There Are Standards (Eph 5)

…sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

“Who are you to judge!?” The tired old refrain can be heard every time someone tries to talk about something Christians shouldn’t (really, cannot) do. It’s as though people think you can sleep-around with people you’re not married to, try to tear down “the rich,” use foul language, and tell disrespectful jokes at others’ expense, and somehow you can still call yourself a “Christian.” The Apostle Paul disagrees with you. If you are living with someone or having an otherwise intimate relationship with one who is not your spouse, you cannot call yourself a Christian unless you repent. Jesus is not your Lord, your passions and desires are your Lord. This is not to say that Christians are perfect, far from it, but genuine believers do repent. If our sin is not marked by repentance, then quite simply we are not saved. Are you so envious of others that you want to see them taken down? Does “income inequality” make you so jealous you vote to take things from the people who have “too much” while not realizing you too have more than about 99% of the world? That’s called covetousness. That too is not an unrepentant state of a genuine follower of Jesus Christ. The Bible has some hard truth for Americans to hear. There will be millions, perhaps billions, of people who prayed a prayer and attended a church service every now and again who are going to stand before Jesus on the Last Day and he is going to say “nope, I never knew you.” Please, don’t let that be you. Make Jesus your Lord, don’t just say He is… Wouldn’t we act differently if this were all true? Wouldn’t we act differently towards others if it were? Why don’t we?

About John Harris

I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.
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