Reality television seemingly represents a true slice of life with everyday people, not actors, placed in unusual situations. Most of the stories revolve around romance or survival in extreme conditions. The entertainment value is observing the different personalities interact as each participant jockeys for position to be declared the winner. Recently, one reality show added a different twist. The couple, a man and woman, both declared they are Christians. However, their beliefs appeared to diverge when the topic of pre-marital sex and sin arose. The man adamantly stated that the marriage bed should be kept pure, with no pre-marital sex. She, however, confidently divulged to millions of viewers, “I can do whatever — I sin daily and Jesus still loves me. It’s all washed and if the Lord doesn’t judge me and it’s all forgiven, then no other man, woman…can judge me.”
Needless to say, her statements generated a firestorm of responses and internet postings. One insightful comment was anonymously posted and bluntly stated, “Your Mom loves you too, but that doesn’t mean she approves of your behavior.” This succinctly encapsulates God’s relationship with His children.
Christians have the freedom to respectfully disagree with the opinions of other Christians. There are many gray areas of theology and Bible interpretation and devout believers can agree to disagree. However, there are many more areas that all Christians must collectively believe in or they cannot claim to be a Christian and a follower of Jesus Christ. All Christians must believe in One God manifested in three personalities, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All Christians must believe in the inerrancy of God’s Word, the Bible. All Christians must believe they are sinners, saved only through faith and belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ by confessing and repenting of one’s sins and the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit.
It is true, we all sin, Christians and non-believers alike. When Christians sin, God is faithful to forgive us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He does this because of His love, grace, and mercy to us. However, to continue to sin and to do “whatever”, to flaunt and even boast of these sins, is an affront to God. This is not me judging this woman nor is it an attempt to shame another believer. It is stating God’s Word which is inerrant and cannot be broken.
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
1 John 3:8-9 (ESV)
Only God knows what is the true nature of the relationship that He has with this woman. God holds all believers in Him to the highest possible standards because we are ambassadors for Jesus Christ to a lost world. This is why God asks us to continually re-examine ourselves and test our faith in Jesus Christ.
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)
If we claim to be a Christian, we cannot do whatever. We can only obey Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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