Resisting the World

I. Introduction: Christians live in the world but are not to be like the world. But the allure of the world can exert gravitational pull on the Christian and the Christian must resist.

[!NOTE] Primary Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:1-16

II. The days are evil

A. Today’s world is no more wicked than other ages, but it is wicked enough.

B. “All is full of criminality and vice; indeed much more of these is committed than can be remedied by force. A monstrous contest of abandoned wickedness is carried on. The lust of sin increases daily; and shame is daily more and more extinguished. Discarding respect for all that is good and sacred, lust rushes on wherever it will. Vice no longer hides itself. It stalks forth before all eyes. So public has abandoned wickedness become, and so openly does it flame up in the minds of all, that innocence is no longer seldom, but has wholly ceased to exist.” Seneca (speaking of ancient Rome, quoted in Barnes on Ro 1:32)

C. The days are evil

D. The moral and ethical demise of the larger culture is evident to all. Situation ethics has replaced God’s standards of right and wrong. Sins are minimized, renamed, and made respectable. There is a cry for tolerance for every evil and disgusting practice.

E. The Christian must resist the pull of the world.

III. Evidence of declining values

A. Immodest Dress

B. Clothing that is too short, too tight, and too revealing can inspire lust in others and extols sensuality over modesty; outward beauty over inward.1 Timothy 2:9-10 – do your clothes reflect godliness or sensuality?

C. Unlawful Sexual behavior

D. People have been optimistic noting that in recent years it appeared that younger people were waiting longer before having sex—the logic and encouragement to wait until marriage seemed to sink in.

E. However, recent reports show that many of these who were saving themselves for marriage were engaged in other sexual behaviors that were no less wrong and could be as damaging physically.

F. Back when President Clinton was responding to his sex scandal, he countered that the behavior he was involved with was not sex—unfortunately many young people listened to his argument. Matthew 5:27-30 – whole section on drawing the wrong lines The media teaches sexual immorality with no downside—it is false because it does not show the emotionally pain, guilt, self-esteem problems, anxiety, warped views of sexuality, disease, or other problems of sexual immorality.1 Timothy 4:12 – Young people should be an example of purity

G. Disgraceful Speech

H. The music and entertainment airwaves are filled with profanity, filthy jokes, derogatory language, and abuse of God’s name. Colossians 3:8 – put away filthy language Ephesians 5:3-4 – no coarse jesting

I. Shameful Entertainment

J. I have been surprised and disgusted with the perversions allowed on network television and the filth that comes on cable and DVD.Though many were rightly indignant about “the Super Bowl incident,” the dosage of sexual immorality and sensuality, homosexuality, foul and profane language, deceitfulness, immature and disgusting humor, disdain for holy things, and mockery of righteousness that is standard fare on most networks has filled the media for decades.

K. Sadly, this filth has also filled our houses with unrighteousness and immorality and we opened the door to let it in.

L. If you peek in your neighbor’s window while they are having sexual relations it is a crime, if you go to an adult theater to watch it is pornography, if it is in a popular movie it is acceptable entertainment. We do not want to be oddballs or seem backward and prudish and often we desire the sensuality—to dip our toe into the pool of immorality without having to jump in the deep end.

M. Jeremiah 6:15 – as in Jeremiah’s time, many have forgotten how to blush

N. “I can watch nudity or hear foul language and it does not affect me.” What does such a statement really say? Have we become calloused and unmoved by the evil around us? Do we really think we can feed ourselves disgraceful language and images and not be affected? Think again – Proverbs 6:27-28

O. Respectable Materialism

P. The prosperity of America has destroyed the spirituality of many Christians with high moral character. It is not perceived as a great threat, yet this characteristic of our culture can stealthily take control of our heart. The rich young ruler, of Matthew 19:16-22, was obedient to God’s commands and desired eternal life, yet his possessions had long before seized control of his heart– he was respectable and religious but lost.1 Timothy 6:9-10 warns us that riches are a snare that can lead one into various sins and cause more sorrow than comfort.

IV. Resisting the influence of the world

A. Seek God’s way and purify your heart

B. Consider the influence of your choices on yourself and on others

C. Remember God’s judgment and determine not to violate His will

D. Romans 1:32 – do not support with money, attendance, etc.

V. Conclusion: Although I used the gravity analogy, the effect is less like a gravitational force pulling on us than erosion that can wear us away. Like accumulating toxins, gradual and constant exposure to worldliness will poison us and defile us.