Living The Christian Life In A Pagan World

Lesson One - A New Life In Christ

Introduction: What a marvelous experience it is when you first become a Christian. You come up from that watery grave of baptism a new creature (Romans 6:1-4). It doesn’t seem to matter if the water was cold, your hair got messed up, or even if you swallowed a little of the water. You have just had your sins washed away (Acts 22:16) and now by grace God has saved you and placed you in the New Testament Church (Acts 2:47). You are redeemed and are prepared to start your new life. This series of lessons is designed to help you make your Christian journey a little easier and a little safer by sharing with you what it really means to live a Christian life in a Pagan world.

I. A new life means leaving the old one behind. Becoming a Christian requires some changes. You have to live for the Savior, not for yourself. You have to love your enemies, something you probably have never before attempted. You have to abandon worldly pleasures for holiness sake. You even have to change many of your political or social views so that they are in line with the teachings of Christ. It may even be that you must give up some of your friends, your job, or even some family members. God must always come first above all else (Luke 14:25-27).

II. A New Life Means A New Direction. Paul stated that he had chosen to forget the past and concentrate on his new direction in Christ (Phil. 3:13-14). The writer of Hebrews states much the same concept as he reminds us to look towards Jesus as we run with patience our Christian race (Heb. 12:1-2). Christ Himself states that man has two choices of direction and that he should choose carefully because one leads to life and the other to destruction (Matt. 7:13-14). Our choices must be based on the Scriptures, not on opinion.

III. A New Life Means A New Destiny. Whenever sin enters our lives, we become separated from God (Is. 59:1-2). Our only hope is found in the redeeming power of Christ. Outside of Christ our destiny was eternal Hell. But our destiny in Christ is life eternal with God and His Son. But that destiny will only be realized by those who choose to obey God and follow His teachings (Matt. 7:21-24). God’s Word is truly a "lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).

Lesson Two - Abortion

What would you think of a mother who used a knife to cut her defenseless child into pieces or a father who pulled his child’s legs and arms off causing it to die? What about a parent who would put a caustic substance all over his child burning its eyes, skin, filling its lungs, and causing a slow, painful death leaving the outer skin burned away and ending only after several hours of great suffering? These three brutal actions are descriptions of the three major forms of abortion used in this country.

Honesty and Abortion: Hard core abortionists are dishonest. They talk about termination of unwanted pregnancies when the truth is nature does that in nine months through a process called birth without the necessity of destroying the innocent child. What they really want to terminate is the inconvenience and their responsibility associated with the baby. The sad truth is these people are willing to murder their own offspring to avoid a few months inconvenience.

Abortionists and the Law: In truth abortionists have no respect for law whether it is God’s law, man’s law, or moral law. Now that a handful of corrupt men called the supreme court have arbitrarily legalized the wholesale slaughter of millions of innocent babies these people praise the law. But when abortion was illegal, these corrupt, lawless people practiced their trade in defiance of the law they now laud. Abortionists have ignored God’s law, denied the existence of moral law, and violated man’s law when any of the three were inconvenient.

Strange moral Standards: The abortionist reacts in horror when terrorists kill people in unjustified acts of violence. But many more lives are lost to butchers of unborn babies (yearly 60 million plus worldwide) than in all terrorists activities combined. In addition, many in the ranks of the pro-abortionists are the same who cry out in horror at capital punishment. They defend the wicked individual in one breath and condemn the innocent child in the next. How much louder they would cry out if capital punishment used the same methods as the abortionist.

A Politically incorrect God: God opposes abortion. He forbad shedding innocent blood (Prov. 6:), murder (Ex. 20:), and so on. Better it is to be spiritually right than politically right. Abortion violates the conscience of every true Christian.

Lesson Three - Marriage And Divorce

One of the greatest social problems in the United States is the break-up of the American home. In our present time about one half of all marriages fail. There are a myriad of reasons for this trend; both husband and wife out working on careers, careless entrance into marriage, not understanding one’s proper role in the home. But, whatever the reason, divorce is so rampant in this nation that the definition of what constitutes a home has been rewritten and so much so that much of the world views us as polygamous.

God, the Creator of the home, had a definitive pattern for its make-up. God’s original plan was one man and one woman (Gen. 2:18-25). Man has tampered with this arrangement throughout the ages but God has never been pleased with such tampering. Therefore, Christ reminded us of the plan of God in Matt. 19:3-6. That plan still is one man and one woman.

Under the law of Moses there were a number of reasons given for one to divorce and remarry. In Deut. 24:1-4 is a pretty generic statement concerning some "uncleanness" or if a husband "hate" her he could put away his wife. But this was not pleasing to God. In fact Christ tells us it was only allowed because of the hardness of their hearts (Matt. 19:7-8).

