But in listening again to the song this week - a few things struck me:
#1 - a whole new lyric adapted from the original (see below).
#2 - my mind was immediately turned to 1 Corinthians 3:18 - and the them of "fooling yourself" or "do not be deceived" throughout scripture. Considering that I was already in the middle of a sermon on 1 Corinthians 3:18-23, it gave me a title to that message.
How do we fool ourselves? Let me count the ways (ok - maybe not count them here - this could turn into the longest blog post in recorded history). But a few of the highlights might include:
- Failing to sincerely and regularly study the Word of God, but still try to speak to spiritual matters.
- Point out the sin in the lives of others, while ignoring the flood of sins in our own eyes.
- Continuing to live in sin - clinging to our "little pet sins" that we think don't hurt anything...
- When we say we don't "need" church - we can worship anywhere...
- When we put our personal preferences above what is best for the mission and ministry of the local church (think thermostats, seating, volume, music, and other comforts).
- When we substitute the smiling, sugar-dripping, propserty-teaching TV preacher for the local, God-called minister of the Word.
- When we say "I know what the Bible says, BUT...."
- Or the equally disturbing "I don't think God really meant ________"
- When we think that our children "going to church" for an hour or two a week will somehow fulfill the parental responsibility to educate our children...
- When we agonize over our families when they explode in bad decisions and choices - yet never speak up or share the Cure (Jesus Christ), or even live what we might could say.
- When one hops from church to church, seeking the "perfect church" where no-one every bickers, argues, complains, or says anything that might hurt your feelings.
- When you assume you are "a-ok" and "saved" because you walked an isle and repeated some prayer a preacher or minister had you copy... but you never really trusted Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, repenting of your sins (literally means turning FROM - rejecting).
- And for us preachers - if you have ever counted "raised hands" as salvations...
- If you think your God-rejecting, rebellious child or other relative is going to heaven because their name is on a church roll.
- You think you are a spiritually-mature Christian, yet still crave (and indeed NEED) the milk (Hebrews 5:12, 1 Corinthians 3:2)
How are so many deceived? Could it be that they simply place themselves in a voluntary position of being deceived? the Lord has given us His Holy Word - sufficient for teaching, corruption, training... (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
And now - for the cheesy re-write of the song "Foolin' Yourself":
You see the world through your sin-filled eyes
You are a troubled young soul, I can tell…
You think you have it all under control
But your heart is filled with sin and your head filled with strife.
And you’re foolin’ yourself, if you don’t believe it
Your killing yourself, if you don’t repent of it.
Why must you be such a deceived young man
With your future in Hell condemned to be?
How can you give into Satans plans
That could hide your light of your eternity young man?
And you’re foolin’ yourself, if you don’t believe it
Your killing yourself, if you don’t repent of it.
Get up! Get down on your knees!
In Christ, Satan can’t beat you, you know it
Come on, repent of the lot
Give unto Christ your heart and don’t blow it!
And you’re foolin’ yourself, if you don’t believe it
Your killing yourself, if you don’t repent of it.
Get up! Get down on your knees!
In Christ, Satan can’t beat you, you know it
Come on, repent of the lot
Give unto Christ your heart and don’t blow it!
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