Soft Life, is a term that most who are surrounded by Gen Z have heard and are in the know of by now.
Soft Life, refers to a lifestyle of comfort and relaxation with minimal challenges or stress.
Some people use the term in reference to a life that involves (and is a product of) wealth and luxury.
While others interpret it as simply being a simplified life unburdened from stress and responsibilities.
Why am I coining these two phrases soft life and soft Christianity together?
Firstly, because being a follower of Christ comes with responsibility.
A simplified life without challenges especially, in this season that we’re walking in, is definitely not guaranteed.
Matthew 10:22 tells us – You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Lately, I have heard many troubling conversations with some people that have left me saddened.
People want the worldly soft life to apply to the word of God and override truth we have known since childhood.
It is as though standing on Gods truth now makes you a judgemental enemy.
With regards to these conversations I have heard, I was quickly reminded of;
1 Timothy 4:1 where – The Holy Spirit clearly says that in the last days some people will leave the faith. They will follow spirits that will fool them. They will believe things that demons will teach them.
I was having a conversation with someone about God.
Then a certain topic came up and it appeared that they were in acceptance of what God calls a sinful lifestyle.
In fact God calls this lifestyle choice an abomination.
Abomination is defined as that which is exceptionally loathsome, hateful, sinful, wicked, or vile. The term shiqquts is translated abomination by almost all translations of the Bible. The similar words, sheqets, and shâqats, are almost exclusively used to refer to unclean animals.
This person I had a conversation with, was once someone who never wavered from the truth of the word of God.
However, once they got entangled in certain circles, they now accept certain acts that God deems abominable as okay.
I believe this acceptance on their part is a way of them trying to fit in and please this new crowd.
Seeing as, within this new crowd, some are involved in these other alternative lifestyles.
Yet, the Bible teaches us that we need to be careful about the company we keep.
1 Corinthians 15:33 reads – Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Psalm 1:1-2 reads – Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 141:4-5 reads – Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
Importantly;
James 4:4 reads – Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God”
Now, in this conversation and exchange, this person argued that not accepting peoples lifestyle choices was hate.
Ultimately, I disagreed with this school of thought and presented an alternative idea of tolerance.
Tolerance is defined as the capacity to endure continued subjection to opinions, behaviours or beliefs that are different.
Tolerance doesn’t necessarily translate to acceptance, there is a difference between the two.
Acceptance is to give assent – the expression of approval, like-mindedness or agreement.
Within the Bible, tolerance is a concept frequently touched on as a key component of the Christian faith, despite not naming it explicitly.
Upon studying the Bible, tolerance is rooted in the principles of love, respect and understanding.
The Bible acknowledges the diverse perspectives, feelings, behaviours and attitudes present in human interactions.
Therefore, just because we choose tolerance as a guide for navigating and managing conflicting situations,
it does not mean that we stand in agreement with what the bible calls evil.
Hence why, soft life and soft Christianity just isn’t viable.
We must be careful not to deceive ourselves into thinking that we can live in close fellowship with God and, at the same time, set our hearts on the things of this world.
We must always “remember what happened to Lot’s wife!
It is easy to understand why, after observing rampant worldliness in the lives of his readers, James launched into a warning
(study James 4:1–17 in your own time)
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” James 4:4
James’ assessment may seem harsh, but whether we like it or not the truth is, when you come into agreement or acceptance of evil, you actively oppose God.
There is great danger and consequences when one rejects God’s authority.
From the beginning of creation until now, people have tried to cast off every restraint placed on them by the loving hand of God.
We learn over and over that some are not willing to yield to the perfect will of the Father.
This is why you see nations rejecting God’s authority again and again and advocating laws contrary to Gods order.
In the Book of Isaiah 5:24 it reads – Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom will ascend like dust; because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
If you’ve ever seen the aftermath of a wildfire, then you know how horrendous it is.
This may be an accurate picture to illustrate the consequences that a nation without God will suffer.
Consumed by their own falsehoods, those who reject the Word of the Lord will suffer unnecessarily.
When you go back to the Book of James,
He calls out a challenge to people who have turned their hearts away from God and fallen in love with the world.
When he speaks of “the world,” he means the world system or world order.
This consists of people whose beliefs, values, and morals are in opposition and rebellion to God’s.
The goals and objectives of “the world” are in direct contrast to God’s commands.
Hence why, to cling to the world is to choose enmity with God.
James warns believers not to cultivate a lifestyle that resembles “friendship with the world.”
We must never pursue the ideals, morals, goals, or purposes of the world but instead “seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
Friendship with the world rubs off on our character.
Therefore, be mindful that your Godly compass doesn’t become corrupted.
If anything or anyone takes a more important place in our lives than our relationship with God and Jesus Christ, we have probably entered into friendship with the world and enmity with God.
Unquestionably, stand for what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praiseworthy.
Philippians 4:8 tells us – “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
The only way to stand for these things is to stand in the Word of God.
- Stand firm for God’s Word and put on God’s full armour, according to Ephesians 6:11-16.
- Stand in the power of God’s Word, which is the only Word and truth that sets us apart, according to John 17:17.
- Stand on the foundation of the Word of God, knowing we belong to Him, according to 2 Timothy 2:19.
In essence, we’ll fall for anything if we fail to stand up for something, and that something must be the truth.
To conclude I will leave you with Psalm 101 which you can read in your own time.
In this psalm we have David declaring how he intended to regulate his household, and to govern his kingdom, that he might stop wickedness, and encourage godliness.
Now, here’s the convicting thing about this Psalm.
It is quite possible to worship God on Sunday and yet have a life that is shaped by the worship of something else the rest of the week.
God forbid! May we not be found to have a form of godliness.
We need to cry out for the grace of Jesus and true transformation.
God bless you.
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