I literally only have about 10 minutes to write this post. I decided to write it after I found two half-eaten donuts in a box fixing to be put into the garbage.
Now wait a minute, let me clarify something. The two donut halves were not eaten off of; they were cut in half. But yes, they were being put into the garbage, but they were in their original boxes. Is there a problem with this? It was in the teacher’s lounge. So what’s the big deal?
Evidently, there was nothing wrong with getting these two donut halves. Actually, I got no strange looks from anyone when I asked for them. The only thing I got criticized for was buying a Diet Coke.
“You’re not going to drink that are you?” “Well, yeah,” I replied. “I’m evening things out, that’s all.”
“That’s… that’s bad for you! It’s got aspartame in it!”
“True,” I said, “But the regular stuff has corn syrup in it.”
“Well, that’s better than aspartame,” they retorted with a sneer.
Then I said, as I walked away, “Yeah but how many corns had to die in order to make that corn syrup? Don’t you care about the corn?”
All things in moderation, folks. All things in moderation.
It may come as a shock to some of you, but I still sin. Yes, this preacher still makes mistakes. You see, I am no better than anyone else, even though there used to be a time when I thought I was.
Years ago, when I was a really legalistic son-of-a-gun, it wasn’t uncommon for me to look down my nose at others who were “less spiritual.” Oh, I wouldn’t admit I thought I was better than anyone, because I really thought I was humble. It’s just, seriously, I never committed any of those horrible sins like adultery, murder, etc. All my sins were small, like not cleaning my room when asked, or looking too long at pictures in the J.C. Penney catalog.
But things changed. First, I found out that this self-righteous do-gooder could actually screw up – big time. Second, I found out that some of the ones I looked down on before had better excuses for their sin than I did. Third, I grew up. Forth, I found out what grace is all about.
So, I still mess up from time to time. I still sin, and that’s because I still live in unredeemed flesh. However, there are still times when I need to be reminded of how sinful my little sins are, and how great God’s grace is.
What I Deserve
Last week I lusted. Yes, this preacher – a married man and father of three – lusted. It’s not like I do it all the time, but I saw something on television that caused me to look longer than I needed to, to allow some thoughts to come into my mind that had no business there. A moment of weakness. Just being honest.
Later in the day, after a long day on a hot school bus, I took a shower. As I was washing my face, soap got into my eyes and caused them to sting. With a wince I felt a little twinge of guilt as I was reminded of the earlier sin involving my eyes. I said aloud, but to myself, “I guess I deserved that.”
Then, almost immediately, a still, small, Voice whispered into my heart, “No, what you really deserve is Hell.” In other words, it was like God was saying to me, “Anthony, is that how little you think of my Son’s sacrifice for you?” In other words, if all it took was a little soap in the eyes to pay for that mistake, why the cross?
Bam!
Do you realize that even if all you and I had ever done was commit some little, private sin, Jesus would have still had to die on a cross to reconcile us with God? Do you realize even the smallest, most insignificant sin is still sin in God’s eyes? ALL sin separates us from the Father, therefore ALL sin is worthy of Hell.
But praise the Lord for God’s amazing grace! It saved a wretch like me. Through it the righteousness of Christ was imputed to me, and therefore I am now truly clean, holy in the sight of God my Father.
I’m a sinner, but I’m a saved sinner. Thank God!
Do you want to know how you can be a “saved sinner,” too? Click on the Eternal Life tab at the top of the screen. If you’d like to talk with someone about it right now, call 1-888 – Need Him.
In case you are from a liberal society or background which prohibits whoop’ns, you might not know what I am talking about. Therefore, let me tell you what a “whoop’n” is.
A whoop’n (the abbreviated form of “whipping”) is a spanking, a tail thrashing, a belt to the rear, a switch’n, a “rod of instruction to the seat of discipline.”
Whoop’ns are not abuse. I survived many, and I’m thankful for every one my mom and dad gave me. They administered them in love.
Holy Wood Shed
The reason I am telling you all about “whoop’ns” is because God gave me one four years ago today. Yes, the Lord took me to His heavenly wood shed all because I acted like a hypocrite.
My daughter with Building 429
You see, four years ago a group called Building 429 came through town and I made of fool of myself in front of God and everybody, including my family and a bunch of guys who love Jesus. I judged them based on what they looked like – the very thing I preached and wrote against on this very website.
If you’d like to read the original story, just click on the link below. You’ll get a laugh out of it.
But even though I learned a lesson, there are still times when I have to “check myself,” as my wife says. That’s why I call myself a “recovering” legalist.
The following was written a couple of years ago for my other blog, Proverbial Thought. Since then, I have seen animal cruelty increase in regularity. News reports of men beating, torturing, or even getting animals drunk – if they feed them at all – are more and more common. Even ISIS released a video of a man beating a cat to death for fun.
