Sermon Tone Analysis

*DECEPTION  OR  DOCTRINE*     

*                                                                        *(/1-20-04) /

I.  Introduction:                  

1.

What we believe matters, and the accuracy of the information that we receive depends on the source of that information.

Most people formulate their beliefs on popular notions that seem plausible on the surface but are often flawed underneath.

2.      There was a time when the majority of people believed the popular notion that the world was flat and that “bleeding” a person would cure his illness.

3.      Most of the information people receive today is from media sources and has been run through the filter of liberal spin artists.

The words used are carefully chosen in order to influence listeners and readers to adopt their liberal agenda.

4.

The only source of information that is always completely accurate and that never changes, of course, is God Himself.

Not only is His Word accurate and immutable, it is also alive, powerful, and is superior to all other information.

God’s Word changes us, we don’t change it!

5.      Most people have flawed thinking because they depend on sources other than God for their instruction.

a.

Almost from the beginning of time, man developed belief systems apart from God.

b.      Stars were given specific names by God and grouped together in constellations.

Later elaborate stories were developed identifying stars with mythological characters who were   

      worshiped as gods.

c.      Pagans then and people today base their lives on myths.

Definition:  Myth – *(a)* A traditional story of an ostensibly historical event that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon;  *(b)*  A person or thing having only an imaginary or unverifiable existence; *(c)*  An ill-founded belief held uncritically by a group.

d.

The Greeks and Romans were famous for their pantheon of gods, created from fabricated stories and fables which were usually connected with various constellations.

e.

The modern-day practice of this is called astrology.

Many people believe that the stars influence earthly affairs and that the zodiac influences their personal lives.

f.

Some consider old wives’ tales to be mild versions of belief systems such as astrology.

Most people follow wives tales without ever thinking about them.

For instance:

Ø      /All wishes on shooting stars come true.

/

Ø      /It's good luck to find a four-leaf clover.

/

Ø      /If you blow out all the candles on your birthday cake with the first puff you’ll get your wish./

Ø      /A rabbit's foot will bring luck and protect the owner from evil.

/

Ø      /Cross your fingers for good luck./

Ø      /Knock on wood to maintain a favorable status quo./

g.

All of these varied belief systems worship and trust something or someone other than God.

2

6.

The Bible has something to say to believers about this:

*/1 Tim.

1:3-4/**/ -  As I urged  /*[Parakaleo*/ - /*parakaleo] */you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command /*[PARANGELLO] */certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths /*[MUTHOS - muqos] */and endless genealogies.

These promote controversies rather than God's work-- which is by /*[the object of] */faith /*[doctrine]*/ ./*

*/ /*

*/1 Tim.

4:7/**/ -  Have nothing to do with profane /*[BEBELOS - bebhlos] */myths and old wives' tales/* [GRAODES - grawdes]*/; rather, train yourself /*[/pres.

act.

Imp.

/GUMNAZO – gumnazw] */to be godly./*

*/ /*

*/     2 Tim.

4:3-4  -  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound /*

*/     doctrine.

Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great /*

*/     number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

4  They will turn /*

*/     their ears away from the truth /*[sound doctrine]*/ and turn aside to myths./*

*/ /*

*/     Titus 1:14 - . . .

and pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of /*

*/    men /*[human viewpoint]*/ who reject the truth /*[doctrine]*/./*

*/ /*

7.      Below are a few popular modern-day notions that the majority of people embrace that are

actually based on myths:

             a)    The Jews are occupying the homeland of the Palestinians.

b)        The Civil War was fought over the issue of slavery.

c)         Any view contrary to evolution is not scientific or accurate.

d)         Homosexuality is a bona fide, alternative lifestyle.

e)        The United Nations is an international organization committed to world peace.

f)          The Democratic or Republican party will give us smaller gov.

and solve our problems.

g)         There is a real possibility for peace between the Jews and the Arabs.

h)         Our country was founded on the principle of separation of church and state.

8.       The consequences of living a life based on such lies can be devastating, but the worst lie of all

       is that we must work our way to heaven.

9.

We will look closer at a few of these myths and dispel them with both secular and biblical facts.

This can be a bumpy road to go down because most people are comfortable with what they 

*/            /*         believe and do not want anyone rocking the boat.

However, the important thing to remember is   

*/            /*         what our Lord said,  */John 8:32 -  “you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free."/*

 

 

 

 

                                                                                 3

II.

EXPOSING MYTHS ABOUT SLAVERY - 139 years after the South’s War for Independence, Americans still struggle with racial issues, and tensions still exist because ignorance yet prevails about the issue of slavery.

/“No subject [slavery] has been more generally misunder-/

/stood or more persistently misrepresented”  -   //Jefferson Davis/

            A.

A litany of contemporary ills:

            1.

Segregation, integration, forced bussing, civil rights movement, race riots of the 60’s,  

                 the Rodney King incident, and the O.J. Simpson trial.

2.

Government housing projects, affirmative action, NAACP, the Black Caucus, and reparations.

3.  H.R. 891 is a bill before congress right now that would establish a commission to study the

                 issue of reparations.

4.

In 1995, the Southern Baptist Convention passed the infamous Racial Reconciliation  

                 Resolution which desecrated the good name and honor of deceased  Southern Christians

                 for their supposed “sins” of slavery and racism.

5.      The popular trend today is to lay the ills of black people on “the legacy of slavery.”

These ills include  a) the fact that there are more black males in prison than in college,  b)  68% – 80% of black babies are born out of wedlock  c) the leading cause of death among black males is murder by other black males.

6.

Because ignorance concerning slavery still abides, a distorted view of the South has developed which demands that everything Southern, flags, heroes, monuments, plantations, and holidays, are subject to condemnation.

7.      No longer are Southern armies characterized as fighting to defend home and family from an invader.

Now they are depicted as fighting to promote slavery.

8.      The incessant drum beat proclaiming that slavery was a vicious evil and a damnable sin has caused many if not most blacks to acquire a sense of entitlement, thinking of themselves as victims deserving special treatment.

9.      If anyone dare question the radical abolitionists’ politically correct view that slavery is an evil and a vicious sin, he would immediately be branded as a racist bigot and receive the wrath of the media, academia, and churches throughout America.

.

10.   Americans have received such a steady diet of fiction concerning slavery that these lies are  now considered truth.

“Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and “Roots” are fiction.

What we need are facts if we are to be on the right side of this issue.

B.     Facts:

1.      Enslaving innocent people against their will is a result of the fall of man and has existed in the world since that time.

a)       “/The idea of slavery was so deeply ingrained in man that no one questioned its /

       /propriety.