I’ve recently been increasingly aware of the difficulty of walking in righteousness–in healthy relationships with God and with each other. It seems the world is fighting to destroy Christianity with carefully aimed attacks against faith and obedience to God. However, our greatest danger might actually be hidden traps that could ensnare us.

The attack against morality has become so loud and visible that the Supreme Court ruling was no surprise. The rise in hostility, anger, and hatred across the land is also blatant. Likewise, dangers of killings by terrorist or deranged people are quite obvious.

Most of us aren’t tempted to join these actions, but we can easily be drawn into unrighteousness because of them. For instance, when we’re pushed, the natural reaction is to push back.  If someone speaks in judgment and anger, it’s natural to respond in kind—in thought if not in words.

That’s the danger. No matter what the nature of the assault—and I believe we’re under assault—our nature is to respond in a similar spirit. It’s natural. We often do it without being aware of it.

In other words, we respond in the flesh.

When we feel threatened—from terrorists, the quiet person that suddenly goes berserk, activists that want to change society’s norms, financial instability . . . When we feel threatened, our natural response is fear.

However, Deuteronomy 6:13 says to “fear only the Lord your God.” In the Bible, we are told repeatedly that we have nothing to fear because God will protect us. When fear because of threats to our well-being holds us in bondage, we’ve been drawn into unrighteousness.

We’re denying God’s desire and ability to be our protector. The position of faith is to fear only the Lord. Furthermore, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Ps 111:10). If we are no longer walking in faith, i.e. if the fear of attack is greater than our fear of God, we’ve been ensnared.

Another trap is to judge those who are pushing their agenda on us. God is judge (Ps. 50:6). And it is unrighteous to take His place. Furthermore, He tells us that if we judge we will be judged accordingly (Mt. 7:2). When we judge, it escalates conflict–but it is easy to slip into judgment when the Word of God is clear that something is wrong.

To be clear, we are to judge with righteous judgment (John 7:24). We must discern between right and wrong. We are to consider thoughts and actions according to the Word of God to determine whether or not God approves.

But it is not our place to judge other people, their motives, and intentions. It is not our place to declare their future reward. Our judgment prevents God using us to show His love and kindness toward that person.

If our judgment blocks us from hearing and/or obeying God, then it is unrighteous. As we judge them and act negatively toward them, it gives them a wrong impression of God. If we are a stumbling block that keeps them from knowing God, we’ve been drawn into unrighteousness.  (More on The Judgment Trap)

These are just examples. There are more, such as pride and unforgiveness. However, next week, I’ll share what God has shown me as I consider these hidden traps that would ensnare us.

Meanwhile, what do you see as snares that would catch us unaware and ensnare us as we strive to walk in righteousness today?