Operation Christmas Child – Shoebox Collection Week is Here!

Taking a Stance on Sanctity - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - November 12, 2021

rick warrens daily hope new banner may 2022

Taking a Stance on Sanctity 
By Rick Warren

“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.” Acts 18:9 (NIV)

For the last few days, we’ve been looking together at what it means to develop a Christian worldview. As you’re forming your worldview, it’s important to understand God’s stance on three issues that are controversial in many cultures today.

I’ve chosen these three because speaking up about them requires the most courage. Not only will most people disagree with you about these topics, but they will also passionately argue with you.

It takes an uncommon courage to stand up against that kind of pressure.

There are many parts of the Bible that people don’t have a problem with, such as when we’re told to help the poor. Nobody disagrees with that. But the world hates some parts of Scripture, and that makes it difficult for Christians to stand up for what they know is right.

Here are three issues related to sanctity that Christians today need to stand up for.

1. The sanctity of life: God has a purpose for every unborn child. God planned your life before you were born: “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (Psalm 139:16 NLT). We are to speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves—the unborn, the tens of millions of babies around the world who would be here if they hadn’t been aborted. If I claim to be a Christian, then I must believe that every life is sacred.

2. The sanctity of sex: Sex is only for marriage. Sex is God’s idea. It isn’t dirty or wrong; sex is holy. “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (Hebrews 13:4 NIV). God’s instructions never change: Premarital sex is unacceptable to God. Living together without being married is unacceptable to God. Adultery is unacceptable to God. Pornography and the objectification of women are unacceptable to God.

3. The sanctity of marriage: One man and one woman for life. That is God’s intended, original design. A lot of people ask, “Well, what about all the polygamy in the Bible?” The Bible telling the truth about something that happened doesn’t mean God approved it. And the Bible is very clear on the issue of marriage: “Haven’t you read . . . that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate” (Matthew 19:4-6 NIV).

People of goodwill can disagree over many issues in life. For example, the Bible offers no economic recovery plan, so Christians can disagree on that. But, as a follower of Christ, it’s important to line up with what God says about the sanctity of life, sex, and marriage. And you need to have the courage to stand up for them, even when—and especially when—it’s not the popular or politically correct thing to do.

 PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick

For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!


Daily Hope Devotional: 365 Days of Purpose, Peace, and Promise

Be Encouraged Each Day to Live Out God’s Purposes

As thanks for your gift below to help share the gospel with more people around the world through Daily Hope, we’ll send you Pastor Rick’s new book, Daily Hope Devotional: 365 Days of Purpose, Peace, and Promise.

Each devotional starts out with a Bible verse, followed by teaching that explains God’s Word and shows you how to apply it daily so you can face any challenge and live the life you were created to live.

As a special bonus when you give, we’ll also send you What's Driving Your Life?: A 10-Day Turnaround for a Fresh Start. Featuring 10 hand-picked devotions from Pastor Rick’s new book, they’ll guide anyone feeling stressed, worried, or discouraged toward seeking God for a fresh start.

Request your copy below when you give—and take the first step towards a year of real purpose, lasting peace, and unfailing promises.

Thank you for your partnership!

*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.

This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.

SHARE

Christianity / Devotionals / Daily Hope with Rick Warren / Taking a Stance on Sanctity - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - November 12, 2021