Applause or Altars

"It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality." — 1 Thessalonians 4:3
 
Which are you looking for? Applause or an altar?
 
I've been to Greece five different times, and I remember walking through the markets in Athens and being astounded by the pornographic art on display everywhere. It was acceptable. It was profitable. It was celebrated. And you know what? Paul was walking those same streets when he wrote this letter to the Thessalonians. The issues they faced in the early church are the very same issues we face today.
 
Here's what grieves me. I've watched God's people applaud on social media when someone announces a relationship or decision that clearly doesn't honor the Lord. We've become so afraid of being seen as judgmental that we've stopped calling sin what it is.
 
There used to be a time when people came to church and were broken over their failures. They didn't want to hide anymore. They wanted to get right with God, whatever the cost. Now folks act like if the church would just approve their choices, everything would be fine.
 
But church isn't about approval. It's about transformation. God didn't save you to leave you the way you were. He saved you to make you like Jesus.
 
If the Holy Spirit is putting His finger on something in your life right now, don't look for someone to tell you it's okay. Look for an altar. Own it. Confess it. Let Him change you. Because a life surrendered to Christ will always be better than a life spent chasing the approval of people who can't save you anyway.