Others Centered

Those Who Approve

Our Pastor went over Mark 7 today where the Pharisees were actively seeking to find fault with Jesus.  The discussion was about people who are always looking for faults in others and think they are right all the time.  I will admit, I am as guilty as anyone at finding the faults in others.  To my partial defense, I know what the Bible calls sin and I really don’t like seeing what sin has done to this world.  However, it is very easy to start looking at all the sin in the world while forgetting to look at the sin in my own life and that is where caution must take over.

The Bible says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and that the wages of sin is death.  We all deserve to die and go to Hell because we are wretched horrible sinners.  While some sins may be less destructive to society than others, nobody is less of a sinner than anybody else.  The Bible makes that painstakingly clear.

As I was thinking about the teaching today I came across Romans 1, specifically verses 18-32.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

This is a pretty hard hitting list.  When I read this, especially in light of today’s political and social climate, I start thinking, “Yeah, that’s right, those people are bad!” but then I get down to verse 32 and I have to force myself to read to the end.  Up until that point I can say that I am not anywhere mentioned on that list.  I am safe but then that last little part is thrown in.  “…but also approve of those who practice them.”

This is where I, and the Church as a whole, can get in trouble.  Do we approve of those who practice the things on this list?  What about the music we (Christians) listen to?  What about talk shows we like?  What about athletes, politicians, actors that we admire?  What about our friends?  The list goes on.  Do we approve of those who live in sin and do the things that Paul lists here?  I am sure that if I took the time to go down all the things I like and “approve of” I would be guilty of more than I would like to admit.

This is a scary time we live in and people are doing very wicked and perverse things.  Verse 23 tells us that people replace God with idols including people and animals.  Verse 25 tells us that we worship the created rather than the Creator.  This is a hard passage for anyone to get around.  Those who reject God yet try to use the Bible to justify their sinful behavior must spin this passage and twist its words to mean something entirely different than what it says.  Those who call themselves Christians must also skim over this passage if they approve of these behaviors in those they associate with.  This is a pretty hard hitting passage that we must stop and consider as Christians living in this world today.

Verse 32 says that those who do these things are deserving of death along with those who approve of those who do these things.  The good news is that though we deserve death, we have been given the gift of eternal life by what Jesus did for us on the cross.  We don’t deserve it nor did we earn it but we can attain it by accepting His death as the payment for our sins and turn and follow Him.  None of us are perfect, but now is the time to start taking a stand on those things the Bible calls wicked and sinful.  The key is to do it in a loving way that reveals God’s goodness.  Love does not mean acceptance and approval but revealing through the Word and drawing people to the Lord.  We can’t be like the Pharisees though and start pointing fingers and telling people how bad they are, and yes, I include myself in that.