" Why we must know God 2: It’s all relative"
Repairer's Fellowship Bible Church:
Meeting Notes 3.29.09
Why we must know God 2: It’s all relative (or is it)
“Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather, it is telling the difference between right and almost right.” – Charles Spurgeon
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. - Job 38:3
The Inconvenient Truth:
It is not enough for us to look at only at the manifestation/results, it is necessary for us to look at the intention/motivation
Some Examples:
1) Angel of light – 2 Cor 11:13-15
2) Test every spirit – 1 John 4:1-4
3) 1 Peter 1:5b - 11 -
Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Notice verse 8 says 3 things:
1 that you have an enemy,
2 who he is, but most importantly
3 he is not what he seems…
So much of our culture is built on appearances, not realities, but appearances. On Image
Define Image again:
· persona: (Jungian psychology) a personal facade that one presents to the world; "a public image is as fragile as Humpty Dumpty"
· picture: a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction)
· the general impression that something (a person or organization or product) presents to the public; for the purposes of engendering good will or positive impression
· A mental picture of something not real or present
Image is NOT REALITY!
It is not enough for us to know when or what, we must also know the who and why
Jesus knew their thoughts – Matt 9:2-8
The Holy Spirit tells the Wise Men – Matt 2:1-12
1 Cor 1: 21 - The world with its wisdom was unable to recognize God in terms of his own wisdom. So God decided to use the nonsense of the Good News we speak to save those who believe.
2 Cor 4:3-4 - 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Conviction vs. Opinion
Conviction:
3 a: a strong persuasion or belief b: the state of being convinced to be convinced means: convinced (p): persuaded of; very sure;
1: to overcome by argument b: overpower, overcome
2: demonstrate, prove3: to bring (as by argument) to belief, consent, or a course of action: persuade
Opinion:
1 a: a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter
b: approval, esteem
2 a: belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge
b: a generally held view
3 a: a formal expression of judgment or advice by an expert
b: the formal expression (as by a judge, court, or referee) of the legal reasons and principles upon which a legal decision is based
Is what you believe about God your Opinion, or your Conviction??
Our society and relativism
Relativism: A theory, especially in ethics or aesthetics, that conceptions of truth and moral values are not absolute but are relative to the persons or groups holding them.
Our society is full of people who say that:
All roads lead to God
You cannot discount other religions because they all have some truth
According to a major 2007 Pew Forum survey, 59% in historically black churches hold that “many religions can lead to eternal life.”
Fifty-seven percent of all evangelicals believe this. This belief kills missionary motivation.
Why go to others with the Gospel, if their own religion serves as well?
But The Bible says:
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Relativism breeds Inclusivism, which gives way to religious pluralism, which when it has run its course will lead to Universalism…it is already in through the back door, and is walking up the aisle…
Inclusivism, one of several approaches to understanding the relationship between religions, asserts that while one set of beliefs is absolutely true, other sets of beliefs are at least partially true.
Religious pluralism, which asserts that all beliefs are equally valid within a believer's particular context.
Universalism is a theology that generally holds all persons and creatures are related to God or the divine and will be reconciled to God.
Because we no longer have a standard for truth, so with no truth, there is no honor…
We don’t have a concept of honor in this relativistic society we live in:
Ex 1: The man who threw the shoes at President Bush. To us, it was no big deal. In fact many Americans thought this was quite funny. To an Iraqi however, that was the utmost insult, which is why the man just got sentenced to 3 years in jail, and yet another reason why many in the Muslim world views us with disdain.
Ex 2: A friend of mine in the military was stationed in Iraq. He told me a story much like the story of Achan in the OT. A man was caught and accused of robbing a Taxicab crime. He had not been tried. The local tribal leader came, and spoke to him; he told the tribal leader that he had indeed committed the crime. The leader then prayed with him, walked out of the cell, spoke to the guards, who then took him outside and executed him.
He could have said that he didn’t do it. He could have gotten away, but his sense of honor was more important than life…
Barbaric you say? Let’s look at Achan… Joshua 7
Joshua 22:20 - Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.
Where there is no honor, there can be no trust, and no shame, and where there is no shame…
Ex 3: We were told that the AIG bonuses had to go out because they were contracted in advance. But it was WRONG!
What does that mean? It means that in our society contracts hold more weight than the truth. More weight that ethics and morals.
Ex 4: Our schools teach evolution, and their worldview to our children EVERY DAY. We teach our values to our children once a week for 45 minutes, at best.
This is one of the reasons that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Though they are WRONG, there is structure, and honor….
We are no longer shocked by anything, we are not easily offended, and when we are, it is usually only until the next news piece comes on….
While our churches are spending time and energy redefining sin, the Government is redefining the laws of the land, USING EMOTIONS to distract, in order to take away freedoms
I do not believe that there is supposed to be a separation of church and state and even if there was, there was NEVER supposed to be a separation of GOD and state
Little by little, our country, and our churches are moving away from God
So I ask:
What happens when God lets you go?
