Cultural discipleship is a lifestyle under attackPosted: 04 Apr 2009 11:04 PM PDTby Dr. Pat Briney:A culture is defined by the lifestyle of its members. And that lifestyle is manifested by the way a group of people choose to think and behave. [There are] many attributes that distinguish one culture from another from clothing to food to entertainment. Churches produce a culture. They instruct their members how to think and to live. Values, doctrines, and practices are spelled out; and there is expectation for members to conform. The result: a culture.God gave the nation of Israel instruction on how to build their culture. He gave them detailed instructions of what to teach and how to teach. Deut 6:1—12, “. . . Hear therefore, . . . The LORD our God is one LORD (how to think): And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might (what to do). And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house (how to do it), and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers . . . to give thee great and goodly cities (promise and expectation), which thou buildedst not, And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. "We see here instruction to teach and practice. It is very intense. But the influence and example all around them by other nations was very intense. Israel was counter culture. And if they were going to succeed in sustaining and even more so increase their culture, it was imperative that they, at the very least, match the intensity if not exceed the intensity of the surrounding influences.Likewise, Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts us as churches to continue the intensity of preserving our culture by saying, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”We know what day is approaching. It is the day of the Lord and the day of antichrist. As Paul describes to Timothy in Timothy 1:4, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. "Romans 1 elaborates on describing cultures that reject God.• 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.• 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:• 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.• 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;• 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,• 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,• 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:• 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.To summarize this passage in a paragraph to describe our ‘new’ American culture, which is not really a new culture: The new American culture of America is dominated by self absorbed tree huggers wanting to save the planet from the human plaque, control its evolution because there is no God to do it for us, and extolling a culture of unbridled lust, sodomy, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, and unmerciful.In contrast, the church culture is described in Titus 2:11-14, which says, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. "This is in the context of giving instruction to aged men, aged women, young men and young women. A peculiar people is a possessed people. That is to say, possessed by God, which means God’s possession, a people who belong to God, are owned by God. He is our redeemer. He bought us. He purchased us. We are His. And as such, we are responsible now to live for Him and to do His bidding. The alternative was and is to live under the condemnation of sin and evil. Thank God for deliverance, for having been successfully rescued, and for hope for a better future.Our national culture is predictably moving away from its Christian roots. Humanity is depraved and is offended by Christ. It is a miracle that the spiritual revolution and awakening continued this long. Barna reports that "the percentage of Americans claiming no religion, which jumped from 8.2 in 1990 to 14.2 in 2001, has now increased to 15%. Given the estimated growth of the American adult population since the last census from 207 million to 228 million, that reflects an additional 4.7 million "Nones." Northern New England has now taken over from the Pacific Northwest as the least religious section of the country, with Vermont, at 34%"Nones," leading all other states by a full 9 points. (Ariela Keysar)"The percentage of Christians in America, which declined in the 1990s from 86.2%to 76.7%, has now edged down to 76%. Ninety percent of the decline comes from the non-Catholic segment of the Christian population, largely from the mainline denominations, including Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians/Anglicans, and the United Church of Christ. These groups, whose proportion of the American population shrank from 18.7% in 1990 to 17.2% in 2001, all experienced sharp numerical declines this decade and now constitute just 12.9%.This trend is and will accelerate exponentially resulting in an intensifying culture that is contrary and hostile to Christianity. Just recently, Joseph Farrah’s Worldnetdaily announced that the online Webster dictionary has broadened the definition of marriage to include same sex unions.. . . Jamie Ensley, president of the Georgia "Log Cabin Republicans" contacted Steele's office to call a Christian group, the Illinois-based Americans for Truth, "terrorists" and liken them to Germany's Nazi party. Further they urged Steele to endorse "civil unions" or homosexual marriage. He wrote Mr. Steele saying, "Most Americans and people of medical science believe that people do not choose their sexual orientation. Groups like Americans for Truth simply want to divide Americans, and truthfully their group would be more welcome as a mainstream Nazi Germany organization, than an organization which provides any value at all in 21st Century America. . . . I hope you will continue to support the Log Cabin Republicans, and not listen to the radical Christian extremist domestic terrorist groups such as Americans for Truth."To his credit, Michael Steele responded emphatically, "No, no no. Why would we backslide on a core, founding value of this country? I mean this isn’t something that you just kind of like, 'Oh well, today I feel, you know, loosey-goosey on marriage.'" He continued saying, "I mean this is a foundational principle of this country. This is a foundational principle of organized society.However, the current President of the United States of America is publishing on Whitehouse.gov, the following:- President Obama and Vice President Biden will strengthen federal hate crimes legislation, expand hate crimes protection by passing the Matthew Shepard Act, and reinvigorate enforcement at the Department of Justice's Criminal Section.