Regrettably in many nations the church is a near carbon copy of the world, having departed from God’s divine standards, in areas of co-habitation, fornication, adultery, divorce, abortion, watching “reality TV” shows often with in your face sexuality and the list goes on. Then there is what governments have done through the laws they have enacted saying that which God declares as sin is legal e.g. the taking of life through euthanasia/abortion; marriage no longer defined as being between one heterosexual man and one heterosexual woman.
Is there the need to look at ourselves in the church first to see whether we need to redeem Biblical sexuality, repent of coarse language/joking, of immodest behaviour/dress/pornography, or other habits that degrade God’s image?
It would seem that many within the Christian church have perhaps ignored the charge put on us in the book of Titus:
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,” Titus 2:11-12 (ESV)
God called us out from the world to lead lives to glorify Him, and yet there are some who say they serve God and yet remain silent when faced with situations which are deviations from God’s divine plan. They ignore the charge put on us in Titus 2:12 and stay silent because they have bought into the lie from the world in which we live that we as Christians should not judge but stay silent when presented with such things. This lie taken from a worldly interpretation of Matthew 7:1. However we are to speak the truth in love Ephesians 4:15. In buying into this lie they have become lukewarm toward the Word.
In the Gospels some of the strongest words which Jesus Christ spoke were not at those who stole or were unfaithful but against the one who was lukewarm. This message really comes across in the words that John was instructed to write to the angel of the church of Laodicea as recorded in Revelation 3:14-22.
One of the greatest areas where we need to ensure that we are not lukewarm and to confront compromises, condemn moral digression, and denounce sin is in the area of marriage and family which continue to be under relentless attack, this not only affects the relationship between the husband and wife, their relationship with children but is also a direct attack on the children with teachings on sexuality etc. through schools.
As we speak out the Gospel message and teach on drawing close to God and how to nurture our love and intimacy with God we should illustrate this with how God intends relationships within marriage and family to be, lives lived together in intimacy, trust and side by side on mission.
Along the way a few feathers may be ruffled but we need to stay true to the Word and God’s divine plan for man and woman by equipping them fully with the word and yes also correcting where there is the need so that they have the protection of the full armour of God. Also showing the sufficiency of scripture. For our lives to glorify God and by seeking to lead such lives not only do we have the relationship with God but also stronger marriages and families will be built, along with a stronger church – being the light on the hill in the community.
