I am amazed at how often I hear statements from professing Christians that are based on modern thought and not on the Bible. I’m not talking about different interpretations of doctrine but excusing actions which Scripture clearly speaks against. Gone are the days of holiness and repentance. These have been replaced with temporary happiness and selfishness. Instead of reading the Bible, we turn to blogs. Television has replaced prayer in many homes. We no longer judge sin; we condone or excuse it. After all, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone, and Lord knows I’ve sinned.”

I know I’ve believed things because the masses did, it’s what I’ve heard all my life, etc., but the more I read the Bible and talk with others who do so, the more it becomes clear how God views things. Blogs and TV may be fine if you are immersed in the Word enough to know when a viewpoint is not a Biblical one, but these should not be your go-tos by which to judge your ideas and morality.

I like to read, and I read a variety of books from authors of all denominations and backgrounds, but I do not take every word I read as Gospel. If it isn’t in line with Scripture, I discard it and see if there are things I can glean that may give me insights or reminders as to how I am to live and what I am to believe.

I think young people especially struggle with this, and I expect this is due to Bible reading not being stressed these days like it was when I was younger. It is as important as ever that we hide God’s Word in our hearts, that we know what it has to say on every subject. If you do not know if something is right or wrong, read the Bible. It does not spell out the answer to every single trial we face today, but it does give principles by which we are to live. It tells us to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love others better than ourselves. It tells us to think on what is good, pure, lovely, etc. It lists the sins that God hates and the ones that will keep us out of Heaven (no matter how much we want to tell ourselves that they aren’t really a big deal).

We live in an entertainment era where people want to feel good while they resent being challenged. It’s time to be challenged though, Brothers and Sisters. It’s time to compare our lives and our beliefs with God’s Word. It’s time to declare once and for all that, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” It’s time to stop making excuses for why we do the things we do, and to stop doing those things that bring shame to our Savior.

Life is short. People are dying every day. Some with no time to make a death bed confession. If you don’t know if your thoughts are Biblical, get in the Word. Commit to read it start to finish. Take your time so that you really grasp what it says. Memorize parts that jump out at you which you had overlooked before. Ask God to help you to see things as He sees them and to discard what you have learned from the world. It really is important.