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“Doing Things by the Book”
I Peter 2:1-3
(13 people captive in Riverside, CA) (14 yr. old Salinas) We hear things like this on the news everyday: (hit & run, stealing packages, DUI, driving into a crowd). There have always been wild and rebellious people who go off track – but – they knew where the track was and what was wrong. Many people – particularly young people, don’t seem to know right from wrong any more. People are robbing, maiming, and taking lives with no pity or remorse. What is causing this is our society?
I. The Problem many individuals have lost the ability to distinguish right from wrong. They have been raised in a society that has largely rejected notions of truth and morality. Truth has become a “matter of taste,” morality replaced by individual preference; “your truth… my truth” (bumper sticker: “Non-judgment Day is Near”). Our society runs on…
A. Moral Relativism Þ value free, morally neutral education – outline options (definition of family). Relativism: “What is true for you may not be true for me.” 1987 Alan Bloom: Closing of the American Mind; “One thing a professor can be absolutely certain of: almost every student entering the university believes, or says he believes that truth is relative.” Gotten better or worse? (Theory: tolerance Þ intolerance) 10 years ago Þ 70% of young people claimed that absolute truth does not exist, that all truth is relative. Everything in life is negotiable – “nothing can be known for certain except the things that you experience in your own life.” Romans 1:22&25 Although they claimed to be wise, they became like fools… 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator… The foundational premise is there is…
B. No Absolute Truth Judges 17:6 every man did that which was right in his own eyes. New standard, cultural relativism: distinction between right and wrong is fluid, subject to change, relative and personal not constant and universal. Whatever is acceptable in that culture is moral; if the majority of the people say a thing is “right” then its right. Question: “was the Holocaust wrong?” 6 million Jews by Nazis Þ that was precisely their argument at Nuremberg. World Court condemned them saying: “There is something beyond culture, above culture, that determines right from wrong.” Our society has attempted solutions: government Þ education, educators; money, activists Þ justice; others Þ police, prisons, jobs, social programs, etc. Many worthy ideas Þ all fall short – only address symptoms not core root causes. Teen pregnancy is at an all time high up 500% in the last 30 years – lack of sex education? Suicide among young people up 300% - more stressful, complex society? Violence, drive by shootings, gangs, guns at school Þ ineffective gun control laws? Or: is something more fundamentally wrong? The world is unaware of…
II. The Reality Þ flawed foundation; our culture has lost its moral underpinnings. The foundational belief in truth and morality eroded Þdon’t seem to know right from wrong. Society is spinning out of control. We feel its results everyday. NLCC is not based on relativity but on the unique and powerful Word of God. The world has strayed from a:
A. Foundational Truth Þ there is absolute truth: “That which is true for all people, for all times, for all places” - objective, universal, constant. The Bible tells us: Romans 16:27 …the only wise God… God is the objective standard for distinguishing right from wrong. He knows fundamental moral and ethical laws that exist independently of personal opinion. There is absolute right and wrong (laws). God’s commands point to universal principles that reflect His character Þ what morality is. He has revealed them to all people in the Bible.
B. God’s Word is Truth Þ Jesus’ prayer in the garden John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. God has clearly revealed His objective truth to mankind. Not to satisfy our curiosity but to “sanctify” Þ “set apart,” different from the culturally shifting norm. I believe the Bible is God’s Word. It changes lives.
III. The Remedy for our culture is for us, believers, to: I Peter 2:1-3 Therefore,ridyourselvesofallmaliceandalldeceit,hypocrisy,envy,andslanderofeverykind.2Likenewborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you maygrowup in your salvation, 3now that you have tastedthattheLordis good. If we are not alert we are swept along with the world’s values and standards: Romans 12:1&2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – this good, pleasing and perfect will. The first step is for us, individually, and as a church is to continue:
A. Rejecting the World’s Way 1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and deceit, hypocrisy, envy,andslanderofeverykind. As believers we are called to refuse to operate according to the dominant paradigm; accepting God’s objective standard of right and wrong in its place. Psalms 118:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. The world is in darkness fear of the unknown, shadows in the dark – things out of proportion in the dark Þ distorted. A lamp shows us the right way. Alternative: Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers; instead of buying into the world’s standards and values we are…
B. Embracing God’s Word the Bible is not just a book of old stories and quaint sayings Þ roadmap for life Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. The Bible is a mirror: shows us who God is and reflects accurately who we are so we can see what is really true, right and wrong. Its not just a matter of believing it 2Likenewborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you maygrowup in your salvation Þ read, study, devour it, act on it, live by it. Allow God’s Word to guide our lives. Proverbs 2:1-6 My son, if you accept my words andstoreupmycommandswithinyou, 2turning your ear towisdom andapplyingyourhearttounderstanding, 3and if you calloutforinsight andcryaloudforunderstanding, 4and look for it asforsilver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5then you will understandthefearoftheLORD and find theknowledgeofGod. 6FortheLORDgiveswisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Why do we do the things we do around here? The Bible says to: communion, worship, teaching, giving, prayer, fellowship and loving, discipline, disciple making. We are committed to “doing things by the Book” “doing Bible things Bible ways” because we know what is true, pleases God, and
C. Produces Fruitful Living 3now that you have tasted that the Lordis good. We benefit from a lifestyle of “doing things by the Book” Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Proverbs 2:9-12 then you will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path. 10For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. 11Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. 12Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men… The road to spiritual blessing is found in applying God’s Word personally. What standard are you living your life based on? Popular thought, tradition, TV, political correctness, don’t know? We need to stop and make a choice.
The foundational core belief that guides this church, and all true followers of Jesus Christ, is a commitment to do what God’s Word says. It is the basis for everything we do and will be handled with respect and integrity. It is truth (creation, flood, Red Sea, virgin birth, resurrection) we believe! The Word of God is the only real authority we have. It is the basis for our faith. Our belief is not based on human speculation, but on divine revelation – the message of God’s Word. That’s why we are committed to application oriented Bible teaching Þ breaking down the Bible into bite-sized pieces so it can be digested and become a part of our lives. Are you taking it in on a regular basis? Give God every opportunity to speak to you through His Word. The only way you can ever make sense out of life lies in “doing things by the Book.”