Forward by Frank Turek:
-any person defending anything Biblically deserves to be fired
-you must be the head of inclusion, tolerance, and diversity
-you are now part of the new “tolerant” corporate America
“If you don’t believe in the new cultural values that directly contradict the Bible and common sense, you will be excluded and not tolerated.”
Trying to navigate the minefield America has become?
-you have to learn how to engage a hostile culture are powerful and practical
-they believe that feelings are the ultimate guide
-happiness is the ultimate goal
-judging is the ultimate sin, and God is the ultimate guess
“Who are you, Christian, to judge my actions because I’m just following my feelings toward happiness? I need to follow my heart! And don’t impose your God’s morality on me because no one is sure if he or she really exists anyway.”
-they are the me-centered approach
-their theology is me-ology
“To suit their own passions” (2 Timothy 4:3)
Topics:
Transgenderism
Critical Race Theory
Social Justice
Charges of Christian Nationalism
Unborn Lives
Loss of Freedom to live out the Christian faith
Sexual “Liberation” of Children
-they are doing exactly what they’re complaining about–imposing their views on others
The question is, whose morality should be legislated?
-atheists who claim you are wrong for not celebrating their new rights
-these people are attempting to steal objective morality from God while claiming He doesn’t exist
***Christians must love their neighbors by ensuring good laws are passed, this is not a book primarily about politics, but more broadly discipleship
Christians ought to be ambassadors for Christ in every area of our lives
-the culture is dark and hates us
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5: 14-16).
Part 1: Understanding the Hate
Chapter 1: Jesus Said It Would Happen
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18)
Cults:
Heaven’s Gate was delusional and outlandishly wrong but people made fun of them but culture did not hate them
Religious:
Jehovah’s Witnesses knock on doors and people regret opening the door, avoid them, and see them as annoyingly persistent but the culture doesn’t hate them
Amish’s simple living in pursuit of an undistracted devotion to God but culture doesn’t hate them
***The reason culture doesn’t hate them is that “these groups haven’t attempted to influence the public square with their contrarian views.”
The public square is anywhere views are shared for the purpose of shaping public opinion on how society should function.
Culture might think you’re pitiable, annoying, or weird, but it won’t hate you!
The level of bitter resentment is reserved for groups who believe they shouldn’t keep their contrarian views to themselves and influence the culture around them = Christians
Who is Culture?
-culture refers to the way of life for a society–the manners, dress, language, religion, arts, and customs generally shared by a group of people at a given time
-culture is personified which it refers to the people and institutions who hold the values considered to be in vogue for a given society
Ex. Today’s culture thinks that….
Love means affirmation; it’s better to be spiritual than religious
Happiness is the goal of life; you shouldn’t be judgmental
Zeitgeist or “spirit of the times” can be observed at both individual and institutional levels
Cultural institutions includes media, entertainment, government, and academia
-these influence, being reinforced, over time to certain values becoming culturally acceptable or celebrated
-culture is a snapshot of the current state of society’s values
Culture:
1- the term culture necessarily implies a context of time and place
2- every single person in a given society thinks or does the same
3- it’s impossible to broadly quantify the spirit of the times when that encompasses constantly shifting and diverse factors
**statistical minority is more aggressive in influencing the public square with their values than a statistical majority that hold opposing views
**the minority’s values that will often come to define the culture
Beyond the Soup Kitchen:
-the significance of culture to Christians cannot be overstated
-culture functions as a gatekeeper of the ideas that fashionable society deems admissible to the public square at any given time
-there is an active campaign to keep you out
-their hatred of your contrarian values into an active campaign to keep your influence out
-the gatekeepers not longer just roll their eyes as Christina but do not want you in which is the relationship between culture and Christians today
***Culture doesn’t hate everything Christians might advocate for in the public square
Ex. serving is a moral good, so Christian groups passionate about food insecurity means the culture will not hate you
-serving food to those in need is an action still widely accepted as being morally good
VS.
