Friday, November 25
Stop applauding
Scripture: Job 25-27, Psalm 136, Romans 1
Romans 1:32 Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.
Observation
In Romans 1, Paul begins his explanation of the gospel (the good news) with our problem—our sinfulness. He describes our descent into ever-increasing rebellion, going from bad to worse, and ending with a catalog of sins in v. 29-31. He finished with this statement in v. 32: we knew right from wrong and God’s sentence that the penalty for our sin was death, but that didn’t slow us down. We not only did wrong, but applauded others who do it.
The word “applaud” is a unique Greek word (syneudokeo, from syn, together; plus eu, good; plus dokeo, to judge. Literally, “to decide with others that something is good.”). It is translated, “to approve, agree with, consent to, sympathize with.” The idea is that we have lost our moral compass so badly that we not only do the wrong things, but encourage others to do them and approve, applaud when they do.
Application
Historians say that the Roman Empire collapsed from within due to moral decay. The early church was a prophetic voice and example of goodness. We need to be the same today.
More and more I see the church in America succumbing to cultural captivity. Rather than being an example of love and goodness, grace and truth, we are often pulled into the opposite extremes of angry self-righteousness (truth without grace) or applauding evil (grace without truth). We fail to call sin what it is, or we do but with a harsh spirit.
We desperately need to follow Jesus who told an adulterous woman, “I don’t condemn you; now go and sin no more.” He didn’t mince words about her behavior—it was sin. But He didn’t condemn her either—He offered forgiveness and a chance for a new and better life. Jesus was full of grace and truth—see John 1:14, 17. We need both too—grace and truth.
This verse makes me think about where I’m being shaped more by my culture than by Jesus—particularly, where am I applauding or approving of sin when I should be resisting it. Stop applauding what God detests. Sin hurts people whom God loves.
Prayer: Lord, show me where I’m applauding what You detest. Help me to embrace Your truth and grace, and live out both.