by Erik Jones

One of the most basic truths of real Christianity is that what is good is defined by God’s law (Psalm 119:172) and what is evil (sin) is defined by everything that is the opposite (the breaking) of God’s law (1 John 3:4). Christians must learn what is evil (sin) in God’s sight and avoid it like a plague!

Yes, true Christianity does require discernment (Hebrews 5:14) and decisions (Deuteronomy 30:19). There are things in life that a Christian simply has to abstain from. The Bible often uses the word flee to describe specific things a Christian must reject and abstain from. Two examples of these “flees” are:

• “Flee sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18). Sexual immorality (“fornication” in the King James Version) refers to is all sexual activity outside of marriage, which is defined biblically as the union of a husband (male) and wife (female).
• “Flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14). Idolatry is defined as anything—object, activity, person, addiction, etc.—that comes before God in a person’s life.

We are to flee “all unrighteousness” (1 John 5:17) and instead pursue God’s law (John 14:15) and the elements of character that derive from God’s law (1 Timothy 6:11).

To learn more about what we need to “abstain” from, read “What Is Sin?”