Articles
Living Righteously Among the Wicked
Anyone who is familiar with what is going on in our society and who is also aware of what God’s standards are knows we live in a wicked environment. Some places throughout the United States or throughout the world may have a reputation of being more righteous in some areas and yet wickedness exists wherever a person lives. It is not possible for us to completely remove ourselves from all wickedness in the world without going out of the world (1 Corinthians 5:9-10). Jesus would not have His followers be taken out of the world but rather for them to be in the world but not of the world (John 17:14-19). Living righteously among a wicked world may seem like a difficult thing to do but it certainly is not an impossible task.
The Bible tells us of individuals who lived in a wicked society and yet were righteous individuals. Noah lived in a time when, “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5, NKJV). In such a wicked environment, it is said of Noah, “Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9, NKJV). Noah demonstrates how it is possible to live a righteous life in the midst of a terribly wicked world. In fact, the world was so wicked at that time God destroyed all mankind except Noah, his wife, his three sons, and his three sons’ wives (1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5). Lot is another example of a righteous individual living among a wicked society. Lot lived in the city of Sodom, a place known for its great wickedness even before he moved there (Genesis 13:10-13). As time passes on, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah do not become any less wicked. In fact, their wickedness becomes so great God brings judgment upon these cities (Genesis 19:24-25; 2 Peter 2:6; Jude 7). Within such a wicked environment, we find Lot living, whom the Bible refers to as a righteous man who was being oppressed and tormented by the wickedness around him (2 Peter 2:7-8). Righteous people find no delight in the sin surrounding them and yet do not have to engage in the sins which might be prevalent among those among whom they live. Obadiah was a prophet who lived in Israel during a very wicked time in Israel’s history. He lived during the reign of Ahab who, “did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him” (1 Kings 16:30, NKJV). Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, had been massacring the prophets of the Lord (1 Kings 18:4). It was in the midst of this environment we read about Obadiah, who was in charge of Ahab’s house, fearing the Lord greatly and hiding the prophets of God in caves and feeding them with bread and water (1 Kings 18:3-4). Obadiah demonstrates how a person can continue to fear the Lord and do the right thing even while under the authority of very wicked men. Joseph of Arimathea is a Bible character we sometimes do not pay much attention to. However, recently he caught my attention as someone who lived righteously in the midst of wickedness. Luke 23:50 tells us Joseph was, “a council member” (NKJV). He was a part of the council which had argued for Jesus to be put to death. Joseph is described as, “a good and just man” (Luke 23:50, NKJV). In other words, it is possible to find a good and just man in the midst of such a wicked council which would sentence the sinless Son of God to death. How could Joseph be said to be good and just when he was a part of such a council? The answer is given in Luke 23:51: “He had not consented to their decision and deed” (NKJV). We need to have the same sort of courage men like Joseph of Arimathea had to develop so we can be righteous individuals in the midst of wickedness (Mark 15:43).
Wickedness will surround us as the world lies under the sway of the wicked one (1 John 5:19). In the midst of such a wicked world, it is our responsibility to not become like the world around us (Romans 12:1-2) but rather to be different. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16, NKJV). Other passages expressing a similar thought include: 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; Ephesians 5:11; Philippians 2:15; James 4:4. Let’s remember God expects us to be different than the wicked world around us! Let’s remember it is possible to live righteous lives even when sin seems to be all around us! Let’s remember we do not have to fit in but rather should come out and be separate from the wickedness in the world around us!
