State of the Church: The Celtic Revival (18)
[L]et each examine himself, whether he has firmly fulfilled or borne these duties, lest he should be estranged from the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, since the son should not be degenerate and the disciple should not contradict the master in his preaching; for he that does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep is a thief and a robber, and he who shuns the toil of chastising and opposing sinful men is a hireling, not a son ever to abide in the church.
– Columbanus, Letter to Pope Gregory
You who love the LORD, hate evil!
– Psalm 97.10
Robber priests
Jonathan Edwards wrote that one sure indicator of the work of the Holy Spirit is hatred of sin and the kingdom of sin in all its forms (Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God). In the various kingdoms of Gaul, early in the 7th century, sin was no big deal. In fact, sin seemed to be everybody’s friend, since there was no attempt to curtail certain forms of it, and since it was openly practiced by kings and clerics alike.
The priests of Gaul did not preach against sin, as Jesus had done. Thus, Columbanus wrote, they had “estranged” themselves from the category of disciples. The had become “degenerate” and were robbing the people of God of the blessings of sanctification and holiness.
They were indeed “hirelings” and would do nothing that might upset their comfortable way of life.
The priests of Gaul failed to see that the young people in their churches were hungry for something more, something true, demanding, and transforming. Which is why, when they learned about the new monasteries Columbanus and his troop had begun, and the disciplined life they promoted, they flocked by the hundreds to those communities of true disciples.
Examine ourselves
What about us? Do we hate sin? Are we clinging to our comforts and conveniences? Do we fancy ourselves disciples of Jesus, though there is little about our lives to support that notion? Are we Christians according to the guidelines of our culture or the demands of our King?
The priests of Gaul would not examine themselves. Instead, as we shall see, they tried to silence Columbanus and his monks, either by edict or exile. We must examine ourselves daily, seeking a clean conscience, a pure heart, and a ready mind to follow as the Lord leads. Our Father tests us moment by moment (Job 7.17, 18). We must strive to be sure that, as he does, he sees a true “son” and “disciple” in all we are and do.
Let us examine ourselves. Do we love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength? Are we harboring any idols of false gods? Taking His Name upon us with no effects? Making of His day of rest whatever we will? Coveting? Lusting? Lying? Not loving our neighbor? The Spirit God has given us works to teach us the Law of God so that we both learn and obey it (Ezek. 36.26, 27). He can lead us through the commandments of the Lord to convict us of sin, righteousness, and judgment (Jn. 16.8-11), but we must be willing and make time for Him to do so. He hates sin more than we do, and He can expose the sins within us, train our hearts for confession and repentance, and equip us with the glory of Jesus to make us more like Him.
The priests of Gaul were not interested in such a disciplined life, so the sheep were battered and scattered and lost. As God tests us moment by moment, let us by His Word and Spirit embrace the examination and through it, rise to greater levels of Christlikeness all day long.
Which is merely to say, let us, by opposing all sin and following in Jesus’ steps, be disciples indeed.
For Reflection
1. When do you set aside time for the Spirit to lead you in self-examination?
2. What’s the difference between confession of sin and repentance? When should we practice these?
Psalm 97.9-12
Darwall: Rejoice, the Lord Is King
All you who love the LORD, despise sin’s wicked ways!
Praise Him Who guides us by His Word through all our days.
Refrain, v. 9
Beyond, above
all gods and nations be exalted, God of love!
T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
For a good complementary study to this, check out Such a Great Salvation. It’s free in The Ailbe Bookstore.
Other columns of interest: This week: In our ReVision series on “The Church” we look at David as an example of a visionary leader. Our Read Moore podcast is working through our book, The Kingdom Turn. The focus of our Scriptorium daily study is on “Matthew: The Coming of the Kingdom.” Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
