Faith on the Go: "Approving of Evil: The Danger of Complacency in Sin"

0:00 Hello and welcome back to the Diary of a Black Woman. I'm your host Connie Morris and today we're continuing our Faith on the Go series with a powerful but necessary discussion titled Approving of Evil, the Danger of Complacency in Sin. In this episode we'll be diving into Romans 1.32 and exploring what it means to stand firm in righteousness rather than fall into the trap of approving sinful behavior. We're wrapping up these episodes of Downward Spiral. And did we know that God looks at us with the same eye as those who do sin, with the same eye of those who approve sinful behavior? Let's look at Romans 132 and let's see what it reads.

0:52 This is coming from the New King James Version. It reads, who knowing the righteousness judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, but not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them. Let's read that again. Who knowing the righteousness judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, but not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them. Not only that God looks at the same as those practice evil, but the same who approve of them.

1:36 So let's pause and reflect on this sobering truth. We're reminded here that it's not just committing sin that draws judgment, but also the approval of sin, whether by silence, indifference, even silence, indifference. I lost my place here. Silence or indifference or even encouragement. So we see here that God says whether you silence, indifference, or even encouragement. There's two points I want to cover here. The knowledge of God's righteous judgment. So God says, you know what I like. You know it. So Paul doesn't pull any punches in this verse.

2:19 He says that humanity is aware of God's righteous standards. But instead of turning away from sin, some persist. They know the consequences yet continue in sinful ways. Think about that for a moment. God's word is clear about what is right and wrong, but how often do we find ourselves excusing behavior that contradicts it. Maybe it's for the sake of being accepted by others or being because it's easier to go with the flow than to resist it. But remember, we put ourselves under the judgment of God when we don't resist it, when we just go with the flow.

3:05 We just read that humanity is aware of God's righteous standard. We know what's right and wrong. It's been birthed inside of us. And so instead of just turning away from sin, we just kind of go with the flow. It's not just being sinful, like doing the sin. It's approving of the sin. The reflection question is, Are there areas in your life where you become numb to sin or ignored God's warnings? Something to think about. Is there something, are you, have you become numb to God's warning?

3:47 As God, you know, people say, you know, give you that, that, that side eye. Is God giving you the side eye? Are you getting these kinds of warnings? Like, come on now, girlfriend, come on now, boyfriend, let's, let's, let's, let's get out of this. You know that this is wrong. You even know that when you approve of it, that is wrong, but he's still warning you. And maybe this podcast is still like the other layer of warning. And so the question is, are there areas in your life where you've become numb to sin or ignored God's warning? Number two, the danger of approving sin in others. You know, I want to just pause here because we never know how many times God has already warned that person.

4:33 You know, we don't know if that's the 12th time or is that the first time. And so that danger of approving sin in others. The scripture also warns against approving sinful behavior in others. Whether we recognize it or not, our silence or indifference can send the message that sin is acceptable. Now, I'm not telling you go be the sin police, right? But I'm telling you like you are the Christian in the group. You can say, hey, look at this scripture, Romans 1, 32. Look at, read the whole chapter of Romans 1. Is there something in this Bible that you should not be doing? You want to hold yourself accountable. You want to hold your friend accountable, right?

5:17 You know, in today's culture, it's easy to become desensitized. We just kind of brush things off. You know, we may laugh at things that God consider offensive or justify actions that go against his truth. But as believers, we are called to a higher standard. Go with me to 1 Peter 5, 8, New King James Version I'm reading from. The Bible reads here, it says, be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

5:58 Resist him, stand fast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. It says, stay sober, be vigilant. Your adversary walks about and says, like a, some translation says, as a. So he's faking and shaking and he's getting you to start faking and shaking it too. And so, but he says, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. The enemy thrives on our complacency. When we approve of sin, even passively, we open the door for him to sow destruction in our lives and in the lives of others.

6:47 A lot of times when we address sin with our friends, and we can have a way of doing it without being the super sin police. We can just, out of the heart of love, they already know what's wrong. So us approving of it because we don't want them to be angry with us is not a good thing. They're going to be upset with you for a season because if you come at them at the wrong way, but there will be a point where they're going to need your help. That sin is going to get them into a lot of trouble. You're going to see their life become just kind of like we spoke about in the last couple of weeks or so in this downward spiral.

7:27 And they're going to reach out their hand for your help. And will you be able to grab their hand and snatch them out of that danger and begin to minister to them as a friend? Because you're bold, right? That you won't be... Approving of it, you're going to be bold about it and then breaking them out of that sin. Have you ever found yourself going along with what's popular or convenient instead of standing for righteousness? I think we all have. I think we all have. We don't want to be the one that's rocking the boat. But what happens if something serious happens to that friend and they don't get a chance to make the decision for Christ and you allow them to go forth in that sin right to the pit of hell.