So, like always, the Truth and Wisdom of God’s Word is always relevant.
Wicked and Cruel
I will never forget a particular video I saw posted on YouTube. The owner of a large python purchased a fluffy, brown rabbit and brought it home. There, in his living room, he let this peaceful, tame rabbit meant to be a pet hop around while his sorry snake got closer and closer.
Snickering with anticipation, the owner of the snake filmed the unwary rabbit as it got accustomed to its new environment. Then, it happened – the python struck, coiled around the rabbit, and began its death squeeze. But what made me sick, as I am sure it did God, was when the snake’s owner got up close to the rabbit and laughed. He laughed because the rabbit cried.
There is a Difference
It is one thing to kill an animal for food, or even in self-defense. It is even understandable to kill animals when their populations get out of hand. But it is something totally different when a human is intentionally cruel to something helpless and trusting.
A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. – Proverbs 12:10
This proverb says that “a righteous man regardeth (knows, cares about) the life” of his animal. In contrast, the wicked are cruel. But some may wonder, “What does it matter?” It matters to the one who values life.
“His Eye Is On the Sparrow…”
Nugget and me from a few years ago. We still look as good as then.
It might surprise people to know that God cares about the lives of animals. When Jonah was upset because God did not destroy Nineveh, God said unto him,
And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? – Jonah 4:11
Literally, the last words of God in the story of Jonah concerned the cattle of a pagan city. If God cared about these cattle, does it not stand to reason that He might disapprove of torturing pets? Remember, not a sparrow falls without Him knowing (Matt. 10:29).
This is the thing: let there be no mistake, if a human can find enjoyment in the suffering of helpless animals, then what is to keep him from harming helpless humans? Wickedness breeds wickedness.
It is a simple song, but the words are hard for many to believe. As a matter of fact, many Christians find themselves doubting the truth of this little song, especially when things aren’t going their way. Are you one of them?
I was.
But God IS good! Despite problems, pain, suffering, disappointments, discouragements, hurt feelings, broken dreams, etc., He is good!
Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. – Psalms 106:1
I could have everything this world offers, but it can’t forgive my sin or give me eternal life. Yet God, because of His great mercy and grace, chooses to not only forgive me of all my sin, redeem me, and give me eternal life, but He is willing to call me His child! He doesn’t have to do this, but He wants to!
If that wasn’t enough, I was blessed to wake up this morning and see a sunrise with my own eyes. I was undeservedly blessed to wake up next to my loving wife, get up out of bed with the full use of all my faculties, and go to work (which is a blessing in and of itself). Even more, I was extravagantly blessed to have a biscuit and coffee for breakfast – the first of three meals in one day!
I don’t deserve any of the blessings I have been given. What I have been given does not mean that I am any more loved or favored than those who have little or nothing. All I know is that I should be thankful for what I have, even what I don’t have. And, no matter what we have or don’t have…because this life is not all that there is…because God gives us hope in His Son, Jesus…
Can you believe that it was five years ago, today, that I first started this blog?!
Yes, today is the 5th anniversary of The Recovering Legalist. I wish there could be a little more fanfare. Oh well.
2012 was my best year. I did a lot more writing then, so I got a lot more views. That was also the year when Building 429 linked one of my posts to their blog – big boost in views. This year hasn’t been bad, but I’m currently running 22% less than last year. Guess I need to be a little more active…or write more intriguing posts.
Friends
In the five years that I have been doing this, a lot of friends have been made. Believe me when I say that some of you have really been more of a blessing and encouragement than you will ever know this side of heaven. There are several of you whom I will probably never meet on this earth, but I praise God that He has allowed me to come to know you through this medium.
Since it has been five years, I’d like to send a special shout out to the first blogger who encouraged me, Heather Joy (Vires). She was the first blogger to comment on my blog. And, if I remember correctly, hers was the first blog I followed, and a blog we certainly miss. Thank you, Heather.
Non-Friends
Blogging can also introduce you to folks who are not necessarily on your side. In fact, when one chooses to put one’s thoughts on the world wide web, one should expect conflict, if not to make enemies.
One such person whom I fondly refer to as my “token atheist” is actually a pretty decent guy. However, being that I am a solid believer in Jesus Christ as my Savior, promote a Christian worldview, and ardently oppose the redefinition of marriage to include same-sex unions, Andrew Marburger, at one point, elected himself to be the one person, if no one else, to protect all my groupies from my narrow-mindedness. But, you know what, I still pray for him.
Top Posts
I have written nearly 600 posts over the last 5 years. Some have gotten good response, while others simply bombed. However, the top posts over the last half-decade show how wide a range my writing covers.
