Why do some many Christians want to be like everyone else (desiring to do what non-Christians do, even if that compromises God’s authority and will) ... to be like the WORLD that denies God and anything spiritual, living in self-centered licentiousness (disrespectful of the laws or principles of morality), lawlessness (heedless and intentionally violating the laws of God) and unholiness (not set apart from the ignorant, self-indulgent, and God rejecting World system). They may not say it, but their life says otherwise. James 4:4 says: ”You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?” Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Why? Because, to idolize and love the world more than God is “spiritual adultery”. This has been a common problem through all generations. But God wants us (His children) to be set apart from inequity, to love Him, obey Him and be like Him (imitators of God): not like this self-centered World system today.
Judges 21:25 says: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” People today claim the “Right of Moral Preference” – a Right of Choice as to what is legal or moral in their own eyes, with no perceived consequences ... to do what I want to do, when and where and how they desire – which is anarchy. What governmental rule are they overthrowing? Answer - The sovereign authority of their Creator God. They’ve taken God off the throne of their life and placed themselves on that throne to rule “that which is “right & wrong” in their own eyes. Our culture today has elevated “moral preference” as its chief ethical principle. You find people everywhere today talking much about their “Rights” and very little about their “Duties” and “Responsibilities”. Sin is redefined as only “That which is offensive to them, even if its against God’s Will”, because they are a law unto themselves only. The Battle Cry of the ungodly is: “Don’t tell me what I have to do!” What’s right for you may not be right for me”. Having no standards outside of their selves is “moral relativism”. In that case, what is evil? Without God’s commandments, laws and statutes, our society is lost with no moral compass – truly lawless, dissolute, disrespectful, dishonoring, disobedient, immoral and sinful in the eyes of the Lord. What do you see today? Where are morals, manners, ethics, character, integrity, et cetera? Who serves who? The truth is that we are all accountable to God and there is a day of Judgment to come, where we give an account for the choices that we make and our actions on this Earth (Revelation 20:11-15 + 21:7-8). Duty stems from (1) understanding that you have “Rights” given to us by God. (2) Understanding that there are responsibilities that go along with those “Rights”. And (3) Understanding that you are accountable to God for the responsibilities that accompany your rights. Duty flows from God-given “rights” and we are accountable for the choices that we make.
Jesus explains in John 3:3 to Nicodemus that the unregenerated worldly man is ‘spiritually” blind. And you are sure to hear them say: “Don’t judge me!” They’ll claim the Bible says: “Judge not” from Matthew chapter 7, but the context actually is “do not be continuously judging”. In the same chapter (verse 6) Jesus says; “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” How are you to judge those who are the dogs and the swine? Verse 5 gives the right context. In John 7:24, Jesus told the people: “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." The goal of the unjust, unholy and ungodly world is to condemn God’s people, so that their choices and actions are not condemned. Despite their attempts at control, in John 3:16-21, Jesus tells it like it is: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
Believing Christians are to know “right from wrong” in the eyes of the Lord, and choose to do that which is “right”. But what about those who do not know the Lord – the lost? 2Peter 3:9 tells us: “He (The Lord) is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” But you can not be “found”, until you first realize that you are lost in sin, can not save yourself, and realize the need for a Savior ... Christ, the Lord and Redeemer, who will change your heart and your life forever. The Gospel truth. Have you heard about the “Four Spiritual Laws? Just as there are physical laws that govern the physical universe, so are there spiritual laws that govern your relationship with God. The First Law is that God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. More to follow.
Brian
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