CHRISTIANITY S CRISIS OF ILLITERACY

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1 Agenda CHRISTIANITY S CRISIS 1. Devotional/Overview OF ILLITERACY - Kent 2. Church Network Development Update Carlos Q & A 3. Abundant Life Program Update Helen Q&A 4. Prayer/Dismiss

2 2017 Biblical Worldview Survey 70% of American adults call themselves Christians. Relatively few can answer basic questions about the Bible and Christian beliefs 46% of American adults claim to have a biblical worldview In reality only 10% of American adults actually possess a biblical worldview (based on 40 question survey of belief/behavior)

3 There are many reasons that ignorance pervades today s church. For decades, Christians have focused on felt needs rather than doctrinal truth. We have focused on immediately applicable topical sermons rather than verse-by-verse exposition that unleashes the whole truth of God s whole Word. We have ceased catechizing our children, building within them a solid, systematic foundation for their faith. We have emphasized Christianity as a relationship with God at the expense of Christianity as an established body of truth

4 In so many ways, we have focused on feelings rather than facts. We have attempted to make Christianity palatable by making it simplistic. While the Christian faith is much more than facts, much more than doctrines, it can never be less. Every Christian is responsible to learn sound doctrine, to be trained in the truth in order to discern error. Tim Challies

5 Epistle of 2 John One of the last written books of the bible Topic: Balancing truth and love Concerned with traveling teachers spreading false doctrine in churches under his authority. Writing to a woman who may have unknowingly or unwisely shown hospitality to false teachers.

6 Modern-day hospitality to false teachers Contents of our Ipods, bookshelves, Kindles Conferences we attend Unsound books we unwittingly recommend Our silence in the face of opportunity to identify wolves in sheep s clothing (Matt. 7:15) Scripture is for teaching, reproof, correction, and for training in righteousness that we may be equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

7 The history of Christ s church is inseparable from the history of Satan s attempts to destroy her False teachers take on many forms, custom-crafted to times, cultures, and contexts.

8 The Heretic The Prophet The Abuser The Divider The Tickler The Charlatan The Speculator

9 Sarah Young s Divine Revelation After many years of writing her own words in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to be more attentive to the Savior s voice and begin listening for what He was saying. So with pen in hand, she embarked on a journey that forever changed her and many others around the world. In these powerful pages are the words and Scriptures Jesus lovingly laid on her heart. Words of reassurance, comfort, and hope. Words that have made her increasingly aware of His presence and allowed her to enjoy His peace. Harper Collins Publishing

10 2 Peter 1:20-2:2 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.

11 We are not commanded anywhere in Scripture to make up things Jesus might say to lonely house wives, as is the case with Jesus Calling. And we are not to envision our love for Christ and God so great that we have sexual desires and experiences with God of the type that Voskamp describes in her chapter The Joy of Intimacy.

12 Greeting (vs. 1-3) 1 The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

13 Commendation (vs. 4-6) 4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. 5 Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

14 Warning to avoid false teachers (vs. 7-11) 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

15 Warning to avoid false teachers (vs. 7-11) 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

16 G. Campbell Morgan Any consent to darkness out of a so-called charity is not love. Loyalty to the Lord is the true way of love, and anything that compromises that is false and eventually violates love.

17 Truth/Love imbalance occurs as a result of: 1. External Societal Pressure No Absolutes - Postmodernism What is true is determined subjectively by each person, and there is no such thing as objective, authoritative truth that governs or applies to all humanity universally.

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19 Truth/Love imbalance occurs as a result of: 1. External Societal Pressure New Definitions Tolerance/Hatred For years tolerance meant accepting the rights of others to have a belief different from your own. Today it means accepting other people s views without critique. Today, everything short of glowing endorsement can be counted as hate.

20 Truth/Love imbalance occurs as a result of: 2. Internal Doctrinal Implosion Theology is excess cargo Doctrine is not freight on the ship. It s the hull and mast. A church s doctrine determines the character and quality of its witness. Its theology shapes its goals and the way it tries to achieve those goals.

21 2017 Biblical Worldview Survey The younger an adult is, the less likely they are to have a biblical worldview. 65 or older: 17% 50 to 64: 15% 30 to 49: 7% 18 to 29: 4%

22 Truth/Love imbalance occurs as a result of: 2. Internal Doctrinal Implosion Unity at any cost False doctrine cries the loudest about unity. And listen carefully when you hear the cry for unity because it may be the cover of false doctrine encroaching.

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24 Danger of Unintended Endorsements

25 J. Vernon McGee When truth and love come into conflict, truth is the one that is to predominate. It is the one that has top priority. Have you noticed that in 1 Cor. 13:13 Paul didn t say, Now abideth faith, hope, truth and love? He just said, Now abideth faith, hope and love; these three but the greatest of these is love. But when truth is brought in, then truth comes first.

26 Truth/Love imbalance occurs as a result of: 1. External Societal Pressure No Absolutes Post-modernism New Definitions Tolerance/Hatred 2. Internal Doctrinal Implosion Theology viewed as excess baggage Unity at any cost

27 How can we discern truth from error? 1. Read and study God s Word. 2. Compare what others are teaching with what the Bible says. 3. Avoid those who don t abide in the clear teachings of Scripture. Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11)

28 Discussion Questions What consequences have we seen (or can we expect to see) from a decreasing percentage of American adults holding a biblical worldview? How equipped do you feel to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints in a society increasingly hostile to Scripture s objective truth? (Jude 1:3) What actions can you take to be spiritually vigilant in promoting sound doctrine and protecting your family and church from the insidious attacks of false teachers?