Janelle Esker We have been Living In Sodom And Gomorrah for some time now. We only have to look around for the result which is broken people whose very souls have been pulverized into salt. When sin runs rampant, especially unrepentant sin, it corrodes all areas of our lives and leaches into the culture. Sin prevents us from finding peace and blinds us to the truth of God’s eternal love.
Live and let live cry the people…
But sin wreaks havoc on all, not just the sinner’s soul but everyone else in its wake. Sodom and Gomorrah is not just about the sin of homosexuality it is about the sin of all sexual immorality, it is about the sin of pride, arrogance, ignoring the poor, ease, and ungratefulness. All sin damages the soul. Sin is the exact opposite of self-care, and sin left unchecked and unrepentant damages others, especially children. It always seems like the family gets the brunt of sinful behavior, we need only look at Lot’s poor daughters.
The commandment to love our neighbor looms large. Loving our neighbor is not found in acceptance of sin, or looking the other way to avoid embarrassment. Love is found in humility and hard conversations. It is found in acts of service, prayer, and speaking the truth in love.
Living In Sodom And Gomorrah
- Genesis 19:4-8 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.”
- Ezekiel 16:49-50 Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it.
- Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
- Jude 1:7 Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
Well now, what’s a person to do?
*Before going any further, I want to clarify, to prevent misunderstanding. This article’s audience is mature Christians. I am speaking of confronting sin in culture, not in the church. There are many similarities but many differences too. We must be filled with God’s wisdom which is found in Scripture.
Engaging With Sodom And Gomorrah
- Know the Bible. Know Jesus. Pray without ceasing. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” (Acts 13:47)
- Listen, and try to understand where the person is coming from their history, background, and irritations. Listen to their opinions and make a concerted effort to get to know them. Confronting sin is not accomplished in one conversation. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
- All people are made in the image of God, although not all are children of God. God created people and therefore they deserve respect and to be treated with human dignity. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27)
- All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Have the correct view about sin.
- Seek forgiveness for your own sins before talking with another person about their own failings. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? (Luke 6:41)
- Sin is a form of slavery. Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. (John 8:34)
- Never, ever, confront sin without the prompting and direction of the Holy Spirit. It is far better to stay silent than to proceed on your own strength. This goes for evangelism too! But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
- There is hope and forgiveness in Jesus. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:3)
- There is redemption for all who repent. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Go Deeper:
Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age
When the whole world is running towards a cliff,
he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind.
C. S. Lewis
YOUR TURN…
This has been a weighty one…questions?
Peacefully Yours,
Janelle
*This post may contain affiliate links. Thank you for supporting The Peaceful Haven!
