by John Exum<\/p>\n
There are times when God’s people need encouragement, and there are times when we need honest self-examination. This is one of those times. As we look around at our culture, it is obvious that morality is no longer guided by the Word of God. Sin is celebrated, biblical convictions are mocked, and what was once considered shameful is now promoted as something to be embraced. That should not surprise us, for the Scriptures have long warned that such days would come. What ought to concern us, however, is not simply what the world is doing. The greater concern is whether the world’s thinking is quietly making its way into the hearts of God’s people.<\/p>\n
Before going any further, something should be said that deserves to be said. For the most part, faithful congregations remain committed to the truth. Across this nation and around the world, there are brethren who love the Lord, respect His Word, and are striving to live holy lives. They continue to preach the gospel without apology and stand for what is right even when it is unpopular. We thank God for that. At the same time, we would be na\u00efve to think compromise can never find its way among us. There have been some who have drifted dangerously close to the world’s standards, and there are others who have embraced attitudes and practices that would have been unthinkable just a generation ago. That is why every Christian must continually ask, “Am I measuring my life by the Word of God, or have I slowly begun measuring it by the culture around me?”<\/p>\n
The Bible never presents morality as something that changes with the times. Right is right because God says it is right, and wrong is wrong because God says it is wrong. His character does not change, and therefore His standard does not change. Peter reminded Christians, “but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living; because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy<\/em>” (I Peter 1:15-16). Notice that Peter did not limit holiness to the assembly or to acts of worship. He said, “in all manner of living<\/em>.” That reaches into our homes, our conversations, our workplaces, our entertainment, our relationships, and even our private thoughts. Holiness is not something we put on for a few hours each week. It is the life God calls His people to live every day.<\/p>\n One area where the pressure to compromise has become increasingly noticeable is alcohol. We live in a society that treats drinking as though it were almost a requirement for having fun. Commercials make it look glamorous. Television portrays it as harmless. Social media often laughs about it. Sadly, some Christians have begun speaking the same way. Instead of asking whether something glorifies God, the question becomes, “How much can I get away with?” That is the wrong question altogether. Solomon warned, “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it sparkleth in the cup, when it goeth down smoothly: At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder<\/em>” (Proverbs 23:31-32). The inspired writer was not describing something beneficial but something deceptive. It promises pleasure while producing pain. Paul commanded Christians, “And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit<\/em>” (Ephesians 5:18). Elsewhere Christians are repeatedly instructed to be sober-minded and vigilant (I Peter 5:8; Titus 2:11-12). Those commands ought to shape our thinking far more than the arguments of a culture that has become comfortable with intoxication. A disciple of Christ should never want to see how close he can come to sin. He should desire to stay as far from it as wisdom allows.<\/p>\n The same is true when we think about sexual purity. Our culture has almost completely abandoned God’s design for marriage. Fornication is treated as normal. Adultery is excused. Pornography has become a multibillion-dollar industry. Living together outside of marriage is considered ordinary, and every form of sexual immorality is increasingly celebrated rather than condemned. Yet none of that changes what God has said. The Hebrew writer declared, “Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge<\/em>” (Hebrews 13:4). Paul did not advise Christians to manage temptation or make room for it in their lives. He simply said, “Flee fornication<\/em>” (I Corinthians 6:18). That is strong language because sexual sin has devastating consequences. It scars lives, destroys marriages, wounds families, and separates people from God. We should never become so accustomed to the world’s message that immorality no longer troubles us. If entertainment, conversations, or online habits slowly dull our conscience, compromise has already begun long before anyone else notices it.<\/p>\n The growing acceptance of drug use presents another challenge. Illegal narcotics continue to destroy countless lives, but even recreational marijuana and the misuse of prescription medications are sometimes defended as though there are no spiritual concerns involved. God’s people must remember that the Christian life is marked by self-control, clear thinking, and sound judgment. Paul reminded believers that “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God; and ye are not your own; for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body<\/em>” (I Corinthians 6:19-20). Our bodies do not belong to us. They belong to the Lord who purchased us with His own blood. Why would we willingly place into our bodies something that clouds our judgment, weakens our self-control, or opens the door to further temptation? That is not the direction of holiness.<\/p>\n The words we speak also reveal much about the condition of our hearts. We live in a time when crude humor, vulgar language, and careless speech are almost expected. Sadly, even some who claim to follow Christ may have begun talking no differently than those who make no profession of faith at all. Scripture calls us to something much higher. Paul wrote, “Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear<\/em>” (Ephesians 4:29). Our speech ought to encourage, strengthen, and reflect the grace of God. Jesus taught that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh<\/em>” (Matthew 12:34). When our words begin to resemble the world, it is often because our hearts have begun listening to it.<\/p>\n None of these matters should be viewed as a checklist of rules designed merely to keep us from having fun. God’s commands always flow from His wisdom and His love. Jesus said, “If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments<\/em>” (John 14:15). Obedience is not legalism. It is the natural response of a heart that loves the One who died for us. Every command God has given protects us from harm, strengthens our walk with Him, and prepares us for eternity. The world sees God’s moral standard as restrictive. The Christian sees it as the loving guidance of a gracious Father who knows what is best for His children.