We live in a day and age, where Christians are finding themselves in compromising situations, more than ever before. When I use the term “compromising”, I am referring to the compromise of our spiritual convictions. The most popular television shows that are being marketed to us, are almost always filled with a heavy amount of profanity, violence, or sexual innuendo. The same can be said for the most popular movies that are released each month, to high box office success.
Currently, the culture is diverting away from cable television, and radio broadcasting, and instead has embraced the popularity of podcasting. Yet this has come at a moral cost. Most of the popular podcasts that are available to download and listen to, are uncensored. Thus, the various podcasters, and show hosts, are free to use profanity, and say pretty much anything that is on their mind. This creates a moral dilemma for many Christians, who simply want to relax after work, and listen to a podcast. The content of a particular podcast might be enjoyable, or even insightful, yet Christians have to compromise with the consistent profanity that many podcast hosts use.
Outside of media, and entertainment, there are countless other opportunities to compromise our faith. Nearly every grocery store is filled with magazine stands, which showcase the latest gossip columns. The majority of these magazine columnists, are regularly breaking the 9th commandment given to us in Scripture (Exo. 20:16). The music that is always within the top 100 Billboard charts, are filled with lyrics of profanity, sexual immorality, and lawlessness. Check out the most popular music videos on Youtube trends, and you will see mainly dark or pornographic imagery.
With all of this in mind, it is easy to understand why so many Christians are very discouraged, and frustrated, while going about their day to day living. As followers of Christ, we have the desire to please the Lord with our lives. We also have consistent spiritual convictions, due to the presence of the Holy Spirit within us. It is likely that the majority of true believers, are feeling the conviction of God’s Spirit, more than ever before, since culture has been so saturated lately with sin and depravity. Many Christians are thus feeling overwhelmed by the current state of society, since the pressure to compromise their biblical beliefs, has heavily increased.
So how should followers of Jesus behave in this ever increasing world of sin? I will suggest something that may sound surprising to you.
Instead of becoming depressed or discouraged over the way things are, I would encourage you to embrace the perilous times that we are living in. Let me explain:
Though the state of things, may appear to be very dark, or bleak, I would suggest that there is no better time than now, to let your light shine before men. The majority of the world is embracing sin, and this will allow you to stand out even more, as a shining light for God. Jesus told His followers in Matthew 5:14-16,
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
I believe that God wants to use us for the purpose of lighting up this world, within these darkened times. Notice how Jesus indicates that we should not be putting our light, “under a bushel”, or in other words, hiding our light when around other people. Currently, we are living in times when the world has become so dark. Thus, we often feel more comfortable, hiding our faith in Jesus Christ, rather than sharing it. It is also very tempting to conform to the ways of this world, instead of rejecting these compromises to our faith. Yet, God has called us to be a light that is shining in the midst, and despite of, the darkness that is running rampant throughout the earth.
There are many ways in which we can let our light shine within these dark times. Consider what the Apostle Paul wrote about in Galatians 5:22-23, concerning the fruits of the Spirit:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Read this passage, and then think about the social atmosphere of the world today; as the people we come in contact with in life (whether at work, school, even church, etc.), seem to be angry, unfriendly, emotionally distressed, depressed, and burdened. The Body of Christ has the responsibility to spread love, and goodness, throughout the world, in these times where most people are simply feeling hopeless. This is where the fruits of the Spirit as written about in Galatians 5, come in handy. The godly character that we demonstrate towards others as Christians, makes a heavy difference in the overall direction that the world is heading in. Jesus proclaimed to His followers that they are the, “salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13, KJV). Salt is often used as a preservative; thus, Jesus is using salt as an analogy, proclaiming that the Church, is what is preserving the earth from completely destroying itself in immorality.
Since God is right now using us to keep the world from being destroyed in immorality, then it is so important that we ourselves make sure to not be destroyed in immorality. Though opportunities to compromise our spiritual convictions, are all around us more than ever before, we need to keep our minds on God’s eternal plan. He wants to use us, for the purpose of leading others to receive His grace, so that they may glorify our Father in Heaven. These are tough times, but I would encourage you the Christian, to stay strong; eternal rewards in Heaven await those who have been obedient to the statutes God’s provided to us in His Word. Maranatha!
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