Unstained.

Let’s just cut to the chase. This world is full of pollution. Wait, wait, wait. My post today will not be about the damaging effects of smog, litter, or hairspray (I do think God has called us to take care of the world we live in, but it is not the most important issue). No, this post is about an even worse type of pollution that fills the world and has since Genesis 3: sin.

Every day I am reminded of the disgustingness of sin. I cannot open social media, drive down the road, watch television, or step off my front porch without seeing open rebellion against God. It is disheartening and discouraging to my soul, whose citizenship is elsewhere (Philippians 3:20).

Where does the Christian fit into this world? If we speak out against this pollution, we are labeled as close-minded, bigoted, and irrelevant. If we agree, we are literally at odds with our own souls, the Bible, and God, who is our ultimate authority. If we stand silent, we are doing a disservice to the lost.

James 1:27 says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” I have written a post over the first half of this verse, but today I would like to focus on the last half. “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this…to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

Unstained. Whoa. Another version says, “to keep oneself from being polluted from the world.” This pollution seems so prevalent, though, especially with the immediate access we hold to the entire world that is usually within an arm’s length. It seems as if there is no point to abstain from what the world says we should accept, what the world says is okay, what the world says is accepted by our God.

My least favorite introduction to people’s posts on social media about “controversial” issues always begins with something like, “I am a Christian, but…(insert something blatantly against God's word).” No, NO, NOOO! I can just picture that person wearing a brand new white shirt while beginning that statement. The written junk that follows the word “but” is always mind-boggling to me. By the end of the thought, I can imagine the shirt no longer being white as snow, but full of the worst kinds of stains. They have allowed the world to contradict the Word that should hold supreme control on our opinions and responses to the pollution. We are not the authorities. We cannot make up the rules as we would wish. (Otherwise, I would ignore the sin of withholding forgiveness as discussed here).

Followers of Christ hold the cure to the pollution, to sin, to eternal separation from God. We should hold it out, instead of lowering God’s standards to please the polluters only for a short while.

Sin is hated by God, all sin—everything from a lie to murder. (Psalm 5:4-6)

Sin separates us from the Holy God for all of eternity. (Revelation 21:8)

We are all sinners. If we break one law, we are guilty of breaking it all. (Romans 3:23, James 2:10)

In our own strength, we have no chance of recovery. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

(And this is where I really like the word “but”).

But God sent His own Son to redeem.  (1 Corinthians 6:11)

To redeem means to buy with a price. (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 6:20)

Jesus did that by dying on the cross and taking on the sins of the world. (Matthew 27:50-55)

That’s not the end of the story, though…

He died, was buried, and rose again—conquering death for all of eternity. (Luke 24:1-8)

Those who put their trust in Him are reconciled to God, marked with the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:11, Titus 3:3-7)

The sons and daughters then carry that message of reconciliation to the world. (2 Corinthians 5:14-20)

I would highly recommend looking at those scriptures. That, my friends, is the gospel. The gospel is what each of us must hold fast to in our own lives, proclaim wholeheartedly to our neighbors, and use to remain unstained from the world. When we do not speak out against homosexuality, gossiping, bitterness, racism, murder, etc., we are withholding truth that leads to the eternal remedy to sin. We are lying to the lost, allowing them to believe they are okay. We are withholding Love--the ultimate Love that will win. His name is Jesus.

1. "Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
2. Striving to please Him in all that I do;
3. Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
4. This is the pathway of blessing for me.
5. 
   
6. Living for Jesus, who died in my place,
7. Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;
8. Such love constrains me to answer His call,
9. Follow His leading and give Him my all.

Living for Jesus, wherever I am,

Doing each duty in His holy Name;

Willing to suffer affliction and loss,

Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

Living for Jesus through earth's little while,

My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;

Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,

Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,

For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;

I own no other master, my heart shall be Thy throne;

My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ for Thee alone."