Where do we get our definition of what it means to be upright, and what it means to be wicked? If we do not get it from God and His word, then we have an erroneous definition. For example, most people today would excuse a pastor who is living in a homo[s-x]ual relationship with his partner, saying “He is a good man.” Last summer I blogged about an Atlanta pastor, who was retained in his position instead of fired, because of that very reason: he was a good pastor, and performed his duties well.
But the Lord says, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.” Leviticus 18:22. This conduct, according to the Creator of heaven and earth, is not upright, but wicked. A person who practices such without repentance is a wicked person – not according to man’s definition, not according to the world’s definition, but according to God’s definition.
God’s definition of uprightness and wickedness is found in Torah primarily, in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, with commentary throughout the rest of the Scriptures. I was thinking about this when I was reading Psalm 50 recently:
“But to the wicked God says,
What right have you to declare My statutes,
Or take My covenant in your mouth,
Seeing you hate instruction,
And cast My words behind you?” – Psalm 50:16-17
Whoa, what are the wicked doing taking God’s covenant in their mouths? That doesn’t jive with our definition of “wicked,” which is akin to “ax murderer.” God’s definition of “wicked” is not ours. May God open the eyes of all who might be deceived into thinking that obedience to the precepts of the Lord no longer matters.
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