-having a pro-life position is seen as a repulsive injustice to a woman makes you an oppressor
If you speak publicly against abortion, you will be morally condemned and detested for being harmful, oppressive, cruel, toxic, violent, or misogynistic
Loving your neighbor by publicly advocating for a soup kitchen is admired
Loving your neighbor by publicly advocating for the protection of life in the womb you are condemned
Both are part of the Biblical worldview, but the two actions as perceived by culture as one is good and the other bad
Therefore, we are not resented for everything we believe and do
-we are only reviled for opposing some of the values most cherished by culture
-the gatekeepers would like nothing more than for us to just keep serving soup
-just serve and be silent on issues on which we’re at odds with culture
“But being hated is exactly what Jesus told us to expect if we’re going to follow His commands.”
***Silence in exchange for cultural respect is a deal with the devil
Jesus Said It Would Happen:
Knowing what the Bible says about culture hating the followers of Jesus is the key to understanding the moment we’re in, so let’s go to Scripture:
“Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness” (Matthew 10:1).
-Jesus instructed them at length on what to expect and do on their journey
-Jesus warned that they would be handed over to local councils and be flogged in the synagogues (Matthew 10:17).
“As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’”
-Jesus warned that family members would betray each other and have one another put to death
“Brothers will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death” (Matthew 10:21).
-Jesus said that he didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34).
-Jesus warned that the disciples would be hated for His name’s sake
“You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10: 22).
-Jesus reminds the disciples that they will be hated for His name’s sake
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me” (Matthew 24:9).
-Jesus says that the disciples (John 15: 18-21)
-if the world hates you, know it hated me before it hated you
-you are not of the world
-the world is not your own
-you are chosen to be out of the world
-therefor, the world hates you
“A servant is not greater than his master.”
-the world persecuted me, so it will persecute you
-all things they will do to you on account of my name
-they do not know him who sent me
What does it mean to be of the world:
-the world loves its own
-the world hates those who are not of the world
“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:14).
***World = Greek word is Kosmos context translation is unbelieving mankind
unbelievers are governed by evil:
-Jesus bluntly stated multiple times that Satan is the ruler of the Kosmos
“Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out” (.John 12: 31).
“I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me” (John 14: 30).
“and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned” )John 16: 11).
-Jesus told a crowd of Jews who claimed to be children of God through their physical descent from Abraham that they were actually children of Satan.
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8: 44).
-people are either children of Satan or children of God
-people who are “of the world” are children of Satan, under his influence, desire to go their own way rather than God’s way
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath” (Ephesians 2: 1-3).
-those who remain of the world are slaves to sin because they remain in rebellion to their Creator
-they follow their own passions and desires, they do the will of Satan
-those who give their lives to Jesus, receive a new nature and are a new creation
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
-they become children of God
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—” (John 1:12).
-they are now slaves to righteousness
Paul contrast in Romans 6: 16-18
-you are slaves of the one whom you obey
-sin leads to death
-obedience in Christ leads to righteousness
-thanks to God that once we were slaves to sin but have become obedient to Christ having been set free from sin
-you are now slaved of righteousness
-Jesus said the world would hate His disciples because they were not of the world
-if they were of the world, the world would love then as its own
-to be of the world means to be under the governing influence of Satan, resulting in being a slave to sin
-to be a child of God is to be a slave to righteousness
Why do the children of Satan necessarily hate the children of God?
1 John 3:9-13 addresses this question directly:
-because God’s seed abides in us
-because we not longer desire to sin because we have been born again
-children of God and children of Satan act differently
-children of Satan do not love their brother
-children of God love their brother
-the message of Satan is to hate, destroy, and kill
-the message of God is to love, build up, and save
-children of Satan deeds reflect evil
-children of God deeds reflect righteousness
***Jesus warned to not be surprised when the world hates you
-children of God will be hated because they practice righteousness and the children of Satan practice evil
-righteousness is despised by a fallen world
***children of God practice righteousness, they shine light on the works of the world
-Satan masquerades as an angel of light
-make sure you know the difference between the fake light of Satan
-God’s light is the true light that shatters the illusions of Satan’s lies
“And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11: 14).
