"We are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners."
R.C. Sproul
The next section of Charles Colson's classic "Loving God" is called Sin and Repentance and starts off with a humorous chapter entitled "A Christian Gangster". No this isn't the place to insert you own joke, believe me there are plenty but it is a wonderful section that is often misunderstood in the life of those who call Christ their King.
Colson closes Chapter 7 with these hard hitting words, "We Christians are usually quick to say we want to "be like Jesus." but if we are honest about what those familiar Sunday School words really mean, we'll see they compel us to adopt His attitudes; and that means belief in, and submission to, the Scriptures. Instead, we find a thousand ways to resist their truth, to rationalize their calling on our lives. For deep inside we know that obedience to the Scripture without concern for consequences is penetrating and painful. It requires us to die to self and follow Christ. It demands that we recognize the sin in our lives and that we acknowledge and repent of that sin. Many prefer to turn off at this point, or think they can live the Christian life on their own terms---that is, without conversion in attitude and action that must follow the conversion of heart."
I can't tell you how many people, even within my own family, believe they can call themselves a Christian without regard to how they conduct their own life. Not ever searching for Holy Scriptures to see what they believe is true or not. Not ever considering what they watch or listen to honors God. Not even giving a glimpsing thought about the way they spend their money. Rarely, if ever, praying or reading the Bible. Never once considering sharing the gospel with their lost friends or neighbors. Absolutely thinking it not a big deal if they are not involved in a local Bible-believing Church, much less attending one on a regular basis.
Now before we go much further, allow me to add that DOING those things won't get you into heaven. Our salvation is fully depended upon the saving work of Christ on the cross but once the Holy Spirit changes you (Ephesians 2: 1-10) you life is changed and the evidence of that is a desire to love and serve God by doing at least those things. Only now you do them out of love and obedience to Christ and not our of hope of your good works will please God.
In chapter 8, Colson tells the story of a real life gangster named Mickey Cohen and his meeting with Billy Graham. Los Angeles in the 1940's and 50's was controlled by Myer Harris Cohen, known to his friends and enemies as Mickey.
In 1949 Cohen received a phone call from one of his employees, a man named Jim Vaus. Vaus called Cohen late one night and asked to meet with him. So Cohen invited Jim and his wife Alice to his home. Vaus then explained to the mobster that he had attended a Billy Graham Crusade in downtown LA and had become a Christian. Vaus said that because of his decision to follow Christ he was giving up his life of crime and he couldn't work for Cohen anymore.
When Vaus called some gangsters in St. Louis that he could no longer do work for them, a couple of men came to visit him. Vaus knew what they wanted, to either kill or cripple him, but he stood on his porch for 45 minutes and explained the life-changing experience he had with Christ. When he was done, the men turned and walked off, never to bother him again.
Because of Vaus' conversion and Graham's popularity, Cohen wanted to meet the young evangelist. So a meeting was made and along with 60 or so people Graham shared the gospel and then offered an invitation. They also gave out a copy of the Gospel of John and Mickey took one.
In 1951 Mickey went to jail and got out in 1955 and while he had lost most if not all his power, Vaus offered to help him and introduced him to a Christian layman named W.C. Jones to implored Cohen to give his life to Christ after explaining God's plan of salvation to him in detail.
Eventually Mickey prayed the sinner's prayer. Jones was sure that Mickey's prayer was genuine and soon word spread in the Christianity community that the gangster turned to the gospel. Jones knew that Mickey needed more instruction so they flew him to New York City to meet with Graham. Cohen was taken to an area reserved for special guest and it was there he heard the gospel once again.
After the service he went back to LA and called Jones and Vaus less often. He started hanging out with his underworld friends again. Jones heard this and went to him to counsel him but Cohen wanted nothing of it.
"Jones," Mickey said. "you never told me that I had to give up my career. You never told me that I had to give up my friends. There are Christian movie stars, Christian athletes, Christian businessmen. So what's the matter with being a Christian gangster? If I have to give up all that---if that's Christianity--count me out."
Cohen was echoing what million of professing Christians who, though unwilling to admit it, through their very lives pose the same question. "Not about being Christian gangsters, but about being Christianized versions of whatever they already are---and are determined to remain. And, like Mickey, we cannot love God--cannot obey Him--and remain what we are. There must be a change of actions and attitudes.
Loving God means striving to have all of our actions and attitudes resemble Christ. Ask God today to, as King David said in Psalms 139, " O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar." (Psalm 139:1-2 ESV) to the honor and praise of His Holy Name.
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