Redefining Indecency

The Chinese have recently decided that the music of Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Katy Perry and Britney Spears are too toxic for Chinese cultural safety and banned them from websites stemming from their country. Also, recently Kevin De Young, Senior Pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan, gave a sobering report on the debauched lifestyle in American campuses.

"We need apologetics.  I'm 100 percent for taking every thought captive to Christ.  But for most 17-22-year-olds the most common temptations to sin are alcohol and sex.  Even when there are intellectual objections to Christianity, these are often just cover for a debauched lifestyle. " says Kevin DeYoung on Campus decadence.

My pastor speaking more by inspiration  of the Holy Spirit than by lucid arguments would teach very plainly that a Christian does not listen to bad music, will not indulge in alcohol and will dress always moderately and decently – avoiding any inappropriate exposure.  These very simple maxims were part of what sustained the faith of millions of saints and helped in passing to the next generation a tradition of decency.  Today, many challenge the biblical authenticity of these admonitions labelling them as legalistic religion and outrightly offensive to the sensitivities of a free modern society. Well, the Chinese have now concluded they have enough junk of their own and will not expose their own culture to importation of more garbage masquerading as art, fashion or music.

I Corinthians 6[12]  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. … [18]  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. … [19]  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20]  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

The Apostle Paul reminds the saints that even if they do not sin by partaking in certain liberties, these habits are potentially harmful, unprofitable and dangerously addictive. If the saint is the bride of Christ for which a precious price has been paid, is it too much to ask that this body be preserved from potential pollutions in anticipation of a wonderful glorification in the future?  Christian liberty used to mean freedom from the bondage of sin and addictions …now strangely it has been distorted to suggest freedom to partake in everything as we have a God of grace…and the blood to cleanse after.

Thoughts on decency in dressing, music and consumption are now passé … only for radical moslems and perhaps Christians in the third world with limited opportunities to binge.

I Corinthians 14 [40]  Let all things be done decently and in order…. Philippians 4[5]  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

This does not mean we should return to the middle-ages but challenges me to consider what is decent and orderly and what is not. I thank God we must still have elders somewhere that care about fashions and will inspect wedding dresses for decency …who will not permit smoking and drinking and excess of any kind that does not glorify God.  I thank God we still have those that will not permit certain kinds of music for worship and who will caution youths to model their lives and ways after Christ. These elders will be called judgmental…no doubt.

Thank God for the Chinese for the boldness to remind us that we have a choice to decide not to be defiled or just continue unperturbed living with filth even when we know we hurt our very own bodies and minds.

Luke 16.[8] … for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

Originally published in The Christian Post