Bible Studies

The Culture In Which We Live - Why has it changed so much?

CHANGE!

"The only thing not changing is the fact that everything's changing."

1. Some changes are good.

2. Many occurring in the past three or four decades have not been good.

    a. major shift away from an appreciation for values,

    b. away from strong, cohesive, disciplined families.

3. Why?

4. "Culture." a particular way of living that is shared by a group people.

    a. The term refers to ideas, ideals, customs, and patterns that characterize a given community of individuals.

    b. Cultural patterns affect the way people think, talk, and act.

    c. Can we account for some of the unwholesome and unhealthy changes that are occurring in our culture?

SECULARISM

A. From a Latin word which means "this present age."

    1. It teaches that life and reality beyond "this present age" is a hoax.

    2. After all, "this is the 21st Century!"

B. Rejects any thought of there being supernatural and invisible reality.

    1. Belief in God is eliminated.

    2. Creates a cultural atmosphere where values and standards based on a supernatural revelation like the Bible are ridiculed and rejected.

HUMANISM

A. HUMAN...ism.

    1. God has been "dethroned." Man has been "enthroned."

    2. Belief in God is the highest form of self-deception.

    3. There is no God who created the universe.

B. There is no Divine purpose or providence for the human species.

    1. We must save ourselves.

    2. Humans are not answerable to any Higher Power or Divine Law.

    3. Ultimately a culture free of God. Strange! Once we believed in God. Then we didn’t believe in God. Now, we think we are God!

PLURALISM

A. With "secularism moving God out, and "humanism" moving humans in, the way is opened for a culture that embraces "pluralism."

B. A world view that emphasizes the necessity of tolerating all differences of cultures, religions, lifestyles, and beliefs--all are of equal value so long as you are happy or on the way to happiness.

C. The flag of truth and the flag of falsehood fly side by side. No revelation, no Scripture, no Bible gives one any authoritative basis for saying that something is wrong or right for everyone.

D. The effects of pluralism are obvious.

    1. What should be labeled as intolerable is tolerated.

    2. The individual's rights are given priority over the community's good.

    3. In Religion, let every person believe what he or she wishes to believe--doctrine is just a matter of opinion anyway. Truth is gray. No black and white. There is a strong movement which promotes the idea that the claims of Moslems, Hindus, Buddhists, and others must stand alongside the claims of Christianity. Such a trend ignores or denies Christianity's unique claim of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

E. If it really does not matter what one believes, then why should anyone care? No wonder there is an abundance of spiritual and religious indifference!

NARCISSISM

When any culture is influenced by the forces of secularism, humanism, and pluralism as defined, there is sure to be an increase in the spirit of "narcissism." Our English word, "narcissism," is rooted in a story of Greek mythology. Narcissus was the beautiful youth of Greek legend who was content to sit and incessantly stare at his own reflection in a pool. Daily he was focused on...himself. Based on this story, can you guess the meaning of the word--"narcissism?" It describes a trend in modern-day culture for individuals to be self-entered, self-absorbed, and self-obsessed. It amounts to "self-worship." Religiously, we look for a church that "meets my needs" and "helps me to feel good about myself." This fixation on self has undermined many marriages and destroyed many homes.

IS THERE A BETTER WAY?

There has to be a better way!