God Expects Consistency…
Maybe you’ve heard or read about Situation Ethics.
It refers to people doing whatever they perceive is “the right thing to do” according to the situation they are in at the time.
Those who practice situation ethics generally believe that there are no absolute rules concerning right or wrong — that you just have to kind of go with the flow of the times and determine what you do based upon those with whom you are with and the situation in which you find yourself.
This seems to be a growing trend in our society. It is also beginning to creep into our churches and the lives of those who claim to be Christians.
This is especially evident in the lives of our children and young people because of their tendency to emulate the adults around them.
What kind of example is this setting?
How consistent is our daily life with what the Word teaches?
Do we ever find it necessary to act differently around different people so as to be accepted?
Could it be that we are practicing “Situational Religion”?
That is trying to be as much of a Christian as we need to be so we are acceptable to whomever we happen to be with at the time?
God expects consistency in our lives as Christians. We are supposed to live changed lives and concentrate on pleasing God, not people.
“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11(NIV)
Some people believe that there are different rules for different places — one set of rules for home, one set for work, one set for our associations with friends and yet another for when we are with other Christians. Those folks are practicing situational religion and that is not acceptable to God. God expects us to live for him all of the time in every situation. If we are not doing that, then we are not serving him the way he wants.
Grace and Peace
Our Lord Jesus Christ is Great, wonderful and merciful God who died for our sins and let us live. He redeemed our souls. That is all I have to say.
Liz said this on November 2, 2009 at 3:21 am
I really enjoyed reading this. I think you made a great point and I am going to try my best to notice how I am situationally living. I know that if someone irritated me at work, I would handle it much differently then I would if it were someone from our church. I have a situational patience level. I know I need to work on that. Thank you!
Niki Lherisse said this on November 27, 2009 at 5:29 pm