Samson… Judges 16:1-20
Rev 3:1-4 - And to the angel of the church in Sardis say: These things says he who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: I have knowledge of your works, that you seem to be living but are dead. Be on the watch, and make strong the rest of the things which are near to death; because as judged by me your works have not come up to God's measure. Keep in mind, then, the teaching which was given to you, and be ruled by it and have a change of heart. If then you do not keep watch, I will come like a thief, and you will have no knowledge of the hour when I will come on you. But you have some names in Sardis who have kept clean their robes; and as a reward they will go in white with me.
1Pe 1:13-25
So make your minds ready, and keep on the watch, hoping with all your power for the grace which is to come to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; Like children ruled by God, do not go back to the old desires of the time when you were without knowledge: But be holy in every detail of your lives, as he, whose servants you are, is holy; Because it has been said in the Writings, You are to be holy, for I am holy. And if you give the name of Father to him who, judging every man by his acts, has no respect for a man's position, then go in fear while you are on this earth: Being conscious that you have been made free from that foolish way of life which was your heritage from your fathers, not through a payment of things like silver or gold which come to destruction,
But through holy blood, like that of a clean and unmarked lamb, even the blood of Christ: Who was marked out by God before the making of the world, but was caused to be seen in these last times for you, Who through him have faith in God who took him up again from the dead into glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God. And as you have made your souls clean, being ruled by what is true, and loving one another without deceit, see that your love is warm and from the heart: Because you have had a new birth, not from the seed of man, but from eternal seed, through the word of a living and unchanging God. For it is said, All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the grass. The grass becomes dry and the flower dead: But the word of the Lord is eternal. And this is the word of the good news which was given to you.
Jer 1:17-19
Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.
God is looking for us to stand strong, and to declare the truth of the Gospel. The truth is that:
Jesus Said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
·That’s not inclusive, it’s the truth!!!
The truth is that Christians are held accountable for their actions, they are forgiven in Christ and their names were written in the “book of life from the creation of the world” (Revelation 17:8).
· That’s not Universalism, That’s Truth
The truth is that: “anyone’s name” that is not “found written in the book of life” will be “thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).
· That’s not relative, That’s truth
It’s not politically correct, it is offensive, but is the truth, and THANK GOD FOR THE TRUTH! AMEN!!!
Meeting Notes 3.29.09
Why we must know God 2: It’s all relative (or is it)
“Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather, it is telling the difference between right and almost right.” – Charles Spurgeon
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. - Job 38:3
The Inconvenient Truth:
It is not enough for us to look at only at the manifestation/results, it is necessary for us to look at the intention/motivation
Some Examples:
1) Angel of light – 2 Cor 11:13-15
2) Test every spirit – 1 John 4:1-4
3) 1 Peter 1:5b - 11 -
Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Notice verse 8 says 3 things:
1 that you have an enemy,
2 who he is, but most importantly
3 he is not what he seems…
So much of our culture is built on appearances, not realities, but appearances. On Image
Define Image again:
· persona: (Jungian psychology) a personal facade that one presents to the world; "a public image is as fragile as Humpty Dumpty"
· picture: a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction)
· the general impression that something (a person or organization or product) presents to the public; for the purposes of engendering good will or positive impression
· A mental picture of something not real or present
Image is NOT REALITY!
It is not enough for us to know when or what, we must also know the who and why
Jesus knew their thoughts – Matt 9:2-8
The Holy Spirit tells the Wise Men – Matt 2:1-12
1 Cor 1: 21 - The world with its wisdom was unable to recognize God in terms of his own wisdom. So God decided to use the nonsense of the Good News we speak to save those who believe.
2 Cor 4:3-4 - 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Conviction vs. Opinion
Conviction:
3 a: a strong persuasion or belief b: the state of being convinced to be convinced means: convinced (p): persuaded of; very sure;
1: to overcome by argument b: overpower, overcome
2: demonstrate, prove3: to bring (as by argument) to belief, consent, or a course of action: persuade
Opinion:
1 a: a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter
b: approval, esteem
2 a: belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge
b: a generally held view
3 a: a formal expression of judgment or advice by an expert
b: the formal expression (as by a judge, court, or referee) of the legal reasons and principles upon which a legal decision is based
Is what you believe about God your Opinion, or your Conviction??
Our society and relativism
Relativism: A theory, especially in ethics or aesthetics, that conceptions of truth and moral values are not absolute but are relative to the persons or groups holding them.
Our society is full of people who say that:
All roads lead to God
You cannot discount other religions because they all have some truth
According to a major 2007 Pew Forum survey, 59% in historically black churches hold that “many religions can lead to eternal life.”
