Quick Summary:

“LORD,” the psalmist asks, “WHO MAY ABIDE UPON YOUR HOLY HILL?” And then comes the answer:
Those who lead a blameless life and do what is right, who speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with the tongue, and do no evil to their friends; and do not cast discredit upon a neighbor…those who do these things shall never be overthrown.”

A blameless life(?!) Well friends…how’s it going so far? With the apostle Paul I confess: I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate…I can will what is right, but I cannot accomplish it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.

If hope lies in my living a blameless life, in my own ability to toe the line, to keep covenant, to stay on the straight and narrow and avoid slipping into the ditch on either side of the road, then I’m afraid I am just one more hope-less hypocrite.

Preacher and teacher William Willimon once began a sermon this way:
If your marriage is happy,
if you have no addictions,
if your children are obedient and respectful,
if you can say all of the words of the creed by heart,
and have no major problems believing the Bible [and putting it all into practice] then you can leave now. This service is not for you.

Too often the Christian faith is presented to the world as if it was intended for the winners, for those who are a success at life and belief. For non-hypocrites. But of course, when you read the scriptures, you discover that nothing could be further from the truth.