Let's Get Back to the Basics

What has happened to us as a nation? What has happened to us as Christians? How did we get here? Maybe what each of us need to be asking is how did I get here? What we used to think of as sin has become acceptable, even in Christian circles. This post is not about being judgmental of you or others; it’s about a call to holiness as God commands. First Peter 1:15-16 (NKJV) says, “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” I have observed lately that we as Christians don’t appear to be much different from those in the world. How are we set apart for God and not of the world if we are basing our values and conduct on what the world thinks is “good” and “moral”?

I sense God calling us to go back to the standard He has set for us. There are two books that have inspired me to live a holier life that is more pleasing to God; both are authored by John Bevere—Good or God, and Drawing Near. Many statements John Bevere made in these books have struck a chord in my spirit. In Good or God, he says, “Change, for the most part, is good; it means progress, development and growth. However, moral change most often veers away from what is authentically good to God. In our society, what’s morally acceptable and commonplace today often was uncommon and regarded as morally and socially wrong yesterday.”

Here are a few powerful statements from John Bevere’s book

Drawing Near:

“Backsliding begins when we find ourselves indifferent to the Scriptures and things of God. It happens when we find ourselves more excited about natural things than the things of God.”

“We will hunger for what we feed on. We are in control of our appetite—not God.”

“The only way we can create and maintain a hunger for God is to protect our soul—by choosing what we fill it with.”

Christians used to draw clear lines of morality, but now we are afraid of being called hateful or not tolerant of others. We shouldn’t be tolerant of sin if we want to live according the standards God has set for us. That includes what we allow into our homes in forms of entertainment—the music we listen to, the internet, video games, and the movies and TV shows we watch.

Ephesians 5:1-5 (NLT) is very clear:

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.” Verse 12 says it is even shameful to talk about the things ungodly people do in secret!

During the time I was feeling God’s prompting to write this post, I was reading in First Samuel 15. Saul, at one time, was obedient to God and wanted to please Him, but Saul admitted to Samuel that he feared the people above the Lord and that is why he had disobeyed God’s direct command. Is that what we are doing? Do we fear what the world thinks and feels about us above what God has commanded? Are we afraid of not being accepted or loved so we do what it takes to fit into the world? At what cost to our spiritual walk?

We should be living by the same code of conduct whether we are at church, in the workplace, or at home. If we as a nation want to see God move in a powerful way, it is time to repent and live a life pleasing to Him. I know it’s time for me to look at my own life and ask God to help me recognize any sin that is keeping me from Him. It’s time to tear down any spiritual walls that we have built up and allow God to move and work again to heal and bless this nation. We need to go back to the basics of what the Word says, not the morality of what the world has defined for us. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

P.S. If you would like to order John Bevere's books, you can find them here: http://messengerinternational.org