God’s Calling To Live Above Culture
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NLT
7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Paul starts chapter four with a plea to live holy and separate. He encouraged the young church to live in such a way that God is pleased and speaks specifically about sexual sins. I can become amused by the people who act as if we are so progressive as compared with ancient culture, and don’t deal with the same issues. And yet here is Paul, speaking by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, telling people two thousand years ago to avoid sexual sins. This passage can easily be applied to today’s culture without missing a beat. We can never forget that scientific and technological advances only impact the environment we live in. They do not change the nature of man.
Paul spells out what one element of living a holy life looks like—keeping separate from the impurity that is in our world. Now, one thing I can say without hesitation. The opportunities for impurity have been magnified dramatically by the internet. Years ago, to find pornography, you would have to go to a seedy part of town to an adult bookstore. Today, you don’t have to travel farther than your phone.
So is it even possible to live clean with so much assaulting our senses? The short answer is yes; we can. Notice I did not say the easy answer, but rather the short answer. God’s calling for us to live above an unclean culture is not unfair. God did not ask us to obey an impossible standard. The first step towards purity is the belief that it’s possible. The second step is the commitment to live this way, instead of arguing that culture has changed and we are not living in the past.
Paul hits this last objection with a blanket statement. The rejection of living a pure life is not a rejection of man’s ideas but of God’s standards. And He is the same God who has given us His Holy Spirit. We can’t overlook the fact that the gift of God, the One that Jesus called our Helper and advantage, is the Holy Spirit. He knows how we can live holy, and He can help. He is not weak and timid; the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.
If this is an area that you struggle with, know that there is always hope. The Lord is not rejecting you but can help you overcome the very sins that hold you back. Asking for help is a start. Just acknowledging that you are struggling with purity is a start. But always remember to add faith to the process. You are not hopeless or helpless; you are a child of the living God and are empowered by His mighty Holy Spirit. You can come through this and live in such a way that you are not ashamed, and God is honored by your life.
Prayer
Thank You, Father, for not asking me to do the impossible. You have called me to live holy, separate from a godless culture. And thank You that by Your grace I can do just that.