Scriptures to consider:
1 Peter 1:13-19; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:20-26; James 4:4-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 2:14; John 14:15, 21; John 15:8, 14; 1 John 2:3-4; 1 John 5:3; Luke 6:46; Matthew 5:16; Hebrews 12:1-4
8. Worship and obedience go hand-in-hand. Righteousness and holy living should be taken seriously – not as legalistic rules to be followed, but in love challenging one another to be holy for the love of Him who died to free us from bondage to sin. Remember: sin grieves God and His Spirit dwelling in us. Let us never grow lax in our striving against sin, or grow lax in our acceptance of sin in our lives. Instead, let us encourage one another to live holy, set apart for the work He has called us to.
If we look at the these passages, written by those who walked with Christ, or Paul who had a life changing run-in with the glorified Jesus, we cannot think that we are free to sin, but rather have chosen to become slaves of righteousness, according to Romans 6. Do we strive each day to seek God's will in all we do and say? Do we see sin as "exceedingly sinful" as Paul sees it in Romans 7? We are not to go around in pride and arrogance judging others, that would be wrong. Still, we are called on, as Timothy was, "Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning"-1 Timothy 5:20
We must not be prideful or hypocritical, but speak the truth in love for the purpose of reconciliation to God. Paul writes in Titus 2:11-15, "denying ungodliness and worldly lust, to live soberly, righteously, and godly" and "these things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority, let no one disregard you"
Issues of preference are a different matter altogether, and grace should be applied liberally in matters of conscience. However, we must never disregard God's Word and His direct commands, excusing our sins under the banner of tolerance, relevance, or culture. God's Word is eternal and He gave it knowing that trends and cultures change. We must be careful to obey rather than make excuses for our disregarding of clear Scriptural teaching. Culture may change, but God's Word never changes or becomes irrelevant.
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