Ungodliness

I'm wrestling with ungodliness. I mean the concept of ungodliness. Studying for a recent sermon has really caused me to understand my definition of ungodliness was quite accurate. I have always understood ungodliness to be characterized by immorality. But as I have been studying, I have come to realize that immorality is just the symptom of ungodliness.

Ungodliness can manifest itself in rigid legalism or wanton licentiousness. An ungodly life is one that is lived without reverence for God. It disregards his standards and replaces them with different ones. The self-righteous suppose that they are as good as possible, and that God, if he is watching, will recognize that reality. The problem, however, is that they do not know God. If they truly knew him, if they understood his character, then they would live in the fear of the Lord. Since they don't know him, they think their doing just fine.

The licentious person gives free reign to their passions, because they don't really know God either. It may be that they don't believe in God or that they believe he is a kindly, senile, old, grandfather figure who doesn't mind. Their error is equal to and opposite of the legalistic error. It stems from their lack of knowledge of God.

If God is not the center of our lives, through a personal relationship to Jesus Christ, then we are living an ungodly life. A life that is not preoccupied with the glory of the Lord is an ungodly life. Work that is not done to the glory of the Lord is ungodly work. Prayers prayed that are not prayed to the glory of God are ungodly prayer. Songs sung that are not sung to the glory of the Lord are ungodly songs.

Faith in Christ drives us to say "no" to ungodliness. It calls us to walk in faithful obedience. It compels us to let our lives be shaped and transformed by reverence for God. The fear of the Lord, expressed in adoring trust, keeps God continually at the forefront of our mind and our actions. If we aren't doing things in his power and for his glory, how can we call it "godly?"