culture and (control vs. influence). out of control…

Culture andCulture and

(Control vs. Influence)(Control vs. Influence)

ChristChrist

Out of control…Out of control…

CulturallyCulturally

Government?Government?

HealthHealth

RelationshipsRelationships

Truth- Not in ControlTruth- Not in Control

- Anxiety- Anxiety- Ignore- Ignore- Attempt to force control- Attempt to force control

Religious CultureReligious Culture

is all about Controlis all about Control

Religion says, Religion says, "Come to us"Come to usAnd we'll make you doAnd we'll make you doWhat you don't want to do"What you don't want to do"

ControlControl

Religion says, Religion says, "Come to us"Come to usAnd we'll make you doAnd we'll make you doWhat you don't want to do"What you don't want to do"

The Faith says, The Faith says, "Come to Jesus"Come to Jesus

And we'll help one another do And we'll help one another do What we really want to do"What we really want to do"

The Faith says, The Faith says, "Come to Jesus"Come to Jesus

And we'll help one another do And we'll help one another do What we really want to do"What we really want to do"

InfluenceInfluence

God calls his peopleGod calls his peopleTo give up controlTo give up control

So they can change their worldSo they can change their world

Changing outward Changing outward behavior alonebehavior alone

Means Means nothingnothing

Yet we are surrounded by a Yet we are surrounded by a Church CultureChurch CultureBent on producingBent on producing

Right behaviorRight behavior

What's the Problem?What's the Problem?The Fall!The Fall!

What's the Problem?What's the Problem?The Fall!The Fall!

What's the answer?What's the answer?Redemption!Redemption!

When we make the answerWhen we make the answerAnything other than JesusAnything other than Jesus

We cause chaosWe cause chaosAnd ruin the gospelAnd ruin the gospel

So…what's the answerSo…what's the answerFor our nation? For our nation?

Right votes and good politicians?Right votes and good politicians?Make people obey?Make people obey?

Who does Jesus forceWho does Jesus forceTo follow him?To follow him?

When does ChristWhen does ChristForce society to bendForce society to bendTo his desires?To his desires?

““I must preach the good news of I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose”this purpose”- Luke 4:43- Luke 4:43

Power and Control?Power and Control?

Or Influence?Or Influence?

Control=Control= trying to trying to forceforce people to people to live up to your standardslive up to your standards

Influence=Influence= Living and speaking in Living and speaking in such a way that people such a way that people want to want to follow Jesusfollow Jesus because of your life because of your life

Samaritan Village…Samaritan Village…

When the disciples James and When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, John saw this, they asked,

“Lord, do you want us to call fire “Lord, do you want us to call fire

down from heaven todown from heaven todestroy them?”destroy them?”

But Jesus turned and rebuked But Jesus turned and rebuked them.them. Then he and his disciples Then he and his disciples

went to another villagewent to another village- Luke 9:54-56- Luke 9:54-56

James' and John'sJames' and John'sMommy speaks to JesusMommy speaks to Jesus

So they can reign with himSo they can reign with him

““You know that the rulers of the You know that the rulers of the GentilesGentiles lord it over them, and lord it over them, and

their great ones exercise their great ones exercise authority over them.authority over them.

It shall not be so among you. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great But whoever would be great among you must be your among you must be your servant, servant, and whoever would be and whoever would be first among you must be your first among you must be your slave…slave…

……even as the Son of Man came even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, not to be served but to serve,

and to give his life as a and to give his life as a ransom for many”ransom for many”

- Matthew 20:25-28- Matthew 20:25-28

Servant=Servant= opposite of control. opposite of control. Influencing by words and Influencing by words and actionsactions

Jesus is providing a way, not Jesus is providing a way, not forcing it on anyoneforcing it on anyone

The cross is the opposite The cross is the opposite of controlof control

And exactly where ChristAnd exactly where ChristDid the greatest goodDid the greatest good

You You are are the salt of the earth…the salt of the earth…

You You areare the light of the world… the light of the world…let your light shine before let your light shine before others, so that they may see others, so that they may see your good works and give glory your good works and give glory to your Fatherto your Father- Matt. 5:13-14, 16- Matt. 5:13-14, 16

When believers When believers Give up influenceGive up influenceFor controlFor control

They lose bothThey lose both

Influence, not controlInfluence, not control

For how do you know, wife, For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save husband, whether you will save your wife?your wife?- 1 Cor. 7:16- 1 Cor. 7:16


Fathers, do not provoke your Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become children, lest they become discouraged. discouraged. - Col. 3:21- Col. 3:21


Let no one despise you for your Let no one despise you for your youth, youth, but set the believers an but set the believers an exampleexample in speech, in conduct, in in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.love, in faith, in purity.- Col. 3:21- Col. 3:21

ControlControl

- Pride- Pride- Insecurity and Fear- Insecurity and Fear- Desire to gain- Desire to gain

InfluenceInfluence

- Humility- Humility- Security- Security- Desire to help- Desire to help

We can't change a single heart We can't change a single heart by force, but… by force, but…

We can't overestimate the We can't overestimate the power of our influence in Christpower of our influence in Christ

Jesus never called his peopleJesus never called his peopleTo change governmentTo change government

But to reach peopleBut to reach peopleWith the gospel of ChristWith the gospel of Christ

Jesus paid taxes to a Jesus paid taxes to a government of demi-godsgovernment of demi-gods

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the whether to the emperor, as the

supreme authority…supreme authority…

……or to governors, who are sent or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those wrong and to commend those who do right. who do right.

