IS SIN STILL SIN?
by Kathy Pegram

 

Recently, I began to study the different churches written about within the Book of Revelation. One church in particular caught my attention, the church at Pergamos. Pergamos was called the city "where satan has his throne." Even though it was a city that was surrounded by satan worshippers, the church at Pergamos refused to renounce their faith. But as in most churches, there were those who were tolerating or practicing what Christ opposed. On one hand, there was a man called Antipas who would not bow to pressure. He remained faithful to God at all times. It is said that he was even a martyr for Christ's' sake. As such, he was supposedly put to death by being enclosed in a burning brazen bull. On the other hand, you have the ones who followed the teachings of the Nicolatians. The Nicolations were a sect of Gnostics who taught and practiced impure and immoral doctrines such as adultery, fornication and eating meats offered to idols.

Today, we have a similar sect of people in our religious society. There are those who have gone on for God despite the problems, the temptations and the persecutions. They have never backed down regardless of friends, family or society. They will die holding fast to their faith. Then, we have those who shrug off or make excuses for the sins that have crept into the church world. 2 Thessalonians 5:22 tells us to "abstain from all appearances of evil." Yet, we continually flirt with the world to see how close we can get to it and still live for God.

We no longer stand up for what we believe! We have begun to compromise and to please the world. Let me give you an example of something that happened in my own life. I had someone, who was not a Christian, ask me why Steve was against country songs that talk about drinking and sleeping around. Now, being the good Christian minister's wife that I am, I stood up and told them exactly why. Sorry, but that's not what happened. I'm afraid I did exactly what a lot of you would have done, I changed the subject! But, you know what? God has dealt with me now over this several different times. I didn't want to upset the person, so I didn't say what I should have. I didn't say we don't believe in drinking, smoking and adultery, so we don't advocate listening to someone sing about it. No, I remained mute. I had a chance to witness for Christ, but I kept silent. That's the problem with Christians today. We don't want to offend anybody. We don't want to upset anybody. People around us are going to hell and we don't want to offend anybody!

We are being bombarded to be open minded. We are asked to accept things that are an abomination unto God. We may not see people on the street offering sacrifices to idol gods, but in most towns you will find pornography, sexual sins, gossiping, lying and a thousand more sins! Don't tolerate sin. Sin is still sin!

I pray that like Antipas, we will hold fast to our faith until we see our Savior face to face. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." 1 Thessalonians 5:21

 

Love and Prayers,
Kathy