The Bad News
The Bad News
In a world where it's increasingly "uncool" to be a Christian, where social media amplifies voices that stand on subjective truths rather than absolute ones, how do we maintain our faith? More importantly, why should we remain unashamed of the gospel in the face of potential ridicule or "cancellation"?
The answer lies in understanding the transformative power of the gospel itself. As the apostle Paul boldly declared, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)
This isn't just a nice sentiment – it's a profound truth that has the potential to radically change lives. When we stand up, unashamed of the gospel, we're not just sharing a personal belief. We're unleashing the very power of salvation into the world around us.
But what gives us the confidence to approach God with such boldness? The book of Hebrews reminds us that we have a high priest – Jesus Christ – who understands our weaknesses and has been tempted in every way, yet remained without sin. This allows us to "approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16)
This is truly good news! But to fully appreciate the good news, we must also grapple with the bad news.
The Bad News
The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, doesn't shy away from addressing the reality of human sin and its consequences. He speaks of God's wrath being revealed against all godlessness and unrighteousness. This might seem at odds with the idea of a loving God, but it's crucial to understand that God's anger stems from His love for His creation.
Just as a parent's love for their child can manifest as anger when that child is in danger or mistreated, God's wrath is a response to the dehumanization and degradation of His beloved creation. Whether it's racism, sexual exploitation, or even the seemingly "minor" sin of coveting – all of these acts diminish the image of God in which we were created.
Paul argues that we are without excuse when it comes to recognizing God's existence and character. The very act of creation itself testifies to a Creator. As the Psalmist wrote, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands." (Psalm 19:1)
The Natural Progression of a Godless Society
What happens when a society chooses to live without God? Paul paints a sobering picture in Romans 1:21-32. It's a downward spiral that begins with a failure to glorify God or show gratitude, leading to darkened hearts and foolish thinking. This progresses to idolatry, sexual impurity, and eventually to a complete corruption of natural order and morality.
The description Paul gives could easily be mistaken for a modern news feed – filled with unrighteousness, evil, greed, envy, deceit, arrogance, and a host of other vices. Perhaps most chillingly, he speaks of those who not only practice such things but applaud others who do the same.
This is the natural fallout of a society that has chosen to exchange the truth of God for a lie, worshiping created things rather than the Creator.
The Call to Love
In the face of such a dire picture, what is the role of the church? It's not to condemn or to make the lost feel more lost. Rather, our calling is to love people to Jesus. As 1 Corinthians 13:13 reminds us, "Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love – but the greatest of these is love."
This doesn't mean compromising on truth or accepting sin. But it does mean approaching others with the same grace and mercy that God has shown us. We're called to hate sin – recognizing it as the thief that robs us of life and peace – while still loving the sinner.
The Path Forward
So how do we live in light of these truths? Romans 8:13 provides a powerful directive: "because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."
This is a call to die to our old selves, our sinful nature, and to live according to the Spirit. It's a daily choice to present our bodies as "a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God" (Romans 12:1). This is our true worship – not just singing songs on Sunday, but offering our entire lives to God.
It's also a reminder that our real battle isn't against people, but against "principalities" – the spiritual forces that seek to corrupt and destroy. We're called to love people, even those we disagree with, while standing firm against the lies and deception that lead people away from God.
A Final Thought
C.S. Lewis once wrote, "The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men, his compulsion is our liberation." This profound statement reminds us that God's ways, while sometimes appearing harsh or difficult, are ultimately for our good and our freedom.
In a world that increasingly rejects absolute truth and embraces moral relativism, we're called to stand firm in our faith, unashamed of the gospel. Not out of a sense of superiority or judgment, but out of love for a world desperately in need of the transformative power of God's grace.
Like a grain of wheat that must fall to the ground and die to produce fruit (John 12:24), we're called to die to ourselves daily. It's not an easy path, but it's one that leads to true life, both for ourselves and for those around us.
May we have the courage to live unashamed, to love boldly, and to shine the light of God's truth and grace in a world that desperately needs it.