For it is God’s will For it is God’s will that by doing that by doing goodgood you should silence the you should silence the

ignorant talk of foolish people.ignorant talk of foolish people.

Show proper respect to Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of everyone, love the family of

believers, fear God, believers, fear God, honor honor the emperorthe emperor

- 1 Peter 2:13-15, 17- 1 Peter 2:13-15, 17

I urge that supplications, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all thanksgivings be made for all people, people, for kings and all who for kings and all who are in high positionsare in high positions- 1 Timothy 2:1-2- 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Simon the ZealotSimon the ZealotNever again picked up his knifeNever again picked up his knife

Against CaesarAgainst Caesar

America:America:

Upset? Rightly so…Upset? Rightly so…

Culture WarsCulture Wars

- By, of and for the people - By, of and for the people


- By, of and for the people - By, of and for the people - Biblically-infused society for years- Biblically-infused society for years


- By, of and for the people - By, of and for the people - Biblically-infused society for years- Biblically-infused society for years- No longer the case- No longer the case

Vote convictions? Yeah!Vote convictions? Yeah!

Get angry over how we've changedGet angry over how we've changedand try to force us back? and try to force us back?

Why? Why? In this world you will have In this world you will have trouble…- Jesustrouble…- Jesus

Win culture war, lose the real war- Win culture war, lose the real war- for hearts and minds of peoplefor hearts and minds of people

Win hearts and minds through Win hearts and minds through influence= changes the worldinfluence= changes the world

People who drinkPeople who drinkToo much…?Too much…?

Gossips…?Gossips…?

Swindlers…?Swindlers…?

Why is LGBTWhy is LGBTTreated totally different?Treated totally different?

"Do not be deceived: Neither "Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor the sexually immoral nor

idolaters nor adulterers nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex men who have sex

with men…with men…

……nor thieves nor the greedy nor nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is kingdom of God. And that is what some of you what some of you were.were.

But you were washed, you were But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit Christ and by the Spirit of our God"of our God"- 1 Cor. 6:9-11- 1 Cor. 6:9-11

Struggle vs. LifestyleStruggle vs. Lifestyle

Go with Scripture= court of Go with Scripture= court of highest authorityhighest authority

Unity around Jesus…Unity around Jesus…

Culture: Gay MarriageCulture: Gay Marriage

- Control vs. Influence- Control vs. Influence- Not an issue of truth, but - Not an issue of truth, but application of truthapplication of truth

……whatever is true, whatever is whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, noble, whatever is right,

whatever is pure, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable-whatever is admirable-

if anything is excellent or if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- praiseworthy- think think about about such thingssuch things- Phil. 4:8- Phil. 4:8

No non-Christian media ever!No non-Christian media ever!


No cable TV or radio songsNo cable TV or radio songs


No cable TV or radio songsNo cable TV or radio songs

Take each one as it comesTake each one as it comes

Truth is truthTruth is truth

Application of principlesApplication of principlesIs convictionalIs convictional

Application differsApplication differsBased on personal convictionsBased on personal convictions

Gay Marriage…?Gay Marriage…?

- Vote your convictions- Vote your convictions- Do we force an unbelieving - Do we force an unbelieving world to live by scriptural world to live by scriptural principles?principles?

What about the hypocrisy?What about the hypocrisy?

- Some on the side- Some on the side- Parking the car in a garage - Parking the car in a garage that's not yet yoursthat's not yet yours- Computer Lovin'- Computer Lovin'

The current administration:The current administration:

- EEOC and Religious Exemption- EEOC and Religious Exemption

- Trust Government?- Trust Government?

God: Free WillGod: Free Will

Right to decide who to spend Right to decide who to spend life with, end of life decision, life with, end of life decision, financial issuesfinancial issuesCivil UnionsCivil Unions

Gay MarriageGay Marriage

Conviction, LawsuitsConviction, LawsuitsGovernment ImpositionsGovernment Impositions

"I think the fact that we are "I think the fact that we are trying to maintain a Christian trying to maintain a Christian society through legislation is a society through legislation is a failing of the church. failing of the church.

"If our society was a Christian "If our society was a Christian society, than our government society, than our government would necessarily be also, as it would necessarily be also, as it is representative of the people. is representative of the people.

But we cannot (should not) But we cannot (should not) change a secular society change a secular society through a Christian through a Christian government. government.

Our laws are increasingly Our laws are increasingly secular because our society is secular because our society is increasingly secular. I don't see increasingly secular. I don't see how it works the other way how it works the other way around"- Tony Aguilar. around"- Tony Aguilar.

Who comes to us unbroken?Who comes to us unbroken?

What is the groundWhat is the groundAt the cross?At the cross?

Who isn't welcome here?Who isn't welcome here?

Truth and Love= Changed livesTruth and Love= Changed lives

Influence, not ControlInfluence, not Control

If we spent as much time If we spent as much time - - Praying Praying for our neighbors for our neighbors - Living- Living what we say we believe what we say we believeAs we do railing against societyAs we do railing against societyThe problems would be solvedThe problems would be solved

When I see things I don't like…When I see things I don't like…

PrayPray

When I get upset over the sin of When I get upset over the sin of others…others…

Search my own heart firstSearch my own heart first

This week:This week:

- Pray for government officials- Pray for government officials

- Share what you believe about - Share what you believe about Jesus as passionately as you do Jesus as passionately as you do about politicsabout politics

This week:This week:

- Determine to be like Jesus: let - Determine to be like Jesus: let your influence speak for itself as your influence speak for itself as you SERVE those around youyou SERVE those around you

culture and (control vs. influence). out of control…

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