The counsel of the ungodly refers to the advice, teachings, and influence of those who do not follow God or live according to His word. Psalm 1:1 states “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” This verse contrasts the blessed state of the righteous person who avoids ungodly influences with the cursed state of the ungodly. To walk in the counsel of the ungodly means to follow their advice and adopt their unbiblical worldviews. This article will examine what constitutes ungodly counsel and how Christians can avoid conforming to its influence.
Ungodly Counsel Rejects God’s Truth
At its core, the counsel of the ungodly rejects absolute biblical truth. Those who give ungodly counsel do not submit to God’s authority or acknowledge His word as the ultimate standard for truth. The prophet Isaiah lamented how the ungodly take evil for good and good for evil, darkness for light and light for darkness, bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter (Isaiah 5:20). Ungodly thinking calls biblical truth into question, twists Scripture to condone immorality, and promotes unbiblical worldviews. It exchanges the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1:25).
Secular humanism embodies much ungodly counsel today. While humanism promotes noble ideals like dignity and equality, it ultimately rejects God’s revelation and seeks to make man the measure of all things. Humanism exalts human reasoning and science over biblical authority. This leads to ethical relativism where right and wrong depend on people’s opinions rather than on God’s unchanging moral law. Humanism also promotes a naturalistic worldview that denies the supernatural and miracles. Its counsel rejects biblical truths concerning God, creation, humanity, and salvation.
Ungodly Counsel Leads to Sinful Living
The counsel of the ungodly encourages attitudes and actions condemned in Scripture. Isaiah 5:20 shows how ungodly thinking confuses good and evil. Calling what God deems abominable “good” leads to sinful living. For example, the counsel of the ungodly may condone greed, pride, sexual immorality, and idolatry. It justifies sin by denying moral absolutes revealed in God’s word.
By rejecting biblical definitions of right and wrong, the counsel of the ungodly promotes sin under the guise of tolerance and progress. Those who give ungodly counsel label biblical morality as backwards, oppressive, and intolerant. They pressure Christians to accept LGBTQ+ ideology, affirm alternative lifestyles, and celebrate all forms of self-expression. Standing for biblical truth brands one as uncompassionate. The counsel of the ungodly portrays godliness itself as evil.
Ungodly Counsel Denies God’s Judgment
Since it rejects God’s revelation, the counsel of the ungodly also denies any coming judgment for sin. It presents a distorted view of God as either non-existent or indifferent to human evil. This makes sin seem inconsequential. The ungodly assure people that a loving God would never judge anyone. They deny coming wrath against all godlessness (Romans 1:18). This counsel presents a false hope founded upon a sentimental view of God’s love divorced from His holiness.
But Scripture warns that all mankind will stand condemned before God apart from Christ (Romans 3:19-20). The ungodly must give an account on judgment day no matter how persuasively they denied it (2 Peter 2:9). Sadly, the counsel of the ungodly dismisses God’s judgment as irrelevant to modern life. This prevents people from recognizing their need for salvation leading to eternal destruction.
Marks of Ungodly Counsel
While ungodly counsel masquerades as wisdom, several distinguishing marks expose its deceptive nature.
1. Contradicts God’s Word – Any counsel contradictory to biblical teaching qualifies as ungodly (1 John 4:1). Such ideas may be promoted in the name of science, social justice, or personal fulfillment but ring hollow next to the eternal truth of Scripture.
2. Minimizes Sin – By denying moral absolutes, ungodly counsel minimizes sin as mere mistakes, lifestyle choices, or developmental processes. It portrays accountability to God’s law as unnecessary for enlightened people.
3. Appeals to Human Pride – The ungodly appeal to human pride and supposed autonomy from God by asserting that people can determine truth and morality for themselves. But this only leads to futile thinking and darkened hearts (Romans 1:21).
4. Distorts God’s Character – Counsel of the ungodly promotes false concepts of God as harsh, distant, and uncaring. Or it pictures God as so loving that He makes no demands for holiness.
5. Promotes Worldly Living – Scripture contrasts friendship with the world and friendship with God (James 4:4). The counsel of the ungodly promotes worldliness by catering to fleshly desires and greed.
Avoiding Ungodly Counsel
Scripture calls Christians not to think or act like the ungodly (1 Peter 4:2-3). Here are vital steps to avoid conformity to ungodly counsel:
1. Embrace God’s Word – Regular Bible reading, study, and memorization renews our minds and exposes the errors of ungodly thinking (Psalm 119:9-11). God’s word is the sword of the Spirit to counter lies (Ephesians 6:17).
2. Walk with Godly People – Wise and godly friends provide sound biblical counsel and keep us accountable (Proverbs 13:20). Their good example rubs off on us.
3. Pray for Discernment – Ask God for wisdom to distinguish truth from ungodly counsel (James 1:5). Stay sensitive to the Spirit’s leading through prayer.
4. Renew Your Mind – Reject ungodly ideas flooding media and entertainment. Fill your mind daily with God’s truth (Romans 12:2).
5. Consider the Source – Recognize that ungodly counsel flows from those alienated from God. Weight it accordingly.
6. Stand on Conviction – Having established biblical truth and righteousness, stand firm in the face of ungodly pressure. Don’t compromise godly convictions.
Blessings of Rejecting Ungodly Counsel
The counsel of the ungodly always brings a curse in the end. But God blesses those who reject its influence and embrace His truth. Benefits include:
– Discernment – You gain wisdom and discernment to make right choices.
– Pure Heart – Your heart and mind remain undefiled by sinful influence.
– God’s Favor – You enjoy God’s loving favor instead of His opposition.
– Stability – Anchored in God’s truth, you won’t be tossed about by deceitful philosophies.
– Good Fruit – Your life bears spiritual fruit like righteousness, purity, and joy.
– Eternal Reward – At Christ’s return, you will receive the crown of life reserved for the faithful.
The counsel of the ungodly seeks to draw believers away from God’s truth and blessings. But Scripture equips us to stand firm, reject ungodly thinking, and live in the light of God’s truth. Walking in step with the Spirit destroys strongholds raised against the knowledge of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Clinging to heavenly wisdom protects us from conformity to the ungodly counsel of this fallen world.