Christianity is a Public Faith:
-Jesus to disciples guided them to engage with the world
-public engagement is a command because evil continues in darkness
-being a Christian doesn’t end with a private profession of faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior
-we are to profess that Jesus is Lord over our lives and live in obedience to His commands
“If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14: 15).
***Public engagement is necessary to make disciples of all nations
-we are to advocate for righteousness in our given cultures
Matthew 5: 13-16
-the famous sermon on the mount, Jesus’ words about being salt and light
-warns not to lose your saltiness
-be the light of the world
-be a city on the hill that is not hidden
-do not put your light under a basket
-be a lamp that gives light to all the house
-let your light shine before others
-so the world can see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven
As salt:
-preserve a world that otherwise be entirely under the destructive rule of Satan and enslaved to sin
-we preserve the world for enough time that God’s purposes can be worked out
As light:
-we expose the darkness for what it is and bring glory to God in the process
“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God” (John 3: 19-21).
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8: 12).
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5: 11).
Public nature:
-stop using excuses to not be involved in the laws passed by our society that affects our ability to preach the gospel in the first place
-we are to share the gospel and do good works, but also advocate for righteousness in the public square
-the roles of preserving and exposing are inherently of a public nature
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5: 11).
-must advocate for righteousness in how society functions
-share the gospel and do good works in the public square
-must spend time on social issues
-we can’t just preach the gospel because caring is only one part
-we are to respond to the graciousness of salvation by caring about the quality of life of our neighbors
-we want what is best for people so that includes taking part in all areas of society including politics
Historical example:
“I think Christian in the nineteenth century really messed up by working to abolish slavery. They should have just preached the gospel so that individual lives would be transformed, and over time, that would have changed society to the point it would no longer find slavery morally acceptable.”
-4 million enslaved people were set free by the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863
-what if Christians had simply waited, never spoke up, or sought to fight for the freedom of the enslaved
-the light was shone down on the deeds of darkness and then advocated for righteousness to end this wicked institution
-they preached the gospel and didn’t wait to see how many conversions would happen before working to bring an end to societal evil
***God’s concern for how society functions runs throughout the Bible
***God cares both about individual relationships with Him and the moral health of the societies in which individuals live
Notable examples where Biblical people were exhorted to proactively shape societies that function in a righteous way:
-Isaiah Chapter 1: God expresses His wrath toward the people of Judah for their sins and empty religious ceremonies
“Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other” (Zechariah 7: 10).
-Jews were in exile to pagan Babylon, the prophet Daniel was an official in King Nebuchadnezzar’s court
-Daniel told the king, “break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity” (Daniel 4; 27).
-the Jewish exiles were living in a pagan culture, but God told them to seek what was best for the culture which would be to everyone’s benefit including their own
“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29: 7).
-John the Baptist was thrown into prison because he had rebuked the civil leader Herod Antipas for marrying his brother’s wife and “for all the evil things that Herod had done” (Luke 3: 19-20).
-this rebuke included the evil actions he had done in his governing capacity
When Culture Hates You:
-in contrast to hating you Matthew 5: 16 points out how those who see you doing good deeds can be changed and that God sees all you do too before others
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
-Jesus tells his disciples of the blessings that come with following him”
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5: 10-12).
-the prophet Jeremiah spoke God’s truth to his culture, but he also lamented
“I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, ‘Violence and destruction,!’ For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long” (Jeremiah 20: 7-8).
-the pattern of the Bible is that all the prophets suffered in some way
“Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—” (Acts 7: 52).
-it’s never been popular to publicly advocate for righteousness in a fallen world
-no one hates Christians when they provide services in a soup kitchen
-be prepared to be reviled for promoting your views in the public square
-it takes deep conviction and courage to nonetheless persevere for the common good
-it requires Biblical, cultural, and civic understanding that Christians don’t necessarily have by default
-understand the nature of Christian public influence
-apply clarity while being equipped and encouraged to be the the salt and light God has called believers to be
-Christians are at great odds with culture and receive significant condemnation
***Christ followers must have the crucial understanding required to confidently advocate for righteousness in today’s increasingly dark and hostile culture