I can’t believe this!  Even Christians are embracing these things!  It’s scary.  It’s real.  It’s time to rise up.  It’s time to start a revolution.  It’s time to say, “No!”

If we don’t, I can tell you where we will end up.  It won’t be pretty.  We’re already headed in that direction.

It’s time to redirect the ship.  It’s time to chart a new course.  It’s time to say, “No!”

Just say, “No!” to

 1.  Trashy Behavior

Have you ever watched the Jerry Springer Show?  It’s pretty sad.  It’s basically people acting as trashy as possible.  The trashier and more ridiculous the guest acts, the more popular they become.

Have you watched the current presidential election coverage?

Notice any similarities?

Think about it.  Winning at Jerry Springer and becoming the leader of the free world should be VERY DIFFERENT.  I’m concerned that it’s basically turned into the same trick.  Why could that be?  Well, we have glamorized the trashy.   We have demonized virtue and exalted vice.

What can we do?  Get yourself a real hero (Philippians 3).  Then, you can set your mind on things above (Colossians 3).  Then, you can rise above all the mess of this world.  You can make it a better place.

2.  Making Egotism a Virtue

Should we set self above others?  Should we be puffed up?

We can take pride in the fact that we have worth greater than the whole world (Matthew 16:26).  We can take pride in the cross.  We should be hard workers.  But, should we be puffed up?

Christ followers are not puffed up.   Why is that?  Well, our worldview just doesn’t allow it.  You see, we see ourselves as we are.  We are imperfect yet loved.  We see the world as it is.  It’s a fallen creation that is being redeemed.  We see God as the awesome Creator who has rescued us and given us mission and purpose.  We see our life work as being driven by grace and God’s Spirit.  We have a great sense of worth, but it’s all wrapped up in our identity that is found in Christ.  And, his story is all about serving.  It’s not about being puffed up.   By the way, the whole book of I Corinthians can be summed up like this:  Don’t be puffed up.  Rather, build each other up.

3. Putting Others Down

It’s obvious that if we’re going to build each other up, it’s not OK to put others down.   One would think this is a given.  But, it seems we need a reminder.  If we are Christ followers, our MO cannot be to put others down.   We must treat others the way we want to be treated (Matthew 7:12).  It’s called the Golden Rule.   Christ came to lift us up.  John 3:16.  He sacrificed for us.  We do the same.  We bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6).  We lift up the fallen, and bind up the broken hearted (Luke 4:18).  We esteem others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:1-2).  We put on the same mindset of humility (Philippians 2:5-10).    That’s the way we are  are exalted (Philippians 2:9-11, James 4:10).

Just say, “No!”

Sometimes it feels good to tell someone off.  Just really let them have it.

Sometimes it’s tempting to be a shameless self-promoter.  You don’t have to tell me, I’m trying to promote this blog!

Sometimes the allure of the trashy is real.  It’s entertaining to watch someone tell off color jokes.  It’s funny when adults act like silly kids.  But, in the end, it is not rewarding.

I’m hungry for the reward.  I plead for a prosperous country.  I desire a Christ honoring culture.  And, above all, I want to know Him myself, and be a part of his great Story of restoration and redemption.

Well, when the prize is so great, you realize that you have to deny some of this temporary foolishness.  You have to turn your back on self-serving egotism.  You have to walk away from bullying.  You have to turn the channel away from the trash.

If you’re a Christ follower, sometimes, you just have to say, “No!”

Featured image photo credit:  Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2191241