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When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-13 (Living Translation) The Bible Speaks To The Culture Presented by Warm / Interactive / Relevant / Challenging / Action Oriented

Intro • The Bible is God’s playbook for life. As Christians we should look to it for guidance and insight for everyday living. • We will examine topics that are of interest to Christians living in a culture that is becoming more agnostic and indifferent to a God’s living standard. • We will pick one topic each week and examine the Bible for God’s plan for us.

Intro • Examples of topics that we will examine include: • Tee-Totaling • Moral Purity (including homosexuality) • War • Work Ethic • Financial Stewardship • Patriotism • Marriage • Capitalism • Charity • Environmentalism • If you have suggested topics, let me know.

Background • Southern Baptist traditionally are “teetotalers” – one of the “big-ones” • Teetotaling is not universally held by all protestants and other denominations • Alcohol in the ancient world was a water sanitizer and medicine • Alcohol is addictive and harmful in quantities • Not debatable in certain cultures (e.g. France, Italy, Germany, Ireland, UK, etc.) • It is an “adult activity” but routinely abused by under aged drinkers” • Over-consumption is one of the leading preventable causes of death worldwide

Cultural View • Alcohol is a culturally approved recreational drug • Alcohol is a central component to most business and social gatherings – “alcohol is cool” • It is used to promote social interaction and to help one manage the stresses of life • Alcoholic beverages are big business • Manufacturers spend big bucks in marketing to maintain the cool factor • Alcoholism is a destructive force is the US in the lives of individuals and families • Why do you think that there is a government agencies to regulate this industry?

Biblical View • Scripture does not necessarily forbid a Christian from drinking beer, wine, or any other drink containing alcohol. • God commands that Christians avoid drunkenness and addiction • The culture at the time of Jesus had a different perspective on wine (i.e. sanitation and medicine). • Consumption of small quantities of alcohol is a matter of Christian freedom but exercise of freedoms can become a “stumbling block” • Christian leaders must set the example

Application • My personal view: • Due to the biblical concerns regarding alcohol and its effects, due to the easy temptation to consume alcohol in excess, and due to the possibility of causing offense and/or stumbling of others, it is best for a Christian to abstain entirely from drinking alcohol. • Don’t play with fire – eventually you will be burned (Grandma) • Don’t support a destructive industry • Don’t send confusing signals • Younger Christians or children cannot discern subtleties of the pro / con arguments • if one drug is morally acceptable how about other drugs • It is important to know when too much is too much – how do you effectively do this with a drug that impairs decision-making? • Christians are subject to civil law. • Avoid self-righteous indignation

Next Week Moral Purity (including homosexuality)

The Gospel According to Java Bistro “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.” Isaiah 55:3

The Bible Speaks To Marriage

Background • Marriage is a social institution under which a man and a woman establish a decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc. • It is a prerequisite for the establishment of a traditional family – a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children • The concept of marriage and family is undergoing a metamorphosis. Is it good or bad? Is it Biblical or not? • That it the premise for today’s discussion.

Cultural View • The traditional definition of marriage is outdated. It is does not accommodate societal shifts and modern relationships (e.g. gay and lesbian relationships , gender equality, feminism, etc.) • Marriage is optional. It is perfectly legitimate to have a relationship and raise a family without marriage. • Marriage is a legal contract. It can be dissolved.

Biblical View • Marriage was designed for companionship and intimacy. Gen. 2:18, 21-24, Matt 19:4-6 • Husbands – love and sacrifice; Wives – submit. Ephesians 5:23-32 • Wives – demonstrate godly character and quiet inner beauty; Husbands – honor their wives and be kind and gentle; Husbands and wives are equal partners. I Peter 3:1-5, 7 • Strive to overcome immoral living. 1 Cor. 7:1-2 • Love is a lifetime covenant, a commitment. Malachi 2:13-14

Application • Could one of the deeper purposes of marriage be to make us confront our own character flaws? • One of the purposes of marriage is to make us more like Christ. “What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?” • Only in our commitment to the covenant of marriage can we realize the true benefits of marriage.

