Loose Living

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise (fools) but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15,16

The longer I am a Christian, and the more I move in circles of Christian people, I am seeing a division of opinion as to what living the Christian life looks like. On one side I am privileged to share fellowship with those who want to follow the way of holiness, and take every opportunity to be like Christ, and bear His name with reverence and fear. They are Christians in the best sense of the word and would never think of themselves as an elite or special group.

As time passes, I see some christians being ‘clever’ with interpretation and diluting the Word of God. Sin has changed its meaning, and so too has the fear and reality of hell. Some would go as far as to say it either doesn’t exist, or it is not an everlasting torment. When sin and hell have been ‘downgraded’ we have the perfect storm which satan brings on the people who claim to be saved. Saved from what? Not sin, if it has been redefined, and certainly not a fear of hell, if at its worst it is not everlasting.

Loose living is my way of saying that some in the church have already sanitised the reality of sin, and it shows a group of people claiming to be Christian, but living a lifestyle like those who would never think of being in church, except for a christening, wedding, or funeral service. Have you noticed that everyone who dies seems to go to heaven? The funeral service has even been sanitised to give the family comfort in their time of grief, when that is the last thing they need in this life while there is time. It is already too late for the one who has died, but those who live and breathe can hear the gospel and repent. Is the church up to  the job? More importantly, are you and I up to the challenge of NOT being in a ‘Loose Living’ relationship with God?

Let me leave you with this thought. What kind of church do you want to attend? Is it one where the lines of Holy Living have been relaxed to a culture of Loose Living, or one where the Word of God is held high as the prime example of Godly Living, and Loose Living is neither preached from the pulpit nor lived in the pew? Is it worth taking the risk when the Bible warns us to be alert with words like:

For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude v4

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:31