Our culture is in trouble today. The weakness of the evangelical church, which has been disemboweled of its theological character is all the more troubling. The shaping of the church’s mind, generally speaking, has been left to the twisted worldviews that do not belong in the minds of God’s people. The church cannot embrace worldviews that are antithetical to its own. In the past we thought biblically. When we faced problems, we sought the face of God. We understood that believers were set apart for a sacred purpose. But it seems we have set aside the sacred for the secular.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:18, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” People with faith in Christ understand from this text, that we cannot have righteousness without godliness.
It’s a fallacy to think we can rid ourselves of God and at the same time hold onto righteousness and morality. The order is important. Paul puts ungodliness first followed then by righteousness. You must have godliness or there will not be righteousness. Ungodliness flows naturally into unrighteousness. An ungodly people will be an unrighteous people. When you have godliness, righteousness and morality will then follow. It’s that simple. However, the confused mindset of the church and culture at large today is we are working and striving for righteousness without godliness.
“Ungodliness” is man’s view toward God. Simply man lives as though God does not exist. But man willingly suppresses the truth of God. We work at denying He is, and that there are eternal standards that man cannot change.
What do you desire? What do you seek? Are you attempting to be righteous without God? Just as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, righteousness always follows godliness.
Pastor Scott Tyler
Oak Street Baptist Church
