163. Why do Christians in the West, dance, drink alcohol, and take drugs, and live immoral lifestyles?

The Apostle Paul in Galatians 5 verses 19- 21 calls these activities ‘acts of the flesh.’ He states: ‘The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.’ Christians who do these carnal activities are not living in the power of the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God would not lead them to do such things.’

In The Book of Jude verses 5-16 it states: ‘So I want to remind you, though you already know these things, that the Lord Christ first rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt, (Egypt is often used in Scripture as a symbol of wordly values) but later he destroyed those who did not remain faithful. And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them, but left the place where they belonged (speaking of demons and fallen jinn). God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great Day of Judgment. And don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbouring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment. In the same way, these people—who claim authority from their dreams—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings. But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’ (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body.) But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion. When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord’s love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots. They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds. They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness. Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, ‘Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.’ These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.

These acts are rooted in the selfishness of independent, individualistic lifestyles where there is no accountability or respect for the teaching of Jesus or of the wise elders of the Church. Such people have no sense of identity or belonging. Their inner loneliness craves for status, recognition and love. They don’t know where to find this love so they pursue all sorts of dangerous activities that the devil, the father of lies, and the prince of death and destruction, entices them into.

People who are part of a loving caring Holy Spirit filled community of God’s people do not need do these things. They are safe and secure in Christ and the community of God’s people. When pride is the root motivation in a group of people there is always fighting, disunity and dissension. But when the motivation of the disciples of Jesus is His unconditional love for one another, and the poor and marginalised, then the fruit of their deeds is love, joy, peace and righteousness in the Holy Spirit. You will know them by their fruit.

Then the author of Jude concludes in verses 17-23 giving these words of hope: ‘But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them. But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.’