Hate Sin – Love Mercy
IN the late morning session of The Salvation Army World Youth Convention on Friday 16 July, Major Sandra Ryan (Canada and Bermuda Territory) drilled home to all present the reality of sin and its horrible, harmful consequences.
The major said Christians need to hate sin because sin delivers hurt and destruction. She graphically illustrated the disgusting deadliness of sin using the Bible book of Leviticus with its detailed instructions pertaining to animal sacrifice because of sin.
And as she shared about the terrible consequences that sin has on people Major Ryan gradually constructed a watertight case for sin to be passionately hated.
Major Ryan explained how the victims of sin through their suffering also pay the price for the perpetrators of the sin. She spoke of the deceptive ‘sin now pay later’ effect where initially it seems that sin has no ill effect, only for it to be discovered later that many have paid an adverse price.
The major revealed that the main weapon in the warfare against sin is mercy, and further, that Jesus Christ is at the frontline of the battle dispensing mercy.
Major Ryan explained that God wants Christians to fight sin by being ‘holy people who live lives of radical mercy’.
Spiritual Disciplines Bring Freedom
DURING the late Friday afternoon high-energy session in the Aula Magna auditorium Lieut-Colonels Janet and Richard Munn (International Headquarters) passionately outlined the importance of spiritual disciplines in helping us to stay close to God over the long haul.
The World Youth Convention delegates were challenged by the colonels to commit their whole life to God, and to use everything at their disposal to become more like Jesus.
Lieut-Colonel Janet Munn told those gathered in the main auditorium that the practising of spiritual disciplines ‘helps us to stay on the straight and narrow road with God because they are the tools and equipment that help us make the best choices in life’.
She pointed out that there are two main streams of spiritual disciplines: disciplines of abstinence such as fasting, solitude, silence, chastity, sacrifice and simplicity; and disciplines of engagement such as worship, study, prayer, fellowship, celebration and service.
In building on the teaching of his wife, Lieut-Colonel Richard Munn said that ‘practising these disciplines will enable us to carry out our Salvationism with greater freedom.’ He said that discipline and freedom go together.
As he moved into practical teaching regarding the disciplines of worship and prayer the colonel said the spiritual disciplines make us free to love and serve the world in the way Jesus wants.
He passionately stated that God wants wholehearted worship from his people. ‘Sunday isn’t about us waiting to receive,' he said. 'It’s about us coming to work as we participate in worship. Worship makes the church different to every other entity in the world.’
And in relation to the spiritual discipline of prayer Lieut-Colonel Munn detailed a disciplined, yet flexible approach to prayer that incorporates prayer for ourselves (the deep desires of our heart), our family, friends, leaders – religious and secular – and everyone else who comes into our area of influence.
Photos of the World Youth Convention are at Flickr.com
