What are your standards?
The past one week God has been reminding me how different a world we are living in. I bet everyone of you has heard or have been preached to the following line “be in the world but not OF the world. ” As I go out of my house and interact with the World I’m amazed to see how the World has compromised on God’s standards! And why wouldnt you be? If I am not convinced or convicted that Pepsi is not good for me why would I stop drinking it? I wouldn’t right? So in the same way if people are not convicted about certain issues they wont change. So it would be great if phony religious people would stop telling them what to do and start getting right in their own lives first.
Anyway back to the World and God. In the Bible we see that God repeatedly puts his standard higher than the World. God knows better than our modern scientists who figured that AIDS and STD’s come in when you have sexual intercourse with multiple partners. So God keeps his standard. Why? Not that we can please Him only, but so it will be good for us. How many times have we read in the Bible “so that it will go well with you”?
Today it is ok if you want to go on a trial and error spree with the opposite sex. Hey you’re young and this is the time to enjoy life right? A close friend asked how I am going to get all the practice at kissing if I am only going to do that after marriage. I have all the time AFTER marriage to practice on one mouth. I kinda like the idea of that.
It is ok if you want to have premarital sex as long as you do it with protection. Here take your pick – condoms, contraceptives and what not methods!
It is ok if you have a girlfriend/boyfriend but you still look lustfully at the gorgeous girl or that hunk when you pass the road. Why, I’m only looking arent I? Not like I slept with him/her or anything like that. Remember David? It took only one look from his window to get him to commit adultery and then murder. I’m not saying everyone will kill but the Bible says that even if we look at a woman/man and sin in my thoughts then I have already commited adultery.
It’s ok to drink socially. I’m not getting drunk at all. Besides its the etiquette to drink a sip at parties and get togethers.
It’s ok to lie to get others or myself out of trouble. If something good comes out of my lie why not?
It’s ok if that rickshawguy or the store clerk gave me 10 bucks extra. Not my fault. He should have checked anyway.
Tell you what the Bible says ITS NOT OK!
Today’s Times of India front page shows a picture of Obamma looking at the “booty” (as they call it) of a young woman as the French Prez Sarkozy peeks on. Of course the media had a field day with it. I dont know about Obamma but I do care about my life. I care that I live according to God’s standards, not the World’s.
What are your standards? The Bible or the Agony Aunt Column?
I’m not perfect. But I keep The Bible as my Standard.
July 13, 2009 at 2:28 AM
funny, witty etc etc with that truth like salt spread through it. well done. I liked it!
July 13, 2009 at 7:16 AM
Why thankyou!
July 13, 2009 at 9:36 AM
Noble intentions. Best of luck.
July 20, 2009 at 1:30 AM
Convince or Convict seems a nice idea on paper, but what does it ride on? Biblical standards for you may make the cut, but when it comes to ‘convict’ religion and morality cannot interfere.
Agreed a lot of moral transgressions are moral transgressions for a reason, but we can’t keep criminalizing everything that is considered a moral transgression by holy texts. There are too many faiths in India itself and a lot of them have conflicting moral values. Confusing the law with this hotch-potch would create a mess.
I can see the subtle swipe at 377 here, but let me ask you this: What do you do when convincing and convicting both fail? Do you simply take an even more hard-line approach? or do you reassess and re-examine the issue to begin with?
July 20, 2009 at 5:43 PM
I dont convict anyone of what is wrong or right. That’s divine business. if moral transgressions are moral transgressions for a reason then moral laws that are laid down in the Bible are there for a reason and they have to be withheld at all costs.
I dont want to go out there and tell people you are wrong. No I dont take that approach. No where in the Bible do I see “im right your wrong” approach taken by man approved by God. of course God can say that not us.
when convincing and convicting both fail. I pray.
as far as the other things i havent answered here, we’ll talk face to face. WordPress is hardly the place for such talk.
July 26, 2009 at 2:39 AM
All I want to say is that it’s hard Osci. So hard.
July 27, 2009 at 12:12 AM
It is if you want to do it because the Bible says so.
But it is easy when you do it because Jesus says so, and you love Jesus.
August 7, 2009 at 12:54 PM
I like this post
In all probability we are swimming against the tide in this world, but all in good stead…there is no point upholding these values if we do not see an end in sight. I also see temptation as something that is personal, while alcoholism is one man’s poison, it might not be for another. But if a weaker brother considers it a sin to drink and if you drink in front of him it is a sin! The best approach to do things when confused is this – Is God glorified in this situation? Sometimes, it can get ridiculously confusing, but in your heart of hearts you know, especially if you are trying to rationalize with yourself. There and then you know immediately that you are wrong.