WHAT ABOUT THE GRAY AREAS BRYAN ELLIS FULTONDALE
WHAT ABOUT THE GRAY AREAS? BRYAN ELLIS FULTONDALE CHURCH OF CHRIST 2015 -05 -17
INTRODUCTION • LITTLE FAITH IS NEEDED TO BECOME ACHRISTIAN • BELIEVE IN THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OFCHRIST • BELIEVE HIS BLOOD CLEANSES SIN DURING BAPTISM • BELIEVE GOD ADDS YOU TO HIS FAMILY (CHURCH, KINGDOM, PRIESTHOOD, BODY, ETC. ) • BEGIN LIVING AS A SACRIFICE DUE TO LOVE FORCHRIST • JESUS SAID WITH LITTLE FAITH YOU CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS • MATTHEW 17: 20 M( USTARD SEED-SIZED FAITH) • WE ARE EXPECTED TO GROW OUR FAITH (1 PETER 1: 5 -7) • VIRTUE, KNOWLEDGE, SELF CONTROL, PATIENCE, GODLINESS, BROTHERLY KINDNESS, LOVE • GROW IN GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE (2 PETER 3: 18)
SOME PASSAGES ON GROWTH • 1 PETER 2: 2 • AS NEWBORN BABES, DESIRE THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YE MAY GROW THEREBY: • 1 CORINTHIANS 3: 2 • I HAVE FED YOU WITH MILK, AND NOT WITH MEAT: FOR HITHERTO YE WERE NOT ABLE TO BEAR IT, NEITHER YET NOW ARE YE ABLE. • HEBREWS 5: 12 • FOR WHEN FOR THE TIME YE OUGHT TO BE TEACHERS, YE HAVE NEED THAT ONE TEACH YOU AGAIN WHICH BE THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF THE ORACLES OFGOD; AND ARE BECOME SUCH AS HAVE NEED OF MILK, AND NOT OF STRONG MEAT.
ABSOLUTE TRUTH (REVIEW) • ROB MENTIONED LAST WEEK ABOUTABSOLUTE TRUTH • THERE IS ABSOLUTE TRUTH – IT IS FOUND INGOD’S WORD • EPHESIANS 4: 4 -6 • THERE IS ONE BODY, AND ONESPIRIT, EVEN AS YE ARE CALLED IN ONE HOPE OF YOUR CALLING; ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL… • JUDE 3 • BELOVED, WHEN I GAVE ALL DILIGENCE TO WRITE UNTO YOU OF THE COMMON SALVATION, IT WAS NEEDFUL FOR ME TO WRITE UNTO YOU, AND EXHORT YOU THAT YE SHOULD EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE UNTO THE SAINTS. FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE DELIVERED
GOD WANTS US TO CONTINUE IN “THE” FAITH • ACTS 6: 7 • AND THE WORD OF GOD INCREASED; AND THE NUMBER OF THE DISCIPLES MULTIPLIED IN JERUSALEM GREATLY; AND A GREAT COMPANY OF THE PRIESTS WERE OBEDIENT TOTHE FAITH. • ACTS 14: 22 • CONFIRMING THE SOULS OF THE DISCIPLES, AND EXHORTING THEM TO CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, AND THAT WE MUST THROUGH MUCH TRIBULATION ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OFGOD. • ACTS 16: 5 • AND SO WERE THE CHURCHES ESTABLISHED INTHE FAITH, AND INCREASED IN NUMBER DAILY.