Under the new covenant with Christ, one may not put away his wife for any reason except it be for fornication (Matt. 5:32, Matt. 19:9). Many today ignore what God teaches on the subject of divorce and remarriage. Some try to alter it by saying it only applies to some people but not to all. Whether one ignores it or changes it is irrelevant, it is still God’s law and we will all be judged by it (John 12:48).

God’s law on marriage and divorce is clearly universal in its application. By that I mean it applies to every living soul, whether in the church or not. Even Herod’s marriage was challenged by John the Baptist as sinful, even though he was an Edomite and not under the Jewish covenant (Mark 6:16-18). God has always treated the sanctity of marriage as a very serious thing and so must anyone wanting to please the Christ in this pagan world. The only reasons offered in Scripture today for remarriage is the death of one’s mate (Rom. 7:1-3) or the adulterous action of one’s mate (Matt. 5:31-32). Anyone teaching or practicing differently than this is truly not a faithful member of the church of Christ.

Lesson Four - Social Drinking

I’m a construction worker and at the end of the week I like to relax and kick back and down a few. Usually I invite the preacher, elders, and deacons over to join in. We have a good time discussing the cause of Christ while we suck down the suds and relax.

Do you find anything wrong with this picture? I sure do! Many people would be comfortable with the construction worker drinking but would have a problem picturing the same conduct in elders, deacons, and preachers. In truth, God expects the same behavior out of all of them because all Christians must submit to the will of God.

What is social drinking? Social drinking is when you drink socially. It is not wine with dinner, medicine for your body, or anything else. It is sitting around and drinking as a form of relaxation, entertainment, or socializing. Social drinking is not acceptable behavior for the Christian.

Historical considerations. In Gen. 19:32-35 we find that Lot has escaped from Sodom and is living in the mountains. His daughters want children so they get him drunk and lay with him and conceive. They understood how alcohol can be used to dull the senses and corrupt the behavior of the consumer.

In Lev. 10:8-11God instructs Aaron not to allow the priests to drink when they are to serve in God’s tabernacle. It clouds judgment and corrupts decisions, so says God. But in the new covenant ALL are priests (I Pet. 2:9) and are in constant service to God (Rom. 12:1-2). Christians should abstain!

Wine and Christian thought. Many people have tried to justify drinking with Scripture (misapplied). Let me give you a few things to consider and see how their argument holds up. Often people point to I Tim. 5:23 and argue that Paul told Timothy to drink. But consider the facts. (1) Timothy’s reluctance demonstrates that he and others considered it wrong. (2) He is told to drink only for medical purposes. (3) He is told to take a LITTLE wine for his illnesses. People seem to miss that word when they view this passage.

Drinking clouds reasoning (Prov. 31:4), it is foolish (Prov. 20:1), and it brings harm (Prov. 23:29-35). In light of the fact we are to be wise (Matt. 10:16) and do only good (James 4:17), there can be no justification for the Christian participating in this activity. The world will invite. We must refuse and instead live so as to glorify the Father in Heaven (Matt. 5:16).

Lesson Five - Homosexuality

Introduction: In our society today homosexual activity has begun to gain wide acceptance as an alternate and acceptable activity. Some religious groups such as the United Methodists are ordaining practicing homosexuals into their ministries. What was once evil is now being presented as good. It causes the true Christian to reflect on the words recorded in Is. 5:20 where it states, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"

Homosexuality an abomination: Man may call homosexuality acceptable but God still calls it an abomination! In Lev. 20:13, under the old law, the homosexual was to be killed. In Rom. 1:26-27 it is shown to still be the same vile activity in the new covenant. In fact, it is often referred to as a sin even against nature. Homosexuality destroys the individual, the family, and the nation where it is tolerated and practiced.

Homosexuality linked to paganism: Not only is homosexuality a great sin, it is also linked in Scripture to the sin of paganism (Lev. 18:21-24 and Rom. 1:22-27). Our pleasures and desires replace God as our central goal in life.

Historical considerations: Historically, God has always punished homosexuality. In Gen. 19 we read of this sinful activity in the city of Sodom. We recall how God destroyed them for their uncleanness. Jude 7 tells us this was done as an example for us today. Those who live as homosexuals will spend eternity in Hell. (Read also Judges 19-21.) The reason for such a departure in morality is stated at the close of Judges where it states, "every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Whenever man tries to guide his own direction rather than letting God guide him, disaster is sure to follow (Jer. 10:23).