Fifty-seven percent of all evangelicals believe this. This belief kills missionary motivation.
Why go to others with the Gospel, if their own religion serves as well?
But The Bible says:
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Relativism breeds Inclusivism, which gives way to religious pluralism, which when it has run its course will lead to Universalism…it is already in through the back door, and is walking up the aisle…
Inclusivism, one of several approaches to understanding the relationship between religions, asserts that while one set of beliefs is absolutely true, other sets of beliefs are at least partially true.
Religious pluralism, which asserts that all beliefs are equally valid within a believer's particular context.
Universalism is a theology that generally holds all persons and creatures are related to God or the divine and will be reconciled to God.
Because we no longer have a standard for truth, so with no truth, there is no honor…
We don’t have a concept of honor in this relativistic society we live in:
Ex 1: The man who threw the shoes at President Bush. To us, it was no big deal. In fact many Americans thought this was quite funny. To an Iraqi however, that was the utmost insult, which is why the man just got sentenced to 3 years in jail, and yet another reason why many in the Muslim world views us with disdain.
Ex 2: A friend of mine in the military was stationed in Iraq. He told me a story much like the story of Achan in the OT. A man was caught and accused of robbing a Taxicab crime. He had not been tried. The local tribal leader came, and spoke to him; he told the tribal leader that he had indeed committed the crime. The leader then prayed with him, walked out of the cell, spoke to the guards, who then took him outside and executed him.
He could have said that he didn’t do it. He could have gotten away, but his sense of honor was more important than life…
Barbaric you say? Let’s look at Achan… Joshua 7
Joshua 22:20 - Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.
Where there is no honor, there can be no trust, and no shame, and where there is no shame…
Ex 3: We were told that the AIG bonuses had to go out because they were contracted in advance. But it was WRONG!
What does that mean? It means that in our society contracts hold more weight than the truth. More weight that ethics and morals.
Ex 4: Our schools teach evolution, and their worldview to our children EVERY DAY. We teach our values to our children once a week for 45 minutes, at best.
This is one of the reasons that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Though they are WRONG, there is structure, and honor….
We are no longer shocked by anything, we are not easily offended, and when we are, it is usually only until the next news piece comes on….
While our churches are spending time and energy redefining sin, the Government is redefining the laws of the land, USING EMOTIONS to distract, in order to take away freedoms
I do not believe that there is supposed to be a separation of church and state and even if there was, there was NEVER supposed to be a separation of GOD and state
Little by little, our country, and our churches are moving away from God
So I ask:
What happens when God lets you go?
Samson… Judges 16:1-20
Rev 3:1-4 - And to the angel of the church in Sardis say: These things says he who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: I have knowledge of your works, that you seem to be living but are dead. Be on the watch, and make strong the rest of the things which are near to death; because as judged by me your works have not come up to God's measure. Keep in mind, then, the teaching which was given to you, and be ruled by it and have a change of heart. If then you do not keep watch, I will come like a thief, and you will have no knowledge of the hour when I will come on you. But you have some names in Sardis who have kept clean their robes; and as a reward they will go in white with me.
1Pe 1:13-25
So make your minds ready, and keep on the watch, hoping with all your power for the grace which is to come to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; Like children ruled by God, do not go back to the old desires of the time when you were without knowledge: But be holy in every detail of your lives, as he, whose servants you are, is holy; Because it has been said in the Writings, You are to be holy, for I am holy. And if you give the name of Father to him who, judging every man by his acts, has no respect for a man's position, then go in fear while you are on this earth: Being conscious that you have been made free from that foolish way of life which was your heritage from your fathers, not through a payment of things like silver or gold which come to destruction,
But through holy blood, like that of a clean and unmarked lamb, even the blood of Christ: Who was marked out by God before the making of the world, but was caused to be seen in these last times for you, Who through him have faith in God who took him up again from the dead into glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God. And as you have made your souls clean, being ruled by what is true, and loving one another without deceit, see that your love is warm and from the heart: Because you have had a new birth, not from the seed of man, but from eternal seed, through the word of a living and unchanging God. For it is said, All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the grass. The grass becomes dry and the flower dead: But the word of the Lord is eternal. And this is the word of the good news which was given to you.
Jer 1:17-19
Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.
God is looking for us to stand strong, and to declare the truth of the Gospel. The truth is that:
Jesus Said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
·That’s not inclusive, it’s the truth!!!
The truth is that Christians are held accountable for their actions, they are forgiven in Christ and their names were written in the “book of life from the creation of the world” (Revelation 17:8).
· That’s not Universalism, That’s Truth
The truth is that: “anyone’s name” that is not “found written in the book of life” will be “thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).
· That’s not relative, That’s truth
It’s not politically correct, it is offensive, but is the truth, and THANK GOD FOR THE TRUTH! AMEN!!!
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