Responsibilities

It is that last servile characteristic that is so intriguing.  To be “dead in sin” (v. 1) is, in many ways, synonymous with just following the crowd, going along with the way things are going.  It’s been called “peer pressure” and it’s been repetitively preached on, especially to the young.  But, adults equally suffer from its deceptive clenches.  Once we are satisfied with accepting “the way things are going” we yield ourselves to just the slavish, thoughtless trance in which Satan desires us.

There are some ways to avoid this subtle deception by the “father of lies.”  First, do not be ignorant.  It takes effort, research and hard work to keep up on issues that challenge the church and nation.  It takes informed insight to see through the messages that media often subtly portray.  It takes fresh thinking, the challenging of commonly accepted beliefs, and the testing of them.  Ignorance is not an insult unless we lazily remain that way.  We must study God’s Word and know what’s going on in the world.  Then, we’ve got to teach to challenge the popular opinions.

Second, do not be inept.  Many don’t know how to put forth the effort, or where to research, to find a different angle on social or political issues that are really primarily moral issues.  Space herein only permits one tip:  Ask.  Do not be afraid to question people and communicate until you find out how to find what you’re looking for.

Third, do not be an ingrate.  The precious blood of Christ rescues us from enslavement in sin.  We owe it to God not to be conformed to the world, but transform our minds (Romans 12:1-2).  We need to be thoughtful, earnest and diligent.

The issues that challenge us are numerous.  The world leads us down a path of greed and gambling, mayhem and murder, fornication and adultery. The talk shows and news media often concur.  The jabber in the workplace lends a vote of support.  But we, as Christians, have the responsibility to buck the tide, and follow only those things that are objectively true. When God’s way disagrees with the course of the world, we have the responsibility to know it, and then do something about it.