What did John say should be our attitude toward worldly culture?
(Ezra 10:1-12; Rom. 12:1-2; Phil. 2:15; 1 John 2:15-17) Blog June 9-15, 2019
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: We were created for companionship and communion. Lasting relationships should be built upon covenants. Covenants provide stability and predictability because a person’s obligations and privileges are clearly stated and entered into by making vows in the presence of witnesses. The character and ability of the covenant maker will determine the value of their promises. Only when the Gospel of God’s grace is presented to us are we freed to make good choices, so true believers are the most likely to have successful relationships. Only by the indwelling Holy Spirit, which we receive when we believe in Jesus, are we enabled to subdue our sinful natures and form relationships that give glory to God.
Cultural Norms (Gen. 12:1; 18:20; Phil. 2:15; Jude 1:7)
1. Are cultural differences always bad? No.
2. Are the majority of cultural standards bad? Yes
3. What did God think of the culture of Ur of the Chaldees when Abraham lived there? That it was not a good culture to live among.
4. What did God think of the Canaanite culture when Joshua arrived there? That their culture had become so corrupt it needed to be eradicated.
5. What did God think of the culture of Sodom and Gomorrah when Lot lived there? That their culture had become so corrupt it needed to be eradicated.
6. According to Philippians 2:15 what did God think of the culture in which the Philippians lived? That it was crooked & perverse.
Resisting the Culture (Acts 15:19-20; Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 8:4; 1 Pet. 3:3-5; 1 John 2:15-17)
7. In Romans 12 how does Paul say we should deal with the culture around us? That we should not conform to the culture around us but rather be transformed by changing our attitude towards it.
8. What did John say that worldly culture included? The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, & the pride of life.
9. What did John say should be our attitude toward worldly culture? That we should not love it.
10. When Gentile believers were added to the early church what ordinances were imposed on them and for what reason? That they should abstain from meat offered to idols, fornication, & meat containing blood in order that they might have table fellowship with Jewish believers.
11. What part of the ordinances given to Gentile believers soon became unimportant according to the apostle Paul? That of eating meat offered to idols.
12. What ancient cultural custom regarding attire did Peter recommend that believing women should adopt? That of not putting undue emphasis on their outward adornment but rather to cultivate a meek & quiet spirit.
13. To what extent should we separate ourselves from cultural norms that are contrary to God’s Commandments? Entirely.
Cultural Christianity (Ezra 10:1-12; 2 Thes. 2:15; Heb. 10:25;)
14. What often happens in a church whose members are second and third generation members? Many members attend only because they are comfortable in that society & not because they believe the church’s doctrines or have been converted to Christ.
15. Should a church’s cultural norms be discarded in order to purify the church? No, only those cultural norms should be discarded that are contrary to God’s commandments or that hinder true worship.
16. When the exiles returned from Babylon what cultural practice had many of them adopted that needed to be discarded? That of marrying unbelieving wives.
17. What practice among believers in the early church does the book of Hebrews condemn? That of skipping church attendance (the fellowship of believers).