BRAINWASHED | WEEK 2 | The Big 10

Hi Vertical! We are on week 2 of brainwashed. One thing I want you to consider is the truth that you are about to get preached on by me. I am about to tell you things for the next 30 min with the goal to influence your thinking and to impact the way you live. Cool right?

“She doesn’t like to be preached at”

Well, I want you to consider that every day, external influences are constantly "preaching" to us. It's crucial to actively listen, discern, and filter what we see, hear, and think to avoid confusion about what is true..

You have heard us say this, Jake even mentioned it last week. We live in a culture that “preaches” that truth is relative. That while you may believe something, there are not absolutes. We are currently being brainwash to believe that truth is whatever you make it to be but no.

Truth is that which conforms with fact of reality.

Now, there are opinions but they are also facts. We need to learn to differenciate when something is an opinion versus when something is a fact.

Water freezes at 0 degrees C/ 0 degree C is too cold.

One of the biggest disservices you can do for yourselves is become a nominal christian.

Nominal Christians are individuals who claim to be Christians in surveys or discussions but do not have a connection with a Christian community or a deep understanding of their core beliefs.

Basically nothing more than an attender of church or someone with undefined core values/beliefs.

Here are 2 verses that I want to share with you that will hinge this sermon

Philippians 1:9–10 “9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.”

Paul telling us about the importance in growing in knowledge to understand what is right and wrong according to the Word of God.

Last week, Jake talked about how the grey matters. Let’s review the tactis the world uses to brainwash us:

Brainwashing Tactic #1: Follow your heart

Brainwashing Tactic #2: Follow sin to find the most pleasure

Brainwashing Tactic #3:Truth is relative

Brainwashing Tactic #4: “It’s not that bad/I am not as bad as…”

My hope today is to reinforce what He said last week and also bring up a few myths some of us may believe. Here is my main point:

Main Point: In order to learn the truth, we must understand the myths we have come to believe.

Myth: a widely held but false belief or idea.

Our current culture is filled with many myths. Things people think are truth but they are demostrably false. Here are some funny myths people believe:

Chewing gum stays in your stomach for five to seven years False. Most chewing gum is not digestible, meaning that it will travel through your system in a matter of two to four days.

Wait an hour after eating before you go swimming to prevent cramping False. A normal-sized meal consumed before swimming will not cause cramping.

We only use 10% of our brain False. This is a motivational speaker’s ploy (that can be traced back to the early 1900s) to encourage people to live up to their full potential. Studies of brain activity have provided no evidence that only 10% of the brain is used.

Sitting too close to the TV will make you go blind False. Televisions and other devices emit such low radiation levels that they have little effect on the body. However, staring at the same thing for a long period of time can cause the eye muscles to fatigue, thereby affecting vision. But there has been no proof this causes long-term damage.

Shaved hair grows back thicker and darker False. Although your mom may have told you this as a young girl so you wouldn’t be so eager to start shaving your legs, it’s not true. Because the hair is newer, it may have not yet been bleached by the sun, and so it appears darker and thicker.

If you go outside with wet hair on a cold day, you’ll catch a cold False. Colds are caused by viruses, which you can’t get just from being outside in the cold. You may feel sick if you’re outside all day in the cold or rain — runny nose, chills, fatigue — but it’s not because of a virus. It’s because you can experience the same symptoms when you are chilled as when you are sick.

Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis False. A 30-year study showed this is not the case. However, knuckle cracking can lessen one’s grip strength because of repeated overstretching of the tendons.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day False. Breakfast is actually one of the three most important meals of the day. Our bodies need good nutrition throughout the day, but breakfast is usually the one most often skipped, and it shouldn’t be.

While this myths may not be all that important, I go back to Philippians 1:9–10 “9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.” My prayer is that you do grow in knowledge and understanding about the spiritual myths that you may believe today.

Here are some myths when it comes to our spiritual lives:

Myth: Make time for yourself.

Imagine you have a job that you go to 5 days a weeks. At this job, you have 6-7 different bosses that you have to report to. None of these bosses communicate with each other, so your tasks have to be managed by you. Even when you’re done with work, you still have things you need to do. On the weekends, you have work related business to take care of.

You don’t ever really get a day off. Welcome to middle/high school! You guys have the most packed schedules I’ve ever seen! Especially if you are in sports. You are constantly at practice or games. When you have free time, you go and hang out with your friends. Those rare moments when you have nothing to do, you’re on facebook or playing MW3. When you’re not doing any of that stuff you’re sleeping. You live exhausting lives!

The world says that’s good! But when do you spend time with God? You make school, sports, friends, games, facebook, sleep, etc, a priority, but God gets shifted to the bottom of your to do list.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m really happy you’re here, but spending quality, one-on-one time with God should be at the top of your list.

You need to put God first by giving him your time. Slow down. Stop texting. Take one day this week and don’t do anything but spend it with God. That might mean staying home and praying and reading your Bible. Or maybe you can spend time with God by volunteering on a serve project. Spend time with God by doing something with your family. Just stop with the distractions of facebook, texting, friends, homework, etc. Just make time for God.

Biblical Truth: Make time for God.

Myth: Every Religion is right!

This is a huge one! The world tells us that truth is subjective. That means, if it works for you, then it’s your truth.

When it comes to religion, that’s basically saying that there are multiple Gods.

The three main view today are: Theism, Atheism, Pantheism. The last two can be proven irrational with logic and arguments. The first one is the one that corresponds to reality.

1 Corinthians 8:5–6 “5 There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords. 6 But for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.”

In the early church time, there were many who would claim poly-theism but the church was clear on the singularity of our God.

Truth: Every Religion can’t be right.

Myth: “If only I had…”

Iphone Picture. Did you know that the version of the iPad/iphone that we have right now is 2-3 versions behind what Apple is capable of releasing today? What they do is figure out how many features they can include/upgrade so that people will freak out and want one, but at the same time, they figure out what features they can hold back for the next release. That way, on average, Apple can release an upgraded product every 12-16 months.

All the sudden when the new iPhone comes out, everyone starts saying, “I NEED SIRI!!!” Now I totally get it! That was me a few years ago. Every time a new Apple product came out, I wanted it. I would see someone with the new iPhone and I’d want to go out and get one. That’s the world we live in. If we didn’t, companies like Apple wouldn’t be so successful.

The world tells us that it’s good to want these things. It’s good to want more! Now, I’m not saying that it wrong to want something. It’s that unhealthy, obsessive desire to want something that someone else has and that you don’t need; that’s what the world tells you is okay. But God says something different. He says: Be content with what you have.

Hebrews 13:5 “5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.””

This doesn’t just apply to gadgets. How about relationships? I NEED a relationship! I’ve been single before; I know what it’s like! Your friends around you are dating and suddenly you NEED to have a bf or gf. The desire is so strong that you loose sight of God’s will for your life.

Truth: Contentment is key.

Myth: Lying keeps you out of trouble.

The average person does this about 455 times a day. Any idea what it is? Lying! In fact, that number was a lie! 82% of all statistics are completely made up. Just like that one!

Proverbs 12:22 “22 The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.”

Truth: Integrity is more important

Philippians 1:9–10 “9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.”

How to grow in knowledge and understanding

Make church & christian community a priority.

Read a theology book.

Mama Bear Apologetics

The case for Christ

I don’t have enought Faith to be an Atheist

Systematic Theology

Subscribe to Christian youtube/Christian Podcast

Make quiet time a priority.

(Show quiet time)