Does It Make You Blush?

I'm gonna tell you right up front that this is a bit of a rant. The day started for me as I read the blog of a Christian author and speaker I highly respect, Erin Davis. My girls have read several of her books and she has even been instrumental in helping my family personally as we have walked through some difficulty. I follow her on Twitter @eringraffiti and this morning I read her latest blog entry. I have to tell you, she hit a nerve. I grew up in a pretty legalistic environment and have lately come to deeply realize the liberty I have in Christ. I say that to assuage your inclination to think of me as someone with a list of religious requirements to fulfill before you can be considered spiritual. Not at all. That being said, I have referenced a particular scripture in my title, Jeremiah 6:15,  "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD."

I am afraid that we are living in a time when Christians have allowed the pendulum of "Godly living" swing to the opposite end of the spectrum of hard-line fundamentalism of twenty or thirty years ago. Paul saw this coming centuries ago, I guess, when he wrote to the Galatian church, "only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh." Not too long ago, a book like "50 Shades of Grey" would have turned our ladies' cheeks fifty shades of red from embarrassment. Under the umbrella of grace and liberty we have become impervious to conviction, revealed in our lifestyle and language everyday. We frequent movies, music, and media that glorify a sinful world gone mad and then call upon God as though He owes us. I am beginning to think that there is not much, if anything, that would truly make us blush. We have been conditioned on every front to accept foul language, nudity (even partial), and the gross disregard for the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I want to challenge God's people today. One of my favorite passages of scripture is Matthew 5:16,  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Do you really believe that your behavior, your manner of living, is fulfilling these words? I count it an honor and privilege to be called a Christian, a term that in it's origin was a slur to the followers of Christ because they were just like Him. Even though I fall incredibly short everyday, I still want it to mean that I am at least trying to be just like Him. That's my Perspective and according to the scripture, it should be a lot of others' as well.