MORALITY

We often hear those of the world complain about the morality of religious people. The world seems to have a very good understanding of the standard that God has set for His people, and Christians' failure to maintain that standard inevitably brings reproach upon the church.

It is true that immorality can rear its ugly head even among God's people. But if it does, the Lord has given both the erring individual and the church a way to deal with it (1 Cor. 5). If we fall into sin we must readily repent and remember the words of Eph. 5:3: "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints."

We live in a society that gets more tolerant of immorality as time goes by. We will not enumerate these sins, "For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret" (Eph 5:12).

However, many now proudly proclaim their participation in all kinds of perversions that were not even known to polite society twenty years ago. Nonparticipants often take pride in their liberality toward those of "alternative" lifestyles (Rom. 1:32). Pre-marital sex and adultery are rarely denounced, since they seem tame compared to these other acts of "gross" immorality.

Give Romans 1:24-32 your serious consideration and ask yourself: Has God given our society up? Sobering thought (2 Pet. 2:9).

This helps us understand the meaning of "strangers and pilgrims" (1 Pet. 2:11). Peter was speaking of the church when he said "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Pet. 2:9 ).

There is no room for compromise here (1 Cor. 6:9-11). As individuals, we must flee fornication (1 Cor. 6:18); and religious institutions which have stopped fighting immorality are clearly not in fellowship with God (1 Cor. 6:14-7:1).

While we can not claim to be perfect (1 Jn. 1:8), there can be no doubt that the Lord's church is the only sanctuary of morality in this world today. The worldly might pick at the exceptions, but that is exactly what they are -- exceptions to models of honor and virtue. In stark contrast to the trend of this world, "Let your lights so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Mt. 5:16).