I have to admit as an amateur blogger (is there any other kind really?), I enjoy writing.  I’ve posted well over a hundred posts between this blog and a mirror type blog hosted by Blogger.  But the one post that I believe is continuing to help people and actually make an impact in their life the most is one that is really no credit to anything I’ve even written.  I had no idea that linking to a message about the guilt from sexual sin would be the most “clicked?” link I’ve ever posted.  On a DAILY basis, multiple people stumble on that post and follow the link to Desiring God (Piper treasure trove) and I would assume read and listen to the sermon he preached at the Passion ‘07 Conference.  This tells me a few things.  One, Piper touched on a nerve with that message.  I believe that in practically every way his sermon was spot on.  It was timely, timeless, and relevant.  Two, it was powerful.  Guilt from sexual sin is strong and overpowering.  God’s Word is more so.  Third (these are really all related), people are looking for the answer to their guilt from sin.  The answer is Jesus, without apologies.  It’s not try harder.  It’s not do better.  It’s not be stronger.  It’s just Jesus.  I imagine this is not even in the top 4 million posts on a sermon of this type.  But the simple fact that I can link to a message, that the world can find, and that people follow that link and find healing for their sin is overwhelming.  No one ever comments on the post and I do not expect them to.  But I find a great deal of joy in logging on and seeing that, for another day, people are being affected not by me but by a message from another servant of God.  If you’ve not listened to the message why not give it a go today?

Mark Driscoll says things from time to time that I wish I thought of, says things in ways I could never get away with, but things that just downright resonate. The Church he pastors in Seattle is currently in the middle of a sermon series called “Religion Saves and 9 Other Misconceptions,” based on the top 9 questions that people submitted and voted on at their website. Last Sunday dealt with a question on Sexual Sin. At the end of an hour long sermon which was a complete home run, he took randomly text messaged questions from the audience. One of the questions was about “tolerance” (post-modern buzz word that means “You should accept EVERYTHING as equally valid and true”) and judgment. Something like, “Isn’t God the only one that has a right to judge me for my sexuality?” The answer was stark raving crazy and oh so true. I’m going to attempt to transcript his answer. “Ultimately you do not pass eternal judgment, heaven and hell. Jesus says in John 5, ‘The Father has entrusted all judgment to me, and I will judge.’ But Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5, regarding those that claim to be Christians and are in the church, he says quote, ‘Make a sound judgment.’ Judge. Make a decision. If somebody walks up to you and says, ‘Hey can I get naked and break commandments,’ you should say ‘No.’ And in so doing you’re just reminding them of God who has already laid down certain judgments.” Great first part of the answer. The question continues with “Isn’t God the only one righteous enough to do so?” Mark continues, “Yes and He has in His word and He’s entrusted it to us to make a sound judgment. See you, many of you are single and perverts. Let’s just bottom line this. Were you parents, you would not ask this question. Let’s say you had a 16 year old daughter that you loved, and cared for, and raised, and encouraged, and blessed, and led to Jesus, and prayed for, and read the Bible with. And some 17 year old boy knocks on your door, ‘Can I get her naked?’ What you wouldn’t say is ‘Who am I to judge.’ What you would say is, ‘Sweetheart get my shovel. We gotta find a way to hide the body, that’s what you would say.’ See people only don’t like to judge when they’re the sinner, not the victim.”

That my friends is classic Mark Driscoll. He hits the nail on the head in so many ways. The last line is probably the most important. “People only don’t like to judge when they’re the sinner, not the victim.”

From time to time I will link to posts from other blogs, news stories, sermons from people that I respect and learn much from, etc.  This sermon was delivered by John Piper at the Passion ‘07 Conference and is all about what to do about guilt from sexual sin.  It is POWERFUL and blunt and needed by men and women alike.  It will resonate with you.  The whole sermon is worth it simply for the final 10 minutes where Dr. Piper walks through Micah 7:8-9.  It will bring tears to your eyes.  If I could have an ounce of his passion and zeal!  Here’s the link to the page the sermon is on, along with a manuscript of the message.  I will not summarize the message for you.  You simply need to listen.