God’s plan: God’s plan is for man to live a life of morality. Sexual pleasure is to be enjoyed in, and only in, the home. The home is to consist of one man and one woman (Matt. 19:4-6). Any other design is not God’s design and it will be punished. Anyone having sexual relations outside of marriage, whether heterosexual or homosexual, commits fornication and will be lost (I Cor. 6:9-10). Homosexuality is a lifestyle that is truly "alternate" to Christianity.

Lesson Six - Pornography

Have you ever wondered where the word pornography came from? It comes from two Greek words, the first dealing with whoredom and prostitution and the second dealing with writing. So pornography is printed or written prostitution or whoredom, and truly that word is an accurate representation of this activity. It prostitutes the one pictured, the one viewing, and ultimately it has prostituted our entire nation to its filth.

Christians know that the production of pornography is wrong and destructive. It is an evil that comes straight from an evil heart (Mark 7:20-23) and searches for another evil heart to enter into or an innocent heart to corrupt. There is no good in pornography, just moral and mental destruction.

In I Cor. 6:9-11 Paul discusses the body in his letter to Corinth. There he states that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom. He then lists fornicators, adulterers, and many others as examples of unrighteous people. He then reminds the church that some of them had (past tense) been such but had been justified by Christ. In verses 19 and 20 he reminds them that their bodies belong to God and should only be used to His glory.

Certainly pornography does not fit the criteria of bringing glory to God. Pornography is designed to create lust in the mind of the viewer. In Matt. 5:27-28 Christ warns against lust, linking it unquestionably to sin. Heb. 13:4 teaches us that sexual activities belong between a husband and wife and Rev. 21:7-8 teaches that whoremongers are bound for Hell. In Gal. 5:19-21 adulterers and fornicators are added to the list of those who are lost. Pornography is certainly something that anyone who has any respect for God or himself will earnestly avoid.

As we conclude our study together we should remember two things. In Matt. 5:16 Scripture says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven." Pornography does just the opposite. Secondly in Is. 5:20 Scripture says, Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! The world may call it art or freedom of speech or whatever else they so choose. Pornography is still filth and has no part in the life of the Christian.

Lesson Seven - Bad Language

The use of bad language is common place in our society. People use it in front of strangers, parents use it in front of children, it is used in both public and private. Some years ago I was at work sitting on a bench eating my lunch. A carpenter joined our group and began to immediately tell an off-color joke. Another carpenter told him he should stop because I was a preacher. He asked me if that was so and I replied that it was. He apologized and said he would not have talked that way in my presence if he had known. I told him that the Bible teaches that God sees and hears all that we do and say and if he did not mind talking that way in front of God he need not worry about me.

Psalm 19:14 says, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." Too many today simply don’t care if their language is acceptable or not. They intend to do as they please.

There are many types of language Christians should avoid. Some include taking God’s name in vain (Deut. 5:11), idle words (Matt. 12:36), vain jangling (I Tim. 1:6), swearing (Matt. 5:34-37), and the list goes on (I Tim. 6:20, Eph. 4:29-31, Col. 2:8, I Tim. 5:13, etc). God knows that how we express ourselves effects our lives and eternal destinies and we need to exercise care in the choosing of our words.

Language proves who you really are, not who you claim to be. Matt. 15:16-18 teaches that our mouths can defile us. Matt. 7:20 says we are known by our fruits. James 3:9-10 says we praise and curse with the same mouth and such should not be the case. Peter even resorted to bad language to prove he was not a follower of Christ (Matt. 26:73-74) and it worked. He was never questioned again. Bad language proves that one is not a follower of Christ.

Christian communication includes teaching people the Word of God (II Tim. 4:1-2), encouraging the weak and distressed (Gal. 6:1-2), praising Almighty God (Luke 19:37-40), praying (even for those that are your enemies, Matt. 5:44), and glorifying our Father in Heaven (Matt. 5:16). If our language is not profitable to the cause of Christ then it is not the type of language a Christian should use. Even if the world exercises its "right" to be crude and offensive the Christian should exercise only HIS right not to do the same.

Lesson Eight - Modesty

Some years ago in a sermon I mentioned that I had read of a survey taken at the beach where 80% of the men interviewed said they went to the beach to look at the women. I then asked, "What does this prove?" to which I then responded that, "20% of all men interviewed will lie." This, of course, was meant to be humorous. But after my lesson, a woman came up to me and spent nearly 30 minutes defending the ‘modesty’ of her bathing suit!

A Nation That Cannot Blush: Ours is a permissive society with little or no bounds on issues of morality. The TV, newspaper, billboards, magazines, etc., all display women in provocative and revealing clothing not befitting Godly women. We are so exposed to this that our sense of decency is numbed to the extent we no longer even notice. What a great tragedy has befallen our nation!

