DANCING DOGS AND PLAGIARISM



Disclaimer:  This is not a political commentary.  I don’t do that sorta thing.  Because I’d rather be watching dancing-dogs-in-dresses on talent shows.  It’s such a welcome relief.

However … today a particular word has exploded from the depths of all things political – PLAGIARISM (gasp!).

Probably most of you have never deliberately absconded with others’ literary and/or musical masterpieces.  At least, not on purpose.  Because in these days of inexhaustible internet information, it’s realllllyyyy easy to find stolen lyrics, poems, and even thought processes, and then tweet to excess that boo-boo du’jour.

Now, to make myself feel superior, I hereby offer you a definition of the word:  it’s stealing someone else’s stuff and passing it off as your own.  It’s called Theft.  In an offshoot way, it’s breaking the 8^th Commandment.  Or at least twisting and/or crinkling it.

Offshooting it even more, think of it this way … is it possible that, when you were a brand new squeaky-clean baby Christian, you felt that you had something to do with your own salvation?  That you had a tiny hand in helping God out with getting yourself cleaned up?  That you opened your own heart-door and invited Jesus in of your own volition?

Well, guess what.  That was prideful salvation plagiarism.  I was very guilty of that for the first year or two.  I took what God did and pretty much told people that I did it.  Thankfully, He didn’t whack me upside the head.  No, He gave me His Word to show me that salvation is His gift, not my works.  I am His workmanship (Ephesians 2:8-9).  I am not adequate in myself, but my adequacy is from God (2 Corinthians 3:5).  “Who can say, ‘I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin’?” (Proverbs 20:9).  Not me.  By God’s doing, all of His adopted children “are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” (1 Corinthians 1:30)

My Father, how I praise You that it is You alone Who saved and redeemed me, and through Your Spirit, you continue to purify me more every day to be more like Jesus.  My Lord Jesus, You took my sin upon Yourself and gave me Your righteousness.  It amazes me that I could ever have been boastful of myself, but in Your great patience, You have shown me Yourself, and now I boast only in You, and I thank You that, among other things, You have forgiven me for my spiritual plagiarism.