THE UNPOPULAR WAY (4) – SAINTS AND DEI
There is an acronym used by educators, businesses, clubs, and even the many denominations. You may or may not know it.
It is DEI, which stands for “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion”, and you will be unpopular for standing against it.
The problem with this is at its core, it denies a biblically informed doctrine of sin.
Even greater its goal included “canceling” the Lord’s church preventing souls from hearing the truth about sin, causing some to be eternally lost.
Jesus told His disciples the Holy Spirit will come and, “convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (John 16:8-11).
The church of Christ will never affirm immorality or sinfulness of any nature in the name of “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” or any other practice as so many others do.
Jesus opening the understanding of the 11 disciples said, “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations” (Luke 24:47) and that is opposed to DEI’s core teaching.
If we are not watchful, we can fall from our own steadfastness, and be led away with the error of the wicked, (2 Pet. 3:17).
Paul tells us how to prevent this from happening…
“HEAVEN HOLDS ALL TO ME” INTRODUCTION The wonderful and comforting song we just sang, Heaven holds all to me… As I sing this song, I think of how this world is perishing, coming to an end., I think of the country to which I am going – Heaven that is eternal. I think of the…
The unpopular way of God will always be at odds with those outside of the faith whose focus is on pleasing self, rather than pleasing God.
But the child of God must not live to please man, but must live to please the Lord Jesus (Gal. 1:10) who shed His blood that we may have freedom from sin and the second death (Luke 22:20; Rev. 20:14).
What is this unpopular biblical teaching? The saints *and Dance: Let me begin by clarifying that there is a difference between the law of Moses and the law of Christ…
ASSURANCE
Where do you run for refuge when life gets overwhelming?
What truths to do you turn to?
Notice Psalm 46:10 is rendered in the CSB as “Stop your fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
During the dark and dangerous periods of the Reformation,
Luther would turn to his trusted friend Philip Melanchthon and cry out: “Let’s sing the 46th Psalm, and let the devil do his worst!”
It inspired his great hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”
So, in this lesson let’s spend time contemplating the term Assurance
UNPOPULAR DISCIPLES
In our last lesson we talked about 4 lies this world uses to keep you from the true faith, and from practicing your faith openly.
In this lesson we know that Jesus willingly suffered scourging, and crucifixion for all mankind. But we must also, and in context with Peter’s point, remember that during the 3 or so years of His ministry on earth Jesus suffered many things at the hand of man. Things He endured because He loved us – He left us examples.
MANY THINGS: Luke 17:25 “But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.”
Rejected by His Own for applying Isaiah 61 to Himself – Luke 4:18-19, 28-29
For Healing on the Sabbath The Pharisee’s Traditions – Matt. 12:11-14
In John 10, Claiming His Deity – John 10:30-39
Hunger, Tiredness – Heb. 4:15
Betrayal – Luke 9:44; Matt. 26:14-16
They All Forsook Him – Mark 14:50
And Peter tells us, “arm yourselves with the same mind”, to be ready to endure the same!
In our current day society both men and women are trained by appearances.
Understand that there’s nothing wrong with grooming and personal hygiene, and as Christians we must be concerned about our physical – outward appearance.
But it is undeniably true that many people are only concerned with their exterior beauty.
Most people neglect the inner man and, it’s simply because our current culture calls for an inordinate amount of attention given to the appearance of men and women.
Everything from diet plans to beer drinking are supposed to enhance one’s looks (and outlook) on life.
Truly, we live in a humanistic society!
Truly people tend to look and judge according to appearances and comparisons.
But we are God’s people and our God Sees Beyond the Flesh…
In our time, Christianity is not exactly popular but then, it wasn’t exactly popular in the first century. Jesus told His disciples, “24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause’” (John 15:24-25). And He also told them “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19).
In this series called, “The Unpopular Way”, will be looking at a number of unpopular teachings from the Bible. In this lesson we’ll consider the ways the world tries to suppress you and how you can overcome such things as DEI, the majority rule fable, and it doesn’t matter what you believe.
Join with me and remember the power to save is not in us, but it is God’s word.
THREE PILLARS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT (EZEKIEL 14:12-23)
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Pillar of the Community”? This usually points to someone who is always there, always reliable. One that holds up the community. Always somebody you can rely on, having deep respect for, they are pillars of the community.
David wrote, “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the [a]beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.” (Psa. 27:4)
Ezekiel wrote of three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job. In this lesson we’ll meditate on these three and glean some helpful facts from their character and lives.
These three men…
GOD OF ALL COMFORT
Paul wrote, “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any [a]trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Cor. 1:3-4)
God is Ever Present to Sustain Us Through Adversity – (Psa. 23; Heb. 13:5-6; James 4:10). We will face hardships in many forms, physical, emotional, yet when finally give up and lean on Christ, such a result cannot be all bad.
It’s been said, the only gospel to the poor and unfortunate is the gospel of better wages, better homes, less work and more play.
But truth is that adversity, suffering is what produces the noblest and strongest characters we have known. Forged to serve by these circumstances.
“My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the [a]strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psa. 73:26)
Let us think on these things…
OBEDIENCE -THE FATHER & HIS CHILDREN!
In this lesson we will think about our loving Fatherk, of ourselves as His children and the power that comes from submission and obedience to our Father.
In Hebrews chapter 12 we think of our Creator in very helpful terms. The Need of our Father to Chasen Us – So That We Can Be More Like Him!
“7 If[d] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?” (Hebrews 12:7-9)
Our Creator, God is Spirit, and we come to worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Verse six says, “For whom the Lord loves He chastens…” Let us turn to the scripture and meditate on these good things…