Let's make this clear: It's not OUR place to condemn or ostracize those in the world for their sin. ...
Those in the World are of sin, just like those of us in the grace of Christ are of Christ.
So, yes, while the Bible doesn't say that we cannot judge, we must also remember, that anyone who is lost, is just that, lost. We cannot hold them accountable for their actions, because they are not our brothers and sisters in Christ. Rather our sole purpose should be to show those who are lost the love of Christ...
Something needs to be clarified. Why are we in the world? To only revolve around our own Christian doors? Our very purpose as Christians today are to tell people that they are in danger of being held accountable! Not by us, because our judgment is meaningless, but by HIM!
"Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?"
-Malachi 2:17
That is a VERY important verse for today. All this talk about "The God of love..." So many people forget that He is also "The God of Judgment," needed to be feared.
Their current standing can be summed up by Jonathan Edwards very nicely, in a very famous sermon.
"So that, thus it is that natural men are held in the hand of God, over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it; and God is dreadfully provoked, his anger is as great towards them as to those that are actually suffering the executions of the fierceness of his wrath in hell, and they have done nothing in the least to appease or abate that anger, neither is God in the least bound by any promise to hold them up one moment; the devil is waiting for them, hell is gaping for them, the flames gather and flash about them, and would fain lay hold on them, and swallow them up; the fire pent up in their own hearts is struggling to break out: and they have no interest in any Mediator, there are no means within reach that can be any security to them. In short, they have no refuge, nothing to take hold of; all that preserves them every moment is the mere arbitrary will, and uncovenanted, unobliged forbearance of an incensed God.... Your guilt and hardness of heart is extremely great. Do you not see how generality persons of your years are passed over and left, in the present remarkable and wonderful dispensation of God's mercy? You had need to consider yourselves, and awake thoroughly out of sleep. You cannot bear the fierceness and wrath of the infinite God. -- And you, young men, and young women, will you neglect this precious season which you now enjoy, when so many others of your age are renouncing all youthful vanities, and flocking to Christ? You especially have now an extraordinary opportunity; but if you neglect it, it will soon be with you as with those persons who spent all the precious days of youth in sin, and are now come to such a dreadful pass in blindness and hardness."
-Jonathan Edwards: Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edwards/sermons.sinners.html
We know this. We are sinners, who have found out the true meaning behind the works of Christ Jesus. We are washed in this precious, precious blood. There is nothing else that stands apart from us to them, but Him. It is then our responsibility, no, our earnest desire, to be another "voice crying in the wilderness." Our duty is to stand at
our watch, and warn those that cannot see over the wall of sin of what is coming. Jesus the conquering King.
"Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice in trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him."
-Psalm 2: 11-12
"I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved."
-Habakkuk 2:1
We need to do the same, otherwise, how else do they know what is good, and what is evil? Do we leave them swilling in their own evil desires? God forbid.
"Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear."
1 Tim 5:20
Is that to rebuke only Christians?
"But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:"
-1 Tim 6: 11-14
Now, what does this have to do with Google?
What doesn't it have to do with Google?
My interaction with Google can be defined as thus: Google provides software and services which I find useful, and as such, I provide money to continue to utilize those software and services.
That said, I don't use those services to perform actions which I find morally out of place with Biblical precepts of living.
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
-Mat 6:21
Whatever we support, whether it be with time or money, we become a part of. This is a verse that I often find reminding myself of, being a complete computer geek and video game junky. It's easy to go spend hundreds of dollars on this stuff, and not blink.
But that's not where I want my heart. I have had to, and continue to, struggle with my old man, that keeps telling me to spend my money on junk. I rebelliously grew up in church since I was 12, but only recently came before my Lord, sin having become exceedingly sinful. It's hard to turn "head knowledge" into "heart knowledge," when you've been spitting on it most of your life. Old habits die hard. In fact, you have to take the time to crucify them
every day.
Consider it thus: Age of Conan has highly questionable content, therefore I did not purchase it. But just because AoC has questionable content, doesn't mean I'm not going to play my old copy of Final Fantasy VII just because they were both produced by Square/Eidos.
It's up to you where you take your stand, and where you draw your line. I've also played a game called Dragon Age: Origins. I should have looked up reviews about it, rather than just buying it off the shelf. Rampant homosexuality in the game, to the point that NPCs hit on you. Did you know you can sacrifice your baby in that game? As much as I can ignore my character getting hit on by a gay man, offering to sacrifice my baby in my place is beyond reprehensible. But then... they're both evil, it's just that today's society has done a good job normalizing one over the other. Where do we draw the line? They're already pushing for commonplace abortions. Do you think they'll never get there? Why not? Because we stand up and cry out against it? What then about homosexuality?
Whatever the case that other people decide about where they put their dollars, Bioware is permanently banned from my house.
Whenever I can go around Google, I go around Google.
I don't shop at Home Depot, because they financially support, and advertise at, gay pride parades. They set up children's workshops in little tents at these hoop-lahs.
I quit from, and now boycott, Best Buy, after finding out just how deeply involved they are with the homosexual agenda. This post could get VERY long at this point, but I digress...
Do I say all this to pat myself on the back? Am I proud of this?
No.
Saying all this makes me throw my hands up in frustration! Look at this world we live in! Look at what we ourselves are!
Dude... I'm just ready to go home. He's just got a job for me yet, so He hasn't called me there. But I definitely look forward to it, because I'm sick of this nasty, dirty world, and I'm sick of my nasty, dirty self. I'm sick of letting Him down. I understand that I'm only dust, and only saved through faith, but does that make it any easier to crucify the old man?
If I'm this weary already, fear and trembling are a requirement for the many years ahead.
Thank the good Lord that He's holding me up, using some wonderful saints. I've met people here on CGA, in church, and other places, that lift my spirit, and restore my strength.
"I may be tired
in the work, but never
of the work."
-C.I. Scofield
God bless.