Sugar-Coated

Believers/followers of Christ are called to be the salt of the world - not the sugar of the world.  When professing believers find themselves inclined to say what will please those who are in error or who are practicing sin, we are sugar-coating the Word of God.  When waking during the early morning hours Saturday, I heard the following idea:   


               They have replaced sackcloth and ashes with sugar. 

I thought, "Lord, what does that mean..."  Last night, I ran across an old sermon on this very subject (without looking for it) that dealt with believers turning church into entertainment and worldly events - falsely believing that they must do this in order to draw people to believe in Jesus.  The sermon used the phrase "sugar-candy" within it.  How many times do we find ourselves in a conversation with a person who is speaking a lie or condoning sin and think we should probably just remain silent...  

Not speaking the Truth that the Holy Spirit has revealed is denial of the Truth.  Jesus speaks strong words for those who deny Him. 

Those who deny Him will also be denied by the Father. 

Satan has truly convinced so many that instead of mourning sin, denying ourselves, and diligently seeking the Lord with a broken heart that we are to, instead, stroke the egos of those who are willfully sinning.  Using this social outlet as an example (but this really applies to every area of our lives):  Satan has convinced many that we must "like" a Facebook status that clearly glorifies sin and goes against the Word of God.  If we don't like that status, we are wicked, ignorant, and filled with hate....  What clever tactics utilized by the father of lies himself. 

Jesus reached out to sinners and called them to change.  Never does He "like" their sin.  He does, however, call them to "pluck out" their sin and instead follow Him.  Alone, we do not have power to overcome sin, but with Him, we can overcome whatever sin or demon is tormenting us. Sometimes our sugar coating of sin is more subtle. Sometimes, we know that we should encourage people to seek God and not stop until God speaks, but we don't say it because we know that person is not receptive to "that kind of faith" and "that kind of walk with Jesus."

We must speak what God has shown us.  I believe it, and I will say it. 

We are to be salt. 

A sugar-coating of sin still leaves us with sin underneath and at the core.