THE ROOTS OF CHANGE
THE CHANGE MOVEMENT • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 12 viewsNotes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
Churches of Christ are experiencing shock and heartache all over American as they are being torn asunder by those who wish to restructure the church
Churches of Christ are experiencing shock and heartache all over American as they are being torn asunder by those who wish to restructure the church
The church is under siege from within
Many, if not most, of our Christian colleges are promoting this restructuring
Many of our liberal brethren insist that change is absolutely necessary if the church is to remain “relevant” to society & “appealing” to human culture
Many of our liberal brethren insist that change is absolutely necessary if the church is to remain “relevant” to society & “appealing” to human culture
3 Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.
We must speak out against the change movement
Why must we speak out?
To alert the sleeping giant of our brotherhood and warn them of the Trojan Horse in our midst
To provide assistance and encouragement to those racked by the destructive efforts of illicit change
The reaffirm the simple truth of God’s will to all who will listen
The movement to accommodate culture in religion is in direct conflict with the simplicity of the Gospel
The movement to accommodate culture in religion is in direct conflict with the simplicity of the Gospel
7 Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations: Ask thy father, and he will show thee; Thine elders, and they will tell thee.
16 Thus saith Jehovah, Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls: but they said, We will not walk therein.
13 Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. 14 For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.
The “narrow” or “straight” gate = rigid, confining, difficult to negotiate
DISCUSSION
CULTURAL CURRENTS
CULTURAL CURRENTS
American civilization had managed to survive the devastating and catastrophic effects of economic depression and world war
American civilization had managed to survive the devastating and catastrophic effects of economic depression and world war
The postwar era brought optimism and technological and material prosperity
Into this generation came the generation of the 50s and the 60s - the “baby boomers”
Their parents were anxious to give their kids what they didn’t have in the 30s and 40s
They didn’t learn sacrifice - provided a pleasant existence
Religious interest were integrated into this comfortable lifestyle
Something happened in the 60s
Something happened in the 60s
The uncontrolled nature of rock and roll, motorcycle gangs, hippies, and drugs began to appear
Vietnam … generation gap … do your own thing
The children of the Baby Boomers are now parents, and are the movers and shakers of today
Now the Baby Boomers are trying to restructure the church like they tried to restructure society in the 60s
The are trying to redefine terms in order to accommodate the change they desire
Factors underlying the present push for change:
Factors underlying the present push for change:
Materialism
Material prosperity contains within a subtle deceptive barb - the tendency to forget God
7 For Jehovah thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; 8 a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates; a land of olive-trees and honey; 9 a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig copper. 10 And thou shalt eat and be full, and thou shalt bless Jehovah thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. 11 Beware lest thou forget Jehovah thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his ordinances, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: 12 lest, when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 13 and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; 14 then thy heart be lifted up, and thou forget Jehovah thy God, who brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage;
Agnosticism
Can’t now truth...right and wrong have been blurred…values are now viewed subjective
31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; 32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Aversion to being judgmental
Moral absolutes have been removed
24 Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Lack of discipline
Laxness...poor work ethic
Loose approach to most things
Craving for entertainment
“Fun and games” dominate
Fleshly stimulation is craved
THEOLOGICAL CURRENTS
THEOLOGICAL CURRENTS
In every period of church history there has always been one major doctrine that has preoccupied center stage
In every period of church history there has always been one major doctrine that has preoccupied center stage
In our day the issue is the authority of the Bible
In our day the issue is the authority of the Bible
In reality this is the root of all religious problems
Can we understand the Bible? Is It really inspired?
Some say, Parts are inspired and others are not ...myths
Book, chapter and verse preaching is being ridiculed
Those who clamor for change are those who have rejected Bible authority. Notice the Bible’s warnings:
Those who clamor for change are those who have rejected Bible authority. Notice the Bible’s warnings:
15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
29 I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
1 But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
14 that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;
POLITICAL CURRENTS
POLITICAL CURRENTS
Politics reflect the same cultural influences operative in society at large
Politics reflect the same cultural influences operative in society at large
The political arena has been heavily weighted toward political liberalism for many years
Now call Political Correctness
The political liberal and the religious liberal share a common attitude
The political liberal and the religious liberal share a common attitude
The manifest a smug superiority over those who do not accept their view
Their interaction with conservatives is characterized by a condescending air of “you are ignorant, narrow-minded and incapable of grasping my superior views”
Parallel political and religious viewpoints
Parallel political and religious viewpoints
ERA - Women’s role in the church
Can’t legislate morality - divorce for any cause
Conservatives are intolerant, harsh, cold, and uncaring
Situation Ethics
American welfare system/free handouts - please me and my need first
Objective truth is questioned and/or undermined
These parallels are too striking to be coincidental or unrelated
These parallels are too striking to be coincidental or unrelated
SCIENTIFIC CURRENTS
SCIENTIFIC CURRENTS
Another taproot that is sparking fires of change in the church is modern scientific thought
Another taproot that is sparking fires of change in the church is modern scientific thought
Humanism has taken a dreadful toll on out society
It’s atheistic tentacles have invaded virtually every facet of social life
The Theory of Evolution
The Theory of Evolution
This is the prominent manifestation of humanistic influence in the church
Some of our Christians schools have been seduced by pseudo-scientific proof that the world is old - 5 billion years
They are now teaching theistic evolution
They reject the day of Genesis 1 as being literal
They call the creation account a myth
Theistic Evolution is false:
If Genesis 1 is not to be take literal none of the other Bible writers knew about it
3 By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear.
11 for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Genesis 1 defines the meaning of day
Plant life was created on the third day - the sun was not created until the fourth day
There are many proofs that evolution is false
What are the implications of belief in Theistic Evolution?
What are the implications of belief in Theistic Evolution?
Many conclude that if Genesis 1 can be interpreted loosely, why not the rest of the Bible
It is believing a lie - it is believing that which at its core is atheistic
It is to be in league with humanistic philosophy
CONCLUSION
These are the roots behind those who are trying to restructure the church - those trying to change the Lord’s blood bought church
These are the roots behind those who are trying to restructure the church - those trying to change the Lord’s blood bought church
In our next lesson we will discuss the fuel of change
In our next lesson we will discuss the fuel of change
16 Thus saith Jehovah, Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls: but they said, We will not walk therein.