The #1 most frequented post is “What to Wear to Church.” Evidently, I struck a nerve with this one; people are constantly being linked to it as a result of Google searches. Obviously, people don’t know how to dress for church.
The #2 most frequented post is “Dinosaur Bones Found On the Moon!” I don’t know for sure, but I really think that this post helped to create an urban legend. Why else would anyone type into a search engine, “Were bones really found on the moon?”
Rounding out the top 10 of all time (the last 5 years) are the following:
So, thank you for reading my posts and watching my stupid little monkey videos.It has been a joy meeting and encouraging so many people from all over the world. My prayer is that God will continue to use this medium to bring glory to His name and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel of grace, to even more computer screens.
For several weeks my brain, or at least the part that initiates writing, has been numb. I have been wanting to sit down and write about things that interest, concern, or humor me, but life has had a Novocaine-kind of effect. All I’ve been able to do is look at my computer and then say as shake my head, “I’m too tired.”
There are, however, a couple of things about which I want to write, especially within the next couple of days. One has to do with my daughter going off to college. Another has to do with going to church on Sunday nights. On top of that, I am working on finishing another book I’ve been working on: a shorter, mostly humorous collection of thoughts from driving a school bus.
I did recently write about Robin Williams. I would like to share a few more thoughts regarding depression, suicide, etc.
By the way, just the other day a young lady – a teacher – came up to me and personally thanked me for the first volume of Proverbial Thought. She said it made a big impact on her life and drew her closer to God. Seriously, now THAT’S a compliment.
Please, friends, try to go to church somewhere this Sunday morning (if it’s not already Sunday morning where you are). And, if possible, go somewhere to church in the evening.
Until my brain gets a little more feeling back, may God be with you all!
Oh, and please pray for those being killed because of their faith, looted because of race, and sold because of their gender.
Not too long ago Kyle Idleman wrote a book entitled Not a Fan. As a matter of fact, I led one of our adult Sunday School classes through a chapter-by-chapter study of the book. The idea is that we are not called to be simply “fans” of Jesus, but followers.
Let me set things straight – I am a fan of Building 429, not a follower. I simply adore these guys as a band, but I don’t put them on a pedestal, memorize their birth dates and favorite colors, or have posters of them on my wall. All I’m saying is that when I say “I love these guys,” I am not equating that “love” with the “love” I have for the Lord.
I am just a FAN of Building 429.
I’m a Fan
The word “fan” comes from the word “fanatic,” and some people’s obsessions with music groups are expressed in fanatical behavior. I would consider myself a fan, but not a fanatic.
However, I have to say that every time I have seen these guys perform it has been a blessing. That is why last night I stood in the rain at an outdoor Christian music festival (JFest 2014) in order to hear (and watch) them sing. Some may describe my behavior as “fanatical,” but I knew the show was worth it.
I first became acquainted with the guys from Building 429 when they stopped by the Cracker Barrel in our neighborhood. They were on the road to a recording session when they stopped their tour bus for some Southern cooking, only to be on the receiving end of my legalistic, self-righteous judgmentalism. That lead to a conversation which you can read about HERE.
New and Favorite
If you are sadly unfamiliar with Building 429, let me share with you a couple of videos.
The first one is of their latest release entitled “Press On.” Well, it’s called “Press On,” but the actual title is too similar to another song sung by a former Disney star while swinging nude through the air (“Wrecking Ball”).
The idea of this song is that no matter what the world throws at us, we should just “press on.”
The next video is from a couple of years ago, but it has to be one of my favorite songs. The words of the chorus are ones I often repeat: “All I know is I’m not home yet. This is not where I belong. Take this world and give me Jesus. This is not where I belong.”
Now, being alive shouldn’t be that big of a deal for most people, but it is to me, especially on THIS day. Today is the anniversary of my father’s death.
Anniversaries of deaths are not uncommon, either. But what makes today unique is that I am the same age that my dad was when he died. He was 46 – I am 46!
I woke up this morning and saw the sun, which is something my daddy never experienced on June 11, 1991 (well, I’m writing this ahead of time, so I hope I will). He woke up and saw the Son, which is something I still long to do.
Tough, Yet Humble
My dad.
Those who knew my dad before he became a Christian would testify to the fact that he was no wimp. He knew how to fight, fish, and fire a weapon. Between him and my uncle Don (his brother), there weren’t too many men willing to go toe-to-toe with them.
Yet, once he accepted Christ, he became the perfect example of gentleness, kindness, grace, and compassion. I know of no one any more humble than he was. (Oh, and when his brother finally became a believer in Jesus, the same transformation took place)
Preachers
My dad was a preacher. He might not have been the most eloquent, but he loved the Word and loved telling people about Jesus. Had he been alive today, he would have wept at the state of our nation and where we are going. Above all, he would still be preaching, even harder.
