What does it look like to follow God in an immoral culture? - Culture - TouchPoints

Romans 13:1-2Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.

Acts 4:19; 5:29Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? . . . But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.”

The New Testament emphasizes the importance of obeying the government in authority over you. Only when those in authority order you to denounce God or deliberately disobey him should you disobey your culture’s authorities. God is the highest authority, and you must obey him above all else.

Esther 4:16“Though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”

Esther was only a young Jewish girl, but God brought her to a position of great influence in order to save her people. But she had to risk her life by violating the royal rules of her culture to have a chance at saving her people. Even if your position is not as high as Esther’s, persist in obeying God and doing right, and you will influence the culture you live in.

Genesis 39:7-9Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”

Refuse to give in to what God’s Word says is wrong.

Exodus 20:4“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.”

Today it’s hard to imagine bowing down to statues of wood or stone, but we have our own idols that lead us away from God. An idol is anything that takes God’s place in your heart. What kinds of idols do people worship today? Money, convenience, hobbies, the computer, reputation, beauty, celebrities, success—many of the things culture says should take top priority in our lives. If they become more important to you than God is, they have become an idol.

You must get rid of those things that keep God from being the center of your life. How? You might have to quit a hobby or remove something from your home. The point is that you must remove that which has taken God’s place in our life. These are usually the things that culture says you must have. What idol are you in danger of bowing down to worship? Don’t let the culture convince you it is more important than your relationship with God.

Numbers 25:1-2While the Israelites were camped at Acacia Grove, some of the men defiled themselves by having sexual relations with local Moabite women. These women invited them to attend sacrifices to their gods, so the Israelites feasted with them and worshiped the gods of Moab.

The strength of your faith can often be seen by how much you influence culture rather than being influenced by it. These Israelites were easily influenced and joined in some of the sinful practices of a neighboring culture. What kind of example have you been exhibiting lately to others? A good role model influences others for good rather than being easily influenced by evil.

John 15:19-21“The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me.”

Romans 12:14-21Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. . . . Never pay back evil with more evil. . . . never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. . . . Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Jesus explains that if you are truly following him rather than the culture, you will at some point be misunderstood, and possibly even mocked and persecuted. God’s message is counter-cultural. When you follow it—for example, praying for your enemies or giving away your money to help others instead of spending it on yourself—it will not make any sense by your culture’s standards. As a result, you can expect some ridicule and opposition. But it won’t always be the norm. In God’s new and future culture of heaven, goodness and righteousness will be the norm.

Genesis 6:5-9The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth.” . . . But Noah found favor with the Lord. . . . Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.

Consistent obedience to God’s commandments will set you apart from an immoral culture. Sometimes, you might feel as though you are alone in your obedience to God. It might feel like everyone is laughing at you. However, the fact that no one else is doing what you are doing doesn’t mean you are wrong. Remain faithful as Noah did. Obey God’s commands and find confidence in your relationship with him.

Deuteronomy 7:2-5When the Lord your God hands these nations over to you and you conquer them, you must completely destroy them. Make no treaties with them and show them no mercy. You must not intermarry with them. Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters, for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you. This is what you must do. You must break down their pagan altars and shatter their sacred pillars. Cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols.

This troubling passage from the Old Testament applied only to the nation of Israel at a unique time in ancient history when God wanted to cleanse the Promised Land for the Israelites and show them what a culture dedicated to him would look like. God knew the pagans living there would tempt his people away from him—and they did. With the coming of Jesus, God’s new plan is for his people to be beacons of light to influence culture.