A Nugget from New Life Network
(parts reprinted from Dr Larry Ollison)
Scripture for the Day (September 24, 2015)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)
The important question each one of us has to answer today is this: Are we going to live our life trying to please God or please man? Shortly after the Holy Spirit moved upon the people and the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) the religious leaders stepped in and began to tell the Apostles what they could say and what they couldn’t say. Political correctness was born!
And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:18)
Peter and John responded to the religious leaders of the day as follows: “But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).
Today we must ask ourselves this same critical question and this question is not just for preachers. Everyone must decide how they are going to live their life. Do we stand for the things of God or do we go with the crowd and become politically correct so we can try not to offend anyone? Of course, a Christian is not to just blatantly offend people. And of course, we must be kind and considerate and choose our words wisely. And of course, we should not be arrogant or prideful in what we say. However, we cannot take a stand against the laws of God just to avoid offending someone.
But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:33-34)
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. (Luke 7:23)
The Gospel is offensive to the sinner and there is no way around it. It does bring a sword. In some ways it may be easier for a preacher because he stands in the pulpit and everyone expects him to side with God. But for the average church member working on the job, attending school or social functions with friends, it can be more difficult to take a stand for truth. Homosexuality, abortion, adultery, and fornication are all hot button topics of our times and are always wrong in the eyes of God. His Word proclaims it from the beginning of the book to the end. God doesn’t change! And although society would make us think that we are discriminating, that is not true. To stand firm on the laws of God is not discrimination, it’s wisdom.
In times past, groups of people were enslaved and abused because of the color of their skin. We need to think the way God thinks. The Bible says man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. When you are born on this earth, you are not able to choose the color of your skin. And it is sad that entire cultures have been abused and eliminated because of color. That is true discrimination! However, to stand for the truth concerning things that are sin is not discrimination. Color is not a choice, but sin is and to say that standing against sin is discrimination is pure deception.
Satan is the great deceiver. From the very beginning, man was driven out of the Garden of Eden because he fell for the deception of the serpent. Deception will cause you to perceive right as wrong and wrong as right. The Bible says that a sign of the end times is that men will deceive others and be deceived themselves and it will become worse and worse as time goes on (2 Timothy 3:13).
So the conclusion is this. We cannot rely on the laws of man to determine what is right or moral. There are many things in our culture that are legal, but they are immoral. When we live our lives seeking His truth and applying it to our lives, then there will be no doubt that we are living the proper lifestyle. The only true standard for truth and righteousness is the Word of God.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. We will not back up or be ashamed. We will speak the Word of God with boldness and we will love like we have been loved.
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)
