Is Approval and Practice the Same?

Do you believe that “religion” has its place but is totally disconnected to the way you live your life? Christians may not practice ungodly living but what about their approval of it?

Scripture:

Romans 1:32 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

Some of us were talking just a few days ago how TV, movies, and magazines, ads and commercials have changed through the years. It seems like there is no limit to what is said or done in public anymore. There is no shame. No distinction between good and evil. Sidney J. Harris says, “Once we assuage our conscience by calling something a "necessary evil," it begins to look more and more necessary and less and less evil.”

It is only by God’s standards that we can distinguish right from wrong? My pastor has a saying, “Right is always right, and wrong is always wrong. It is never right to do wrong and, It is never wrong to do right.”

While we may not practice wrong or evil doing, ungodly living, and worldliness, we may be guilty of its approval. Too often we silently approve when we refuse to: speak out against wrong doings, change channels when ungodly language is being used, walk out of an obscene movie, etc.

Jesus said, in the Sermon on the Mount, "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16

Christians cannot be the salt of the earth if they are not different from the world, not for the sake of being different but that other can see the hope within us. We need to look for ways to lead the nation back to Christ rather than condemning them to an eternity in hell.

Application:

1.   Are there things that once shocked you that now don’t even raise your eyebrows?

2.   What do you find most pleasure in doing? What do you watch and listen to and laugh at for entertainment: music, dvd’s, cd’s, movies that may not be right?

3.   We need to pray each day that God will keep our hearts pure and keep us still able to be shocked by sin.

4.   How are we conducting our lives so that we are the salt of the earth?

Prayer:

Dear Father, forgive me for the times that I have sat silently and approved of things that I knew were wrong in your sight. Keep my mind clear so that I am able to discern right from wrong. Help me to be a light of the world so that others will come to know you. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Is Right Ever Wrong or Wrong Ever Right?

What is it in life that drives you? What determines how you do a job or even react in situations? King Saul confesses in  1 Samuel 15:13, "I have sinned. I have violated the Lord's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them." There it is. So many times we act and react to gain the approval of others rather than to act in accordance to what we know to be right. This passage brings out two basic principles about human nature. How we act and react to situations, and the reason behind our decision.

First of all, think about the things you do. I mean every morning. Do you jump out of bed and just throw on your clothes and go out the door without spending some time in front of the mirror? Thank goodness we don't. If someone calls and says, "Can I drop in a few minutes and the house looks somewhat like a cyclone has been through, do you jump up and tidy up and kick the shoes under the sofa, or do you just let them come in and make a place for themselves and say, "Come on in and clean you out a chair, we live in our house?" Another example, if company is coming, my husband will jump on the lawnmower and try to get the lawn cut. Yeah, that is his thing, even if his toilet has spots all under the seat and newspapers all around his chair, the grass has to be cut. You know what I mean. You're getting the point.

Right off I would say that I have matured in my own thinking and ability to think and do for myself without needing the approval of others. Yeah right, my actions and behavior these past weeks would prove me a liar because I have been frantically working to pull off a project that those involved would say, "Well done, you've done it again." Point proved, approval of others has everything to do with everything.

Well, these things are all right in themselves. However there are times that we choose to do things that are wrong. In other words we are disobedient to what we know is right. Why would we choose wrong over right? Pastor Shane used an example Sunday, saying, "It is always right to do what is right. It is never right to do wrong. Wrong is never right and right is never wrong." That seems simple doesn't it? King Saul knew what to do. God had told him exactly what to do. Being disobedient to God caused him his relationship with God and the confidence of his people.  

Saul made his decision based on what others would think.  Others approval can be so important in our lives that we compromise what we know is right? When was the last time you did or did not do something you knew was right? We do not want to admit that do we. I don't, but just yesterday I was talking to an individual and they said something that within myself I knew was not exactly right. Because of my friendship and their "standing," I decided to let it pass. Why did I do that? I like Saul, was afraid of what the person would think if I spoke up.

God spoke through the Priest Samuel and said, "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifice as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord. To obey is better than sacrifice." God help me to always take a stand for what is right. 

How do you with right and wrong choices when it is coupled with approval from someone you know?