Wives' Tales and Wise Training
Hello Friends!
I haven't written in a while, and for that I guess I should apologize. Or, perhaps I shouldn't. :-) Jesus said he did only what he saw the Father doing. I haven't felt like it was the right time to write, so I haven't. But, today I do.
We are settling into our new life and our new ministry. There is so much need in our town. #atan has been attacking recently and I feel like we're in his territory. I guess we are, but we are also taking that territory one soul at a time.
The difficulty is that some people want to take that territory without requiring a change in ownership. They want to be sensitive to the point of not making any demands, But, this doesn't really work, because God does make demands of us.
Please don't hear me incorrectly: Salvation is an absolutely free gift based on the perfectly atoning work of Jesus Christ and not on anything we can or ought to do. However, becoming Jesus' disciple after we have confessed Him as Lord and Savior requires everything we have.
When I say that some people want to take territory without requiring a change of ownership. I am referring to a philosophy of ministry that focuses on making converts rather than on making disciples. These well-intentioned folks want to be like the world in order to win the world. But, they usually end up being so much like the world that neither they nor the world can tell the difference anymore. That isn't what God has called us to. Jesus told us to make disciples! God told us to be holy, set apart for the work of ministry, set apart as God's unique people. In other words, God has called us to be different, not the same.
Today is a dark day. It's Halloween. And, it's a surprisingly contentious day in many of our churches! Why is that? Why is this day such a big deal? Why do we argue and divide about this day?
Those who want to skip it are often made to feel guilty, being called legalistic or un-evangelistic. Those who want to participate in the day often say they are trying to redeem it. I wonder though (in many cases), where that urge to evangelize disappears to on the other 364 days of the year. Is Halloween the only day Christians should be telling people about Jesus? It couldn't possibly have anything to do with our own desires, could it?
Now, I'm certain there are many, many believers who try to redeem Halloween out of a good conscious. And, it can be done! However, if it must be done at all (which is the first question we should ask ourselves!), then it must be done properly. To my mind and in my opinion, that means looking as little like Halloween as possible.
For our congregation, the felt-need to do something for Halloween means hosting a Christian Movie Night. We are showing God's Not Dead for families in our church and in our community as a place of safety and a true alternative to the evil customs and habits of the world. I do not imagine that anyone who visits our church tonight will have any illusions that they are attending a Halloween event. We are deliberately being as un-Halloween-ish as possible!
We believe that if we are going to try to be a light in the darkness, then we should not cover that light with the shade of cultural conformity!
There is, of course, a scriptural basis for this approach, and I shared it with our congregation a month ago as we prepared for this day. The Elders left the choice up to our people as far as their individual families, but as the God-appointed leaders of our church family we had to make a decision about our congregation's participation in this day.
I pray we decided wisely. This movie night is more participation in Halloween than I have had for 2 decades, but I believe it is the right choice for our congregation and our community.
What follows is a copy of my sermon notes, the whole of which (with some significant changes in delivery!) may be found at http://www.centerpointeonline.com/ListentoSermons. The title of this message is Wives' Tales and Wise Training, and it was preached on September 28, 2014.
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(thanks to my wife for the photo!)
“God’s Not Dead!”
It’s true! We believe it. We depend upon it. We base our lives and our eternities on it. It is foundational to our hope as Christians.
We believe that God is Alive. He is active in history and in the world today. He is the beginning and the end. God is not dead. God is living and well, and part of our lives right now! And, we praise him every day for that reality.
Moreover, this God in whom we believe has given us His Word, both in the form of His Son Jesus (who is the living and breathing Word of God) and also in the form of these Scriptures (which are the inspired Words of God).
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says,
“16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17, HCSB)
Thisis God’s Word, and we believe that it is our authority for life as followers of Jesus over tradition, heritage, culture, emotion, feelings, or personality.
This Scripture (the Bible) tells us in Paul’s first letter to Timothy what we are to expect in the later times & how we should respond to it.
Therefore, this morning, we are going to consider a message entitled, Wives’ Tales and Wise Living.
Our text will be 1st Timothy 4:1-10. (pg. 1175)
In considering this particular passage this morning, my goal is 3-fold:
- (1) to learn what this text means by its warnings against Wives’ Tales and its encouragement toward Wise Living(which it makes related to the days in which we now live) so that we can apply these truths to our lives,
- (2) to share my own personal journey in coming to understand Halloween as it relates to the spiritual choices and challenges presented by modern American culture,
- & (3) to encourage you to thoughtfully consider (or reconsider) your participation in this pagan ‘holy-day’ as we build on the ministry of the past and move forward in our Christian discipleship and life together.
Because I love this church and because I fear the LORD, we are going to address a difficult and emotional issue this morning.
This is not about looking backwards or questioning the sincerity of past ministry efforts.
This is about fulfilling my call as your pastor and your call as God’s people.
It is because of issues just like Halloween that Ephesians 4:11-13 says,
“11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13, NIV)
Therefore, in the context of 1stTimothy 4, we will discuss the roots and fruits of Halloween,
- (1) to learn what the text means so we can apply it to our lives,
- (2) as a basis for deciding whether or not we should allow any aspect of American culture to shape and determine our values and decisions as followers of Jesus,
- and(3) so that you can decide what wisdom calls for in your life regarding issues like this one.
