inconvenient to the human experience, but it is inconceivable - "ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;" (Romans 3:12). All men by nature and choice are 'children of wrath' (Ephesians 2) and not the least bit interested in anything to do with God or salvation.

However, when the grace of God arrests a man's soul and the wind of God's Spirit 'blows where it wishes' it no longer becomes a matter of convenience. Convenience is the last thing on a man's mind when God calls him to Himself. Salvation is inconvenient and it is planned that way. Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." That just doesn't sound very convenient does it? You must be born again.

Secondly, convenience has no place in God's plan of redemption because there is a judgment to come followed by a perishing (John 3:16-19). Urgency is never convenient, likewise an emergency doesn't lend itself well to convenience. Modern evangelicalism has removed the urgent call to repentance and replaced it with a convenient call to "come experience Jesus". The truth is, men aren't the least bit interested in experiencing Jesus because of what's in them. Men loved the darkness rather than the Light, because their deeds are evil. Unbelievers are in no way looking to conveniently or inconveniently experience anything other than the "pleasure of sin for a season".

Salvation cannot be made a matter of convenience because there is an urgent, biblical call that goes out to all men everywhere to repent. The call to repent goes out urgently because no man knows the time or the hour of Christ's return to judge the living and the dead. Since no man knows the time or the hour, if we make salvation an issue of convenience we can be guaranteed that the thief will come at an hour of the night that we are not expecting him to come.

The judgment to come and the perishing that follows are terribly inconvenient truth's to the mind of the unbeliever. Convenience would never cause a man, or command a man to flee from the wrath to come. There is wrath to come, make no mistake about it. It is certainly not convenient, in fact it is catastrophic according to the truth of Scripture. True salvation is inconvenient because it is an urgent rescue mission carried out by the Sovereign Spirit of God. You must be born again.

Finally, being born again is not a matter of convenience because God will not share His glory with another. The chief end of man is to glorify God. Man's highest and greatest purpose is to glorify the God who created Him by loving Him and doing what He commands. God will not share His glory with another. Jesus said, "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God" (John 3:20-21).

True salvation manifests itself in the purposeful manner of inconvenience towards mans desires. The one who is born of God will move mountains to obey the commands of His Savior. The Christian life is never one of convenience, but a life set apart for the glory of God. True Christians let their light so shine before men that they will see their good deeds and glorify their Father in heaven.

It was not convenient for Jesus Christ to leave heaven and come to earth in the likeness of sinful flesh. It was not convenient for Jesus to be tempted in all ways, but yet to be found without sin. It was not convenient for Jesus Christ to be accused, arrested, beaten, whipped, punched in the face, spit upon or mocked. It was not convenient for Jesus to humble himself to the point of death, even death on a cross. It was not convenient for Jesus to be separated from the Father's love and to become the object of the fierce, holy wrath of Almighty God. It was not convenient for Jesus Christ to come into the world to save sinners. It was not convenient for Christ to save a multitude of rebels from every tribe, tongue and nation, but He did it all for the glory of God.

Jesus did not succumb to the desire for convenience while carrying out God's plan of redemption. Neither should we, the Church, succumb to the desire of convenience in leading soul's to salvation. Let us not Spiritually C-Section the lost souls of this dying world, but instead let them be born again by the Spirit of God's amazing grace. We must tell all mankind "what's in them". We must tell them of the "judgment to come and the perishing to follow". We must tell them "that God will not share His glory with another" and that He has purposed to glorify Himself by saving souls through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." You must be born again.

Casey Anthony Verdict - Outrageous Ignorance !

Yesterday's not guilty verdict for Casey Anthony has caused quite a stir in the media and in the hearts of all those who have been glued to there T.V.s for the duration of the trial. Despite the strong public opinion that she killed her 2 year old daughter, the Florida jury cleared Anthony of the murder charge she faced in the 2008 death of her daughter Caylee. The majority of onlookers and media commentators had expected Anthony to be found guilty of murder, even though most of the evidence relied upon was circumstantial. So, why the outrage? Why the uproar and surprise?

The outrage and uproar come as a result of ignorance. I don't say that in a condemning tone, but I myself am ignorant of the U.S. Justice System's standard of "guilt beyond a reasonable doubt". The vast majority of T.V. fans are ignorant of what it means to be "guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt". I believe this is so because most T.V. fans are ignorant of the judicial moorings of the United States of America.

