Don’t go along just to get along

Good morning, everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Sound doctrine, strong faith”

Our Bible verse for today: “… they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.” Romans 1:32 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Don’t go along just to get along”

We have already spent several days considering Paul’s strong teaching about sexual ethics here at the beginning of his letter regarding the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith (Romans). The reason Paul placed this upfront and addressed it in such strong terms is because misguided sexual passion is so bad and so tempting. Even God’s own people often give in to sexual activity that is outside of what He allows, and which then therefore breaks their fellowship with Him.

The reason I have stayed with this topic for three days now is because so many Christians in our society today are going along with, or agreeing to, the sexual norms promoted by our culture, rather than standing firm on God’s clearly articulated standards as given to us in the Bible. We are not to just go along so we can get along. Instead, it is possible to get along without going along. We can stand our Biblical ground while still being kind and respectful towards those who have strayed in this area (That this the premise of my book, “Getting Along without Going Along”.)

There are two underlying principles about this topic which we must bear in mind. The first is that God’s Word is truth. It is the only truth that ultimately matters and as Christians we must develop and maintain a Biblical worldview. Everything we see, hear, and experience in the world must be evaluated against what God tells us in the Bible. The legitimacy of any truth-claim made by the culture is determined by and measured against the Bible.

The second underlying principle, which is directly related to the first, is that as we take our stand for Biblical truth, we must do so in the way Peter instructed in 1 Peter 3:15-16, “Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. However, do this with gentleness and respect …”

The better we understand our own position of what the Bible actually teaches and how that applies to the issues of our day, and the better we understand why people on the other side are taking a position that is so contrary to Scripture, the better able we will be to engage with them on it. Know what you believe and why you believe it. Also know what they believe and why they believe that. The better prepared we are to have such discussions, the more confident we will be and the more likely we are to have that encounter in a calm, reasoned and respectful manner. It’s when people are unsure of themselves that they resort to overheated rhetoric and to shouting down the other side.

That’s what Paul was teaching us in Romans 12:11-21 when he wrote, “Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer …Bless those who persecute you; bless do not curse … Do not repay anyone evil for evil … If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.”

Don’t go along just so you can get along. Instead, get along without going along.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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