Culture and Law!


Before the Lord returns, the wicked one who is doomed to be destroyed will appear. He will brag and oppose everything that is holy or sacred. He will even sit in God's temple and claim to be God. Don't you remember that I told you this while I was still with you? You already know what is holding this wicked one back until it is time for him to come. His mysterious power is already at work, but someone is holding him back. And the wicked one won't appear until that someone is out of the way. Then he will appear, but the Lord Jesus will kill him simply by breathing on him. He will be completely destroyed by the Lord's glorious return.

2 Thessalonians 2:3b-8

Wickedness can be “held back” or it can be released and allowed to flourish in the world. The two ways of controlling evil in the world are by culture itself or by laws. Both can condemn wickedness but only culture can truly hold it in check.

When a culture (the beliefs, customs, practices, and social behavior of a particular nation or people) stands against evil, then evil becomes the exception to the rule of human behavior. When a culture does not stand against evil, a mountain of legislation is produced to force or at least threaten people to refrain from evil.

A practical example of this is when a legislative body drafts a new law in response to a heinous crime. The crime was so bad that the culture itself had condemned it and so no law had ever been written. Now that the culture was no longer restraining the crime, a law is written to condemn the act. Please allow me to be ridiculous to make the point. There is no law, as far as I know against eating your own hand. But if for some reason men began to do that I’m sure our law makers would address the issue!

If the culture in which you live is no longer restraining evil and wickedness then what must you do? First of all you must judge yourself rather harshly to see if you have drifted into wickedness with the culture. Secondly, you must judge the culture by the Word of God and reject any part of your culture that contradicts God! Thirdly, you must devote your whole heart to the Lord Jesus Christ and long for His return.

When the world screams, “Everybody is doing it,” then answer with boldness, “Oh no they are not!” When righteousness becomes as rare as gold, then stand by for the RETURN OF THE KING!