Next Week Moral Purity (including homosexuality)

The Gospel According to Java Bistro “To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.” Proverbs 12:1-3

The Bible Speaks To Moral Purity

Background • Moral Purity: acting in a way which glorifies God in the body and which avoids the fulfillment of the lust of the flesh. • Moral temptation and failure is not a contemporary phenomenon, it is as old as the human race. • There are some recent developments that appear to have been “game changers” for our culture on this topic. What are they?

Cultural View • Whatever happens between two consenting adults is their business. • As long as no one gets hurt, anything goes. • Having sex is a recreational pursuit, as long as you are “responsible.” It is a normal healthy thing. • If you make a “mistake”, take care of it ASAP. • While the mainstream culture excludes children from the new ideas about sexual purity, some “organizations” do not even recognize this taboo. • Anyone who speaks out on the subject is branded as “intolerant” and “judgmental”.

Biblical View • From the beginning sex was created for marriage. Mark 10:6-9 • Sex outside of marriage is not condoned by God. I Cor. 6:9-10, Romans 1:26-28, Eph. 5:3 • There are certain sexual acts that are defined as abominations (i.e. disgusting). Lev. 18:22, 20:13 • Moral degradation of the culture is actually a sign of the impending return of Jesus. Luke 17:26-28.

Application • There are physical, emotional, and spiritual components to marriage; i.e. the only place where “safe sex” can occur. • Intimacy is a progressive state • Sex can be the celebration of intimacy or the attempt to achieve intimacy. • Does the Bible empower the church to be morality police? • Are Christians exempted from being loving to those who have succumbed to immorality?

Next Week War

The Gospel According to Java Bistro “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!” Ecclesiastes 5:9-11

The Bible Speaks To War

Background • War: A state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups with a nation or state. • The US Congress has the power to declare war, typically at the request of the President. • We actually have rules for war and some study it as an academic pursuit. • Thought; would you want your son or daughter to go to war?

Cultural View • Culture is split; the lessons from the last 10 years has taught us this; hawks vs. pacifist. • Leave them along and mind our own business. • War is necessary to protect vital national interest. • War is a retaliatory strike. • War is a crime against humanity. • Threat of war protects our freedoms; i.e. our way of life or makes it possible for others to enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy.

Biblical View • War vs. murder. Ex. 20:13, 1 Sam. 15:3, Josh. 4:13 • War is never a good thing, but sometimes a necessary thing. It is always a result of sin. Romans 3:10-18 • God authorized war in the OT. God does not change so war must not just be an OT thing. • There is a time to love and a time to have, a time for war and a time for peace – Ecc. 3:8. • Jesus emphasized peace and advised us to avoid retaliation and revenge and to extend our love even to our enemies. • But, Jesus said that it is inevitable that war would continue until He returns and that He did not oppose earthly governments or their right to maintain armies.

Application • Our goal - “as much as it depends on you … as far as it's possible on your behalf, live at peace with everybody.“ Romans 12:18 • Two things tend to be the root cause for war: selfishness and pride. James 4:1-2 • When is it right: • In order to preserve freedom • In order to protect innocent people • In order to stop the spread of evil • How should Christian respond • Pray • Trust God • Seek Peace • Support Each other

Application • Christian Pacifism – minority view – similar to Swedish and Danish resistance to Nazism in WWI, Gandhi's independence movement in India, the civil rights movement of MLK, and the Solidarity movement in Poland. In their view it is a way to suppress cycle of oppression, hatred, war and revenge that have dominated history. • See Baptist Faith & Message, Section XVI. • See http://www.saddleback.com/story/5581.html

Application • There must be a just cause for the war. • War must be waged only in response to certain, grave and lasting damage inflicted by an aggressor. • The motive for war must be advancement of good or avoidance of evil. • The ultimate objective of war must be to bring peace. • Revenge, revolt, a desire to harm, dominate, or exploit and similar things are not justification for war. • Every possible means of peacefully settling the conflict must be exhausted first. • There must be serious prospects of success; bloodshed without hope of victory cannot be justified. • The war must be declared by a legitimate authority. Private individuals or groups should seek redress of their rights through their governments, not by acts of war. • The war must not cause greater evil than the evil to be eliminated. • Non-combatants (civilians) must not be intentionally harmed. • Prisoners and conquered peoples must be treated justly.