In a world where it's increasingly "uncool" to be a Christian, where social media amplifies voices that stand on subjective truths rather than absolute ones, how do we maintain our faith? More importantly, why should we remain unashamed of the gospel in the face of potential ridicule or "cancellation"?
The answer lies in understanding the transformative power of the gospel itself. As the apostle Paul boldly declared, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)
This isn't just a nice sentiment – it's a profound truth that has the potential to radically change lives. When we stand up, unashamed of the gospel, we're not just sharing a personal belief. We're unleashing the very power of salvation into the world around us.
But what gives us the confidence to approach God with such boldness? The book of Hebrews reminds us that we have a high priest – Jesus Christ – who understands our weaknesses and has been tempted in every way, yet remained without sin. This allows us to "approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16)
This is truly good news! But to fully appreciate the good news, we must also grapple with the bad news.
The Bad News
The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, doesn't shy away from addressing the reality of human sin and its consequences. He speaks of God's wrath being revealed against all godlessness and unrighteousness. This might seem at odds with the idea of a loving God, but it's crucial to understand that God's anger stems from His love for His creation.
Just as a parent's love for their child can manifest as anger when that child is in danger or mistreated, God's wrath is a response to the dehumanization and degradation of His beloved creation. Whether it's racism, sexual exploitation, or even the seemingly "minor" sin of coveting – all of these acts diminish the image of God in which we were created.
Paul argues that we are without excuse when it comes to recognizing God's existence and character. The very act of creation itself testifies to a Creator. As the Psalmist wrote, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands." (Psalm 19:1)
The Natural Progression of a Godless Society
What happens when a society chooses to live without God? Paul paints a sobering picture in Romans 1:21-32. It's a downward spiral that begins with a failure to glorify God or show gratitude, leading to darkened hearts and foolish thinking. This progresses to idolatry, sexual impurity, and eventually to a complete corruption of natural order and morality.
The description Paul gives could easily be mistaken for a modern news feed – filled with unrighteousness, evil, greed, envy, deceit, arrogance, and a host of other vices. Perhaps most chillingly, he speaks of those who not only practice such things but applaud others who do the same.
This is the natural fallout of a society that has chosen to exchange the truth of God for a lie, worshiping created things rather than the Creator.
The Call to Love
In the face of such a dire picture, what is the role of the church? It's not to condemn or to make the lost feel more lost. Rather, our calling is to love people to Jesus. As 1 Corinthians 13:13 reminds us, "Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love – but the greatest of these is love."
This doesn't mean compromising on truth or accepting sin. But it does mean approaching others with the same grace and mercy that God has shown us. We're called to hate sin – recognizing it as the thief that robs us of life and peace – while still loving the sinner.
The Path Forward
So how do we live in light of these truths? Romans 8:13 provides a powerful directive: "because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."
This is a call to die to our old selves, our sinful nature, and to live according to the Spirit. It's a daily choice to present our bodies as "a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God" (Romans 12:1). This is our true worship – not just singing songs on Sunday, but offering our entire lives to God.
It's also a reminder that our real battle isn't against people, but against "principalities" – the spiritual forces that seek to corrupt and destroy. We're called to love people, even those we disagree with, while standing firm against the lies and deception that lead people away from God.
A Final Thought
C.S. Lewis once wrote, "The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men, his compulsion is our liberation." This profound statement reminds us that God's ways, while sometimes appearing harsh or difficult, are ultimately for our good and our freedom.
In a world that increasingly rejects absolute truth and embraces moral relativism, we're called to stand firm in our faith, unashamed of the gospel. Not out of a sense of superiority or judgment, but out of love for a world desperately in need of the transformative power of God's grace.
Like a grain of wheat that must fall to the ground and die to produce fruit (John 12:24), we're called to die to ourselves daily. It's not an easy path, but it's one that leads to true life, both for ourselves and for those around us.
May we have the courage to live unashamed, to love boldly, and to shine the light of God's truth and grace in a world that desperately needs it.
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