Former First Lady Nancy Reagan became alarmed by the abuse of drugs among young people during a campaign visit to Daytop Village, New York, in 1980. Later, when a group of students asked her how they could remain drug-free, she replied, "Just say No!" Critics disdained her "Just Say No" campaign as being too simplistic, and perhaps in some ways it is. Nevertheless, the Bible often tells us to resist temptation and sin by just saying No!
Proverbs 4:14-15 says, "Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it."Romans 16:17 tells us to avoid those who cause division in the church. The apostle Paul told young Timothy to avoid profane and idle babbling (1 Timothy 6:20) and to avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing they generate strife (2 Timothy 2:23).
While abstinence is primarily used in reference to sexual immorality, it's not the only situation in which the Bible teaches this concept. We're to avoid all appearance of evil, and there are many times in life - sometimes many times during any one day - in which the Lord's servants must just say No!
