Know Your Bible
VOL. 14 August 2, 2015 NO. 21
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SOWING THE WIND, REAPING THE WHIRLWIND 2
(Continuation from last week)
Relativism in America has led to pluralism, i.e., the universal acceptance of all beliefs, the toleration of any kind of action, going out of the way to please people regardless of their moral conduct. Pluralism is about sensitivity and tolerance. It is not concerned with what is morally right or wrong as revealed in God’s word. It is concerned with a greater diversity that will please the most people in spite of their moral conduct. These same people who advocate being tolerant about everything become very intolerant of those who oppose their ideas. They call it being PC, (politically correct). I see their PC attitude as PC (perversion crybabies).
Thus, we can see why immorality has taken hold of our society. Not only is it now a nation without God, it is a society that wants recreation and entertainment without restraint, disrespect of lawful authority, divorce and remarriage without scriptural cause, children without discipline and accountability, same sex marriages and acceptance of sexual immorality of every type, fornication, adultery, incest, homosexual/lesbianism, bestiality. Seeing these trends, can anyone honestly say we are better off today as a nation, socially, morally, economically, spiritually, than we were before these winds of unbelief, relativity, pluralism and immorality were sown throughout our nation?
Having sown the winds of unbelief, relativity, pluralism and immorality, it is only natural that this will affect the thinking of many in their approach toward death. Such people see nothing beyond this life. They are only concerned with the here and now. The Christian believes that his/her manner of life on earth will affect his/her destiny in the hereafter. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” Rom.8:13. Of course this does not apply to the unbeliever. Since they don’t believe that God exists, and doesn’t act in human affairs, there are no enduring and permanent values. Therefore they have no view of a life beyond this one. If one does not believe he possesses an eternal soul, then life has no moral connection to death. One’s view of life will affect one’s view of death, as cause and effect.
As a result of this atheistic attitude toward death and dying, it not only keeps one from a moral preparation for life after death, it hinders one from a humane consideration of death during life. That is why abortion and euthanasia have become so prevalent in our society. A reverence for life is incompatible with the secularist agenda. It is only a short step from the denial of God to a maltreatment of those made in His image.
Since America is fast becoming a pagan society, it is no wonder that God, Christ and the Bible have been rejected as the anchor of morality. Our society is, to a great extent, being controlled by Secularism, a godless religion that deifies man and is intolerant of Christianity. One could say that Secularism is the antithesis (opposite view) of Christianity. Many of our present day national leaders have adopted this secularist view, and are hard at work trying to secularize our country, and they are succeeding. Many of the central institutions of our country, executive, judicial, legislative, educational, welfare and mental health, as well as the entertainment and news media, are permeated with humanistic ideas. They have come a long way in the last 50 years.
Secularism is corrupt, vulgar and degrading. It is designed to destroy the dignity of man, his beliefs, his values, his life and his soul. Secular Humanists believe this world is all there is, and since you go around only once, eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow you die. There is not a segment of our society, including the Lord’s church, that has not been influenced by this paganistic philosophy.
Human secularist leaders of various areas of our society have been permitted to plant the seeds of atheism, relativism, situation ethics and pluralism since the 1960s. Today we are having terrifying nightmares, a harvest of misery, shame, degradation and rebellion against lawful authority. Human life has been devalued. Selfishness abounds, and immorality is rampart. Truly, we can say, “they have sown the wind and America is reaping the whirlwind.”
Many influences have a bearing on our lives, but one especially has had a great impact on our society. That is the entertainment media, especially movies and TV. “During the past four decades, television has transcended its role as mere entertainment to become a potent force shaping everyday life.” (From book - Watching America by Robert and Linda Lichter, Stanley Rothman – Prentiss Hall, 1991).
The movie and TV industry have for years tried to pretend that religion is nothing more than a relic from the past. While some estimate that ca.50% of America’s population still consider religion an important part of their lives, only 5% of TV characters practice religion in any way. And, if religious people do appear in movies or on TV, they are usually portrayed as unintelligent, maladjusted and of very little worth to society. Even when a script is based on a Bible subject, Hollywood shows little regard for the truth. They rewrite the Bible to entertain the audience. The recent showing of “Noah’s Ark” is a prime example of how Hollywood treats the Bible.
(To be continued)
—Tommy Thornhill
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IRONY
Irony, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning". Consider the following examples.
"Please Drink Responsibly." Out of context, this statement might be suggesting that consumers should exercise reasonable precautions with ordinarily harmless beverages. For instance, a cup of steaming hot coffee should be handled in such a way as to avoid spilling it on one's lap. However, every television viewer recognizes these words from advertisements promoting alcoholic beverages. That's ironic because there is no responsible way to consume an alcoholic beverage. The consumption of alcohol leads directly to drunkenness, which is explicitly and repeatedly forbidden in scripture (Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 6:10; Galatians 5:21). Intoxication is doubly sinful in that it prevents self-control, a necessary quality in every Christian (Galatians 5:23; 2 Peter 1:6). There’s nothing responsible about drinking alcohol.
"Please Play Responsibly." This phrase might be used to warn a pitcher not to bean the batter. Instead, these words come from advertisements promoting lotteries in those states where such is legal. The lottery is a form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize. There is no such thing as responsible gambling because gambling is covetous (Ephesians 5:3; Hebrews 13:5), and violates the principle of legitimate gain (Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12).
"Practice Safe Sex." To a Christian, this means that sexual intercourse is reserved for marriage and marriage alone. Sadly though, safe sex to the world means taking precautions – even while engaging in sex with various partners – to make sure you don't contract STDs and HIV. The only safe sex that has ever existed is intercourse with one's own husband or wife (Proverbs 5:18-19; 1 Corinthians 7:1-5; Hebrews 13:4). All sexual relationships outside marriage are immoral (1 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8), and are unsafe because they incur the wrath of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 21:8).
—Bryan Matthew Dockens
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Know Your Bible" is e-mailed weekly by the church of Christ which meets at 112 Roberts Avenue in Wise, Virginia. If you know of others who might benefit from the articles contained in this bulletin, we would be glad to have you submit their e-mail addresses and we will include them in next week's mailing. If you are receiving this bulletin and do not wish to continue to do so, please e-mail us with your desire to be removed from the mailing list and we will remove your address promptly. Continue to the bottom of this page and further instructions will be given as to how you may contact us.
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