Culture or Christ?
This morning we had a record number in attendance at the Morning Star Assisted Living chapel. A man was in attendance that I had seen since the Christmas Eve service. He wears a neck brace, needs a walker to navigate to the best of his ability and his speech is slurred and it is difficult for him to articulate. When asked how he is doing, his response is, “I am doing great!” What an impressive attitude for someone with such obvious physical struggles.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “…I am the Lord your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 18:2-4 ESV
Have you ever seen product warnings that seem strange? For example, a warning on a hair dryer, to not use the appliance while taking a bath. The reason for this and many other warnings that seem to be common sense is because somebody had done those things!
When I read Leviticus 18 it deals with prohibition against all types of sexual practices. Some of them seem repulsive (like sex with an animal) or disgusting. (like sex between family members.) However, the reason they are in God’s laws and warnings are given is because these were the practices that God’s people had been or would be exposed to.
They had to be prepared to make a choice. Would they live according to the practices of what the culture of the day says are acceptable or would they live by God’s instructions that are designed to give them life and to protect from hardship, pain and God’s judgement?
God warns His people about the practices of the “land of Egypt” and the practices of the Canaanite peoples whose land they were to possess. As a matter of fact it is God’s judgment on the people of Canaan that God is getting ready to execute with His chosen people.
“But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you (for the people of the land, who were before you, did all of these abominations, so that the land became unclean), lest the land vomit you out when you make it unclean, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.” (Leviticus 18:26-28 ESV)
In every time, God’s people have faced and continue to face a critical choice. It happens individually and corporately, it is reflected in the title of a well-known book, “How Then Shall We Live?” Will our lives and our conduct be driven by culture or Christ? Will we be those who seek to please the Lord or be carried by the current of “modern” culture.
This is an age-old dilemma that we see here in Leviticus and in the words of Joshua, when he declared, “Chose this day whom you will serve….for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:13-15) We see it in the words of the Apostle John, we he wrote, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” (1 John 2:15 NIV)
What the “world” touts as freedom is bondage. It becomes a snare and the testimonies of that truth are numerous. God’s commands and instructions are for our “good.” “And you must always obey the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.” (Deuteronomy 10:13 NLT) They are intended to give life and to keep us from pain and hardship.
Fighting the downward pull of culture can be a challenge. But as we keep our focus and eyes on the Lord, He give us the strength that we need. It is no mystery that the “Lord’s prayer” includes the petition, “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”
Prayer for today…. Lord when we look at the culture of our day, and read scripture, we realize much has remained the same. In every time, Your people have been called to live wisely and obey fully. Help us to see Your wisdom, love and protection in the direction and practices that You provide for our lives.