Surviving our Present Culture

IN A NUTSHELL: NOT EVERYONE IS READY TO ACCEPT GOD. WHERE DO YOU STAND?

1 Corinthians 3:1-3

"Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.  I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready..."

When we are called into a new life with Christ, we will encounter obstacles. One of the biggest barriers is the culture in which we live. We may not ever recognize the danger we are in until we fall. Let’s look honestly at our world.

First, it’s a secular culture, which means it has little interest in religious matters or the Bible. It teaches us to trust in ourselves and in the things we can see rather than in our unseen triune God.

Our world is also materialistic. Its primary focus is on accumulating possessions and gaining wealth, not on caring about others and giving sacrificially. Tragically, many of the things our culture values stand in opposition to the way Jesus calls us to live. When Scripture contradicts what our society believes, it’s not uncommon for people to belittle our lifestyle as narrow-minded and extreme.

In many ways, our society is spiritually rebellious, in that it defies both the laws of God and the laws of man; obedience is considered optional. A large percentage of the population rejects God’s viewpoint on intimacy and marriage in order to please self—as a result, immorality is prevalent. But they have been deceived into thinking that they can violate God’s laws without any consequences.

Unless we’re careful, we can fall prey to the world’s traps. The key to avoiding its snares is God’s Word. When we study Scripture, the Holy Spirit will identify lies we are believing and show how we can apply God’s truth to set us free. Are you immersed in the culture or in God’s truth?

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My thoughts:

The problem with unbelievers is that they misconstrue having religion with faith in God. No religion is perfect and most are definitely man-made. But people who reject organized religion (like myself sometimes) don't necessarily have to reject God. To blame God for all the chaos is just  laughable (see poster below).

But some fail to see that without the freedom to choose your faith this is how the world will be:

We were all given free will to obey or not to obey, to love Him or to reject Him. But God urges us to do what's right 'See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, and to keep His commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.' - Deuteronomy 30:15-18.

Some people just don't get that we are all accountable for our actions. They blame God for all the injustice that's happening without taking responsibility. To live respectably and with dignity. To love others as yourself, but to love God ABOVE all others. Call it blind faith but man can do so empowered ONLY by the Holy Spirit. 

For those of you who are worried of what the future might bring in this secular world, let me leave you with Jesus' words:

"These words I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage;  I    HAVE   OVERCOME   THE  WORLD"... (John 16:33)