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The shocking news of Operation Auxin is unfolding across our media. An international investigation has broken open child pornography networks. Paedophilia has been brought into the light - the heinous exploitation of children to satisfy sexual perversion and rapacity.

Click here for more details.

It’s one thing for such sin to be in the world. It’s an unbearable act of betrayal for it to be manifest in the life of a Priest – or anyone bearing the name of Christian. Such an act is crucifying Jesus on the Cross again (Heb 6:6).

What was once a secret act on a computer has become global shame on the whole Christian church. Any person who downloads such materials is supporting those who abuse and manipulate the weak and innocent for shameful gain.

In recent times God has been shaking the tree (Heb 12:26). The Christian church has been brought into public disrepute in many areas of sexual abuse and brought a negative connotation to the word Christian.  How has this disgrace happened?

In 1993 I co-authored a discipleship course for new Christians entitled “Being Disciples” This course is still on-line and may be freely accessed by clicking here. The manual was distributed in Australia by the Bible Society. After a year they reported low sales because, they said, the Church was not interested in discipleship.

Instead vast tracts of the Christian church followed the world into self-centredness, consumerism and participation in entertainment that brings sin into our lounge rooms and movie theatres. Let him who is without sin in their viewing be the first to cast the stone at the priest defrocked by paedophilia!

I tell you, going to church on Sunday and hearing a 20 min sermon of which you remember 10% if you’re lucky, then having a cup of coffee and talking about the football (guys)… has nothing whatsoever to do with serving Jesus Christ. This is a sham on the life-changing call to follow Jesus.

As I have travelled around the wider Christian church in the last two years I make five contradictory observations:

1. The many wonderful people who have given their lives to serve Jesus;

2. The shocking question that comes up over and over again in the church: “what’s in it for me”. Well it’s not about you! It’s about Jesus and the Kingdom of God;

3. A church fragmented and argumentative, descending into legalism and not even envisaging a life of grace and unity in its governance and ministry;

4. Churches lacking vision for their city beyond their immediate concerns; and

5. Churches not practicing the great commandment of proactive discipleship.

There is a solution
There is a victorious Christian life to be lived

It starts with humility with a recognition of need and an attitude of repentance of all sin. It starts with a plea to God to do in our lives that which we cannot do for ourselves. It’s about dying to self and being filled with the Holy Spirit. It’s about moving on through Romans 6 and 7 to living out chapter 8. It’s about releasing Christ within (Col 1:27).

Let us take this Scripture to heart as if we had never read it before:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Rom 12:1-2).

To be a Christian means not accepting any goal less than this. It means getting serious with Jesus.

Ask yourself this question:
“Is what you are living for worth Jesus dying for?”

Discipleship means discipline under God. It means going through the pain barrier (Hebrews 12). It means releasing the Holy Spirit in your life and working with him. It means casting off the unworthy and being hungry and thirsty for Jesus and His righteousness (Matt 6:33, Colossians 3:9). It means being committed to obedience.

Holiness is a fruit of relationship with God (Romans 6:19-23) and developed in the body of Christ. Are you in a fellowship committed to this life of victory? You need to be in close friendship with people urging you on to Godliness. Not a sect based on control, isolation and shunning… but a Christian faith that integrates salt and light into every aspect of life, an outgoingness that is warm, welcoming, caring and consistent to the Gospel.

What is the alternative?

Recurring Unresolved Issues Negated = R.U.I.N.

No one wants their secret sin on the front pages of the paper. Not for the sake of the innocents, not for your sake, and not to bring further disrepute to the beautiful name of Jesus.

Therefore do not settle with any unresolved issues in your life. If there are problems you can’t get through by yourself, then find a mentor who is living out Romans 12:1-2. God has a way through for you.

The Cross is powerful to bring victory over every sin - for every person who responds to Jesus. This was demonstrated at the outset by the two thieves crucified with Christ. Discipleship is our on-going co-operation with the Holy Spirit… progressively applying the victory of the Cross to every situation in everyday life.

Here are some immediate resources that will strengthen your everyday faith:

Being Disciples      www.airborne.org/dm

The King’s Table    www.kingstable.org

Cleansing Stream  www.cleansingstream.org

Let us commit unreservedly to God’s call on our lives:

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt 22:37).

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV).

Peter Kentley
This article may be reproduced in its original form with credit and, where available, links back to AMC.

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