HOW DO WE GROW OUR FAITH? • EACH OF US HAS A FAITH WHICH IS PERSONAL AND UNIQUE • ROMANS 1: 17 • FOR THEREIN IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OFGOD REVEALED FROM FAITH TO FAITH: AS IT IS WRITTEN, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH. • OUR PERSONAL FAITH COMES BY VARIOUS FACTORS IN OUR LIFE: • EXPERIENCES • PARENTS/TEACHERS • FRIENDS/MENTORS • PERSONAL STUDY • MEDIA • “BAGGAGE” • GOD WANTS OUR PERSONALFAITH TO GROW TO MATCH THE FAITH
WHY IS PERSONAL FAITH SO IMPORTANT? • REMEMBER: THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH • ROMANS 14: 23 –W“ HATSOEVER IS NOT OF FAITH, IT IS SIN” • JAMES 4: 17 – “TO HIM THAT KNOWS TO DO GOOD, ANDDOES IT NOT, TO HIM IT IS SIN. ” • PERSONAL FAITH CONTROLS OUR CONSCIENCE • PAUL – ACTS 23: 1 I“HAVE LIVED IN ALL GOOD CONSCIENCE BEFORE GOD UNTIL THIS DAY” • TO TIMOTHY (1: 5) – “… OUT OF A PURE HEART, AND OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE, AND OF FAITHUNFEIGNED…” • CONSCIENCE MUST BE OUR GUIDE BUT IT IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE FAITH THAT CONTROLS IT • PAUL BELIEVED HE DID RIGHT WHEN PERSECUTING THECHRISTIANS • WAS ACTUALLY COMPLETELY WRONG AND “CHIEF OF SINNERS”
CARE OF THE CONSCIENCE • OVERRIDING PERSONAL FAITH TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS BELIEVED TO BE WRONG CAUSES THE CONSCIENCE TO STOP WORKING • 1 TIMOTHY 4: 2 –S“ PEAKING LIES IN HYPOCRISY; HAVING THEIR CONSCIENCE SEARED WITH A HOT IRON; ” • TITUS 1: 15 –UNTO “ THEM THAT ARE DEFILED AND UNBELIEVING IS NOTHING PURE; BUT EVEN THEIR MIND AND CONSCIENCE IS DEFILED”
PERSONAL FAITH VS. “THE FAITH” MURDER “THE FAITH” Self Control Death Burial Resurrection WHITE LIES Personal Faith
LEVELS OF MATURITY • SINCE GROWTH IS PERSONAL AND CANNOT BE FORCED ON SOMEONE THERE ARE VARYING LEVELS OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY IN THE CHURCH • NEW BABES IN CHRIST • YOUNG IN THE FAITH • MINISTERS OF THE FAITH • EVANGELISTS • ELDERS • CAN CAUSE FRICTION OR DISCORD IF THE YOUNG ARE NOT NURTURED AND ALLOWED TO GROW AT THEIR OWN PACE • WEAK BRETHREN • THOSE WHO FALL AWAY • CAN CAUSE LOST TO RENOUNCEGOD BY OUR ACTIONS/DEEDS IF NOT CARING AND CONSIDERATE
SO… ARE THERE GRAY AREAS? • GOD’S LAW IS PERFECT AND COMPLETE • GOD’S JUDGMENT WILL BE PERFECT AND COMPLETE • ROMANS 3: 4 –LET “ GOD BE TRUE, BUT EVERY MAN ALIAR” • “THE FAITH” IS PERFECT AND COMPLETE • VARYING LEVELS OF MATURITY AND DIFFERENCES IN REASONING ABILITIES CAUSE US TO DIFFER ON PARTS OF THE PERFECTLAW OF LIBERTY • COVERING OF THE HEAD DURING PRAYER (1 CORINTHIANS 11: 1 -16) • LACK OF GROWTH EXACERBATES THE DIFFERENCES CAUSING STRIFE, ENMITY, DIVISION AND APOSTASY • ALL GRAY AREAS ARE BECAUSE OF HUMAN THINKING, HUMAN FRAILTY, HUMAN EMOTION, HUMAN FAULTS, AND IGNORANCE • WE EACH SHOULD SEARCH FOR THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH OFGOD’S WORD AND THEREBY HAVE UNITY –BEARING WITH EACH OTHER UNTIL