My hope is that we can stand apart from the world in love and truth as a light in the darkness without compromising our calling to personal and collective holiness.
As we discuss this passage, bear in mind that (when it comes to cultural events like Halloween), the lost often don’t know the difference between a Halloween Party and a “Harvest Festival.” Nor do they care. It’s all the same to them, and that means we aren’t communicating truth.
These verses are composed of only 3 sentences in the Greek Text:
1st – verses 1-5
2nd – verses 6-8
3rd – verses 9 & 10
This is important, because it helps us understand how the Apostle Paul grouped these thoughts…. The first two sentences are warnings and the third one is an encouragement.
The first sentence is a warning against the apostasy of legalism.
Apostasy is falling away from the true faith in Jesus Christ and the freedom we have been given in that name.
Paul specifically mentions falling into the evils of (legalism) and man-made regulations.
verses 1-5
How many of us in this congregation have been part of a church like that in the past? Many of us have! And, it is not a good place to have been.
We know it isn’t God’s intention for His church to be legalistic.
* However, we must eventually come to recognize that our fear of legalism can alsobe dangerous. We are on a journey of learning to distinguish between legalism and the proper stewardship of our liberties.
The next sentence reflects this reality, as does 1 Corinthians 8:9, which says,
“But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.”
The second sentence modifies the warning against legalism, with a second warning against shunning God’s spiritual guidelines and neglecting the wisdom of godly living:
verses 6-8
Paul tells Timothy that avoiding legalism is good. It is sound doctrine, but we must also take care not to participate in “worldly fables” which are contrary to godliness.
This word “godliness” means showing proper caution, fear, or reverence toward God.
In Christian usage, it reminds us that (according to one theological dictionary) “the one true God, as creator and redeemer, requires an active obedience to his revealed will and a personal devotion that surpasses lip-service, mere trepidation, or bare admiration.”
Ungodliness, by contrast (that same article continues) “brings about the wrath of God, because it involves suppressing the truth about God, worshipping created things rather than the Creator, and pursuing unrighteous relationships and behavior.”
Romans 1:18-23 teaches us about godliness by describing ungodliness.
It says that those who profess to be wise but ignore the clear revelation of God eventually and inevitably fall into ungodliness.
Ill. The Israelites fresh out of Egypt…. (They ignore God even as they claim to be worshiping Him!)
And, back in 1st Timothy 4, Paul is warning Timothy against this danger of accidentally falling away from godliness through a lack of discipline.
Notice how Paul contrasts “bodily discipline” with “godliness” or spiritual discipline……….
Discipline, of course, is defined (among other things) as “the practice of training” in order to achieve a desired result….
It isn’t something that just happens.
Ill. My Marathon…. (Lot's of training! Discipline!)
So, while the first sentence warns against legalism, the second sentence warns equally against lawlessness.
Such a warning requires a disciplined, scriptural response:
“Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Ephesians 5:11)
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, NLT)
* You see, We believe God is not dead; and because we believe His word, we must also believe that satan isn’t dead either.
[I normally use a little ‘s’ just to spite him.] J
“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”(1 Thessalonians 5:22, KJV)
“You that love the LORD, hate evil!” (Psalm 97:10, NKJV)
“If we say we have fellowship with [Jesus] while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” (1 John 1:6, ESV)
John17:1-2 (also for causing children to stumble)
The third sentence states that our labor(perhaps against both legalism and lawlessness) is based upon our hope in the living God.
Paul encourages us in this work of discipleship by reminding us that God is alive and active in our lives.
verses 9-10
It is He who is “the Savior of all men”
The word “especially” can also mean “particularly” and does not need to indicate any confusion about the reality that only believers are saved.
* The salvation of the Living God is offered to all people, but it is onlythose who believe who are “saved”.
And, so:
We must be careful of legalism.
We must discipline ourselves for godliness.
And, we must remember that we serve a living God.
And, because of these three challenges from the text, and the second point in particular:
We must address the issue of Halloweenas an example of the contrast between Wives’ Tales and Wise Living.
Here I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 10:3-5:
“3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, ESV)
Ill. When I was growing up……. (we celebrated Halloween)
I didn’t know any better.
Was I sinning? I don’t know.
If I was, God has forgiven me.
If I wasn’t, God has enlightened me.
And, even if it was not sin before (because I didn’t know any better), I believe that to participate in Halloween now (for me) would be sin, because
James 4:17 says,
“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” (NIV)
Whatever I thought I knew before, I now know the good I ought to do.
I now know more about Halloween and the origins of Halloween: At best these origins are Wives’ Tales at worse these origins are quite strictly demonic.
I know Halloween has roots as far back as the Chaldeans and the Tower of Babel.
I know it’s more recent history (among the Celts) involved worship to the lord of Death and is the first feast of the year for Wiccans.
I know its association with the church began when the Catholic Church attempted to provide an alternative to the celebration of Samhain. An alternative that (in the end) only spread the evil of that day.
