FAQ - 20190630 - EP 06
SUNDAY JUNE 30 - FAQ BIO
Do you ever sit around wondering about certain spiritual questions like…
“Is it wrong to go dancing?”
“Should a Christian get a tattoo?”
“Will we be married in heaven?”
“Do people turn into angels in heaven?”
“Is it wrong to trust in horoscopes?”
“Is it OK to spank your kids?”
“What’s up with the whole dinosaur stuff?”
“Is there ‘for real’ an unforgiveable sin?”
You’ve got questions? The Bible has the answers. And where the text is unclear, we will give you our opinions and what has formed them. Some of life’s most fun, most interesting, most shocking, and most trivial questions will be discussed with real questions from real people.
Q&A RULES:
The Bible is the STANDARD OF TRUTH
Wherever the BIBLE SPEAKS CLEARLY, I will stand with it and will not waiver a bit
Where the BIBLE DOESN’T SPEAK DIRECTLY to an issue, I will look for PRINCIPLES TO APPLY
If I CAN’T FIND PRINCIPLES that apply, I will give MY OPINION
Let’s do it all with a SPIRIT OF GRACE, compassion, empathy and shared experiences. Nobody is a “STUPID IDIOT!”
1 PETER 3:15 NIV Always be PREPARED TO GIVE AN ANSWER to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with GENTLENESS and RESPECT.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 NIV All SCRIPTURE is God-breathed and is useful for TEACHING, REBUKING, CORRECTING and TRAINING in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
TOPICS IN FAQ SERIES - FOUR CATEGORIZED TOPICS
God’s Love, Salvation & Eternity
Bible Interpretation, Faith & Science
Church Community & Relationships with Unbelievers
Moral Behavior & Sexuality
TODAYS MESSAGE - MORAL BEHAVIOR
1 - MORALITY & ETHICS - What is morality?
DEFINITION
Principles concerning the distinction
between right and wrong or good and bad behavior.
TWO CATEGORIC VIEWS OF MORALITY
1. MORAL RELATIVISM
2. MORAL ABSOLUTISM
MORAL RELATIVISM:
The view that moral standards and judgments
are only relative to the subject opinion of the individual
and that no standpoint is privileged over all others.
MORAL ABSOLUTISM:
The view that there are
absolute standards and judgments that
universally apply to all people and cultures.
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2 - MORALITY & ETHICS - Can I participate in things that AREN’T EXPLICITLY “CHRISTIAN?”
JAMES 4:4 NLT … Don't you realize that FRIENDSHIP with the WORLD makes you an enemy of God?
JAMES 4:17 ESV So whoever KNOWS THE RIGHT THING to do and FAILS TO DO IT, for him it is SIN.
8 FILTER QUESTIONS
Does God clearly say you should or should not participate?
Is it congruent with your values and life vision?
Does it emotionally dysregulate you or diminish your love for Jesus?
Does it infringe upon your conscience?
Does it diminish your own story in Jesus?
Does it compel “secrets” with those you trust?
Does it open you to moral vulnerabilities?
Would you like to see your Pastor/Pastor’s wife doing it?
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3 - SANTA CLAUS – What should I tell my kids about Santa?
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4 - CURSING – What determines whether something is a curse word, since nowhere in the bible is there a list found of inappropriate words?
MATTHEW 15:18-20 NKJV [Jesus said] But those things which proceed out of the MOUTH COME FROM the HEART, and they DEFILE a man. 19 For OUT OF THE HEART proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
EPHESIANS 5:4 NIV [Paul said] Nor should there be OBSCENITY, FOOLISH TALK or COARSE JOKING, which are out of place, BUT RATHER THANKSGIVING.
EPHESIANS 4:29 NKJV [Paul said] Let NO CORRUPT WORD proceed out of your mouth, but what is GOOD for necessary EDIFICATION, that it may impart GRACE TO THE HEARERS.
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5 - DEMON MOVIES - Is watching a show or movie with demons in it a sin.
PROVERBS 4:23 NIV Above all else, GUARD your HEART, for everything you do flows from it.
2 PETER 2:7-8 NKJV [God] delivered righteous Lot, [who was] oppressed [VEXED] BY THE FILTHY CONDUCT of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, TORMENTED [HIS] RIGHTEOUS SOUL from day to day by seeing and hearing [their] lawless deeds)--
EPHESIANS 5:8-12 NIV For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have NOTHING TO DO with the fruitless deeds of DARKNESS, but rather expose them. 12 It is SHAMEFUL EVEN TO MENTION what the DISOBEDIENT DO IN SECRET.
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6 - NATIONAL LAWS - Is it a sin to break NATIONAL LAWS LIKE SPEEDING?
ROMANS 13:1-5 NKJV Let every soul be subject to the GOVERNING AUTHORITIES. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever RESISTS THE AUTHORITY resists the ORDINANCE OF GOD, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be UNAFRAID OF THE AUTHORITY? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to [execute] wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore [you] must be subject, not only because of wrath but also FOR CONSCIENCE' SAKE.
QUESTIONS
Does God care if I drive 56 MPH in a 55 SPEED ZONE?
Does God care if I park for 1 MINUTE over my paid PARKING METER TIME?
Does God care if eat 3 SAMPLE GRAPES at the grocery store, or are the 2 EXTRA “THEFT”?
FILTER QUESTIONS
Is my heart in an ATTITUDE OF SUBMISSION?
Am I predisposed to PAY THE PENALTY?
Does it violate OTHER PEOPLE’S RIGHTS?
Does it put OTHER PEOPLE IN DANGER?
Does it VIOLATE “LOVE” with anyone, including police officers?
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7 - DEPRESSION & MEDICATION - Is it wrong to take medication for depression/anxiety as a Christian?
PROVERBS 17:22 NKJV A merry heart does good, [like] medicine…
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8 – YOGA & KARATE - Is it wrong to for a Christian to participate in yoga or martial arts?
ROMANS 14:14 NIV As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that NO FOOD is UNCLEAN IN ITSELF. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then FOR HIM it is UNCLEAN.
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9 - HOROSCOPES – Is it wrong for a Christian to read their HOROSCOPES or to go to PSYCHICS?
ISAIAH 47:13-15 NIV…Let your ASTROLOGERS come forward, those STARGAZERS who make predictions MONTH BY MONTH…Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up…Each of them goes on in his ERROR…
DEUTERONOMY 18:10-12 NIV Let no one be found among who… who practices DIVINATION or SORCERY, interprets OMENS, engages in WITCHCRAFT, or CASTS SPELLS, or who is a MEDIUM or SPIRITIST or who CONSULTS THE DEAD. Anyone who does these things is DETESTABLE TO THE LORD…
ISAIAH 8:19 NIV When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists…SHOULD NOT A PEOPLE INQUIRE OF THEIR GOD?