Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. (I Corinthians 15:33)
The motto of this generation seems to be "do as much as you can get away with." Lies are considered acceptable ways to stay out of trouble, so long as your crime isn't so horrible or life threatening. Society likes to live on the edge, testing the borders and pushing the limits as far as they will go.
Sadly, this mentality has infiltrated the Christian world as well. Its not about living a sinless life anymore, it's all about what is "okay" or permissible. Can I do that and still call myself a Christian? Is this sin SO bad that I will probably have to pay for it later? We don't go to church to repent, we go to church to see what we can get away with.
We are, however, distinctly warned about this type of Christianity in the Scriptures. "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." There is no little white lie that is okay in a tough situation. There is no small little sin that really doesn't count in the long run. We will be held accountable for every single thought, action and deed. "But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (Matthew 12:36) We "get away" with nothing. There is personal responsibility in everything. On the day of judgement, God will not consider how tough a childhood we had, how other people didn't understand us, or how life treated us unfairly. He will look at each of us as individuals and make judgements based entirely upon our own actions.
Yet, in this life, it is so easy to fall into the deception of varying degrees of evil, rather than clear choices of right and wrong. Life becomes a series of grey areas. Where we will do one thing, but stop just short of another. Corrupting our souls and confusing those that look to us for an example of Christianity.
In his life, Jesus didn't confuse others. He made it quite clear that he was here to "be about his father's business" (Luke 2:49) and every word, thought, and action was geared in that direction. Jesus didn't appear the good Christian on Sunday and the hard nosed business man throughout the week. He was consistent.
This is our example. Not that we are necessarily meant to give up family and home and lead the nomadic life of a preacher, but rather that we are meant to take whatever situation we are in and make the wisest choice possible. Those are the nuts and bolts of Christianity.
That is the day-to-day struggle that new Christians might not be totally aware of. The moment of Salvation, is just that, the one moment that your life changes as you are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. But life after being saved, is a day-to-day experience. Each day will be filled with tiny decisions. A million little dilemmas that will effect, whether for the bad or the good, your walk in Christ.
"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." Do not allow the passive nature of the flesh to corrupt your life as a Christian. Don't allow yourself to fall for the lies of the Devil. It's not about what you can get away with, it's about making every decision based upon your commitment to Jesus Christ. Living life, not on the edge of sin, but in the center of God's will. |
