Empty Piety or A Righteous Heart -

What motivates us to actively oppose the wickedness being propagated in our world today? A large number of people in America are "opposed" to gay marriage but would have a harder time saying that unrepentant homosexuals are going to hell. A sizeable group would say that abortion is "wrong" but would have a harder time saying that those who support a woman's right to choose are advocating wickedness. Many may speak "against" pop cultural icons like Janet Jackson and the "Queer Eye" crew, but would have a harder time stating the idea that God's Word, properly applied, gives real answers on whether or not we should set wickedness before our eyes.

There are certainly a vast number of inconsistencies like this within the relativistic wishy-washy society in which we live. But my point gets more directly at the heart of professing Christians. Where do our convictions on issues like those mentioned above actually originate? One reason that Christian efforts on social issues are often ineffective is that we do not immerse ourselves in God's Word and speak with His authority. Too often, we dumb down our positions to something like, "It just ain't right!" Or the more astute among us, "I grew up going to church and its just real important that we understand that marriage is an important social institution." Or those who have actually read a book in the Bible might take a bold stand, "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve."

We need to be motivated by a heart that fears God and loves His Word. We need to live out our faith and show forth Christ by the fruit of the Spirit. We need to understand what God has said and be ready to speak with authority. The perversity of the pagan culture is sad. The far-too-many churches and Christians too weak to boldly proclaim the gospel of Christ is sad. But we do not despair. We serve a Sovereign King, who reigns Supreme over all things. God will build His Kingdom and He will use His servants as tools as He builds.

Psalm 119:136,139: "Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men do not keep Your law...My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words."

When we have our eyes opened to the gross sin which is so pervasive around us, we need to repent of our own sins and be stirred to greater zeal to see God's Kingdom advanced.