This is a pertinent question for believers in this day and age.
The world is upside-down!. Immorality has been normalized and even celebrated, while morality is often shunned.
There have been continuous debates suggesting that evil is more rewarding than good. Doing the right thing no longer comes with recognition or applause. Virtues such as discipline, hard work, honesty, kindness, love, empathy, generosity, patience, and self-control are increasingly downplayed and dismissed as weaknesses. In the same breath, vices such as clubbing, smoking, drinking, fornication, adultery, fraud, violence, and public indecency are among the behaviors that society increasingly glorifies. Anyone who chooses not to participate in these activities is often labeled as boring, outdated, or naïve.
The line between morality and immorality has been blurred.
Where does this leave Christians?
Christians do not live in isolation. They do not have a separate world where they interact only with fellow believers. They coexist in the same society as everyone else. Consequently, there is growing pressure on Christianity, with increasing criticism of the values that it upholds.
It is important to remember that many of these values being criticized are fruits of the Holy Spirit; qualities that every Christian is called to bear through a close relationship with God (Gal 5:19-24).
While some Christians remain steadfast in their convictions, many struggle. In the pursuit of acceptance and belonging, some eventually compromise their values or abandon their faith altogether.
Which way, Christians?
The current turn of events shouldn’t be new to Christians. In John 16:33, Jesus foretold that believers would have trouble in the world, adding a consolation that they should have peace knowing He has already overcome the world!
The infallible, inerrant Word of God is the ultimate manual for believers. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of God endures forever (Isaiah 40:8).
When conflicted, believers should not hesitate to seek clarification from the Bible.
What does the Bible say about immorality?
First and foremost, the Word of God warns Christians against conforming to the patterns of the world (Romans 12:2). In James 4:4, the Bible says that friendship with the world means enmity with God. Anyone who chooses the world becomes an enemy of God.
In addition, there are so many instances in the Bible where Christians are warned against unrighteousness. In this piece we shall only look at four major scriptures:-
- 1 Corinthians 6: 9-10
Warns that those practicing habitual, unrepentant sin, specifically sexual immorality, idolatry, theft, greed, drunkenness, and abuse, will not inherit God’s kingdom.
” Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6: 9-10 ESV).
- Galatians 5:19–24
Paul contrasts the works of the flesh (results of satisfying the sinful nature) and the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:19-24 ESV)
- Isaiah 5:20–23
Pronounces woes on a society that has inverted moral order by calling evil good, celebrating darkness, and practicing corruption.
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,
who put darkness for light and light for darkness,
Who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
and shrewd in their own sight!
Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine,
and valiant men in mixing strong drink,
who acquit the guilty for a bribe,
and deprive the innocent of his right!” (Isaiah 5:20-23 ESV)
- Revelation 21:8
Outlines the eternal fate of those who reject God, specifically highlighting that the cowardly, unbelieving, and various sinners will face the ‘second death’ in the lake of fire.
“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8 ESV)
Conclusion
Christians are not expected to let their guard down at any point, no matter the pressure. Bowing to pressure means embracing and hailing immorality, a practice that the Word of God strictly warns against.
The consequences of going against the Word of God are dire!