The Slippery Slope

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth" (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

It's been equally frightening and fascinating, to watch the ever-quickening downward spiral of our culture.

What was morally unacceptable to most Americans just a few years ago, is now applauded by the Liberal masses. What was illegal last year, is now legal in some states.

Political correctness is killing our nation.

One thing I have observed over the last twenty or so years, is that as immorality has increased, and has become more culturally acceptable, many people who profess to be "Christian" have begun to approve of, or excuse immoral behaviors (sin) which are explicitly forbidden in the Bible.

And a common denominator among these culturally/politically correct "Christians" is that they have stopped reading and heeding their Bibles. They have turned from God's doctrine, and have replaced it with fluffy, worldly doctrines; "The gospel according to Oprah."

This is the slippery slope—getting away from the Word of God, and slowly incorporating the philosophy of a corrupt, worldly culture into your mindset and way of life. And once you start down that deceitful path, it becomes more and more difficult to return to the truth of God's Word.

God's command of repentance—turning from one's sin and turning to God—is largely missing in the message of modern Christianity.

Don't disgrace Grace.

Under the guise of "love" and "grace" many so-called Christians are playing fast and loose with the Word of God, and are leading unsaved people directly into eternal condemnation. Because they are so afraid of offending people, they refuse to tell them the truth; that God has appointed a day on which He will judge sinners who refuse to repent of their sin.

"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31)

To Repent literally means to "change one's own mind, and to think differently afterwards." Change one's mind about what?  That all human beings are sinners. That each of us have sinned against God. None of us are "good" people. God will judge people according to His own standard of perfection, not according to what we think is good or righteous. 

A common objection to this is people who say, "I'm a good person! I don't murder people or rob banks!"

But in God's perspective, hating someone in your heart is the same as murder. Lusting after someone who is not your spouse is the same as if you had physically committed adultery with that person.

The slippery slope of excusing and approving of people's sin; all so you don't "offend" them, is leading people to Hell. This is not "loving" people. This is not "pointing people to Jesus."

God commands all people to repent of their sin. He doesn't say, "Oh, that's okay" (wink, wink).

Jesus said; "If a man loves Me he will keep My commandments."

I remember the first time I read Acts 17 where "God now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world." 

All men everywhere. 

That's plenty plain. All men everywhere means that all men everywhere are sinners, and have sinned against God. All men everywhere need saving. And all men everywhere who need saving, need a Savior.  

Saved from what?

Saved from Hell.  

I know, Hell is not a popular subject with most people. But that's why Jesus came down here, became a man, and died on the Cross for the sins of the world; because all men are sinners, and we all need saving. Because in God's perspective, we all deserve to go to Hell because we all have sinned against Him.

So when you point someone to Jesus, you are pointing them to the only One who can save them from the eternal Hell they deserve for sinning against God. 

If someone has pointed you to Jesus, you must acknowledge and confess that you are a sinner. That you have sinned against God. That you do deserve Hell. And that God has commanded you to repent, to turn away from your sin, and to turn to Him.

And that is a command from God (not a suggestion). And His command is made in love, because God is Love.

God is going to judge sinful humanity by Jesus Christ, who took your place on the Cross. He died for your sins. He paid the penalty for your crimes against God. He went into hell so you won't have to... but only if you repent and turn to Him.

You can't refuse to repent of your sin and expect God to forgive you. 

If you are a married person who is committing adultery, you are not saved just because you say you, "believe in Jesus" when you refuse to repent of your adultery. If you are a homosexual, you aren't saved simply because you say you "believe in Jesus" but you refuse to repent of your homosexuality. Same applies if you are a thief, if you are a habitual liar, if you cheat on your taxes, if you worship money, if you idolize material things, if you surf the Internet every night looking at pornography, if you are a drug dealer, or if you are sleeping with your girlfriend when you are not married.

A person who has repented of their sin and has turned to God, does not still live a life of sin the way they did before they came to God. You must repent. 

God is Love. But the loving God will also judge sinners.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1:18-32)

God doesn't hate homosexuals.

And He doesn't single out their sin as the worst sin, as some people today seem to think. God loves all people everywhere. 

But God also commands all people everywhere to repent of their sin, and to turn to Him. 

If you read the long list in Romans chapter 1 of the things that God includes as being unrighteousness; homosexuality is no more a sin than being disobedient to one's parents is a sin. All sin is sin. And according to Romans 1, approving of someones sin, is just as bad as committing the sin itself. If you are afraid to offend someone who practices homosexuality (or any other unrighteousness), that you excuse their sin, you are actually approving of it. And you're just as guilty as they are, as we see above in Romans 1. 

All unrighteousness is unrighteousness. And all unrepented sin and unrighteousness will be judged by God.

No repentance means no salvation.

When you share John 3:16 with someone, share Romans 1 with them too. 

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.