Rising above Societal Norms

​Too often, we allow society to dictate our behaviour. 

​​Societal norms are unwritten rules about how to behave in various social and cultural groups; it also determines what is good, right, fair and just. 

​It is time we ask ourselves,

"Do my actions reflect what society requires or what God desires?"

​Take a moment to consider whether you fall on the side of embracing societal norms or embracing the word of God and allowing the word to cultivate a spiritual faith within you.
​This table shows some contrasting actions that society dictates and what God desires.

 Society

• Be aggressive and take what you must by force.              
• Living for earthly concerns
• Fulfilling destiny
• Love yourself more than those around you                           
• ​Love your neighbour as yourself
• Choose who is worth loving and forgiving. 

God (Spiritual Faith)

• Be gentle and kind
• Allows the holy spirit to give spiritual light and affection
• Walks in the light
• Fulfilling destiny
• Love your neighbour as yourself
• Love everyone, forgive everyone 

​     

​Society tells us a few things such as:

​×Do what you want as long as it makes you happy
×If it feels good then do it.

via GIPHY

​Don't get me wrong, these are good statements they just need to be modified.

• Do what God instructs you to do; it will make you happy.
• If it feels good and it is aligned with the word of God, then do it.

​Are you ready for some harsh truth?                                                                         

​As Christians and aspiring Christians, we ought to not let society dictate who God is. God is holy and he will never change. God has set standards that he expects us to live up to and, God will not lower his standards to accommodate us. 

via GIPHY

Society has made it seem like if we go to church and are involved in church activities, we have a ticket to heaven. Society has also made it seem like if we do good deeds, that automatically makes us a good person.
​

Mark 10:18 says that there is no one good, but one, that is, God. 

Do you think that you can lie, cheat, commit fornication and steal then end up in heaven because deep down you think you are a good person and so deserve to go to heaven? 
If that's what you think, then you need to rise above Societal Norms!! 

via GIPHY

Galatians 5:19-21 tells us that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

It’s not okay to a ritualistic Christian. 

Revelation 3:16-17 says
 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and require nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

​Again God will not lower his standards. Do you want to be spued out? Of course not; so rise to the occasion. For us to meet God's standards, we must comply to Romans 12:1-2, which says,  

​that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Remember that according to Romans 6:23, 

the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

So let us rise above Societal Norms and meet the requirements of what God has set out for us so that we can all meet Jesus in heaven one day.
Be blessed!!

​Keep on reading to learn more to help you be more like a jewel on God´s crown
¨ The LORD their God will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.¨ Zechariah 9:16 NIV
​

Author

Carla Plunkett