Fighting evil in a modern world

In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul is writing to a church that just came out of a very depraved lifestyle, so when he gives these warnings, they relate to it. It is astonishing how these words still resonate over 2,000 years later.

"Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator... Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another... Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1: 24-27, 32)

The most alarming aspect of how similar we are is that “those that know the righteous decree” are either foolishly or knowingly supporting precisely the kind of immorality we are warned to avoid. Modern ideas of the “woke culture” — gender fluidity, legitimizing same-sex relationships, and humanism are not biblical principles.  According to the American Humanist Association, “Religious Humanism is without a god, without a belief in the supernatural, without a belief in an afterlife, and without a belief in a “higher” source of moral values.” How then can a Christian then find common ground with such ideals?

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Lord also commands the church to be as one body, united in faith under one Spirit. However, unity is impossible without agreement. The Body of Christ must be unified around the ultimate truth that is contained in the Bible. Though we all have sinned and fallen short of God’s ideals, the Church should not condone immoral principles. All of humanity needs salvation, but it requires repentance from sin, the desire to turn away from it, and the acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior.

These seemingly contradictory principles leave Christians with the difficult task of reconciling the commandment to avoid evil and achieving unity within the Body of Christ. We must be wise enough to distinguish between people simply acting foolish or naive instead of espousing wickedness. Being wise is not as the culture defines it but being wise in the ways of God means following His commands. Through knowledge of God’s word and prayer, we will gain the discernment and wisdom to know the difference.   

Kids are being indoctrinated to believe that if it feels good, do it. They are being taught there is no absolute truth — not their gender, the notion of marriage only being between a man and woman, and even rejecting the founding principles of our country.  

Professors say you can’t legislate morality, but of course, you can! That is why we do not drive 100mph in a school zone, and child pornography is a crime. Morality isn’t something you invent; it comes from God. Tacit support by the Church of principles that stem from a denial of God’s law leads to the destruction of our youth, our families, and eventually the moral fabric of our country. God can and does gives such a society over to its wicked desire.

"Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity." (Romans 1: 28-29)

Sometimes, believers are following trends in our culture out of ignorance. We extend grace and compassion for them until it becomes clear they are unwilling to relent in support of depravity. As God says in Jude, “And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”

Other times, Christians have a hero mentality, thinking they can “save” people, but we must understand that some people do not want to be saved. They are filled with unresolved trauma, anger and resentment that only the Lord can change if He so chooses.

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Notice again, Paul warns that the threat will come from those claiming a “form of godliness,” but he does not say to pursue them relentlessly. We simply have to avoid them.

We should not be too proud of ourselves or so enamored with our civilization that we do not heed God’s warnings. If we accept modern principles that defy God’s law, purposely or unwittingly, it leads to a debased mind where God no longer reigns over our lives and the lives of our families and communities. Yes, we love our neighbors and pray for their salvation, but we cannot compromise the Gospel to please them.