8:19 Because we as Christians know that there is a place that they go, right? So we want to make sure that we at least say something. Rather than go to be upset with us and make a decision for Christ or, right, or just, you know, suffer in silence. So let's be that friend and let's say something, right? Point three, a call to stand firm in righteousness. Paul's words are a call to courage. I think I like that because when you are bold and courageous. We don't care what people think. We don't pull you out of that dump.

9:01 And you might be angry with me right now, but like I always say, life goes full circle. Maybe tomorrow you'll thank me. Maybe in heaven you'll thank me. But right now I can handle you being upset with me because I'm not going to be accountable for your sin. It takes strength to resist cultural pressures and to stand firm in the faith. But 1 Peter 5.9 reminds us that we're not alone in this battle. Believers all around the world are facing the same struggles, and God equips us to remain steadfast. Standing firm doesn't mean being confrontational. I mean, you're not saying I'm better than you because we all have our issues and our challenges, but it means uncompromising in living out God's truth. We can do this together.

9:54 You have your issue. I got my issue. You hold me accountable. I'll hold you accountable. It means speaking up when silence, when silence will imply approval, right? Other times it means living by example, showing what it looks like to walk in obedience. Sometimes you don't have to say anything. You can just be the best Christian you are, Right. And then they'll and something about being the best Christians bring in the presence of God into those situations where they no longer you're not no longer asking you're they're like, can you help me?

10:35 Can you help me? Or you make decisions. You know, I used to hang with you, go to this particular place, but I no longer do that. I can go with you to the park. We can go bike riding, but I won't be able to go with you to the bar or to the club or to the places, you know, where sin is running rampant. But we can still, you know, go to a bike ride. You know, pretty soon you stop hanging with them because not because you didn't like them as a friend, they just not doing the things that are helping you grow as a Christian, right? They're going on a downward spiral and you're deciding, I don't want to get caught up in that downward spiral. And you slowly begin to separate and they begin to notice.

11:16 And they might ask you, what's going on? Well, you know, some things you're doing, you know, I've been reading my Bible lately and those things are not even fun anymore. And then you'll find out and they'll say, you know, they haven't been fun with, anymore with me either. Then they'll ask you, what do you do for fun now? And then you'll say, well, I do this, I do that. And there's some things happening at the church I get involved in. And then boom, who knows what happens next? Either A, they want to hang out with you going in your direction, or they go, girl, that's way too much. I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing. And you meet them up on another day.

11:57 So standing firm doesn't mean being confrontational, It just means being uncompromising and living out God's truth. Sometimes it means speaking up when silence would imply approval. Other times it means living by example alone. And what it looks like to walk in obedience, right? Some practical steps to resist complacency. Because complacency can come on you really quick. When you stop going forward with Jesus, you will slowly do the backslide. You know, what you call that Michael Jackson walk back thing, right?

12:39 So there's three things to keep you accountable so that you can resist complacency. Number one, you want to stay in the word of God. The more we immerse ourselves in God's truth, the less susceptible we are to cultural lies. Number two, pray for strength. Ask God for courage to stand firm, even when it's uncomfortable. You'll be surprised how God will anoint you for a task. Lord, I need help. I want to talk to my friend about this. And he will give you that wisdom, maybe even a word of wisdom or a word of knowledge. So you can talk to that person at a more deeper level to help pull them out of that trap that Satan has them in.

13:24 And number three, surround yourself with accountability. Fellowship with others who will encourage you to stay rooted in righteousness. So you want to stay in the word, pray for strength, and surround yourself with accountability. Don't be the lone wolf. Don't try to say, hey, I don't need any friends. You need some friends that pray for you. You need some friends to hold you accountable. So don't go into the devil's trap thinking you're gonna pull somebody out because you might get sucked in yourself, okay? So some things you can do as a call to action. So as we close, I want you to challenge, I wanna challenge you to examine your heart and actions.

14:07 Are there areas where you've been complacent or approving of sins? This week, take time to confess those areas to God and ask him for strength to resist the pull of complacency, okay? And then remember, being vigilant means more than just avoiding sin. It's about actively standing for righteousness. When we refuse to approve of sin, we align ourselves with God's will and his truth. Next week, we'll continue with the final episode of the series. It's called Hope in the Mist of judgment, God's call to repentance. You don't want to miss it. So thank you again for joining me on Diary of a Black Woman.

14:53 Stay blessed, stay vigilant, and continue to stand firm in your faith. I'm your host Connie Morris, and I'll see you on the next episode.