Are we faithful to a Holy God?

I will probably step on toes here. But before everyone gets all defensive, please pay attention to these two truths: 1. I'm talking to myself too. 2. Our opinions don't matter if scripture is opposed to them.

I'll just spit it out. We like cultural Christianity. We like "grace" centered Christianity. We like to do what we want, and say we are just "real." Hey, "religion kills" right? We are about relationship with Jesus, not rules.. I can get that. But, here's my deal. Forget the "rules" and consider this. Would you want your spouse flirting with a scantily clad person on a street corner? No? But it's about relationship, not rules, right?

The past few weeks, I've really been focusing on teaching these teens about spiritual fidelity. About what it means to be the bride of Christ. Our focus verse has been James 4:4. It says, "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wished to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." Harsh words. Surely James didn't mean to sound that way. I mean we are supposed to be 'in the world' right? What was that Paul said, "all things to all people"? We have to relate to the culture. Jesus ate with sinners, and all that jazz.

Let me put on my professor glasses for a second. There are two terms I go over with new believers, eisegesis and exegesis. Simply put, the first, eisegesis, is when we study scripture to prove our position. The second, exegesis, is when we study scripture to determine our position. One of the most crippling aspects of the modern church, particularly the American church, is that we study eisegetically and not exegetically. We look for things which agree with us, instead of looking to form our opinion in submission to God's word. Context, friends, is so important.

Was Jesus a friend to sinners? Yes, but he was not a friend of the world. Was Paul all things to all people? Yes, but he was not "without the law of God." Remember when Jesus saved the woman from being stoned after she was caught in adultery? His words were "go and sin no more." Jesus showed grace and mercy, yet implored holiness. Why? Because of rules? NO! Holiness isn't about rules, it's about honoring our union with Christ. We choose to be made holy, because our father in heaven in holy.

So, what do we do about all the worldly stuff out there? What do we do about the songs that glorify fornication, rebelliousness, and the flesh? What do we do about the shows and movies that glorify things that insult our God? Do we just sit back and say things like, "I don't listen to the lyrics, I just like the rhythm." Or, "I know it has some parts, but I skip over those." Do you know that this really says? It says, "my pleasure is more important than my holiness." It says, "I don't have to sacrifice." Guys listen, you may disagree, but just think on this for a minute. Sacrifice isn't "not sinning." That is simply our duty. Sacrifice is giving up something good for something better. "Skipping the bad parts" isn't sacrifice. Its selfish gratification, and we all know it. We just don't like to think about it.

I'm astonished at the number of Christians who not only participate in, but advertise things like Justin Bieber singing "Quiero desnudarte despacito" (I want to slowly take all your clothes off) or others singing worse or watching pornographic shows like Game of Thrones or the ladies going to see Fifty Shades of Gray. Guys, you look just like the world. Where is the "people set apart for a royal priesthood"? Not because of rules. But because we love Jesus. Or, is it really that we just love ourselves more?