Next Week Work Ethic

The Gospel According to Java Bistro “This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” Hebrews 6:18-20

The Bible Speaks To Work Ethic

Background • When I was growing up life was simple; it revolved around the themes of: God, Family, Work • When I heard the term “work ethic”, more often or not it was prefaced such as “protestant work-ethic”. Why? • There seems to be a relationship between work and strong churches and families. What is it? • Is there a difference between “work” and “work ethic”?

Cultural View • Work is necessary to get what we want • Work is our identity; i.e. who we are, the indicator of our worth, what buys us standing in the community. • There is a line of thought within Christianity that views work as evidence of our salvation • Some would connect work ethic and capitalism in a way connects our relationship with God and His blessing on our economic structure.

Biblical View • Colossians 3:23 • 2 Thessalonians 3:10 • Proverbs 14:23 • Ecclesiastes 9:10 • Acts 20:35 • Proverbs 10:4 • Proverbs 21:25 • Proverbs 12:11 • Proverbs 16:3 • Psalm 1:1-6 • Psalm 127:1 • 1 Timothy 5:8 • 1 Timothy 6:10 • Proverbs 13:4 • Psalm 128:2 • Genesis 2:1-5 • 2 Thessalonians 3:6-9 • 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 • 1 Corinthians 10:31 • Ephesians 4:28 • Ecclesiastes 5:12 • Hebrews 4:10 • Proverbs 20:4 • Proverbs 16:1 • Proverbs 11:1 • Deuteronomy 8:18 • Genesis 2:15 • 1 Thessalonians 5:7 • Ephesians 2:10 • Hosea 14:9 • Proverbs 3:5-6 • James 1:4 • 1 Corinthians 15:58

Application • Work is not our identity but it is our calling. • Let us not fall into the trap of thinking that our work “earns” us a position. • Work is not the means to salvation, it is the result of salvation. • We were created for work and through it we fulfill our purpose when applied in a worthwhile enterprise. • Work enables us to have something to share with him who has need; i.e. the principle of grace. So work benefits both the individual and general society.

Next Week Financial Stewardship

The Gospel According to Java Bistro Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again” John 3:3

The Bible Speaks To Financial Stewardship

Background • Notice the subtlety in the title, “Financial STEWARDSHIP”. Define “stewardship” in the Christian context. • Is this a problem in the culture today? • There is a stark difference between the thinking about finances between believers and non-believers, or at least there should be! • Why has Dave Ramsey and people like him become so prominent? • Today we will explore what the Bible has to say about budgeting, debt, teaching children, saving, etc.

Cultural View • Get all you can, while you can, cause it’s all you’ll get! • Money is the key to happiness (i.e. some people to accumulate it – some people to spend it)! • Success is tied to “how much” we got. Our self-worth is tied to our “toys”. • It’s mine, I “earned” it.

Biblical View • Luke 14:28–30 • Proverbs 27:23 • 1 Timothy 5:8 • Matthew 6:24 • Proverbs 22:7 • Romans 13:8 • Proverbs 13:11 • Proverbs 22:26–27 • Proverbs 17:18 • Proverbs 11:15 • Psalm 37:21 • Proverbs 6:1–5 • Deuteronomy 25:4 • Nehemiah 5:3 • Ecclesiastes 5:5 • Proverbs 29:15 • Proverbs 22:6 • Isaiah 30:1 • Genesis 2:24 • Proverbs 29:17 • Proverbs 23:13–14 • Proverbs 13:22 • Proverbs 31:10–11 • Proverbs 21:20 • Proverbs 21:5 • Proverbs 6:6–8 • Genesis 41:35–36 • Proverbs 10:22 • Proverbs 14:29 • Proverbs 24:27 • Psalm 20:4 • 2 Thessalonians 3:10 • Proverbs 1:5

Application • The Bible defines “riches” in spiritual terms, not monetary terms- Proverbs 28:20: “A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.” • Industriousness is necessary to care for ourselves and our family, we are not to mooch off others as a way of life. Proverbs 6:6-11, 1 Tim. 5:8. • The Bible paints a picture of “big givers”, not “big getters”. If we demonstrate good stewardship God trusts us with more. Luke 16:1-13 • In a word, “WISDOM”

Next Week Patriotism

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