2014 1st Qt Respect for Authority - iph BibleTube

Traveling the Ancient Pathsin a Postmodern Age In his second letter to young Timothy, the apostle Paul wrote of truly difficult days to come.But understand this, thatin the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. (2 Tim 3:1-9)In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Paul continued:For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they willaccumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.Even though these words are nearly 2,000 years old, with striking accuracy they describe our own day and age.Interestingly, more than 500 years before Paul, the prophet Jeremiah diagnosedmuch the same catastrophic phenomenon in foretelling the impending destruction of Jerusalem.“For from the least to the greatest of them,everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest,everyone deals falsely.They have healed the wound of my people lightly,saying, ‘Peace, peace,’when there is no peace.Were they ashamed when theycommitted abomination?No, they were not at all ashamed;they did not know how to blush.Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,”says the LORD.(Jer 6:13-15)Our Postmodern AgeToday, we continue to see and feel the effects of great shifts in cultural sentiments and sensibilities leading to social, moral, and ethical drifts. Unchecked, these drifts naturally lead further and further away from God.“Postmodernism” is a broad term many are using to describe the trends of our own modern culture. Postmodernist approaches to life are typically critical of the possibility of objective knowledge and absolute truth. Pilate’s question lives on as the heartbeat of postmodernist thought: “What is truth?”Postmodernist philosophy frequently draws critical attention to the ways in which social dynamics such as authorityand hierarchy affect human interaction and relationships. In contrast to the “modernist” paradigm which emphasized knowledge and science, postmodernist thought often emphasizes pluralism, relativism, and syncretism in its approaches to knowledge and understanding. This cultural cocktail has come to produce an intense sense of skepticism in the hearts of many, especially those whoare younger.Take a moment to reflect on the three cultural trends mentioned below. How have you personally observed them at work in the world around you? Are they dangerous? If so, in what ways? Can you think of anything in the Bible (commands, examples, outright warnings, principles, inferences) that speak to these ancient and modern trends?Are there those who continue to say, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace? If so, in what ways?“They did not know how to blush?” What did Jeremiah mean? Does the same problem continue in our own culture? If so, how? Why?How has much of the postmodern drift been fueled by a lack of fundamental respect for authority?

•Working in the Light of God’s Authority as a Church * What is the mission of the church? A wide spectrum of answers would be offered from across the religious landscape. Social services Disaster and poverty relief Business ventures Secular education Politics Recreation Foundational to God-shaped respect for authority is humble recognition and consistent awareness that the church belongs to God. For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Eph 1:15-23) The Spirit of God has clearly communicated the means by which the people of God can enjoy unity in the service of God. I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph 4:1-3) We are the recipients of a calling from God. We are to eagerly maintain the unity defined by the Holy Spirit of God. We are to enjoy and promote the bond of peace graciously made available to us by God. This is all about God! And this is the practical means God has provided so that his children might enjoy constructive unity: There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Eph 4:4-6) The one body—which is the church—recognizes Jesus Christ as “head over all things to the church” (Eph 1:22-23). It’s not up to us to define or modify the nature, the mission, or the means of carrying out the work of the Lord’s church. It has been a part of God’s eternal purpose all along. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. (Eph 3:7- 12) Who do we think we are—limited in every way—to be so bold as to disregard the instructions and authoritative examples that have been preserved concerning the Lord’s church? As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Pet 2:4-5) What is the God-defined mission of the Christ-centered individuals who make up this spiritual house?

Worshiping in the Light of God's Authority as a Church To worship is to pay homage or show reverent honor; to adore, venerate, or ascribe ultimate worth. We are all, as human beings, worshipers of something or someone. The Bible makes abundantly clear that we are to be worshipers of almighty God (Rev 19:10; 22:9). That being said, the Bible is also clear in its exposure of the fact that not all worship is acceptable to God. Jesus rebuked vain worship in Matthew 15:7-9. “You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” When Paul came to the city of Athens, “his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols” (Acts 17:16). In Acts 17:22-23, he began to address the shortcomings of ignorant worship. So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.” In Colossians 2:20-23, Paul warned Christians to avoid the pitfall of self-made worship. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion (self-imposed worship [NIV]; will worship [KJV]) and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. Clearly, just because I say I believe in God doesn’t make me an acceptable worshiper of God. Just because I determine to “worship” doesn’t mean I’m worshiping in the way my heavenly Father expects. If worship really is “paying homage or showing reverent honor, adoring, venerating, or ascribing ultimate worth,” I’d better make sure I’m listening to and submitting to the one I’m claiming to worship. Remember the goal: This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-7) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom 12:1-2)

* SUNDAY MORNING * (March 9th) • Living in the Light of God’s Authority as a Disciple of Jesus Having explored what the Scriptures say concerning respect for authority, it’s time to make these principles personal. Take your time with the following passages. What can we learn about living in the light of God’s authority as a disciple of Jesus from:  Luke 17:7-10?  Matthew 25:14-30?  Acts 5:27-32?  Romans 13:1-7?  1 Corinthians 11:1-3?  1 Timothy 2:8-15?  Ephesians 5:15-33?  1 Peter 3:1-7?

