Bottom Line: Because early in our Christian life some sins may have been overemphasized to us or non-Biblical standards set, many overreact and fall into sin.
To be “holy” is to be special . . . set apart for God.
I am finding that fewer adult Christians are concerned about personal holiness than in the past.
There is good news: You can discuss evil social structures (such as abortion or destruction of God’s creation) and gain attention. That is good since great evil is done by wicked social structures. Christians should help change those structures.
There is bad news: At the Last Day God will not be judging cultures but the individuals who made them up. We will be called to account for our sins as persons.
We are not just called to be a holy “nation,” but also a holy people (as individual persons).
My experience is that “after high school youth group” discussions of personal holiness (discussions with adults) about some areas of sin at best bring a yawn (”We’ve heard that.”) or hostility.
The hostility seems directed at a perceived early “over-emphasis” in some church groups on certain kinds of sin. Purity is not (after all) just about chastity and avoiding polluting our bodies with bad substances. This is very true, but a weird thing happened on the way to balance in teaching in adults.
In some adults who are Christians, the reaction has led to an over-reaction leading to a near break down in any accountability for issues of holiness in these areas. It is not rational, but then human beings are often not rational when it comes to pleasure and passion.
That Christians sin is bad enough, but there is medicine and help for this evil. There is healing, hope, and forgiveness in the Church for any sinner. I have needed that forgiveness and am thankful for it.
What is deeply disturbing is when we sin and are not sorry for our sins, but are more worried about “judgmental people.”
People in America don’t like being told that their pleasures are wrong. We have parties where we encourage gluttony (as opposed to feasting).
I struggle with gluttony and have to work hard not to abuse food. Gluttony is a sin . . . not just a medical problem. (I am assuming a psychologically healthy person who has normal control over their eating.)
The problem of pleasures does not end with food (sadly).
Being drunk is bad. The Bible is clear on this score.
The liberty to drink wine in moderation (and I am no prohibitionist), somehow has “transmogrified” (to use a Calvin and Hobbes phrase) into licentiousness.
Obviously, it is better not to drink at all than to fall into the sin of drunken behavior. Too often to avoid sounding like a prude or to avoid an excessive “legalism” (which we have all seen in the Church), we avoid saying this bluntly.
It would be heart breaking to see bright young people become alcoholics (or “simply” immoderate in their behavior) in their twenties, because of a refusal by the Church to talk about this issue.
The same thing is true for sexual immorality. I am a sinner saved by grace in this area. I have sinned and feel no desire to “throw stones” at those who are deeply sorry and are being sanctified by God’s grace.
We serve a holy God, but (thank God!) a God who is merciful.
But my concern is with Christians who are not really sorry for sins, but continue in an unchaste lifestyle. This is wrong. There can be no mercy for those who do not really want it, but instead want to continue (or flirt with) bad behavior.
Just because some youth groups said (or may have said) too much about this sort of sin does not mean that sinning is o.k. (in some sort of cosmic pay back). Being chaste in youth does not give license for being unchaste as an adult.
Of course, whenever I write this type of thing I am driven back to prayer. I am a sinner. I need God’s grace. I must NOT see the speck in someone else’s eye without acknowledging the plank in my own eye.
Perhaps someone reading this post will acknowledge that not only are they fallen, but they have not really been seeking God’s grace and forgiveness for sins with which they are a bit too comfortable.
Christians can disagree about politics and how best to impact culture. Traditional Christians cannot disagree about holy living.
Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.