Bible Standard: Throughout Scripture nakedness has been associated with sin. In Gen. 9:20-25 a curse is placed on Ham because of the viewing of Noah’s nakedness. In John 21:7 Peter, scantily clad while fishing, grabs his coat and dresses when he hears the Lord is approaching. In Genesis, at the giving of the law, immodest apparel, nakedness, shame and idolatry are all linked together (Ex. 32). The people of God need and have a different standard of dress than do the heathen.

Modest Apparel: In I Tim. 2:9-10 it says, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." Christian women cover themselves so that they might bring glory to God, not shame to themselves. The same is true of Godly men (see Ex. 28:42 and surrounding text concerning the priests).

Causing of Sin: The Bible strongly condemns sexual lust (Matt. 5:28, James 1:14-15, etc.) and warns that lust can lead to immoral action. Lust, fornication, adultery, lasciviousness, etc., are all condemned in Scripture and those practicing such will spend eternity in the fires of Hell (Rev. 21:8, I Cor. 6:9-10). Scripture also teaches that leading someone into sin will cost one his soul (Rom. 14:21, Matt. 18:6). May it never be that devout Christians lose their ability to blush! May we always glorify God by the things done in our bodies!

Lesson Nine - Living Together

Marriage is a sacred institution which began over 6000 years ago when God placed Adam and Eve together in the garden of Eden as husband and wife. In the mind of God, marriage represents the closest of all human relationships. So close are the marriage bonds that Christ uses this relationship to discuss His love for and His relationship to His church (Eph. 5). It is certainly the case that God does not want the marriage bonds to be lightly or carelessly considered as one begins to establish lasting human family relationships.

Marriage was designed by God and is an honorable institution. In I Thess. 4:3-5 Paul warns against fornication (sex outside marriage) and concludes that each man should possess his own vessel (i.e. obtain a wife) in sanctification and honor. In I Cor. 7 we find that the husband and the wife are to provide intimacy to, and only to, each other. There is not found anywhere in the law of Christ a provision which allows for sex anywhere outside of the marriage bonds. In Heb. 13:4 we read, "Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." God has certainly stressed His objection to people ‘living together’ without the benefit of the marriage bonds.

Living together without marriage does several things which a Christian would never want to do. Lets look at just a few of the things one should consider when thinking about entering into this sinful practice.

(1) It cheapens the object of your affections: Whenever someone engages in sex outside of marriage they are either a whore or a whoremonger. It seems incredible that ‘love’ would cause us to cheapen the character of the one that is the object of our love.

(2) It dishonors ourselves: In I Cor. 6:15-20 it definitively states that fornication is a sin against our very bodies which are the property of God. Fornication disgraces God, it does not glorify Him.

(3) It hurts children: Ours is a difficult society for young people, even when they have a good home and both parents and stability. Such does not exist for the children born out of wedlock. There is never any real security and usually these types of families do not survive. Much more could be said but the point is well made. Christians will enter into marriage before they enter into intimacy.

Lesson Ten - Christianity and Humanism

Two of the major philosophies in America today are Christianity and humanism. Humanism is basically the philosophy that mankind is naturally good, that God does not exist (at least in the Christian sense), and that human pleasure is an end unto itself. Humanism places its trust in mankind as the ultimate authority of what is right and wrong, what is good and evil. Therefore mankind becomes the provider of the complete life and not God.

Humanism is widely accepted in our society and has become a great danger to Christianity. Trust in mankind’s judgment has led to many social directions which are incompatible with Christianity. Pornography, homosexuality, abortion, and other dehumanizing concepts which destroy the moral fiber of a nation are promoted by this evil philosophy.

History bears many scars from this philosophy. Humanistic thought has always led to eventual chaos and corruption of the society in which it is fostered. World leaders, trying to promote the civilization they felt was best, have used torture, mutilation, and destruction of human life to obtain these goals. After all, the betterment of mankind is far more important than the loss of a few worthless humans! In fact, it was the philosophy of humanism which Hitler used to justify exterminating men, experimenting on women, and even bleeding Jewish children to death to create a higher plane for humanism.

The Bible teaches that mankind is prone to evil (Gen. 6:5) and that he is not capable of adequately guiding his own steps without the help of God (Jer. 10:23). Man’s way often seems right but turns out to be just the opposite (Prov. 16:25). True Christians are thankful that God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son. Christians are thankful that Christ has provided leadership in their lives; leadership on how to enjoy properly the things God has provided, leadership on how to live the Christian life in a pagan world, leadership on how to find our way home to the heavenly Father.