Inappropriate

It seemed quite certain that it was inappropriate. In the midst of “Oh, how wonderful. What a great feeling. How did I ever deserve this?” It certainly did not seem like it was appropriate that it should be. It was the immediate reaction to the good that should happen when it happened to me. Even though I was the one who knew “deserve” was not in the equation. I am bent in my ego toward selfishness and control and using people and inappropriate-contentloving things. The moment my mind considered the thought, then, it was an inappropriate touch. My mind went immediately to the remembrance of that touch which was indeed unsuitable.

It is not about finding balance. Balance indicates there is a full measure of each. It says the good and the evil are complimentary or equivalents. Nothing could be further from the truth. God is good, all the time. Good is the presence and power of God. Evil is the absence of good, the absence of the controlling power of God. If evil is present, it is because God has been relegated to less control. This is only done by choice. Animals never choose to do or be evil. They operate strictly within the nature and instinct which God has placed within them. People are God’s greatest creation and other than the original rebellion of the angels they are only ones to whom He has extended the choice to limit His activity in their existence.

Inappropriate touch is clearly defined in the Scriptures. The Levites were chosen for special service before the Lord. They were restricted from performing that service based upon having touched a dead or sick creature or person. They would be considered unclean. It would be inappropriate for them to touch that which is wholly dedicated to the Lord.

Especially if they were unclean themselves for having touched an unclean thing. It would be inappropriate to attempt to resolve an unholy situation by confronting it when you were not completely under the control of the Holy Spirit in thought and deed. We are admonished to “lay hands on no man suddenly.” It is not possible to “fix” someone else when you yourself are “broke”. There is considerable difference between having the good sense God gave you and having the mind of Christ.

Isaiah proclaimed both his unworthiness and his totally complete healing and restoration in describing the messenger of God touching a searing burning coal to his lips. In that pure cleansed state of utter Holiness Isaiah could respond “Here am I; send me”. It would have been inappropriate for him to make such an assertion without having been made Holy. Clearly we are instructed that sin cannot enter into God’s presence. Clearly we cannot undo the effects of past sin. Our only appropriate choices going forward is to choose rightly, to choose holy, to choose appropriately. Yet even this cannot be done if there is within us some measure of inappropriateness. We call it unforgiven and unconfessed sin.

These are two separate categories. Unforgiven sin is an affront to the Holy Creator of the Universe. It is the rebellious unrepentant state of every one who has not received the atoning blood of Jesus Christ as the covering for their sin. Hebrews tells us the “without the shedding of blood is no remission”. Every cancer victim I know of desires more than anything that their cancer would go into remission.

Every sinner needs the same desire. Jesus died on Calvary, paying the price for rebellious sin. However gaining the “paid in full” stamped on your sin debt requires asking for it. It is not unlike running a marathon and needing a drink of water. The water is free to runners at each mile but they have to ask. If they do not ask, the suppliers will not interfere with the race, even if they see the runners failing. They may encourage, they may use other runners as examples, but they will not force any runner to take their water.

The other category is unconfessed sin. It is that area of a true believer’s life which they strangely imagine is somehow hidden from God. He thinks it strange that you run with the same excess of riot as the unforgiven while they are speaking evil of you. The unconfessed are truly forgiven but unwilling to look into the loving eyes of Him who died for their sins because they understand the slap and spit they have done to His free gift. Perhaps they have taken a shortcut and not obeyed the course rules. Even if only they and the master know of their transgression. They know the Savior’s sacrifice was sufficient to atone all their transgressions. Their falling into sin after receiving His forgiveness does not remove their forgiveness or right standing before Him, but it causes their eyes to refuse to look upon the one who died for them. Their relationship is hindered but not destroyed. They know they need only call upon His grace to restore their relationship. It is like our marathon runner taking the water and being unwilling to drink it because they are in guilt from their relationship. It is inappropriate for the runner to finish the race without giving glory to the one who restored them and enabled them to run it.

It is inappropriate for the runner to claim the victory without being restored. Eventually all unconfessed sin of the righteous becomes confessed. Eventually even the righteous appearance of the unforgiven is revealed a hideous fabrication. For it is inappropriate for the Lord to allow the unforgiven to finish the race and claim Holy victory. Attempting to touch the heart of Jesus for your own profit and praise will not turn out good. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap. If you work toward God in deception, you will be deceived by Satan, by others and by your own heart.

An honest open approach to God is very appropriate. Even if it is just a question. Such as “God if you are really real, show me the truth and I will believe it”. After all what proof do you have that He is who He claims to be? That might be the start of an interesting conversation with Him as well. Another approach which might be appropriate for the forgiven could be “Lord, show me the sin in my life which I have not confessed to you”.

That could be a very healthy conversation as well. It is never appropriate to be satisfied with being inappropriate. It is never right to be happy with being wrong. Even the laws of every morally directed society in the world state it is inappropriate for a former convicted criminal to associate with known criminals. Their deeds are done in secret and in darkness. It would be considered inappropriate for them to transgress the law openly in public and in the light of day. Why then would a forgiven want to be viewed as or act as an unforgiven? It would simply be inappropriate.

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