We are easily influenced by false cultural views of sin. That's why it's so important that Christians remember:
1. Environment and circumstances don't make us sin.
It's popular to blame environment or circumstances for bad behavior, but that's not Biblical.
Scripture says we choose sin (Genesis 4:7; John 3:19; James 4:17).
We aren't born perfect and then messed up by our environment. We're born messed up (Romans 5:12).
Change comes when we recognize our fallen nature and take responsibility for our sins, and turn to Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Daniel spent his life in an evil pagan environment, but he made right choices.
2. Parents are NOT responsible for how their adult children turn out.
This is a natural spin-off of belief #1.
If an adult child makes terrible choices, we often look for fault in the parents, not the adult child.
Parents are responsible TO God for how they parent but not responsible FOR their adult children's choices (Ezekiel 18:20).
Joseph had a dysfunctional family, but he made right choices.
We need to follow these examples and take responsibility for our choices.
We'd be wise to regularly read the strong warning in 1 John 1:8-10.
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