What bad behavior will send me to hell? Where’s the line in the sand?
Wow…what a blunt question. But this is a fairly common question in church family circles. It’s actually something that was brought up when I was in youth group back in the ’70s. It comes up in youth group now, too! Some things never change. We all want to know where the line in the sand is drawn regarding “unholy” behavior.
- What can we do and not do in Christian behavior?
- How far could we go?
- What could we do and keep a secret?
- What kind of behavior could we go ahead and do and then ask forgiveness for later, and otherwise not worry about?
These are heavy questions and, honestly, we need to come up with some good answers. Often our answers are shallow and slogan-like instead of biblical and from God’s wisdom.
This Sunday, January 30, I am continuing to teach on the broad subject of “Building the Ekklesia (Called-Out) Wall to His Church.” Under this heading, we are learning about the major elements that can erode that wall. For the next several weeks, we are dealing with the element of unholy behavior, and looking to God’s Word to help us answer the behavioral questions that came up when I was a teenager. Most likely those same questions came up when you were a teenager, also. We reach for words and phrases that shape our theology—words such as grace, freedom and liberty—but we don’t know how to balance those concepts with others like destructive lifestyles, evil behavior, temptation, and just plain unholy living. We must deal with these concepts as we strive to be the Ekklesia—the called-out, holy ones in an unholy world.
Reading challenge
In preparation for this weekend as well as the next few weeks, here is your reading assignment:
- 1 Corinthians 5-9. Read these chapters carefully, slowly and reflectively.
- Acts 1-20. Continue to slowly read as I have asked you to do.
Finally, reflect on these truths from Scripture. Find them in your own Bible, mark them out, and have them in your pocket when you come on Sunday.
- 1 Corinthians 6:12 and 1 Corinthians 10:23:
Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. - 1 Corinthians 10:11-13:
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
See you Sunday morning at 10 a.m.!
