Avoiding the sins of society

In Exodus 34:12 (NLT), God says to the Israelites,

Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped.

Note that God does not say, "Avoid the land." Rather, he warns the people about conforming to the ways of the land. Some other English Bibles translate the word "treaty" as "covenant." Whatever the word, it implies a formal acceptance of the activities of society.

These instructions apply to us, too. We cannot avoid society, but we must take care not to participate in activities that, while acceptable to society, are sinful in they eyes of God.

Now, that doesn't mean we should become social troublemakers. Peter says (1 Peter 2:13-14, NLT),

For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed.

The important point, which must guide all our prayers, is that we should seek God's approval, not society's.