Al Mohler rightly says, "Most moralists would not claim to be without sin, but merely beyond scandal. That is considered sufficient."  The problem is the self-righteousness that stems from that world-view IS a scandalous sin in light of the cross.  While focusing on public sin, we moralists overlook the sins of the heart. Yet both point us to our need for a Savior. So, if you find yourself to be essentially a religious moralist, beware. It just may be the most dangerous spiritual condition possible. While thinking we are well, we are on the edge of death. Thankfully, the gospel is for us, too, the worst of sinners. When we realize that, our moralism is replaced by humility and gratitude for the love of Jesus, and we begin to sing a new song, deep from the heart:

In the 1970s there was a group that met in the White House for a time of informal prayer and fellowship. A newcomer to the group was asked to lead one week, and at the end of the meeting, he asked Arthur Burns to close them in prayer. The kicker that the newcomer didn't know: Burns was Jewish. What would he say?  How would he pray in the context of a Christian prayer fellowship? In The Call, Os Guinness records Burns' prayer for us:

"Lord, I pray that you would bring Jews to know Jesus Christ. I pray that you would bring Muslims to know Jesus Christ. Finally, Lord, I pray that you would bring Christians to know Jesus Christ. Amen."

Burns was praying for revival, which is when religious people are stripped of their religion and come alive to the wonder of God's grace through the incarnation, death and resurrection of Jesus. That is what I am praying for in my own life... to be stripped of my religion (being accepted by God based on my doing) so that I, as a professing Christian, can really know Jesus (being accepted by God based on his doing).  So thanks, Arthur, for such a helpful prayer.

In his book, On the Old Testament, Mark Driscoll provides a helpful corrective to preacher-types like myself who may be tempted to dare folks to be a Daniel. He says,

"Unless Jesus is the central message of the Old Testament, many errors abound. The most common is moralizing. Moralizing is reading the Old Testament not to learn about Jesus, but only to learn principles for how to live my life as a good person by following the good examples of some people and avoiding the bad examples of others." 

After all, on the road to Damascus, Jesus himself showed two travelers that the entire Old Testament was about him, whether through prophetic promises, Christophanies, types and shadows or titles. This is because the Old Testament teaches us that we need a Savior, not just better behavior.