- They proudly declare that in 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15% of such crimes and that President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of … sexual orientation, and gender identity,- President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions.Adding insult to injury, Obama declared that America is not a Christian nation and then resorted to smug blasphemy and mockery of the Bible and Christians. A YouTube clip records Obama saying with the smirk of an arrogant fool, shaking his head in unbelief that anyone could possibly believe the Bible if only they would read it, Mr. Obama serves us notice that he is no friend to Christianity. In fact, he is our enemy. His ridicule of Christianity is a declaration that he despises it and holds no regard for those who follow Christ’s teachings. So much for promoting unity and good will among all groups in a pluralistic society. His personal attack on Christianity is a declaration of hostility toward Christ and His followers. He has revealed his antagonistic attitude toward the American-Christian population, and he is using his position as commander in chief to single out and attack this significant and noble segment of the American population; a significant population that represents America’s heritage and to whom America owes its foundation and greatness. Mr. Obama is using his position to intensify division in the American population by poisoning the minds of others against Christian-Americans and against Christ. He is attempting to discredit its contribution to society and its relevance to public policy.I will not and cannot follow his lead in this blasphemy. I repudiate his leadership as President. This may sound harsh and rebellious, but it is not, and it is not my doing. This is his doing. He is the one who mocks my King, my allegiance to Christ, and my belief in the Holy Bible. In the words of Peter, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). And Romans 13 tells us to obey the higher powers of which none are greater than God, and to none other do I have greater allegiance. I am not angry or hateful about Obama’s insults, and I am not surprised by his malicious attack on me and my fellow Christian-Americans. Christ explained that we should expect hatred and attack warning us in John 15:18, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” However, I am resolved to oppose, without disrespect to God’s institutional design of authority, law, and social order, Mr. Obama’s 'obamanations’ against Christ and my faith. As president of the United States, Mr. Obama owes the American-Christian community a sincere apology for his crass mockery of Christian-American citizens. He should seek immediate sensitivity/diversity training, and he should meet with both of the Christian-American citizens he singled out by name to offer them a personal apology.Personally, I would like to have a Bible study with Mr. Obama to help him correct his confusion and flawed understanding of the Bible. In the first place, the Old Testament was a contract exclusively between God and Israel to demonstrate to them and to the world that a relationship with God based on law rather than on mercy and grace will always lead to a culture characterized by bondage, sin, suffering, and failure. Second, the beatitudes of Christ in the New Testament describe what a culture of born again Christian disciples is like. What sane and decent person would ridicule a culture that advocates the virtues of Christ’s beatitudes for its citizens? What kind of a person would call the beatitudes of Christ radical? If Mr. Obama is looking for guidance on government beatitudes, he needs to read Romans 13, which will tell him that a public official of government is supposed to be a minister of God for good; is not supposed to be a terror to good works, but to the evil; and that it is government’s responsibility to protect its citizens from evil rather than rely on vigilantism. A good leader would not confuse personal beatitudes with government responsibilities. Mr. Obama needs to do more than read his Bible. He needs to understand his Bible. I would be glad to help him.I want to reassure Mr. Obama, that I like many of my fellow Christian-Americans, read my Bible every day, and it tells me in Ephesians 4:17—5:8 to reject a culture of ‘obamanation’ saying, “… henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light."The fact is that our Biblical Christian culture is and will become increasingly odd and offensive to the main-stream Antichrist culture. And as it does, the intensity to blend in, compromise, or at least to not offend will increase. Thus, the cultural distinctives of outreach and discipleship will diminish first. As the liberty to publicly proclaim Christ becomes less tolerable, exacerbated by a President who mocks Biblical teaching and its believers, most churches will resort to more convenient and less confrontational practices such as sitting in the pews, singing inside the church, and talking among themselves about how the lost need Christ. Taking the message to the public will decrease. This is the future of most churches who are not already engaged in a comfortable church culture.There is much more to say about the trend of anti-christian sentiment in America with groups like the ACLU suing to remove a cross monument in a government-owned Vinton County cemetery. They lost for the time being. But 20 years ago, such a suit would have been deemed so ridiculous and absurd that the mere thought of such an action would have been dismissed. It is just a matter of time until they succeed in their agenda. And what will become of Arlington cemetery with its thousands of crosses?I leave you with this sobering thought. The culture of Christianity in a hostile land is not for the faint of heart. Unlike today, tomorrow promises to be one of great persecution and sorrow. As churches, we must resolve to counter the main stream culture and accept the consequences or to conform to the mainstream culture to gain its rewards of temporary comforts and pleasures. The late philosopher/historian of Western culture, Francis Shaeffer asked this fundamental question that we all need to ask ourselves: ‘how should we then live?’ For Christ or Antichrist?------------------Pat Briney, Ph.D. is the President of the Arkansas Republican Assembly. He is also a pastor and teacher and presented this speech at Mission Blvd. Baptist Church Discipleship Conference, March 2009. [Some parts were edited to reduce the length or to transition from the text of a speech to an article.] Share▼ Reply to ThisUpload FilesAttach File(s):Stop Following– Don't email me when people replyReplies to This DiscussionRSSStop Following– Don't email me when people replyBeau BowlingSign OutInbox (0 new)Alerts (0 new)Friends – Invite (1 request) (0 requests)SettingsQuick Add… Blog PostDiscussionEventPhotosVideo Invite Friends Share This PageCancelAwaiting Approval1 Group Invite Grassfire Audio Update On 4/1 D.C. 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Look at my post on Muslims Over Others and view the responses ! Those of us who are believers are getting sick and tired of all the non-christian attitudes and non-christian Muslims and others that are being let into the country at the rate of a 138,000 month according to the governmen' ownt statistics.
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