SOME GRAY AREAS WE MAY ENCOUNTER • DOCTRINE/FORMER RELIGION • LAWS OF MEN • CULTURAL CHANGE
1 ST CENTURY GRAY AREA – 1 CORINTHIANS 8 • EATING OF MEAT OFFERED TO IDOLS • FULL MATURITY (AS PAUL HAD) KNEW THAT IDOLS ARE NOTHING AND THAT MEAT OFFERED TO THEM IS NOT TAINTED BY IT. – VERSE 4 • BABES NOT UNDERSTANDING THIS COULD BELIEVE IT IS SINFUL –VERSE 7 • IF A BABE EATS BELIEVING IT IS SIN, THE BABE IS SINNING (DEFILING THE CONSCIENCE) –VERSES 7, 11 • IF THE BABE EATS DUE TO THE INFLUENCE OF THE MATURECHRISTIAN, THE MATURE CHRISTIAN HAS CAUSED A BROTHER TO STUMBLE THEREBY SINNING AS WELL –VERSE 12 • WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
MEAT OFFERED TO IDOLS MURDER “THE FAITH” Eating the Meat Death Burial Resurrection Mature Faith WHITE LIES New Faith
CAN THIS HAPPEN TODAY? • A MODERN APPLICATION OF “EATING MEAT”: • HYMN LYRICS THAT MAY CONNOTE THINGS THAT ARE NOT CORRECT • OLD RUGGED CROSS FORMER CATHOLICS • LOVE DIVINE FORMER CALVINISTS • LOST CAN GET THE WRONG IDEA AND CONTINUE IN SIN • WE CAN REFRAIN FROM SINGING THOSE HYMNS IF IT CAUSES PROBLEMS FOR ONE OF OUR BRETHREN OR OUR GUESTS
LAWS OF MEN • ROMANS 13 SPEAKS OF THE GOVERNMENT’S ROLE IN PUNISHING THE EVIL DOERS (BEARS THE SWORD) • PETER ALSO SPEAKS OF THIS WHEN DISCUSSING SUFFERING (1 PETER 4: 15) • JESUS SAID TO “GIVE UNTOCAESAR THAT WHICH IS CAESAR’S” WHEN ASKED ABOUT PAYING TAXES TO AN ANTIJ - EWISH GOVERNMENT • GOD IS IN CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENTS • OLD TESTAMENT IS FULL OF EXAMPLES • NO PROPHETS TODAY SO WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT ACTIONS AREG“ OD’S WRATH” VS. MEN’S EVIL • WHY DOES THIS MATTER? • LAWS OF MEN CAN RESTRICT OUR FREEDOM INCHRIST • THEY CANNOT EXPAND OUR FREEDOM INCHRIST WITHOUT SIN • WE MUST ABIDE BY THE LAWS OF MEN THAT DO NOT REQUIRE SIN
LAWS OF MEN MURDER “THE FAITH” Mixed Race Marriage Law of the Land Taxes Death Burial Resurrection DIVORCE HOMOSEXUALITY
SOCIETY/CULTURE/INFLUENCE • IN PAUL’S DISCUSSION ON EATING MEATS THERE ARE VARIOUS VENUES DISCUSSED: Venue/Situation Godly Action Idol’s Temple Buying at market Guest at another home Never Ok Ok unless told the source • ONCE YOU KNOW THE SOURCE YOUR INFLUENCE IS AT RISK • POSSIBILITY OF CAUSING A BROTHER TO STUMBLE • THE LOST MAY THINK YOU WORSHIP IDOLS • IN THIS SPECIFIC SITUATION THE ACTION IN ITSELF IS NOT SINFUL
SOCIETY AND CULTURE CHANGE • LAWS ARE VERY DIFFERENT IN EACH COUNTRY • STATE AND LOCAL LAWS VARY WIDELY • EVEN SOME ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES ARE ACCEPTABLE TO SOCIETY OR IGNORED BY ENFORCERS • MARIJUANA USE LEGAL IN SOME STATES BUT ILLEGAL NATIONALLY • NON-VIOLENT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE • MINIMAL SPEEDING • ILLEGAL PARKING • LOOK AT TWO EXAMPLES FROM THE PAST CENTURY…