<\/p>\n So where do we go from here? We begin by examining ourselves instead of pointing fingers at everyone else. Paul wrote, “Prove your own selves<\/em>” (II Corinthians 13:5). We open our Bibles with humble hearts and allow God’s Word to expose whatever needs to change. If we find ourselves drifting, we repent. If we see a brother or sister overtaken in sin, we lovingly seek to restore them (Galatians 6:1). If our children are growing up in a culture that calls evil good and good evil, we teach them God’s truth with patience, consistency, and conviction. The answer to compromise has never been lowering God’s standard. The answer has always been returning to His Word.<\/p>\n The church does not need to become more like the world in order to reach the world. It never has. The gospel is still “the power of God unto salvation<\/em>” (Romans 1:16), and God’s truth still changes lives. Our responsibility is not to rewrite His message but to live it faithfully. May we never become satisfied with merely being better than society around us. Instead, may we pursue the holiness to which God has called us, standing firmly upon His Word with humility, love, and unwavering conviction. When the world looks at the Lord’s people, it should not see a reflection of its own values. It should see men and women whose lives have been transformed by Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n Just some things for consideration. Brethren, keep speaking the truth in love and don’t give the Devil an inch. He will take a mile if he so chooses.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by John Exum There are times when God’s people need encouragement, and there are times when we need honest self-examination. This is one of those times. As we look around at our culture, it is obvious that morality is no longer guided by the Word of God. Sin is celebrated, biblical convictions are mocked, and…<\/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_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[371,372,1572,38,492,1558],"class_list":["post-96796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-alcohol","tag-drugs","tag-fornication","tag-morality","tag-profanity","tag-speech"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":67263,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/morality-without-godliness\/","url_meta":{"origin":96796,"position":0},"title":"Morality Without Godliness","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 30, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Kings 6:24-31 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Some people have a pretty good sense of morality and yet are not interested in following God \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For example, not all atheists are immoral people \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But there is a problem with the consistency of their moral standards. II.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jehoram \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jehoram was not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":39478,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/morality-the-government-and-christians\/","url_meta":{"origin":96796,"position":1},"title":"Morality, The Government, and Christians","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 27, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer Moral statements and positions will, necessarily, impact political issues. This is not because morality is inherently political, but because the government has the task of recognizing the difference between good and evil, so moral issues will have to be dealt with (Romans 13:3-4). This means that, contrary\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":25957,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/its-not-politics\/","url_meta":{"origin":96796,"position":2},"title":"It’s Not Politics","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Irvin Himmel Moral statements and positions will, necessarily, impact political issues. This is not because morality is inherently political, but because the government has the task of recognizing the difference between good and evil, so moral issues will have to be dealt with (Rom 13:3-4). This means that, contrary\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":74139,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/morality-from-molecules\/","url_meta":{"origin":96796,"position":3},"title":"Morality from Molecules?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton Atheists have a sense of right and wrong; as skewed as it is, it is an issue they cannot explain. Where did this sense of ought, moral right and wrong, come from? Do men get to make it up from within their own molecules? If so,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/molecule-300x240.avif","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":38607,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-a-government-legislate-morality\/","url_meta":{"origin":96796,"position":4},"title":"Should a government legislate morality?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 22, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have had a question for some time now, and have found it difficult to find clear answers in the Scriptures.\u00a0 I know there are many Old Testament accounts, but as far as a New Testament church, it seems quite muddy to me:\u00a0 Should a government legislate morality?\u00a0 I\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":95877,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-should-we-preach\/","url_meta":{"origin":96796,"position":5},"title":"What Should We Preach?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Mike Schmidt via\u00a0Sentry Magazine, Vol. 21 No. 2, June 1995 Much has been said and written lately about preaching and teaching. Some see a \"new apostasy\" underway, with this departure being fueled by a change in what is being preached. Some have taken lists of topics from meeting announcements\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":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96796","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96796"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96796\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":96799,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96796\/revisions\/96799"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96796"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=96796"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=96796"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}