|
|
Topics: Deception, Holiness, Hypocrisy
I just finished watching a television program that outlined the early
age that teenagers are having sexual relationships. 50% of girls, and 55%
of boys between the ages of 15-19 have lost their virginity. One particular
girl that was very outgoing, an excellent student, and a consistent
church attendee who sang in the choir had been sexually active since the
age of 13. When asked how did she justify her religious beliefs with her
actions, she replied, "I try not to think about it - I don't connect
them. Religion is one thing, and sex is another." Unfortunately, many
people in our world have great difficulty connecting religion with their
everyday actions.
Jesse James killed a fellow in a bank robbery and shortly thereafter was
baptized in the Kearney Baptist Church. Then he killed another man, a
bank cashier, and joined the church choir and taught hymn-singing. He
liked Sundays, Jesse did, but he couldn't always show up at church. On
two Sundays, he robbed trains.
The Bible is very clear about the desire that God has to be a part of
every action and decision that we make. The struggle of right belief and
religious traditions have existed since the time of Christ. In the New
Testament, the Apostle Paul taught against a sect of people called
"gnostics" who thought that right beliefs in the mind really had no
connection to the body and daily living. Even the vocabulary that some
use today support the gnostic view. We still talk about "saving souls"
when in fact, Christ wants to dwell in our total life. Paul wrote in
Romans 6:1 " What shall we say then? shall we continue in sin that grace
may abound? God forbid!! How shall we who are dead to sin, live any
longer in it?"
This same idea is shared when Paul was saying that if we are pure in our hearts, all things in our lives will be pure. There is a connection between Godly living and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
It is time that Christians in this world begin to live according to the
teachings of the word of God. Sin is still sin, and holiness is expected
by God. There is no dichotomy between soul and body while in this world.
Let us begin to set an example to others that Jesus Christ makes a
difference in all that we say and do.
Ralph Nygard