A Recipe for Depravity

It is May 6th, and I just realized that I have not shared with you my verse for May 1-15. So many of you have commented, emailed, and called to remind me - not! :)

Here it is:

Jesus said to the people who believed him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."

John 8:31-32 (NLT)

To Obey Christ's Teachings = Knowledge of Truth & Freedom

Do you believe God? Not, do you believe in God, but do you really believe God? Beth Moore wrote a whole bible study about the the idea of Believing God. There is a powerful difference, and the difference will affect whether or not you are growing in your knowledge of Truth, and whether or not you are experiencing freedom.

As Christians living in this depraved culture, we must know Truth. Truth is sort a tricky sometimes - not that it was originally intended to be tricky, but we humans have made truth tricky. A biblical example is evident through Noah. In Noah's day, the scriptures refer to the flood being a consequence of God's frustration with mankind and their depravity. The part that stands out to me is "HOW" the depravity came to be so dark and pervasive. In Genesis 6:1-8, the scriptures speak of intermarrying being a source of the darkness. To me, this represents righteous people being woven together with unrighteous people to the point that the lines were completely blurred between that which was right and what which was wrong. My study Bible uses these phrases to describe the phenomenon: "weakened the good influence," "increased moral depravity," and an "explosion of evil." And, herein lies the difference between being in the culture and of the culture.

All it takes is one generation to completely erode Truth. It is a little like a recipe:

Mix a cup of evil (whether by choice or by victimization)
With a teaspoon (or less) of Christ's influence
Add a heaping tablespoon of exposure to the unimaginable

And, the result may be deep, unexplainable pain, rejection, questions, and/or doubt

Or, the result may be passion to make a difference

However, unless transformation through Christ is liberally added,
Along with a deeper devotion to Him, His glory, and His agenda,
then the mixture becomes confusion, chaos, unbalanced passion.... maybe even liberation theology.

As I attempt to make sense of the weakened good influence of Christians, the growing moral depravity, and the explosion of evil in America, I can't help but consider possible sources (i.e., the aforementioned "recipe"). At the same time, I must also consider my response. In 2 Thessalonians 2, the scriptures refer to something that is holding back evil. My study bible offers three possibilities: 1) government and law; 2) the ministry and activity of the church; and 3) the Holy Spirit. I am thinking my response to evil should include a combination of these three possibilities, with the strongest emphasis being the Holy Spirit.

If I truly believe God, then I have no doubt that I have a role to fill in Christ's mission -within this culture and on this earth.... Fellow Christ followers, so do you!