This country was founded on and remains functioning under a legal system that is primarily Judeo-Christian. In other words, our laws and governing principles come from the Bible.

It didn't take long after the Casey Anthony verdict for the cries of "Justice Must Be Served" to be heard in the media, on the internet and in social forums of every kind. Justice is the cry, but I would submit to you the reader that the cry of justice comes as a result of ignorance. Popular opinion came to the conclusion that Casey Anthony was guilty, but the jurors must hold to a higher standard than the average T.V. watching citizen.

Most T.V. fans cried out for justice because they are ignorant. Not only are we ignorant in America of our own legal system, but we are even more ignorant of Almighty God's justice system. We are ignorant of God's justice because we are ignorant of His Word. Statistically speaking the greater majority of Americans would claim to be Christian. Surprisingly enough though, most would be found ignorant of what the Bible actually says about God. Although most Americans would claim to "worship" God they are actually ignorant of the subject matter. Just as the jurors for the Anthony trial were held to a higher standard, most people, including professing Christians are ignorant of God's standard of righteousness.

In Acts 17 the Apostle Paul preached to one of the most religious cultures of his day. This is what he said, "Therefore what you worship in ignorance , this I proclaim to you." Most people in our country would claim to be Christian and yet the vast majority are ignorant of the justice of God.

Stand in the shoes of Casey Anthony for a moment. You are going to die one day and stand before Almighty God, the God who created you. You will stand before God and give an account of your life on that final day. Judgment Day. The Apostle Paul went on to preach in that same message, "... He (God) has fixed a day in which He will judge this world in righteousness ...". Dear reader, let me ask you a question. Do you want justice, perfect justice on that Day when you stand before God?

Look at your life for a moment according to how God views it. Casey Anthony was accused of murder and found not guilty. Put on her shoes for a moment. Our ignorance blinds us to the truth of God's Word.

Have you ever been angry with someone or have you ever called someone a name. Have you ever been so mad as to think bad thoughts about a person. Maybe you have wished harm to come to someone because you were mad at them.

Listen to the words of Jesus, "You have heard that the ancients were told, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER" and "Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court." 'But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, You good-for-nothing, shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, "you fool," shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.'

Casey Anthony was found "not guilty" because there was "a shadow of doubt" concerning the evidence. There is no shadow of doubt that we have all been angry with someone in our lives. In fact our conscience bears witness to the fact that it is true. Maybe you are even angry at Casey Anthony for what you think she did. We don't need a jury to determine our guilt before God. He has written His Holy Law on each one of our hearts and given us a conscience to testify that this is true.

Casey Anthony was found guilty of lying to the Police. Have you ever lied? The 9th commandment says "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor". How many times have you lied in your lifetime? How many times have you withheld the truth from a situation? If Casey Anthony was found guilty of lying to man, how much more severe the penalty of being found guilty lying to God?

Those are just two of the Ten Commandments God has given us to obey. How are you doing? Do you still want perfect justice on Judgment Day? You have sinned against God and you deserve His justice. God's justice is so thorough, He will see your thought life. The justice of God says that the penalty for sin is death and that God will give you Hell. I mean that literally.

If we truly understood the justice of God we wouldn't cry out for justice to come to Casey Anthony or any other human being for that matter. We would cry out to God for mercy on her behalf. We don't want justice, we need mercy. You don't want the justice of God, you need the mercy of God.

Jesus Christ died for sinners. Christ died for lawbreakers. Only the sick need a physician, likewise only the guilty need a Savior. If you think it was outrageous that Casey Anthony was declared "not guilty", how much more outrageous will it be for you to think that God's perfect justice will overlook your sin on the Day of Judgment? You need mercy my friend. We all need mercy.

2000 years ago God perfectly showed His justice and mercy to all the world. Jesus Christ lived a perfectly holy life. He never sinned. God came in the flesh that He might declare Law breakers like me, you and Casey Anthony, NOT GUILTY on the Day we all stand before Him. Jesus died, was buried, and on the third day rose from the dead. Jesus Christ defeated sin, death and the grave.

Ignorance will be no excuse on the Day of Judgment. You don't want justice. You need the mercy of God that is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ. Please turn from your sins and follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Cry out for mercy to the Only One who can satisfy God's justice on your behalf. Jesus Christ The Righteous One.