We’ve come a long way from the days of the Fire and Brimstone preacher—and tent revivals. When I read Spurgeon this morning it seemed to me he is speaking against the propensity of our human nature to trust in our own piety.
In Spurgeon’s day (1834-1892) Christians wanted to be seen as pious, righteous, set-apart. Today the pendulum has swung far to the other side, where Christians wanting to be considered pious, righteous or set-apart—are thought of as judgmental and haters. We have gone so far as to think that God wouldn’t or couldn’t be a loving god if He held us to any kind of standard…let alone the harsh rules—Law—of the Old Testament, or the even narrower view of the New Testament.
But it doesn’t really matter which way we go—overly pious or believing anything goes—both extremes pollute the word and it becomes another gospel!
“If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.” – Exodus 20:25
God’s altar was to be built of unhewn stones, that no trace of human skill or labour might be seen upon it. Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more congenial with the depraved tastes of fallen nature; instead, however, of improving the gospel carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all. All alterations and amendments of the Lord’s own Word are defilements and pollutions. The proud heart of man is very anxious to have a hand in the justification of the soul before God; preparations for Christ are dreamed of, humblings and repentings are trusted in, good works are cried up, natural ability is much vaunted, and by all means the attempt is made to lift up human tools upon the divine altar. It were well if sinners would remember that so far from perfecting the Saviour’s work, their carnal confidences only pollute and dishonour it. The Lord alone must be exalted in the work of atonement, and not a single mark of man’s chisel or hammer will be endured. There is an inherent blasphemy in seeking to add to what Christ Jesus in His dying moments declared to be finished, or to improve that in which the Lord Jehovah finds perfect satisfaction. Trembling sinner, away with thy tools, and fall upon thy knees in humble supplication; and accept the Lord Jesus to be the altar of thine atonement, and rest in him alone.
Many professors may take warning from this morning’s text as to the doctrines which they believe. There is among Christians far too much inclination to square and reconcile the truths of revelation; this is a form of irreverence and unbelief, let us strive against it, and receive truth as we find it; rejoicing that the doctrines of the Word are unhewn stones, and so are all the more fit to build an altar for the Lord. ~ Spurgeon
Randy I am always so encouraged by your insight. The “new-speak” is becoming more and more blatant. The definitions of words are changing everyday. It makes communicating with each other harder and can even cause serious riffs.
When Webster talks negatively about piety, I think he means false-piety. When you say one thing and then do another–known commonly as being a hypocrite. It seems somehow that those two words have mingled together and are used interchangeably–if you’re pious you must be a hypocrite!
You sure have it right about where the pendulum is, I saw the word “pious” and I struggled to think of that as a good thing.
I remembered my old status “Am I glad that I am a member of a society that disdains and ridicules puritanism?”
So I started looking for a definition of pious
Merriam-Webster online has for the main definition:
1
a : marked by or showing reverence for deity and devotion to divine worship
b : marked by conspicuous religiosity
Why do we need part b ?
Here are their examples of PIOUS
They lived a quiet, pious life.
I’m tired of hearing politicians making pious pronouncements about their devotion to the people.
So “pious” means boring or Liar ??
Here is the definition in Webster’s original dictionary from 1828:
1. Godly; reverencing and honoring the Supreme Being in heart and in the practice of the duties he has enjoined; having due veneration and affection for the character of God, and habitually obeying his commands; religious; devoted to the service of God; applied to persons.
2. Dictated by reverence to God; proceeding from piety; applied to things; as pious awe; pious services of affections; pious sorrow.
3. Having due respect and affection for parents or other relatives; practicing the duties of respect and affection towards parents or other near relatives.
4. Practiced under the pretense of religion; as pious frauds.
So Mr. Webster did include Liars for his 4th definition, but it sure looks like the pendulum has swung over the years – as you said now the pious are haters