Too often, “Christians” today like the idea of being Jesus’ disciple, yet we want to live just like everyone else around us. Thing is, this problem isn’t new.
If you’ve never heard, then I have news for you: GOD doesn’t play that game! Never has.
GOD’s not fooled by a person’s professing to be a Christian—which is, by definition, a disciple of Jesus Christ—and then behaving like the world.
Jesus addressed this with His disciples:
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
(Matt. 6:24 NIV)
45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
(Luke 6:45-46 NIV)
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
(Matt. 7:21-23 NIV)
Later on, the apostle Paul would write it this way:
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
(Gal. 6:7-8 NIV)
Friend, culture is never the barometer for Christian morality! In other words, a Christian should never determine what is acceptable based on the society in which they live.
You can’t be a Christian and yet look and behave exactly like the world.
If there is no difference, then there is no difference.
Some Christians seem to think that they get a “pass” to behave like the world in certain situations or circumstances.
I mean, how many times have you seen a person, who calls themselves a Christian, blurt (or tweet or post on Facebook) curse words as if it’s no big deal.
The other day I saw someone on Twitter post a Bible verse from Psalms and within the span of a few hours, their very next tweet included a curse word. C’mon man!
The Bible is clear about the type of language we are to speak.
But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
(Col. 3:8 NIV)
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
(Rom. 12:14 NIV)
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
(Jam. 3:9-10 NIV)
There are no “passes,” folks!
Jesus must reign over every aspect of our life.
You can’t be a Christian and yell your favorite college football team’s profanity-laced cheers or victory songs. It’s inconsistent and hypocritical. And there is no bigger college football fan on the planet than me, I guarantee it.
And while I’m on the subject of speech, let me also say that using an acronym to shorten your cursing or other foul language is just as bad as saying it. Here’s why:
When someone reads “LM_O,” “OMG,” “W_E” (⬅️ ask an Auburn fan if you don’t know) and the like, what are they doing in their minds?
They’re thinking, “What does this stand for?” and they’re thinking the very words you were avoiding typing.
That’s the point of Jesus’ statement that out of the heart the mouth speaks. If the foul language is in your heart, then it comes out of your mouth…and that includes shorthand.
It’s not just our speech that this principle applies to. It’s our dress, our activities, our entertainment (music!!!)…it’s every aspect of our life. The comedian Tim Hawkins humorously makes the point I’m trying to make here in this short video below.
As Christians, we need to live holy lives because that’s our calling (1 Pet. 1:15-16).
Don’t play games with GOD. He isn’t amused and you are cheating yourself out of the abundant life that Jesus offers.
And your final destination could be much different than you intended.
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