The Climate of Wickedness
The book of Proverbs in your Bible is a study of contrast between the righteous and the wicked within a backdrop of the simple, the fool and the scoffer.
If everyone who considers themselves a believer took a few months to read/study/meditate on the simple principles found in the Proverbs, it would save them a lot of heartaches.
The great challenge today is people who consider themselves people of faith are, for the most part, ignorant of what the Bible teaches.
Why, may you ask?
Because they have not read, studied, and embraced the Bible as a vital part of their intellectual diet.
They will consume hours of the latest cultural influencer and maybe hours of a particular preacher but lack very little personal knowledge of the Bible to understand the error or fully appreciate the truth they are hearing.
Sadly, many consider treasured truths and deep personal opinions are not just wrong but are in direct opposition to what the Bible states emphatically.
Save a few favorite verses and select passages people may not fully understand the joy and sorrow that are to be found in scripture.
There is a Bible Character named Josiah that it states emphatically that he loved and feared God. He did everything he knew. Sadly he knew nothing of the scripture. The Religious leader of the day did not even know where the book was.
When he found it and read it he knew Josiah would want to know.
When Josiah read the scripture for the first time, he tore his clothes and, with great contrition, repented of the wickedness. He understood he lived in the shadow and influence of Evil.
Wickedness flourished when a good man was ignorant of the Biblical mandates.
We see this in spades today.
Sincere people live, dress, and act in wicked ways, but because of ignorance, they don’t know what they allowed themselves to become, and do is a disgrace.
Why? How could this happen?
There is a de-emphasis of the need to read and study the Word of God.
And so, like Josiah, we can be blissfully unaware of the antichrist culture we become a part of. However, the judgment of God for wickedness does not get a pass because of ignorance.
“Therefore God overlooked and disregarded the former ages of ignorance; but now He commands all people everywhere to repent [that is, to change their old way of thinking, to regret their past sins, and to seek God’s purpose for their lives], Acts 17:30
When he saw what a demon-worshipping cult the people of Israel had become, Josiah began to destroy every demonic, carnal, wicked, and idolatrous thing that had kept into the worship and culture of Isreal.
Let us be like the High Priest that brought the book of God to Josiah and, with grace and wisdom, helps all of the Josiahs in our world come to a full knowledge of what the Word of God says.
The Word of God brings life, light, and love distinctively and powerfully.
God wants to use you, if you are one that has a deep love for the Word of God, to help others benefit from its life-giving virtue.
If you feel this may apply to you, I challenge you to begin to read/meditate/memorize the scripture in whole and part. This is not accomplished in five minutes, but a lifetime of pursuing it’s truth and allowing it to inform your thoughts and priorities.
You need a pastor who is Bible Centric and not simply preaching and teaching the traditions of a denomination.
One that will preach unpopular truths to the most wealthy and influential members of the congregation.
One who will insist its truth be lived out by leaders and family members involved in the work of the Church.
The nature of flesh hates truth. The truth came wrapped in flesh and flesh crucified and tried to kill it.
The truth however only triumphs when we allow it to be tested.
If we don’t stand and proclaim hard truths, we are contributing to a climate of wickedness.