Archive for the ‘Culture’ Category

23 May

The Answer

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Blessings, Culture, Eternal Life, Family of God, Fellowship, Freedom, God's Word, Gospel, Marriage, Obedience, Sin, The Good News, Truth, Uncategorized.

Over the weekend, we participated in the wedding of a great young couple. I would describe it as a perfect example of marriage, as defined in the Bible. Two young people, committed first of all to their Lord, and then to each other. Congratulations to Adair and Anita Ballagh. You have set the bar high for those who are watching.

I enjoy the early part of the day; those first hours after sunrise are the best. Sunday morning, I was listening to a sermon by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. He had some good thoughts that apply to current times, maybe even more so today than when he preached.

He related that in his time, people were asking, what is the reason for the violence and all the unrest that is going on? His one-word answer to the question was this: Ungodliness! We do not have to look very far today, to see that he is right. In a godless society, immorality rises, when men exhibit godly behavior, morality returns.

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, when people turn their backs on the Bible, its instruction concerning morals, and the gospel of Jesus Christ, immorality is rampant. I ask, is this not a picture of society in our day?

We are failing to see the real problem, and in doing so, we miss the remedy. People who behave badly are told to “just be good.” If that doesn’t work, some try medication, or someone suggests it is a psychological problem and they call in mental health people to find the cause.

Here is the truth: The problem is the same as it has been since the Garden of Eden. Sin! People just can’t be “good.” Do you remember what the scripture says about being good? “There is no one righteous (good), not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God…. there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12).

John the Baptist introduced Jesus as “the Lamb of God who comes to take away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9).

So then, the answer to the problem of sin in the world is Jesus Christ!

Standing on His Truth,
Pastor Jerry

8 Feb

The Culture and God’s Word

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Change, Christian Living, Culture, God's Word, Gospel, The Good News, Truth, Uncategorized, Witness.

Hello friends,
Now we know how the stormy weather forecast from last week played out. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen a blizzard like that, and I can wait awhile before I see another one. The much advertised Super Bowl has been played, and we know who the winners and losers are. As I write this Monday morning, the wind is blowing hard for the second day. It is a good thing the snow melted yesterday, or it would all be in the air.

Now for some thoughts on the current culture, and its effect on the church at large. These days there is a trend among mainline churches to water down the Gospel. Many are moving away from the time-tested truths of the Bible, and the idea that God’s Word is without error. There seems to be an intentional movement toward changing the message of the Bible to “current cultural” interpretation.

There is a warning in the book of Revelation for those who would add to, or subtract from God’s word. You can look it up for yourself in Revelation 22:18-19).

Other verses include the following: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-18). And this; “Above, all you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit”) 2 Peter 1:20-21).

Our responsibility is not to change the words of the Bible to fit the cultural understanding of what it should say, but to proclaim its truth, allowing the Word of God to speak to the culture. As we share His Word, we are told He will not let it return empty. It will bring about His intended purpose. “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).

Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).

In Him,
Pastor Jerry

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