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OUR CLASH WITH CULTURE (1)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Culture is defined as the total range of activities ideas of a group of people with shared traditions.  These activities and ideas are transmitted and reinforced by the group.

1.      The Native American culture

2.      The Chinese culture

3.      The African culture

4.      The Mexican culture

 

B.      The United States also has a culture.

1.      This culture has fluctuated a great deal during the course of our history.

2.      Our culture has a tendency to change for many reasons:

a.      The underlying concept of freedom

b.      The extreme mix of the population

c.       The great host of ideas that is found in society

d.      The constant change of leadership

 

C.     Sadly, all cultures are permeated by one common factor, the evil one.

1.      The Bible calls Satan the god of this world (II Cor. 4:4).

2.      Paul also calls him the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2).

3.      His impact has brought all cultures into the realm of darkness.

 

D.    Christians have come out of that evil culture (I Pet. 2:9).

 

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God:  which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

 

E.      The church and culture are at odds with one another.  One of our purposes is to combat the culture in which we find ourselves. 

1.      The title of our lesson is:  “Our Clash with Culture.”

2.      Since we live in the United States, the primary application will be made here, but the lesson could be applied in almost every culture throughout the world.

 

I.                   EVOLUTION VS CREATION

 

A.    The clash with culture begins with origins.

1.      Culture promotes the concept of evolution.

2.      Christianity promotes the idea of God.

 

B.      Culture laughs at our teaching.

1.      An eternal God created all things.

2.      God created all things in six, literal, 24-hour days.

3.      God created all things by merely speaking them into existence.

4.      Man was created out of the dust of the earth.

5.      God created woman out of the rib of man.

6.      The earth is only about 6,000 years old.

 

C.     We are not here to prove these concepts.  We just want to point out where the battle rages.  We must hold to the concept of creation.

1.      Genesis 1:1

 

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

 

2.      Exodus 20:11

 

For in six days the Lord made the heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day:  wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

 

3.      Psalm 33:6

 

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

 

II.                THE WISDOM OF GOD VS THE WISDOM OF MAN

 

A.    There must be some form of authority upon the earth.

1.      Those who believe there is a God believe that God rules in the kingdoms of men.  He has given His Word to govern and guide all of mankind.

2.      Those who reject God believe that man is the sole standard of authority.  In the words of the Humanist Manifesto II:  “…humans are responsible for what we are or will become. No deity will save us; we must save ourselves.”

 

B.      Again, culture stands in bold opposition to us.

1.      The Bible is not inspired.

2.      The Bible is nothing more than a book from men.

3.      The Bible is filled with myths, errors, and contradiction.

4.      The Bible is not relevant to our society.

 

C.     We will continue to stand for the idea that the Bible is the living Word of God.

1.      II Timothy 3:16

 

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…

 

2.      II Peter 1:19

 

We have a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light shining in a dark place…

 

3.      Psalm 19:7-9

 

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;  the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.  The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:  the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.  The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever:  the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

 

III.             SECULARISM VS CHRISTIANITY

 

A.    Culture does not want anything to do with God.

 

B.      Culture has to live with the fact that Christianity is here.  What they seek to do is to minimize the impact that Christianity has within culture.

 

C.     They seek to take God out of as many things as possible.

1.      Take God out of our schools.

2.      Take God out of government.

 

D.    If they cannot remove God, they seek to infiltrate and ruin His institutions.

1.      Marriage:

a.      Divorce and remarriage

b.      Same sex marriage

c.       Live together arrangements

2.      Churches:

a.      Accept secular teachings:  the Bible is not inspired, what was sin in the past is no longer sin (ex., homosexuality)

b.      Turn their practice away from God and on self

1.      Fleshly worship

2.      Prosperity gospel

3.      Liberation theology

 

E.      God has created this world and should be involved in everything in it.  He wants to permeate every area of life with His righteousness.

1.      God legislates about the home (Eph. 5:22-6:4)

2.      Paul stood before kings and rulers (Acts 24:25).

3.      Peter and John defied the commands of ruling powers (Acts 5:29).

4.      The Bible teaches that righteousness exalts a nation (Prov. 14:34).

5.      God condemns the commandments of men in religion (Matt. 15:7-9).

6.      God exhorts us to have authority for all we do in religion (Col. 3:17).

7.      The mission of the church is to reach every creature in the entirety of the world with the gospel (Mark 16:15).

 

IV.             POWER VS SERVANTHOOD

 

A.    One of the prevailing desires of mankind it to be in power over others.  Christianity, on the other hand, is not concerned about power, but upon servanthood.

 

B.      The drive for power is seen in all kinds of places.

1.      Government

2.      Schools

3.      Home Owner Associations

4.      Media

5.      War in the streets of our big cities

6.      Churches/Religions

7.      Battles between sub-cultures

 

C.     Jesus teaches us that servanthood should be the approach that we take with people.

1.      Matthew 20:25-28

 

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.  But it shall not be so among you:  but whosever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:  even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

 

 

2.      John 13:14-17

 

If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have given you an example, that ye should be as I have done unto you.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent great than he that sent him.  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

 

3.      I Peter 5:3

 

Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Christianity and culture will always clash because Satan has his filthy hands in culture.

 

B.      As we go forth to battle the culture of our society, we will experience hate, rejection, persecution, and possibly death.

 

C.     Why did Jerusalem and Judea oppose Christianity?  It opposed their culture.

Why did Rome persecute Christians?  It opposed their culture.

Why do atheistic dictatorships oppose Christianity?  It opposes their culture.

Why do Muslim-ruled nations oppose Christianity?  It opposes their culture.

 

D.    “Go your ways:  behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves” (Luke 10:3).

1.      We must go forth with faith.

2.      We must go forth with conviction.

3.      We must go forth with courage.

4.      We must go forth with zeal.

5.      We must go forth with the sword of the Spirit.

6.      We must go forth with hope.

 

E.      I Timothy 6:12a

 

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life…