Addictive Societies

There are several different societies here in Moscow. Some of them cross over into each other. I am not thinking of formal societies such as farmers, businessmen, or the societies at the University of Idaho. I am thinking of things like the widespread drug society (for several kinds of drugs), which includes selling, stealing, and anything to keep the habit. Some other "societies" are those for sexual promiscuity, pornography, profanity, and alcoholics.

People who are living normal, healthy lifestyles are unaware of, or do not want to be aware of, these addictive societies. We might want to rescue the people in them.

Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. (Jude 21-23)

Here is an uncomfortable verse of Scripture. “To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good” (Titus 1:15-16).

There are two types of people described: the pure, and the defiled and unbelieving. The second group cannot become pure by doing good works, because they are “unfit for any good work.” Someone who is defiled cannot work himself out of defilement. The only way he can become pure is by being washed.

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:11)

Do you want to be pure?

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