All Cultures are Not Equal

"There is a growing belief today that every culture is equal. In other words, no culture can claim moral superiority over another. Although this is a common idea, it has met resistance by some who have demonstrated that, on a pragmatic level, productivity and the standard of living are better in some cultures than others. However, as Christians I think it is important to be in the habit of using Scripture to inform any kind of comparison—including culture. Speaking from a biblical standpoint, there are cultures that are better than others. The cultures which are superior are the cultures which are more closely aligned with God’s standard for living, and thereby thrive and flourish.

Superior Cultures Value Life

The Social Gospel Trend Within Evangelicalism: a Biblical Rebuttal

TGC's Social Justice Prophet

My favorite Christian blogger, Pastor Phil Johnson of Grace To You, has made his return to the blogosphere.  His latest article is well worth your time.  The Social Gospel Trend Within Evangelicalism: a Biblical Rebuttal

"The issue underlying practically every popular evangelical trend we have ever decried here on PyroManiacs is the same moral defect that was the besetting sin of the Pharisees—namely, a craving for human applause. The current ranks of evangelical leadership are filled with men who care far too much about what the world thinks of them. The intellectually sophisticated among our Top Men tend to covet academic esteem, especially from unbelieving scholars. Those who are less—um, cerebrally endowed—just yearn to be admired for being über-cool. Between those two extremes are a legion of evangelical movers and shakers who think they can achieve both goals. Lately, they have sought to do this by cultivating a noisome air of political correctness.

Scripture could not be more clear about the value of this world's approval. Jesus said, "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets" (Luke 6:26). And, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:18-19). And, "you will be hated by all for my name's sake" (Matthew 10:22). And, "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets" (Luke 6:22-23).

It's a theme that runs throughout Scripture, starting with Cain's murderous contempt for his own brother's righteous offering, and finally summed up in 1John 3:13 with this admonition from the Apostle of Love: "Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you."

Christians are expressly forbidden to embrace the world's values or seek its approval: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:15-17).

How Did We Get Here? Desensitize, Normalize, Demonize, Idolize, Legalize, (Victimize)!

Michael S. Williamson—The Washington Post/Getty Images
http://time.com/3938935/white-house-rainbow-gay-marriage-decision/ 

For many decades the LGBT movement has worked tirelessly in effort to fundamentally transform America’s conscience with regards to sexuality and gender.  This has been achieved, in large part, with direct assistance from public education, the music industry, and Hollywood.  In a Hollywood Reporter article from 9/25/14 Natalie Jarvey wrote, "Gay couples? Gay kisses? Yawn. New sexual boundaries are being broken as Amazon’s 'Transparent' is the latest to tackle a once-taboo topic."  Long before Bruce Jenner decided to go public with his transgender decision the path had already been paved for him by Hollywood and friends.  A team effort strategy during a sweeping "moral revolution" is what helped advance the LGBT cause so rapidly.

Our LGBT friends need to remember that now beloved Liberal politicians, Bill and Hillary Clinton and Barrick Obama, once campaigned in favor of traditional marriage.  The night before his election victory in 2008, then candidate Obama said, "Marriage is between and a woman." I do not support same sex same weddings though I do oppose California Proposition 8.  Much has changed in seven short years.

If I were to summarize the LGBT strategy I would use five simple words: Desensitize, Normalize, Demonize, Legalize, Idolize, (and for some, Victimize)!

Now before you dismiss this article outright as coming from one of those "angry Baptist preachers" I would encourage you to at least consider the real life examples that are listed below.  The goal of this post is not to call on Christians everywhere to boycott Hollywood.  Every Spirit-filled believer has to make their own Biblically informed decisions as to what they are going to watch, listen to, and read.  Unlike some pastors, I do not believe that Christian liberty should not be taken away from believers just because it is regularly abused (for more on what the Bible teaches concerning grey area decisions consider this, this, and this).