Articles
Living Holy Lives -- Even Here
Historically, our country has been without equal as a place where Christians can live out our faith in freedom and safety. Still, our nation has its problems — or maybe it’s better to say that our nation’s people have their problems. Many of those problems are stark reminders that every Christian, even here, must be diligent to pursue holiness and keep “unstained by the world” (James 1:27).
In a nation with as many as 17 million alcoholics, God tells us, “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
In a nation where people spend more than $500 billion dollars a year on gambling (both legal and illegal), God calls on us to put away covetousness and to provide for ourselves and others through honest labor (Colossians 3:5; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12; Ephesians 4:28).
In a nation where 43 million people are classified as living in poverty, God calls on us to “be generous and ready to share” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
In a nation where almost one third of married couples divorce before their tenth anniversary, God tells us to hold marriage in high honor as a sacred, inviolable bond (Hebrews 13:4; Matthew 19:3-9).
In a nation where virtually every expression of sex outside of marriage is celebrated, God calls on us to flee from sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20).
In a nation that is the world’s number one producer of pornography, God calls on us to pursue purity and self-control even in our thoughts (Matthew 5:27-28).
In a nation where the number of people who identify religiously as “none” is growing every year, God tells us to draw others to Him by letting our lights shine and being ready to explain the reason for our hope (Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 3:15).