Still Fighting the Good Fight
I am proud to say that I am carrying on my father’s legacy. I am proud to say that should the Lord allow me to live much longer than my dad, I will continue to preach the Gospel and stand for Truth. As a matter of fact, here is something I recently posted on Facebook.
Backbone, preachers…now’s the time for some honest-to-goodness, strong-as-steel, George S. Patton and John Wayne-like BACKBONE!
I don’t care if you’re Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Nazarene, Methodist, or whatever…MAN UP!! Stand in the gap! Quit being a politically motivated, crowd-pleasing, purse string-tying wimp and PREACH THE WORD!
Check out what’s going on in the world and what’s coming to America. Do you think things are all going to turn out like a big Hillsong praise service if you keep preaching like Joel Osteen?! Folks, what we need now more than ever are some Elijahs, some John the Baptists, some old-school Billy Grahams, some D. L. Moodys, etc. We need more men of God who know the difference between the Word of God and a motivational speech!
Don’t try to be popular. Don’t try to be “cool” and “hip” with the younger generations. Quit fighting over the styles of worship if your congregation doesn’t even know HOW to worship! Forget trying to become more “seeker-friendly,” and just SEEK THE LOST! The world is going to Hell and we are greasing the skids.
Be real. Be humble. Be yourself. Love your enemies. But for the love of God, pastors and preachers, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). In other words, take off the liberal mom jeans and put on some prophet-worthy overalls and get to work.
His Voice
I wish all of you could have met my dad, Terry L. Baker. Like my wife noted when she heard a recording, he was about “as country as they come.” Fortunately for all of us, I still have a few recordings of his preaching.
Below is an edited version of a message my dad preached back in 1981. At that time he was doing a radio program on WMOC for a local children’s ministry.
Fittingly, the sermon from my dad, based on Deuteronomy 6:4-7, concerns how to raise a godly family. Tell me if you think he sounds a little like me 😉
All honor and glory be to my Father in Heaven, the One who graciously gifted me with an earthly father who loved Jesus and taught me how to do the same.
As a radio and television personality, I really like the politically conservative Glenn Beck.
I would jump at the opportunity to have lunch with him.
His love for America and our Christian heritage is admirable.
I consider him a great guy, and have no hate whatsoever towards him.
I’d rather have him (or Mitt Romney) as president than Obama any day.
I believe Liberty University has a lot to offer on many levels.
Liberty is a large, influential Christian university.
Liberty has a strong heritage of proclaiming the faith.
I’m sure the folks at Liberty want nothing less than the best for their students.
I almost attended college there, myself.
Let me be very clear about some other things, too.
Although a great American, Glenn Beck is a Mormon, NOT a Christian.
Liberty University is supposed to be a Christian University, not a political party university.
Mormons might be outstanding moral people, but Mormonism is NOT just another Christian denomination; it is a totally different religion based on the teachings of Joseph Smith, not the Bible.
Those who object to a Mormon missionary giving the convocation at Liberty University are not “haters,” but lovers of the Christian faith who want nothing more than to “take heed” to our doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16) and protect it from error (Titus 1:9).
Responses
Glen Beck’s Response
In response to the criticism still being leveled at Liberty University for allowing the likes of Mitt Romney and himself speak to the students during graduation convocations, Mr. Beck said the following on his program (as reported in the Christian Post):
(Credit: Reuters)
“There is no difference between you and the people who are trying to run other people out of the square. See this is the reason why progressives are so frightening. This is why you lose a lot of people. This is why your churches are dwindling. You think you’re standing for something when instead you’re standing for hate and bigotry and I think Jesus was hanging out with prostitutes and sinners wasn’t he?”
My Response to Mr. Beck’s Response
In response to the above quote, I would first like to say I’m sorry, but hanging out with “prostitutes and sinners” in order to love them and show them a better way, THE Way to life eternal, is not the same as asking the “prostitutes and sinners” to promote their erroneous philosophies of life to young and impressionable graduates!
Also, it is no more “hate and bigotry” to seek to protect the gospel of Jesus Christ from those who would pollute it with poisonous error than it is “hate and bigotry” to protect a life-saving vaccine from those who would want to add a little arsenic in the name of “diversity.”
Lastly, I would rather see the Church lose “a lot of people” than have the Church be made up of people who are deceived into thinking they are actually a part. In order to be an orthodox Christian, one must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the one-and-only Son of the Eternal Father, not one of many celestial children born to one of a countless number of humans elevated to godhood.
Had Glenn Beck been around during the time described in John chapter 6, I wonder if he would have labeled Jesus a “hater,” or a “bigot?” I wonder if he would have ran after those who walked away and said, “Wait, don’t leave the square! Jesus didn’t know any better! He was just trying to stand for something!”
The Recovering Legalist 