Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But those who keep the law strive with them. Proverbs 28:4
How should a Christian deal with the wicked in society? That is part of what we will learn in this passage in Proverbs. We read of those who "forsake" the law here. These are people who look at God's law and they abandon it. They want to loose themselves from it - and see God's Law as a binding thing - something that chains them and keeps them from doing what they want to do. They separate themselves from what God says is morally and ethically right. Not only do they do this - but they praise the wicked. The wicked are the ones who revolting against God. They do not want to obey the Lord - nor do they intend on doing so. When men forsake God's Law - they don't want anything to do with it - or with anyone who is obeying it. They prefer boasting and rubbing elbows with those who reject it as well. They praise the wicked for their open-mindedness and for their desire for life. They package evil and wickedness in such a way that it looks good and acceptable. Problem is that God does not change His mind - and the things that He considered wicked before - He will continue to consider them wicked until the end of time.
The ones who keep God's Law - they strive against the wicked. Keepers of the Law are those who watch over it and seek to protect it. They cringe at the thought of disobedience - but they also realize the damage it causes. Therefore they strive with the wicked. To strive here means to stir oneself up against something. When we strive against the wicked - we are standing up to their views and opposing them. We will not allow them to win the battle of ideas in our world without a fight.
The way this looks in the world today is that godly men and women stand for God's righteousness. We stand for it in our homes - in our churches, and yes, in the world system itself. We will not go quietly, but will show people the error of living apart from God's Word and ways. We will fight them in the marketplace of ideas - by preaching the teaching the Word of God. We will show that a godless lifestyle is not blessed here - or in eternity. God's ways are best - and we will stand for them and in them.
So how do we do this in our current situation. First, we identify what is godly, what God considers to be righteousness and what He considers to be sin. Next, we pray for God to grant us victory in overcoming the wicked. Then . . . we act! The slave trade was an evil in the British empire. It was one that William Wilberforce was unwilling to stomach. He fought and strove with the wicked within the empire in an effort to ban it in their country. It was not a short fight for Wilberforce, but rather one that lasted most of his career - yet he strove on - never losing sight of his Lord - or of what was right in the midst of it. We face a similar fight today with the abortion industry. This is a wicked practice and one which God abhors. If we are God's people and grasp righteousness - we need to rise up and strive with the wicked once again on this issue. No matter how long it takes - or how difficult the battle becomes, we need to strive with the wicked on this matter until this barbaric practice is laid aside in our nation. We must speak against it - work for godly legislation that will outlaw it - and offer ministry to the women who would be drawn into it. This is how we practically take this Proverb - and we do so everywhere wickedness raises its ugly head.
How should a Christian deal with the wicked in society? That is part of what we will learn in this passage in Proverbs. We read of those who "forsake" the law here. These are people who look at God's law and they abandon it. They want to loose themselves from it - and see God's Law as a binding thing - something that chains them and keeps them from doing what they want to do. They separate themselves from what God says is morally and ethically right. Not only do they do this - but they praise the wicked. The wicked are the ones who revolting against God. They do not want to obey the Lord - nor do they intend on doing so. When men forsake God's Law - they don't want anything to do with it - or with anyone who is obeying it. They prefer boasting and rubbing elbows with those who reject it as well. They praise the wicked for their open-mindedness and for their desire for life. They package evil and wickedness in such a way that it looks good and acceptable. Problem is that God does not change His mind - and the things that He considered wicked before - He will continue to consider them wicked until the end of time.
The ones who keep God's Law - they strive against the wicked. Keepers of the Law are those who watch over it and seek to protect it. They cringe at the thought of disobedience - but they also realize the damage it causes. Therefore they strive with the wicked. To strive here means to stir oneself up against something. When we strive against the wicked - we are standing up to their views and opposing them. We will not allow them to win the battle of ideas in our world without a fight.
The way this looks in the world today is that godly men and women stand for God's righteousness. We stand for it in our homes - in our churches, and yes, in the world system itself. We will not go quietly, but will show people the error of living apart from God's Word and ways. We will fight them in the marketplace of ideas - by preaching the teaching the Word of God. We will show that a godless lifestyle is not blessed here - or in eternity. God's ways are best - and we will stand for them and in them.
So how do we do this in our current situation. First, we identify what is godly, what God considers to be righteousness and what He considers to be sin. Next, we pray for God to grant us victory in overcoming the wicked. Then . . . we act! The slave trade was an evil in the British empire. It was one that William Wilberforce was unwilling to stomach. He fought and strove with the wicked within the empire in an effort to ban it in their country. It was not a short fight for Wilberforce, but rather one that lasted most of his career - yet he strove on - never losing sight of his Lord - or of what was right in the midst of it. We face a similar fight today with the abortion industry. This is a wicked practice and one which God abhors. If we are God's people and grasp righteousness - we need to rise up and strive with the wicked once again on this issue. No matter how long it takes - or how difficult the battle becomes, we need to strive with the wicked on this matter until this barbaric practice is laid aside in our nation. We must speak against it - work for godly legislation that will outlaw it - and offer ministry to the women who would be drawn into it. This is how we practically take this Proverb - and we do so everywhere wickedness raises its ugly head.
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