A HIGHER STANDARD. Leviticus 18 God’s claim on Israel’s devotion was based on His willingness to redeem them from bondage and reveal Himself to them in various ways as their God. Holiness in the lives of those who have been redeemed aligns with God's character. Holiness is a principle by which our lives should be lived daily. We fulfill the obligations of holy living by “doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.”
Our duty toward God in living as He desires is to sanctify ourselves by submitting to the will of our Lord and being led and guided by the Spirit of God through His word. We received divine nature when we were given eternal life as a gift from God, so holy living is within our ability. The lifestyle and practices of this immoral world, in contrast to the holy living of those who “live godly in Christ Jesus,” should not be considered acceptable in any way by God's people.
The lifestyle of those living in Canaan during the Israelites’ journey to the promised land was extremely immoral. Therefore, before they arrived, God gave His people specific commands opposing the sexual sins that were practiced there. The Canaanites engaged in adultery, homosexuality, and bestiality, but God strictly forbade these acts. Incest was also prohibited within families, even after a father's death.
In Egypt, where the children of Israel served the gods of the Egyptians, idol worship included immoral activities and reverence for beasts and the primitive instincts of humanity's fallen nature. In the land of Canaan, people's superstitions went even further, offering newborn babies to Molech, the god of the Ammonites, by placing them into fire inside a brass idol. One tradition states that drums and loud music accompanied these human sacrifices to drown out the cries of the babies.
Unspeakable evil also exists today when society abandons the moral standards of the Word of God and replaces them with the shallow, baseless laws of human opinion. What a person practices in their lifestyle reflects what they believe about God. As one said, "A person's morality is the fruit of his theology." The people of God, then and now, are called to a higher standard of morality—one that surpasses the lustful opinions of men who seek pleasure in any way and wherever they can find it.
How do we know what is moral and what is immoral? The standards guiding God's people come from Him through His Word. God is the ultimate standard. He embodies holiness, righteousness, purity, and character, bringing joy, lasting happiness, and purpose to our lives. It is not our place to decide what is moral or immoral. God makes these decisions based on who He is. The original laws of this country originated from what is known as "English common law." English common law was founded on biblical standards and withstood the test of the centuries. But now, we have courts appointed by men who aim to create and change laws to align with what appeals to the base instincts of our fallen nature.
The laws of sexual purity that were upheld for centuries have changed within the world's systems, but not for God's people. Man makes modifications to fit his circumstances, opinions, and the views of others. God remains unchanged. In man's perspective, "the majority rules," but He holds the final authority for God's people. As a result, accusations have been made that Christians are dogmatic and resistant to change. This suggests that we will often stand alone in our decisions because, in the majority's view, being dogmatic is wrong. However, it is not wrong to be firm when our beliefs and practices are rooted in a source morally higher than ourselves.
It is not always comfortable to do what someone with more authority than we have says is right. I obey laws because of God's divine authority over the "powers that be." But when they abuse their authority and turn their opinions into laws, I am compelled to "obey God rather than men." That is not being dogmatic in a wrong way. It is actually the opposite. Imposing man-made opinions as laws is wrongfully dogmatic.
Human interaction without boundaries can become shameful and harmful. To be a blessing to all involved, such interaction should display tenderness and consideration for everyone. The Holy Spirit does not impose restrictions where there is no danger. One said it well: "The Holy Spirit does not put a dam where there is no danger of a flood." Sexual relations with close relatives were forbidden for several reasons.
One reason is the emotional impact it can have on others who share the same family ties. Another is the physical problems that may increase when the gene pool is similar. Historically, medical research has shown that the likelihood of weakness or strength can significantly increase among those in close relations. Due to the principle of deterioration, weakness often becomes evident. Mental and physical weaknesses frequently result from sexual unions between close relatives.
We need to understand these realities, not just ideas, and God has revealed them in His Word. Adultery was forbidden not only for social reasons—to prevent the seed from being adulterated—but also to stop the spread of social diseases like sexually transmitted infections. Even today, people try to control this spread through medication and other methods. Some argue that people need to be taught how to practice "safe sex." God made this clear to us long ago. Homosexuality and bestiality were also forbidden long ago, and God's laws haven't changed. The spread of disease from forbidden sexual activity has been well documented. God foresaw the problems that come with certain lifestyles and forbade them back then. He still does.
Unfortunately, due to man's fallen nature, humans are capable of unspeakable evil that is not even seen in the animal kingdom when there are no moral standards of conduct. Those who know and love God are called to a higher standard of behavior than those who refuse to believe in Him. God Himself established this standard because He is the standard. We often say we can never achieve that righteousness; it is too high for us.
However, by receiving Christ as our Savior from sin, we are given His righteousness. Our motivation to "be holy" now stems from our love and appreciation for Him, not from our own efforts to keep perfect laws. Understanding God's grace and love for us compels us to rise above the shifting standards of mankind. Our Christian liberty, which we receive from God, frees us from sin's bondage so we can walk in God's ways. That is why we live in peace and experience the joy of the Lord in our lives.