WINNING WITH THE WORD
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Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and life coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, May 16, 2022, and this is Episode #20 of Series 2022. This episode is titled “The Subtle Lure of Cultural Pressure”.
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We’ve all heard of peer pressure. Our parents warned us against it. If we heeded our parents’ warnings, we avoided a lot of suffering. If we did not heed our parents’ warnings, we paid dire consequences, many of which may still be operative in our lives today.
Well, peer pressure isn’t just something young people need to guard against. Peer pressure is a tactic that Satan uses throughout our lives. And, if we are not aware of it, we will end up in some serious trouble.
Peer pressure has a lot of different names. One of the most common today is “political correctness.” To be politically correct is to go along with a culture’s political and social agenda. Just look around. So many people–even so-called Christians–have caved in to the anti-Biblical, political and social agenda that is being blatantly and brazenly proclaimed throughout our country and throughout the world. We are witnessing active and arrogant rebellion against God and His Word. Opposition to God’s commandments has run wild, with the result that lawlessness prevails and deception runs rampant.
The Bible calls peer pressure and political correctness “the fear of man.” Take a look at Proverbs 29: 25: “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.” A snare is a trap. So, the Bible is saying that when we fear man –in other words, when we worry about what people think–we fall into a trap.
What kind of trap?
A trap that leads to death and destruction.
Isn’t that what we’re seeing around us? Death in the form of abortion, infanticide, increase in homicides and suicides? And destruction in the form of drug addiction, alcoholism, domestic abuse, and child abuse? Are we not seeing looting, shoplifting, vandalism, attacks against our law enforcement officers?
Indeed, we are. Our country has gone crazy because we have allowed ourselves to be taken captive by social and cultural pressure. We have caved in as a nation to putting more stock in what others think than in what God thinks.
Are you giving in to the peer pressure of societal lies? Are you sliding down the slippery slope that leads to death and destruction? Are you opposing God and exalting yourself?
Yes, that’s what peer pressure ultimately does. It exalts the Self over God. And, bottom line, that’s what’s wrong with our culture today. We have become a society of mini-gods, each one doing his own thing, each one deciding for himself what’s true and not true. Each one establishing his own rule of moral conduct.
Relativism is the name of the game these days. My truth is my truth, and your truth is your truth. Well, how far has that gotten us? It has led only to mass confusion, societal and family division, and a people who can no longer think straight.
I urge you to take a hard look at yourself. Are you supporting a social agenda that violates God’s commandments? Yes, I’m talking about abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage, euthanasia, greed, vandalism, looting and shoplifting, theft, homicide, crime, rebellion against authority, and hatred among people? All of these things are contrary to God’s design for our lives. God will bring severe judgment on those who do not forsake their sin and repent.
What about you? Do you love the praise of men more than the praise of God? If so, you will never see the Kingdom of God. Are you willing to take such an eternal risk? Do you want to spend eternity–that’s forever–separated from God and tormented in Hell? Is the approval of others more important to you than the approval of God? If so, you are in grave spiritual danger.
My friend, I pray that you take this message seriously.
Years ago, I heard a quote that has stuck with me. It is this: “Observe the masses and do the opposite.” The crowd is heading in the wrong direction. If you want to be safe, don’t follow the crowd. Go in the opposite direction.
Jesus said this in Matthew 7: 14: “Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Do you want to be one of those few who find the way to life? If so, you must do things God’s way. For only His way leads to life.
The first step on the road to life is to accept Jesus Christ into your life as your Savior and Lord. He desires a personal relationship with you. Won’t you accept his invitation?
If you do not yet have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I urge you to establish one now. All you need to do is to repent of your sin, ask Jesus to forgive you, and invite him into your life. Please pray this simple prayer after me:
Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I admit that I have been going the wrong way, my own way and not your way. I recognize that my sin put You on that Cross where You died for me. So, I repent of my sin, I turn away from it, and I ask You to forgive me. I invite You into my life now. I receive You now as my Savior and my Lord. Thank You for saving me. Make me what You created me to be. Amen.
If you sincerely prayed this prayer, welcome to God’s family! Please write down today’s date. It is your spiritual birthday. And please write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com. I would like to send you a free PDF booklet titled After You’re Born Again. This booklet will help you to get started in your walk with Jesus.
I also encourage you to get yourself a Bible and read it every single day. The Bible is God’s love letter to you, His manual for your life. In the Bible, God reveals Who He is, and He teaches you how to live.
Finally, ask the Lord to lead you to the church of His choice for you where you can learn about Him and have fellowship and encouragement with other Christ-Followers. It is critically important in these last days to fellowship with other believers who are mature in Christ and who can guide you as you grow in Him.
If you did not pray this prayer with me, please reconsider. Jesus Christ is coming back soon to remove from the earth all those who follow Him. The rest of the world’s population will be left behind and will face the most horrific time in human history under the dictatorship of the AntiChrist. If you do not believe me, do your own research.
Thousands of years ago, the Bible predicted exactly what is happening in our world today. Everything is coming to pass exactly as the Bible predicted. The Bible has never been wrong. I have been following Jesus for 52 wonderful years, and He has never failed me. Nor will he ever fail you if you choose to follow Him.
I urge you: Follow Jesus Christ. Accept Him into your life. He is the only way to be saved.
If this podcast has helped you in any way, please consider supporting it by becoming one of my valued patrons. Just go to patreon.com/winningwiththeword to join my wonderful Team. Winning with the Word now reaches 70 countries throughout the world because of the help of patrons like you. Patrons receive numerous benefits in appreciation for their support.
Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are, and that He will help you to keep on Winning with the Word!
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Copyright 2000-2022 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.
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