Ancient Faith Pt. 3 The things happening in the World

1 John 2:15–17 CSB

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.

This will be a primary focus for tonights passage.

There is an emphasis on being set apart.

Romans 12:2 CSB

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 CSB

Do not be yoked together with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, as God said: I will dwell and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you. And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty. So then, dear friends, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

What is Culture? Why Does it Matter?

Culture (/ˈkʌltʃər/) is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups. Culture is often originated from or attributed to a specific region or location.

Culture is what we live within every day of our lives.

Culture changes over time.

We change culture, and culture changes us. (VERY IMPORTANT)

The clearest examples of shifts in culture are evident in going from one country to another.

Another Language

New Food

New Social Ideas

When we went to Ireland there were all sorts of things we had to learn about that were different.

Cant put up a peace sign.

Culture and the Church

How the Church interacts with Culture matters.

“Cultural Christianity” is a real thing.

There are people who will attend church and fall into living a “Christian” life simply because it is what everyone is doing.

If a crowd forms around nothing, eventually other people are going to come and look as well.

As the culture changes, the church having experienced “cultural Christianity” has two choices.

Change with the culture.

Change the culture.

The Answer: A Combination of the Two

Change with the culture as to speak the language of the people.

Change the culture by infusing it with the Gospel.

Vehicles where the engine is the same but the purpose is different.

You can find a V6 in cars, trucks, vans. The platform is the same, but the situation is different.

The problem is when this doesn’t happen.

Perhaps the church changes with culture. Not in “culture” but in values. This is disastrous.

changes in “culture” and values. Disastrous.

Failure to change culture. Disastrous.

Too many christians are being formed by their world, rather than seeking to transform it.

There should be a higher calling for Christians, rather than an easier one.

Modernity vs. Post Modernity

Some of the problems that we face is how the large scale thinking across cultures has changed. Worldview and culture go hand in hand.

Medieval

Marked by the reign of empires and the collective rather than the individual. Authority and wealth were highly concentrated and the common man was more dependent upon the collective. Faith and Government were intertwined.

Modernity

The modern era was marked by Enlightenment philosophy, which focused on the individual and placed a high value on rational decision making. This period saw the wide expansion of capitalism, colonialism, democracy, and science-based rationalism. The Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, the American and French Revolutions, and World War I are all significant events that took place during the modern era. One of the most significant, however, was the Industrial Revolution; its emphasis on routinization and efficiency helped society restructure itself along those terms as well.

Post Modernity

Postmodernity differed from modernity in its questioning of reason, rejection of grand narratives, and emphasis on subcultures. Rather than searching for one ultimate truth that could explain all of history, the postmodernists focused on contingency, context, and diversity.

A Biblical Worldview & Culture

Each of these thought processes has problems, and we are each shaped by them.

Shifts in culture don’t happen all at once. We are all primarily influenced by Modernism. Objective reality. What is true? Focus on self.

We are also influenced by postmodernism, even if it is by its residual tides.

You may not be on board the boat creating the wake, but you will be rocked by it.

Most clearly seen in the way that we are still engaged with a world that has changed dramatically.

So what do we do about all of this?

Confronting Culture & Social Issues

Confronting Changes in Culture.

What do you do when the whole world seems to hate you (because of your faith)

Correct perspective on this, obviously we don’t have it bad.

They do, however, definitely hate your faith.

Movies infusing ideologies that are contrary to Scripture.

We must be consistent here. The “new” insertions are not the only problem here. We must be consistent with being offended by all sin, and not just the ones that we don’t like.

Superpets.

Gay characters, implication of premarital relations, Cussing turtle, etc.

Thor.

Gay characters, implication of premarital relations,

These movies reflect the culture that we live in. Why would we expect any differently?

Our main objective is to change the hearts of people and so change the culture.

There is a reason why culture went from brothels everywhere in Rome to a culture that did not permit the showing of a woman’s ankles. The changing of the people within it.

Companies proclaiming problematic ideologies that have nothing to do with their brand.

Degradation of truth to the point that people deny reality.

We live in a Highly Religious Culture.

It may not be faith based. But people are zealous about their beliefs.

If you do not conform, they ostracize you.

The changing of Definitions & Weaponization of Ideas.

“What is a woman?”

Marriage

“Tolerance”

Pronouns.

Racism

Equality

Science

Engaging a Lost World

How do we interact with people who hate what we stand for?

In truth

In love

John 8:3–11 CSB

Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. “Teacher,” they said to him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him. Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”]

What was he writing?

Three identifiable characters

Jesus

God in the flesh.

The woman caught in Adultery

A sinner lost in her sin.

The Pharisees

Sought to uphold their standards upon others, though they did not uphold them themselves.

The Pharisees saw the woman as a pawn to be used against Jesus.

They were no doubt disgusted by her actions, but their main objective was to make Jesus a villain.

Their preoccupation with her sin blinded them to their own sin.

The woman was wrong. Caught in her sin. Guitly.

Jesus saw her as she was, and gave her mercy.

He loved her.

He gave her grace. Forgiveness she didn’t deserve.

He called her to walk in new life.

Quote from Article

Peace that welcomes in the far-off sinner is more unsettling than confirming the hate that already exists in the hearts of sinful man. Being for sinners entering the Kingdom leaves a greater impression than being against their sin.

The Bible tells us that “God’s kindness is meant to lead us to repentance” (Romans 2:4) and that we are to “overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21) These ideas strung together imply that Christians—if they are to influence a non-believing world for Jesus—should model the kindness and goodness of God if they want to see others repent and worship him.

After all, many of them may end up entering the Kingdom before us because in it the last will be first, and the first last. (Matthew 20:16)

With all of these ideas how do we respond?

LGBTQ

Race

Abortion

Immigration

In Self-Reflection

Matthew 7:3–5 CSB

Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a beam of wood in your own eye? Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.

We must be consistent!

We seek to change culture through what we do. Not with an iron fist.

Our goal is not the morals of the 1900s, it is the salvation of the lost.

Consume what is Holy.

Seriously consider what you spend your time doing and enjoying.

Consider where and how you spend your money.

In love

We must look past their sin to see a person that Christ died for.

We must keep the Gospel at the forefront of our interactions.

In truth

We cannot compromise truth in dealing with people.

In the end, seek to love God and Love people. You will make mistakes. Make them seeking to proclaim the Gospel and love people in Jesus name.

END TONGHT

The Bible is Politically Neutral

It is not neutral on issues that become political.

The Bible’s perspective on issues will not always align neatly with party lines even on multiple issues.

Christianity can and has existed within a multiplicity of Governments.

Christians can operate within these confines as well.

We must separate the issue, from those who advocate for or against it.