How can believers uphold biblical values in a culture similar to Sodom's? Genesis 19:5—A Snapshot of Moral Decay “And they called out to Lot and asked, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Send them out to us so that we can have relations with them!’” (Genesis 19:5) • Open, aggressive pursuit of sexual sin • Violent disregard for God-given boundaries • Unified civic endorsement of immorality • Total absence of shame (cf. Isaiah 3:9) Echoes in Today’s World • “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20) • “God gave them over to dishonorable passions” (Romans 1:26-28) • “Men will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-5) • Media, legislation, and education celebrating what Scripture condemns Anchoring Our Hearts in Truth • Scripture: “All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) • Holiness: “Be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15-16) • Word storage: “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin” (Psalm 119:11) • Daily renewal: “Do not be conformed… be transformed” (Romans 12:2) Practical Steps for Upholding Biblical Values • Live distinctly—“shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15) • Speak truth in love—“always be ready to give a defense… with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15; Ephesians 4:15) • Refuse participation—“Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11) • Show compassion without compromise—“save others, snatching them out of the fire” (Jude 22-23) • Gather for accountability—“spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24-25) • Intercede—“petitions, prayers, intercessions… for all people” (1 Timothy 2:1-4) • Uphold justice—“seek justice, correct oppression” (Isaiah 1:17; Proverbs 31:8-9) • Walk courageously—“God has not given us a spirit of fear” (2 Timothy 1:7) Cultivating God-Honoring Homes • Constant instruction—“These words… teach them diligently to your children” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9) • Clear standards—“As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15) • Guarded media and friendships—“I will set no worthless thing before my eyes” (Psalm 101:3) • Modeling marriage and purity—Hebrews 13:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 Shining in the Public Square • Salt and light influence—“let your light shine before men” (Matthew 5:13-16) • Vocational excellence—Colossians 3:23 • Civic engagement: vote, advocate, serve (Proverbs 11:10-11) • Mercy ministries: care for the vulnerable, the poor, the stranger (Micah 6:8; James 1:27) Hope for the Faithful • God rescues—“He rescued righteous Lot… the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials” (2 Peter 2:7-9) • Transforming grace—“such were some of you, but you were washed” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) • Future glory—“Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing” (Titus 2:13-14) |
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