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE • GOD’S BASIC LAW: ONE MAN, ONE WOMAN, FOR LIFE • GOD HATES DIVORCE (I KNOW THERE IS AN EXCEPTION) • WHAT ABOUT LAW AND SOCIETY? • EARLY 1900’S • DIVORCE UNMENTIONABLE IN POLITE SOCIETY • INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE OUTLAWED IN MANY STATES • HOMOSEXUALITY TABOO AND ILLEGAL • MID TO LATE 1900’S • DIVORCE MORE COMMON – VERY COMMON AMONG CELEBRITIES • INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE MORE ACCEPTED – ESPECIALLY AFTERCIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT • HOMOSEXUALITY BECOMING MORE PROMINENT BUT STILL TABOO AND MOSTLY STILL ILLEGAL
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE (2) • NOW • DIVORCE IN OVER HALF OF MARRIAGES • INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE LEGAL WITH SLIGHT STIGMA IN SOME AREAS • HOMOSEXUALITY LEGAL • “GAY” MARRIAGE ALREADY LEGAL IN 36 STATES S – UPREME COURT ABOUT TO RULE FOR NATION • SUMMARIZATION Activity God’s Law Early Mid-Late Now Marriage Good Optional Interracial Good Illegal/Hidden Stigmatized Mostly Normal Hated (mostly sinful) Stigmatized Still not Good Commonplace Homosexuality Always Sinful Illegal/Hidden Legal/Open “Gay” marriage Always Sinful Nonexistent Almost Legal Divorce
NAKEDNESS EXAMPLE • God’s Law – Neck-to-knees • Coat (Tunic) not Apron (Loin-cloth) – Genesis 3: 7, 21 • Priest’s breeches Ex 28: 42 • Men and Women same • Some Muslim countries – Burqa required for Women • Early 1900’s – Wrist to Ankle covered for Women • Mid-Late 1900’s – Mini-skirts, shorts, halter tops, men going topless, Speedos • Today – anything goes • Nude beaches • “Spring Break” week • Mardi Gras reveling Late 1900’s Early Burqa 1900’s
FINAL SUMMARY • GOD’S LAW IS ABSOLUTE –WE MUST DO OUR BEST TO MATCH OUR FAITH TOHIS LAW • WHEN WE DIFFER ON DOCTRINAL POINTS, WE MUST BEAR WITH EACH OTHER • WE CAN DIFFER AND STILL HAVE FELLOWSHIP IF NOT A PRIMARY POINT OF SALVATION • WE MAY NEED TO CURTAIL OUR OWN RIGHTS TO HELP A BROTHER INCHRIST • WE MAY NEED TO MODIFY OUR BEHAVIOR TO BRING THE LOST TOCHRIST • 1 CORINTHIANS 9: 19 -22 FOR THOUGH I BE FREE FROM ALL MEN, YET HAVE I MADE MYSELF SERVANT UNTO ALL, THAT I MIGHT GAIN THE MORE. AND UNTO THE JEWS I BECAME AS A JEW, THAT I MIGHT GAIN THE JEWS; TO THEM THAT ARE UNDER THE LAW, AS UNDER THE LAW, THAT I MIGHT GAIN THEM THAT ARE UNDER THE LAW; TO THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT LAW, AS WITHOUT LAW, (BEING NOT WITHOUT LAW TOGOD, BUT UNDER THE LAW TOCHRIST, ) THAT I MIGHT GAIN THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT LAW. TO THE WEAK BECAME I AS WEAK, THATI MIGHT GAIN THE WEAK: I AM MADE ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN, THAT I MIGHT BY ALL MEANS SAVE SOME. • MEN’S LAWS AND CULTURE CAN RESTRICT OUR FREEDOMS BUT WHERE THEY ARE MORE PERMISSIVE WE CANNOT FOLLOW • FORGET THE THINGS OF THE WORLD AS WE STUDY AND GROW IN FAITH SO THAT WE CAN BE MORE LIKE OUR GOD!
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