When it is you against the world…
Recently, a coworker was saying how a few years ago, males who simply behaved like females were shamed, disgraced and in certain cases, beaten up. However, being gay is now accepted and even celebrated in certain countries. I remarked that in a few years, even here in Nigeria, it would be accepted, possibly celebrated as well.
Consider the fact that not too long ago, it was a thing of shame for an unmarried girl to be found to be pregnant. Today, people celebrate “baby mamas.” Young “independent” ladies no longer see the need to be married to have children as long as they have the financial power to raise the children on their own. Indeed, they change “baby daddies” as many times as they choose to have another child. And this is just one example of many….increasingly, cohabitation, abortion and pornography are becoming acceptable.
For the world, the lines between right and wrong are getting more and more blurred by the day. It appears society is no longer able to determine right from wrong. Even a country as “religious” as Nigeria is becoming less biblical than ever before!
Consider this, the Bible expressly forbids incestuous relationships (Leviticus 18:6–18; Deuteronomy 27:22–23; and 1 Corinthians 5:1). The Bible also expressly defines marriage as a monogamous, lifelong relationship, between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6; and Romans 7:1-3). You probably agree with the Bible on the matter of incest, but on the issue of marriage, I cannot be sure where you stand…even Christians’ views have evolved. Everyone says it…times have changed.
The same co-worker I mentioned earlier, a Pentecostal-church-going-self-professed-born-again-Christian, whist agreeing with me that homosexuality is against the Word of God, feels that expecting young people to practice sexual abstinence until marriage is archaic and unrealistic and suggests instead that they should be taught ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies. LORD HAVE MERCY!
For some, the moral decay is very close to home. Perhaps you are being pressured to accept certain behavior because the perpetuators are your husbands, fiancés, boyfriends, close friends or family. People who matter to you, are connected to you, are living in sin, yet justifying their actions and “blackmailing” you into acceptance…
“If you really love me, then you should want me to be happy.”
“Are you the only one who is a Christian?”
“Everyone else is doing it.”
“Times have changed, you are too old-school.”
Maybe you are being pressured to do things that you know you have no business doing…
“All you have to do is give him what he wants, God will understand.”
“You are not hurting anyone, just using what you have to get what you need.”
“God helps those who help themselves.”
“Stay there and be doing holy-holy.”
TAKE A STAND
I ask you this, has God’s Word changed? No it has not. The fact that something has become culturally acceptable does not mean that God’s Word has changed.
We must recognize that many cultural trends are unbiblical! We must decide that the Bible is right, no matter how unpopular its teachings are today. Then we have to choose to live biblically whether the culture agrees or not!
Take the three Hebrew boys in Daniel 3. They were faced one of the most difficult decisions you could ever imagine: disobey God and live or obey God and die. Yet, they were persuaded that God was worth dying for and so they stood firm. Even if you are in the midst of those who believe in the babylonian system, do not be afraid of being different. Stand firm!
You may be feeling like it’s you against the whole world, like you are the last (wo)man standing, but take a firm stand for the truth, you are not alone!
After Elijah killed the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 19, Jezebel threatened to kill him and so he ran away. Twice the Lord called on him and asked him what he was doing away from his duty post and he answered: “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
Elijah was throwing a pity party. You might be surprised to note the Lord’s reaction. The Lord immediately named his replacements and asked him to anoint them for service! My Sister, wavering in your commitment to the things of God will get you replaced. You must not be replaced! Stop feeling sorry for yourself! The Lord is not sympathetic to that kind of behavior. He endured worse for your salvation, as Hebrews 12: 1-4 reminds us.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
After naming replacements, the Lord said something very profound: “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
There is always a remnant, preserved by God Himself! Isaiah 10:21 promises: The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.
I want to encourage someone here today: You are not alone. Even if everyone around you has come to accept certain behavior, and call you names for not also being accepting, even if they have threatened you or issued ultimatums for you to take ungodly actions to be able to keep your job, or gain favour. Be encouraged and stand firm! God’s call is clear: “Do not be conformed to this world…” (Romans 12:2a). Feel free to reach out to the remnant for encouragement. We at KDA are part of this remnant.
In the end, God’s Word is the only thing that you owe allegiance to. My Sister, do not compromise. Do not accept the “new normal.” Stay the course! Do not accept anything that is contrary to God’s Word!
Be guided by the fact that God loves sinners but hates sin. Trust Him to show you how to do the same. Whatever you are faced with, stand firm and know that always, the Lord is your strength!
onyinye.cn@kda.org.ng