When God Hasn't Said Anything About It Having focused extensively in previous lessons on the nature of God's specific and generic instructions, we turn our attention more fully to the other end of the spectrum. What about those innumerable instances when God hasn't said anything? How should we treat the silence of Cod? Is it permissive or prohibitive? When God hasn't specifically addressed something in either positive or negative terms, may we faithfully interpret his silence as license to proceed in whatever direction we choose?* Granted, we don't read anything in God's revelation to mankind about the yearly observance of Christmas, but what's the big deal if we're remembering Jesus? * The use of guitars, keyboards, and drums in our assemblies of worship can't be specifically authorized using the New Testament, but what's wrong with using them if our praise is enthusiastically directed toward God? * May we build whatever we would like to build, fund whatever we would like to fund, solicit in whatever way we would like to solicit, as long as some justifiable good comes as a result of our efforts? As human beings, we can formulate an endless amount of "good reasons." Given enough time and wiggle room, we can justify nearly anything. We can appeal to emotions and reason from past experiences and motivate with inspiring rhetoric, but we are not the ultimate standard of authority. The bedrock principles delivered in Isaiah 55:6-11 continue to resonate throughout the created order. Words from the mouth of the Creator have been delivered to and preserved for his creation. There is divine purpose behind his revealed thoughts and demonstrated ways. He has already told us his ways and thoughts are inherently distinct from our ways and thoughts. They are higher and holier. His purposes will be accomplished; his will shall succeed. our responsibility, as repeatedly referenced in this study, is simple and straightforward. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Eph 5:15-17) In the end, therefore, the question is infinitely bigger than"Why can't we?" or "What's the big deal?" Despite our opinions, justifications, and rationalizations, the only thing that truly matters in the final analysis is this: how does God treat his silence in the Scriptures? Is it prohibitive or permissive?

• When It’s Time to Make a Judgment Call * We know what it is to make “judgment calls” in various circumstances of everyday life. In general terms, a judgment call is a decision based on personal opinion or preference. In our last session, we noted the difference between specific and generic instructions from an authority figure:  Specific instructions specify. By their very nature, they exclude and rule out every other option. Specific instructions don’t generally leave room for judgment calls on the part of the recipient.  On the other hand, general instructions generalize. By their very nature, they include any number of options within a specific group, category, or class. General instructions typically leave room for judgment calls on the part of the recipient. One word that naturally arises in discussions of judgment calls is expedient. An expedient is an appropriate, profitable, advantageous way of accomplishing something. Expedients are helpful means to necessary ends. The word expedient is used seven times in the King James Version of the Bible. “Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.” (John 11:50)  “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John 16:7)  Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. (John 18:14) If in all circumstances he allowed us to determine for ourselves what is right and wrong based purely on our own judgments of what is “better,” “beneficial” or “advantageous,” we would basically become a law unto ourselves and do whatever was right in our own eyes. And yet, God has allowed us to choose for ourselves how a number of general commands will be carried out and general examples will be modeled in our own modern context. Some aspects of discipleship can be accurately described and faith fully fulfilled within the realm of human judgment. In such cases, we have liberty to determine what would be most appropriate, profitable, and advantageous in a given situation. We have freedom to ask, “What would be the most helpful and beneficial means of reaching this necessary end?” Constructive Questions to Ask in the Making of Expedient Judgments Is it lawful?“ ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful” (1 Cor 10:23). Some of the early Christians in Corinth were arguing that all things were lawful for the Christian. There was great confusion and argument over how to regard meat that had been sacrificed to a pagan idol. Paul provides practical instruction in the larger context of 1 Corinthians 10, but establishes that things must first and foremost be “lawful.” Before we consider whether a thing is expedient, we must honestly ask, “Is it lawful?” If it’s not lawful, it can’t be expedient. Has God been specific? If something has been specified, there is no room for expedients. Is it helpful? In 1 Corinthians 10, the Spirit encourages us to recognize that even lawful things may not be helpful in a specific situation. Some press their opinion or insist on their “pet project” in the name of expediency, even if it causes division among God’s people. Such attitudes and actions destroy rather than edify and buildup (1 Cor 14:26). Will this cause my brother or sister to stumble? In 1 Corinthians 10.32, Paul qualifies his instructions about expediencies by saying, “Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God.” In 1 Corinthians 8:7-13 he encourages careful recognition that “not all possess” mature knowledge and that the mature must act accordingly. And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin