What’s wrong with being biblical?

With the recent news of Louie Giglio’s withdrawal to pray at Obama’s inauguration, social media has literally gone up in arms over it. You have the homosexual community attacking and spewing insults, and unfortunately the Christian community has done the same. You have strong opinions and the need to be “right” on both sides, and I would have to say that grace and truth has been lost in the midst of this never-ending fight. I can’t help but turn to Scripture in times like this and cling to the truth therein. As much as society today would tell you that there are no absolutes, that true is relative, and that black and white is an idealistic way of thinking at best, I believe that God’s Word is the ultimate source of all truth and that it provides clear, “black and white” instruction on how to live holy lives. God would not ask us to be holy as He is holy and fail to give us an instruction manual. That would be inconsistent with His character.

I can’t tell you how discouraged I become when I see and hear of influential, Christian leaders that resign to the mainstream, socially acceptable path as opposed to taking the high road, the biblical one. I’m not sure if they fear being labeled a bigot or fear rejection or what, but I’m so tired of this generation refusing to call sin what it is: sin. I was so blessed by Louie’s kind, biblical, and grace-filled response to all of this attack and hatred directed his way, but then you have others who simply refuse to stand beside biblical principles for the sake of tolerance. Sin is a choice, and to suggest anything else is slapping God in the face. I believe James made it quite clear to us all when he wrote these inspired words:

“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.” James 1:13-14

To put our sin on God as if He were the one who messed up in creating us is outrageous to say the least. God is Holy, and He dwells in unapproachable light. Sin was not created by Him, nor does He excuse it. Before you think that I’m about to ride the anti-gay train, I’m not. I am referring to all sin – greed, gluttony, pride, unforgiveness, hatred, along with homosexuality and other sexual sin…just to name a few. How dare we, as the created, look at the creator and say that He messed up? We are the clay. And if we hold to biblical truth at all, we must believe that God is perfect, and He makes no mistakes. He would not create us to be sinful. We chose sin over Him. Thus, the sinful nature remains in all of us. I believe that one of the greatest schemes of the enemy that he has unfortunately succeeded in is deceiving us to believe that our sin isn’t sin at all. He’s tricky, but his tricks are old, lacking creativity, and very outdated. Think back to the Garden of Eden and Eve. Did he not do the very same thing with her? Did he not cause her to believe that eating the apple wasn’t really wrong at all? And he continues in his scheming today, holding the veil over our eyes, causing us to believe that we deserve the (temporary) pleasures that our sin brings. And we’ve bought in to this lie.

How about we return to God’s Word, and choose the attitude that says, “God’s Word says it. I believe it. That settles it.” To believe biblically is not judgmental, and it’s not unloving. The gospel of John puts it well when describing Jesus Christ:

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

“Full of grace and truth.” This is where we get it wrong. We’re typically inclined to be entirely one or the other. But Christ was completely both. We must learn a better balance. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve. Truth is Jesus. And we simply cannot divorce Jesus from His own words. He called sin what it is: sin. He forgave sin when confessed, and offered salvation to all who would come to Him and believe in Him. But we (society today) have created our own gospel to suite our own desires and to excuse our own sins. And we have gone so very wrong. Tell me, what is so wrong with being biblical?