“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to
live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
The Apostle Paul (Titus 2:11-12, emphasis added)
I grew up in California. When out-of-state friends visited me, they often wanted to see Hollywood first hand. So, I would take them on a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard, where we would find a lot of people who are used to saying “yes“ to ungodliness. There were raw sex shops on the left and grunge shops on the right. I always found my fellow pedestrians to be extremely jaded, unhappy and unfriendly.
That was my impression, every time. I used to try to get them to smile, but never succeeded. Never! The streets of Hollywood were to me a living illustration for the truism that saying “yes” to ungodliness is NOT a recipe for personal joy or satisfaction.
The truth is;
“no” is sometimes the right answer, especially when grace is at its full measure in your life.
- Is cheating justified to pass a tough course? The grace of God teaches us to say, “No!”
- Is child pornography harmless? God’s grace is clear: “No!”
- Can a child can grow up just as well (generally speaking) without a father? Grace says, “No!”
- Is adultery no big deal (everybody does it)? God’s grace declares, “No!”
- Would you like to dress your pre-teen daughter in all the latest hot fashions for that hard-boiled lady-of-the-street look? A graceful “no” fits well here.
- Are people born to be homosexual and nothing, not even the power of God, can change them, ever? Real grace calls for a politically incorrect reply to this question: “No!”
- Would you like our children’s innocence fried to a crisp by cable television, or by certain education bureaucrats forcing through activist anti-family curriculums? Consult with grace and we get our answer: “No!”
- Do you want your child to grow up without any hugs or wholesome touch from any adult whatsoever? Grace clearly teaches us to say, “No!” We can and must protect children without letting those who would abuse them also prevent them from ever receiving any wholesome affection from adults who are decent and trustworthy.
Life is better, even more graceful, with some boundaries. God's grace flourishes when we learn how to say
"no" wisely.
- One more question: Does this mean that Christians have to go around campus wearing a big sign that says “No“ on it everywhere we go--or must “no” be on the tip of our tongues at all times?
No! The grace of God does NOT teach us to be negative people. I believe that the best way to stay truly positive and full of joy is to let the grace of God be your primary teacher and to learn how to say “no” to ungodliness. Awesome and ultimate joy is the result.
Joel Mark Solliday, B.A., M.Div., is the editor of Campus CrossWalk and the pulpit minister of the Northern Light Church of Christ in Minnesota. He earned his M.Div. at Fuller Theological Seminary and has worked at Pepperdine and ACU. His lovely wife Katie is a junior high school teacher.
