We live in a world where moral relativism often reigns.
“What is right for you may not be right for me.”
“What is right in one situation may not be right in another.”
“I don’t see anything wrong with it.”
Our society is frighteningly devoid of absolute morals and values. Unfortunately, we see this playing out in the church in increasing frequency.
God’s Word is crystal clear about the right-ness and wrong-ness of certain actions, regardless of whether we see anything wrong with them or not. Consider a couple of passages:
In 2 Timothy 3: 1-5 (NLT), Paul warns young Timothy to stay away from people who look like Christians but don’t act like it.
1 You should also know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that.
Let’s look at another very powerful passage from Galatians 5: 18-21 (NLT):
18 But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law. 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20 idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but to me, this is pretty clear. God calls these things sin and He will not tolerate those actions in His children.
Allow me to clarify one thing: I have engaged in many of these, and so have many of you. God’s Word is not saying these sins are the ‘unforgiveable sin’. Rather, He is telling us that people who persist in living this way without any remorse over their actions a) show that they are not true children of God, and b) will be punished according to their actions.
So, how do we avoid falling into the trap of “I don’t see anything wrong with it”?
Perhaps we could ask ourselves a different question when we are faced with deciding on the rightness or wrongness of an action. Instead of asking ourselves “what’s wrong with it?” perhaps we should ask ourselves, “What’s right about it?”
As you walk the path of life, ask yourself, "What's right about this decision I have to make"?
Let’s practice. Perhaps that cute man at work is flirting with you. You are married but your marriage is not what you want it to be. You don’t see anything wrong with some harmless flirting. STOP! Ask yourself the question: “What is right about me, a married woman, flirting with a man who is not my husband?”
Let’s try one more. You are part of a Bible study group. A new friend has expressed an interest in joining your Bible study group. Other members want to keep the group small, familiar, and intimate, so they decide not to invite the lady. You don’t see anything wrong with maintaining that familiarity and comfort level in the group. STOP! Ask yourself the question: “What is right about denying someone who desires to study God’s Word the opportunity to do so?”
If we ask ourselves ‘what is right about a situation” we will be far more apt to make decisions consistent with those Jesus would make.
- MEDITATION MOMENT: Consider Philippians 4:8(NLT) – And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. These are the things that should be ‘right’ about any decision we make.
