Are we evaluating ALL our behavior?

When the wicked man comes [to the depth of evil], contempt [of all that is pure and good] also comes, and with inner baseness (dishonor) comes outer shame (scorn). (Proverbs 18:3 Amplified Bible)

Doing wrong always used to lead to some form of disgrace in society, did it not? What we might have labeled as 'wrong' fifty years ago may actually be labeled as 'okay' or 'right' today, though. Our societal norms change over time - one generation's indulgences or sins giving way to the next generation's. The fact remains - there is only ONE definition of right or wrong - the Bible! Try as we might to change the truths contained within those pages, they are unchangeable. When the wicked brings what scripture defines as 'evil' or 'vile' into practice, there is no 'mislabeling' of it as anything other than sin. 

"Doing wrong leads to disgrace, and scandalous behavior brings contempt." (NLT) This same verse becomes quite easy to understand when we look at it in a more 'simplified' translation. Doing wrong (any type of wrong) will lead the 'doer' to disgrace, but it can also impact society around them as there will always be followers of evildoers. One disgrace leads to another, and another, until one day, what brought disgrace and contempt becomes 'acceptable' or 'tolerable'. That is indeed a sad state of affairs!

The sinner is always to be loved, but the sin is not to be embraced, tolerated, or accepted in any shape or form. Sin is sin - we go to the Word of God to help us define it, not society's 'feelings' or 'opinions'. Is it wrong to protest an injustice? No, but it is wrong to do so with violence or a lack of concern for another's well-being. Is it wrong to use free speech? Not at all, but it becomes wrong when it belittles or tears down others. We might walk a fine line between 'right' and 'wrong' on occasion, but we must never forget that God asks us to love one another, frequently thinking of the needs of others above our own, and being examples of his grace (undeserved favor) in this crazy, mixed-up world.

We must keep in mind God's instruction: Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9) When we keep this instruction before us, using it to evaluate ALL of our behavior, we might just act a little differently! Just sayin!