We need a Phinehas

Just then, while everyone was weeping in penitence at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, an Israelite man, flaunting his behavior in front of Moses and the whole assembly, paraded a Midianite woman into his family tent. Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw what he was doing, grabbed his spear, and followed them into the tent. With one thrust he drove the spear through the two of them, the man of Israel and the woman, right through their private parts. That stopped the plague from continuing among the People of Israel. But 24,000 had already died.            Numbers 25:6-8

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Sin, in the life of unrepentant people, breeds a level of hubris that is stunning. The need to hide sin from the community, in shame, disappears and heinous acts are paraded arrogantly in front of everybody. And, if not addressed directly, becomes a virus that will infect the entire nation. 

We cannot suggest this man was unaware of his bad behavior because Israel was enduring punishment, at that very time, for sexual immorality and Baal worship. So, He just didn't care what his behavior cost the community. 

Such carelessness comes at a terrible price...

We live in a world saturated with immorality...flaunted publicly before all to see. The level of self-absorption is incomprehensible. Activities considered abhorrent just a generation ago are now commonplace. Public immorality is a cancer that is destroying our communities. But...unrepentant sinners don't care about the cost to others, as long as they can satisfy their own lusts. Sober people should have none of it. The 

First, I am not implying we take matters into our own hands and mete out God's wrath. These offenders are loved by God and must be loved by us...in hopes of turning them around. Second, I am not suggesting those of us who are more circumspect are somehow morally superior. Hidden sins are just as deadly as public sins. 

I do suggest we begin taking a stand against against behavior we know offends God. If we don't, our community will become a Petrie dish where the culture of sin grows and invades every part. Death of moral sensibility is right around the corner...making it impossible to, any longer, distinguish right from wrong. So, in humility before God, we must agree to call sin "sin". We must keep our personal struggles and temptations private and humbly bring them before God who sees all and knows all. This isn't to pretend we aren't sinners. This is to help ensure others don't use our own behavior as license to disobey God. 

Later in the chapter God told Moses, “Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has stopped my anger against the People of Israel because he was as zealous for my honor as I myself am." Think about this. God may change His entire attitude toward our nation simply because you...or I, take a stand. 

Will you be our Phinehas?

This isn't popular. This will certainly result in ridicule and worse. Yet, we must choose. Scripture says we cannot serve both God and man. "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15

The eternal welfare of our children may depend on it...

Live boldly out there today...