I know the jack-o-lantern is a symbol of a damned soul………………..
I know that trick-or-treat originated as a way to appease demons……………………..
I know that Halloween costumes originated in demonism, fear of ghosts, and as a cover for perpetuating violent crimes.
I know that bobbing for apples was about fortunetelling and participation in a witch’s ceremony which embraced the rebellion of Adam and Eve in the Garden.
I know bonfires were (and are) used for child sacrifice.
Yes! Even to this very day, all of the evil forces associated with Halloween in the past are still participating in it! It is a ‘holy-day’.
“In modern day Satanism and Witchcraft covens, this is the day when Satan himself comes to ‘fellowship’ with his followers.” – www.exposingsatanism.org
Next month, on October 31st, as they have for centuries: witches will gather to worship, the powers of darkness will be invoked against unsuspecting people, rites will be performed, and children and animals will be sacrificed to satan.
As one author writes,
“Although the clear pagan and satanic past alone should be sufficient for one not to partake of the evil, wicked, celebration of Halloween; its present association, promotion, and glorification of evil would utterly condemn it to be a clear work of darkness that promotes sin, evil, and satanic witchcraft.” –Pastor Sean Bonitto
I’ve heard the modern day testimonies of satanic worship. I’ve read about the sites the authorities discover each year in early November.
In my opinion, Halloween is a day for spiritual warfare, not for dressing our kids up as ghosts, or Smurfs, or even Bible characters.
I believe Ephesians 6:12:
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
And, I know that even innocent exposure to the realities behind Halloween can lead to serious entanglements and spiritual bondage.
I’ve seen the scriptural clues to the dangers of tasting and developing an appetite for worldly traditions which make no contribution at all to the godliness of a Christian and often lead to confusion among the lost (who have no understanding of the difference between Halloween and a ‘Fall Festival’ or ‘Trunk or Treat’ as an alternative to Halloween, however much we hope they do).
That plan didn’t work 13 centuries ago. Why do we think it would work know?
Rather, scripture tells us:
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)
- to be in the world, but not of it (John 17:14-16);
- to not be conformed to the image of this world (Romans 12:2);
- that involvement in occultism is a capital offense biblically (Leviticus 20:27) and the reason God destroyed the Canaanites. (Deuteronomy 18:9-14)
- that Satan is the author of all false religions (1 Corinthians 10: 19-21)
There is nothing in Halloween we need to be associated with.
There is nothing cute about it. Ill. the display by our house (ghosts worshiping *atan!)
There is nothing holy about it.
There is nothing fun about it.
“Cultures that toy with evil end up being cultures of death.” – Douglas Phillips, President of Vision Forum Ministries
Now, I want you to all hear me very carefully in what I am about to say: Ok?
My goal today has been 3-fold:
- to explore this text and apply it
- to share my own personal journey in understanding Halloween
- & to encourage you to thoughtfully consider your participation in this pagan ‘holy-day’.
It notbeen my intention to condemn or cause guilt.
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.”(Rom. 8:1-2)
I am not a judge in this matter. You are absolutely free to decide as you wish about the day, and I will never judge you. Please hear me say that!
However, I am your pastor and as a follower of Jesus……
I cannot stand before my Lord and not have offered you the opportunity to understand where I’m coming from.
At the end of the day, we may disagree about Halloween, but it was important for you to understand the basis for our decision to discontinue our Fall Festival (an outreach event that has beeneffective in the past) and offer a Movie Night instead.
Our Elders have not made this decision out of any sense of legalism.
We aren’t telling you that you have to do or can’t do anything you want about Halloween.
You don’t have to agree with our focus on sparing our people (especially our children) the dangers of ‘innocent’ exposure to the realities behind this ‘holy-day’
We don’t even insist that you agree with our desire to encourage the self-discipline that leads to personal godliness as followers of Jesus.
Our motivation is to act in Wise Training , in a disciplined, biblical striving after godliness in all that we do as a church family.
And, we simply want you to understand and trust our hearts.
We are just trying to teach the truth, protect our church, and fulfill our responsibility to make decisions in these “grey areas” according to what we believe is best for our fellowship.
Our desire is simple. On Halloween, we want Centerpointe Community Church:
- to be as clear as we can in presenting the Gospel,
- to offer an opportunity for evangelism and discipleship,
- to avoid the dangers of compromise with the worldly traditions associated with Halloween,
- & to provide a place of safety, fellowship, and truth for our people and our neighbors.
And, all of it is because we are trying to understand the days in which we live, the very days Paul is warning Timothy about in 1st Timothy 4! [2 Timothy 4:1-5 applies to us as elders.]
These are days when we must make hard choices in emotional areas in order be obedient to Scripture. Satan will try to fool us, lie to us, and get us to compromise, but we cannot allow him to do it!
We must discipline ourselves in godliness, tasting and developing an appetite for godly choices and efforts to reach the lost without accidentally compromising ourselves.
These are the days when we must beware of the spirit of lawlessness in our culture and come together as a body in order to be light in the darkness.
Let’s pray.
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