The Big Problem (8/16/10)

Shalom,




Please begin by reading Judges 21:25.



Moral relativism is becoming the norm for people's perception of our world and the way they make decisions. Removing the "old-fashioned" thinking about right and wrong is rampant in our society and culture. A group of college students were recently asked their opinions of the media, specifically the R-rated kinds of things being shown on TV and in the movies. When asked why sex and violence were so prevalent, one student answered, "Because it's no big deal." This is how many people were thinking about moral issues when the verse you just read was recorded.

There's an extremely important and very modern insight in this verse and the other three which mention the same thing in the Book of Judges. The Israelites weren't doing what was "wrong in their own eyes." They were convinced that whatever they thought was right was what was right. But they lived in a society filled with violence, idolatry, and immorality. They lived utterly pagan lives, but felt and believed that they were still "God's people." They claimed to belong to Yahweh their Creator God, but yet they rejected his rules for right living and "did their own thing."

Sounds a lot like our world today doesn't it? The worldly value systems, humanistic moral standards, pseudo-religious beliefs, and immoral lifestyles we see prove that many have lost touch with reality. When there's no absolute truth, which is what far too many people believe, there's no measuring stick for right behavior and individual standards are then very far ranging. This leads directly to relativism, a place with no standards. The basic philosphy of many today is: "If it's true to me, that's all that matters."



The main problem with Israel at the time the Book of Judges was written was that they too easily coexisted with the pagans and kept falling into sin by copying their lifestyle. The claim is that there was no king, so they could make their own rules. They forgot that Yahweh was their King and that he had given them specific rules to live by.

We all know people, or have been around the kind of people who have no hesitation to do wrong. They have no moral limitations, and will do almost anything as long as they're reasonably sure they can get away with it. We know those who live in whatever manner they choose, and who proudly declare "I did it my way." This is what Yahweh tells us the whole nation of Israel was doing. Everyone was the king of their own little kingdom, making their own rules and deciding everything according to their own preferences.

Living this way seems much too easy for those who reject Yahweh's revelation. They've decided to live independent of their Creator and no one can convince them that they're wrong. For many of these people, nothing is forbidden or too disgusting to get involved in. Once we reject the basic premise that Yahweh is our Designer and knows what's best for us, then we can determine for ourselves what is right and wrong. When this is done our society and culture will eventually crumble into chaos because the Designer's safety features are ignored and we bring destruction on ourselves.

The fact that everyone, or at least a good number of people, are doing as they wish is a sad commentary on the weak spiritual condition of any nation. Where did our trouble begin in America? It began with the Church. Because the trouble is primarily spiritual, it's source is those who are spiritual, or at least those who claim to be spiritual. When the Church stops being a restraint upon the sin nature of all humans, we begin to have a people without moral boundaries. When that happens we move toward chaos.

Our problem doesn't center on drugs or the generation gap or crime or pornography. Our trouble isn't centered on who has control of our political system. People often say, "If we could just change this or that law or elect the right person, everything would be fine." To the world this makes perfect sense, but to the truly spiritual person it's absolute nonsense.

We need to stand and maintain our position on the spiritual foundation of Jesus Christ. Without this, we have nothing of true value to offer to our pagan society. If we don't have security and peace and absolute truth, we're no different from them. If ours is just "another truth," instead of the absolute truth, we're just another option in our pluralistic and universalistic world. We have to have something solid to share with a world living with nothing but pipe dreams, or worse yet demonic illusion. Think about it, their truth is an illusion conjured up in their own minds or given to them by our deceiving enemy.

Moral relativism teaches that there's no absolute truth. It says that all philosophies, religions, and opinions are equally valid. And it tells us there's no way to distinguish one as being morally superior to another. This is dangerous because it's intellectually and morally bankrupt. This anti-Christian philosophy denies common sense and empirical evidence. Every human is born with a conscience, a special ability given us by our Creator to help know the difference between right and wrong and to accurately discern between the two. Relativism is a false religion because it takes faith to believe this way. There's no empirical evidence that this is the right way to live.

If there's no absolute truth, we're forced to accept contradictory "truths." Just a little study of the world's religions will prove to any thinking individual that they're not "all the same." There are clear differences in beliefs that are totally contradictory. For example, the Christian belief in a personal, living God has no similarity to the pantheism of Buddhism. If all religion is leading us to the same place, wouldn't the underlying framework of each be somewhat similar?



So how do we deal with people who reject the truth of the Bible? How do we get past their preconceived notions and pet beliefs about God? We speak the truth. We tell them how that truth has changed and blessed our lives. Don't let them initimidate you, be bold and courageous in proclaiming that Yahweh is the One, True God.

1 Pet 3:15-16 is one of the best pieces of advice the Bible offers to us on sharing Yahweh's truth with unbelievers. "If you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way." We need to offer what we have without forcing it on people. We need to share our hope with a longing for the other person to understand Yahweh's love for them. Yes, sometimes that means speaking with what we call "tough love," but for the most part we need to share the Gospel without getting upset at how they receive it.

Daniel Taylor said, "It is an admirable thing when one is willing to die for the truth. It is more problematic when one is willing to kill for it. Throughout this century, the Church has shown itself more willing to do the latter than the former."



As the people of Yahweh we must do all we can to share the truth of a sinner's need for salvation. To do this we must personally know the truth about what is right and wrong according to our Creator's plan and purpose. We need to be actively working at living out what's right and wrong according to these standards. We need to be living out what's right and wrong even when we're not sure why it's the right thing. And we do this by trusting that our heavenly Father knows what best for us and accepting that his commands and rules are well worth our time and effort.

We need to hold out the truth like a light to our dark world, but we don't need to bang people over the head with our Bibles. It's a lot easier to denounce what's wrong with this world and those who live evil lifestyles than it is to demonstrate compassion, love, and the grace of our Lord Jesus. It would be much easier to shun all these people for their wanton sin than to act like Jesus did when he was around sinners.

Can you picture Jesus when he was hanging out with sinners? He often enjoyed their company, but he never condoned their sin. He was a "friend of sinners" according to the religious elitists of his day. We have to figure out to do this without being corrupted and overly influenced by their sinful lifestyles. We need to be able to be "friends of sinners" to have more opportunities to reach them with the Gospel.

Rom 2:4 says, "God's kindness leads you to repentance." How do we demonstrate Yahweh's kindness in practical ways to the lost? Arguments, proofs, or logic aren't always successful approaches when trying to lead people to Jesus. Demonstrating kindness, love, and mercy worked for our Lord, shouldn't we be trying to emulate him? Or if you're timid about being bold, look at the times Jesus directly confronted sin and wrong religious thinking. Be ready in case you have to demonstrate righteous indignation, too.

Remember this as you share the Gospel: Sin will take you farther than you wanted to go. It will keep you longer than you wanted to stay. It will cost you more than you wanted to pay.



Blessings & Peace, Mike