I think about the verse ‘Abstain from all evil.’ I feel it’s impossible, and I can’t even try to be perfect. Does it sound like I don’t have enough faith?<\/p>\n\t
What frequently happens is that people hear a verse but subtly change it in their memory. I Thessalonians 5:21-22 says, “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.<\/em>” It is saying that we should look at all the things that we do. It is far too easy to assume that whatever we do must be acceptable to God (Psalms 19:12-13). The things that are good we should hold onto with a solid grip. But we should avoid or hate the various forms of evil.<\/p>\n In other words, we can’t drift through life. We have to take a stand with God for righteous living. Nothing in this verse says a Christian must be perfect. We strive to live as righteously as we can, but we know that every one of us makes mistakes despite our best intentions (I John 1:5-2:1). God is wanting us to try, and when we goof up to admit our mistakes.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Question: I think about the verse ‘Abstain from all evil.’ I feel it’s impossible, and I can’t even try to be perfect. Does it sound like I don’t have enough faith? Answer: What frequently happens is that people hear a verse but subtly change it in their memory. I Thessalonians 5:21-22 says, “But examine everything…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[56,179],"class_list":["post-56903","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-perfection","tag-sin"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":67018,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wrong-is-always-wrong\/","url_meta":{"origin":56903,"position":0},"title":"Wrong Is Always Wrong","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 14, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Richard Thetford In a period of loose and sagging morals, Satan provides many rationalizations for improper behavior. Those who would live faithful Christian lives must not be ignorant of Satan's devices. Paul said, \"...Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.\" Wrong\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":42850,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/we-know-that-sex-before-marriage-is-wrong-but-we-arent-able-to-abstain-and-we-cant-get-married\/","url_meta":{"origin":56903,"position":1},"title":"We know that sex before marriage is wrong, but we aren’t able to abstain and we can’t get married","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 8, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I am a girl who is in love with this boy. We have a child together. It has been shown to us and we now know that it's wrong to have sex before marriage. We feel guilty every time we do it. We have tried so many times\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":16446,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-a-christian-eat-with-a-non-christian-who-is-having-alcohol-with-his-meal\/","url_meta":{"origin":56903,"position":2},"title":"Should a Christian eat with a non-Christian who is having alcohol with his meal?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 19, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: First, I want to thank you for explaining in\u00a0a previous response about\u00a0why social drinking is sinful.\u00a0 Now, I have for you a short scenario that\u2019s based on that fact. A Christian gets invited to go eat at a steakhouse by his non-Christian work buddy. While ordering his meal, this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":37201,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-let-go-of-the-guilt-of-having-committed-adultery\/","url_meta":{"origin":56903,"position":3},"title":"How do I let go of the guilt of having committed adultery?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 16, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I was friends with a married man. It was all very innocent until one day. I met his wife and children, and they were all so lovely. He dropped me off at home, and it just happened. I can't believe that I allowed myself to accept a married man\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":29024,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-abstain-mean-we-have-the-freedom-to-choose-to-follow-or-not\/","url_meta":{"origin":56903,"position":4},"title":"Does “abstain” mean we have the freedom to choose to follow or not?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 26, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good day brother Jeffrey, I need your help with this translation of Acts 15:20-29 because I do not have the knowledge to read this. I just came across one preacher who said the word \"abstain\" means to choose not to partake. We have the freedom to choose to follow\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":37488,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/if-you-constantly-watch-porn-will-god-give-you-up-to-vile-affections\/","url_meta":{"origin":56903,"position":5},"title":"If you constantly watch porn, will God give you up to vile affections?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 3, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi, If you constantly watch porn will God give you up to vile affections? I'm constantly worried that when I watch porn and fail that God will give me up to vile affections and make me gay and stuff for punishment. Is this true? 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