Born Into War

“An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.” (Proverb 29:27)

It’s amazing to me that, although most believers understand that God and satan are opposed to one another, most seem to not understand that we humans were born into a spiritual battle zone. And, that makes sense, from the standpoint of how people operate.

For example, people who are born into poverty are simply used to that being their normal.

From 1975 until 1990 there was a civil war between Christians and Islamicists in Lebanon and between those who practice different styles of Islam. Imagine that: FIFTEEN years of people being born into that…of people living in that.

Their normal was seeing people thrown off roofs to their deaths; gun, cannon and mortar fire. Explosions.

Meanwhile, they went to work or to school, cooked, kept house, did the laundry, went to worship – while people around them killed one another. Sometimes…really often, innocents were killed by accident.

This was their normal.

We were born into a spiritual war which is VERY similar to life during the war in Lebanon.

“An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.” (Proverb 29:27)

And, in that war, people found themselves on opposite sides and were just used to that being the way things were.

ALL people were born into a spiritual war, thanks to the decisions of Adam and Eve.

In all this time, from Genesis 1:1 until now, only ONE (Jesus) was truly righteous in His essence and in His behavior. By the time Proverbs were written, though, there WERE people who interacted with the One True God and tried to perform in righteous ways with righteous motives.

“An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.” (Proverb 29:27)

These were the ones referred to in this verse as “the righteous” and “he who is upright in the way”. Here in this verse we can see the conflict between these two. They both consider the other to be “an abomination”.

This word is a Hebrew word which means “morally disgusting”.

I find it interesting that “unjust” and “wicked” people DO have morals. The word “morals” has to do with “relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). We tend to think of morals in terms of godly ideals but even the lost have morals in that they have principles of right or wrong. Of course, theirs are based on worldly standards whereas, the righteous and upright tend to draw from God’s standards.

For instance, thieves think it is right to steal things which belong to others and that its wrong to do without those things if they really want them. Child molesters think it is wrong to only have relations with other adults and right to prey on innocent children to satisfy their perverse desires.

This is also true of cruel dictators, abortion advocates, drug abusers, mean spirited people, abusive religious leaders…and on and on.

“An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.” (Proverb 29:27)

This is why one who lives an unjust or wicked lifestyle is morally disgusting (“an abomination”) to the righteous and also why one who lives “upright in the way” is morally disgusting to the wicked. Both challenge the other’s moral compass which is based on God’s health-giving standards (the upright) or based on damaging and perverse standards (the wicked).

How can these two get past their moral disgust with one another’s ways?

I can’t speak for the lost in this one. The lost unwittingly take their cue from satan and he loves contention, strife, character assassination, etc. He hates godly standards so they will most likely continue to consider the upright and righteous in Christ to be an abomination.

Such is life.

As for us, the children of God, let’s consider our moral disgust at things God hates to be right and good. This is simply proof that our minds really ARE being transformed and renewed.

It’s a good thing.

Let’s be sure we hate the sin but not to the point where we despise those who do it. How can anyone ever repent if there is no one to lead them to righteousness in Christ?

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)

And, how will anyone be able to share that with the lost if we despise them as individuals and display that disgust? We won’t.

“An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.” (Proverb 29:27)

This is how things are. Let’s not let that keep us from hearing the Lord and being led into whatever encounter He has in mind for us.

Jesus hated many things which were happening in His earthly affairs.

Still, He approached people suffering from leprosy and other diseases, demonization, greed and so on. He reasoned with people who had moral compasses which ran counter to His heavenly mores. He ministered to unjust and hurtful spiritual and political leaders. He interacted with people He knew would not respond favorably to His input. He boldly and HUMBLY did so anyway.

How did He do all that? He listened to and obeyed his Father.

So shall it be with us.

Pastor Mike McInerney

Mike McInerney Ministries, Inc.

Decatur, TX  76234

© May 31, 2024

For use with permission