Hosea 4:6

There have been so many conversations about “worldly practices” that we have normalized that are being called out as ungodly, and if you are claiming to be a Christian, you should not partake.  This has created somewhat of a division amongst one another because 1) the TRUTH hurts and 2) no one wants to have to remove anything from their lives that has historically made them happy and appears to have done no harm.  From yoga and Halloween to attending a Beyonce concert, conversations have been going on about what is and what is not acceptable in God’s sight. 

It is funny because one day I was thinking, I need to get back to reading my bible, and I was led to start reading the book of Hosea.  I honestly hadn’t heard much of this book, so I am sure it was divine that I was drawn to it.   I began to read how the people angered God because they continued to worship idol gods and refused to acknowledge God.  They rejected His law and continued to sin.  God was so angry that He said He would not bless them for their disobedience. One scripture that stood out in this book is, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…”, Hosea 4:6 (KJV).  This made me think of what is happening in the world today.  Things are happening right in front of our eyes, but because we choose not to study His word and gain wisdom and knowledge for ourselves, we walk blindly down the path of darkness.  Then, we wonder why our lives are in shambles.  Instead of seeking the truth for ourselves, we argue with one another on social media to justify ourselves and coddle our feelings of discomfort and acts of ignorance.  There was a conversation in a group that I am a part of on Facebook.  Many of the women were getting offended by someone reposting a post where someone pointed out some things that we participate in, we should reconsider partaking in.  Because many people partake in said things, there was a lot of back and forth in the comments about how “everything ain’t the devil” and how they would continue to indulge.  To be honest, I have found myself saying some of the things I had read in the comments, and that is when I realized how wrong I was in my thinking.  At first, I thought, to each its own, but then I said, this is scary!! People are really ok with their ignorance.  As long as we feel “good” and don’t appear to be affected by these things, we willingly choose not to study what God says about it.  

I have chosen to ask God for wisdom and discernment, and there have been a series of things that God has been revealing to me that I am now seeing from a different perspective.  We may think that there is nothing wrong with indulging in worldly things, but the bible says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will,” Romans 12:2 (NIV).  If we looked like the world and did the things of the world, how would we show them the goodness of God?  What would intrigue them to follow Him??  It also says, “You have been set apart as holy to the LORD your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.” (Deuteronomy 14:2, NLT).

I ain’t gonna lie to you.  I am writing this from a conflicted heart because there are still things that I am having trouble removing or completely letting go of.  So, this is in no way of judgment to anyone because I am learning and growing, too, and I think it is important that we check ourselves and our convictions. This is to encourage anyone reading this to seek Him for yourself and to study your word.  Ask God for wisdom so you can discern what you should not indulge in for yourself.

The moral of the story is, “Everything ain’t the devil!” But some things just aren’t a good look. God is not pleased; we shall seek to please Him, not the world. 

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Fatheris not in them.  For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:15-16, NIV)

Be blessed!