Traveling the Ancient Pathsin a Postmodern Age In his second letter to young Timothy, the apostle Paul wrote of truly difficult days to come.But understand this, thatin the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. (2 Tim 3:1-9)In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Paul continued:For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they willaccumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.Even though these words are nearly 2,000 years old, with striking accuracy they describe our own day and age.Interestingly, more than 500 years before Paul, the prophet Jeremiah diagnosedmuch the same catastrophic phenomenon in foretelling the impending destruction of Jerusalem.“For from the least to the greatest of them,everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest,everyone deals falsely.They have healed the wound of my people lightly,saying, ‘Peace, peace,’when there is no peace.Were they ashamed when theycommitted abomination?No, they were not at all ashamed;they did not know how to blush.Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,”says the LORD.(Jer 6:13-15)Our Postmodern AgeToday, we continue to see and feel the effects of great shifts in cultural sentiments and sensibilities leading to social, moral, and ethical drifts. Unchecked, these drifts naturally lead further and further away from God.“Postmodernism” is a broad term many are using to describe the trends of our own modern culture. Postmodernist approaches to life are typically critical of the possibility of objective knowledge and absolute truth. Pilate’s question lives on as the heartbeat of postmodernist thought: “What is truth?”Postmodernist philosophy frequently draws critical attention to the ways in which social dynamics such as authorityand hierarchy affect human interaction and relationships. In contrast to the “modernist” paradigm which emphasized knowledge and science, postmodernist thought often emphasizes pluralism, relativism, and syncretism in its approaches to knowledge and understanding. This cultural cocktail has come to produce an intense sense of skepticism in the hearts of many, especially those whoare younger.Take a moment to reflect on the three cultural trends mentioned below. How have you personally observed them at work in the world around you? Are they dangerous? If so, in what ways? Can you think of anything in the Bible (commands, examples, outright warnings, principles, inferences) that speak to these ancient and modern trends?Are there those who continue to say, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace? If so, in what ways?“They did not know how to blush?” What did Jeremiah mean? Does the same problem continue in our own culture? If so, how? Why?How has much of the postmodern drift been fueled by a lack of fundamental respect for authority?

•Working in the Light of God’s Authority as a Church * What is the mission of the church? A wide spectrum of answers would be offered from across the religious landscape. Social services Disaster and poverty relief Business ventures Secular education Politics Recreation Foundational to God-shaped respect for authority is humble recognition and consistent awareness that the church belongs to God. For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Eph 1:15-23) The Spirit of God has clearly communicated the means by which the people of God can enjoy unity in the service of God. I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph 4:1-3) We are the recipients of a calling from God. We are to eagerly maintain the unity defined by the Holy Spirit of God. We are to enjoy and promote the bond of peace graciously made available to us by God. This is all about God! And this is the practical means God has provided so that his children might enjoy constructive unity: There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Eph 4:4-6) The one body—which is the church—recognizes Jesus Christ as “head over all things to the church” (Eph 1:22-23). It’s not up to us to define or modify the nature, the mission, or the means of carrying out the work of the Lord’s church. It has been a part of God’s eternal purpose all along. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. (Eph 3:7- 12) Who do we think we are—limited in every way—to be so bold as to disregard the instructions and authoritative examples that have been preserved concerning the Lord’s church? As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Pet 2:4-5) What is the God-defined mission of the Christ-centered individuals who make up this spiritual house?

Worshiping in the Light of God's Authority as a Church To worship is to pay homage or show reverent honor; to adore, venerate, or ascribe ultimate worth. We are all, as human beings, worshipers of something or someone. The Bible makes abundantly clear that we are to be worshipers of almighty God (Rev 19:10; 22:9). That being said, the Bible is also clear in its exposure of the fact that not all worship is acceptable to God. Jesus rebuked vain worship in Matthew 15:7-9. “You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” When Paul came to the city of Athens, “his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols” (Acts 17:16). In Acts 17:22-23, he began to address the shortcomings of ignorant worship. So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.” In Colossians 2:20-23, Paul warned Christians to avoid the pitfall of self-made worship. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion (self-imposed worship [NIV]; will worship [KJV]) and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. Clearly, just because I say I believe in God doesn’t make me an acceptable worshiper of God. Just because I determine to “worship” doesn’t mean I’m worshiping in the way my heavenly Father expects. If worship really is “paying homage or showing reverent honor, adoring, venerating, or ascribing ultimate worth,” I’d better make sure I’m listening to and submitting to the one I’m claiming to worship. Remember the goal: This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-7) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom 12:1-2)

* SUNDAY MORNING * (March 9th) • Living in the Light of God’s Authority as a Disciple of Jesus Having explored what the Scriptures say concerning respect for authority, it’s time to make these principles personal. Take your time with the following passages. What can we learn about living in the light of God’s authority as a disciple of Jesus from:  Luke 17:7-10?  Matthew 25:14-30?  Acts 5:27-32?  Romans 13:1-7?  1 Corinthians 11:1-3?  1 Timothy 2:8-15?  Ephesians 5:15-33?  1 Peter 3:1-7?

When God Hasn't Said Anything About It Having focused extensively in previous lessons on the nature of God's specific and generic instructions, we turn our attention more fully to the other end of the spectrum. What about those innumerable instances when God hasn't said anything? How should we treat the silence of Cod? Is it permissive or prohibitive? When God hasn't specifically addressed something in either positive or negative terms, may we faithfully interpret his silence as license to proceed in whatever direction we choose?* Granted, we don't read anything in God's revelation to mankind about the yearly observance of Christmas, but what's the big deal if we're remembering Jesus? * The use of guitars, keyboards, and drums in our assemblies of worship can't be specifically authorized using the New Testament, but what's wrong with using them if our praise is enthusiastically directed toward God? * May we build whatever we would like to build, fund whatever we would like to fund, solicit in whatever way we would like to solicit, as long as some justifiable good comes as a result of our efforts? As human beings, we can formulate an endless amount of "good reasons." Given enough time and wiggle room, we can justify nearly anything. We can appeal to emotions and reason from past experiences and motivate with inspiring rhetoric, but we are not the ultimate standard of authority. The bedrock principles delivered in Isaiah 55:6-11 continue to resonate throughout the created order. Words from the mouth of the Creator have been delivered to and preserved for his creation. There is divine purpose behind his revealed thoughts and demonstrated ways. He has already told us his ways and thoughts are inherently distinct from our ways and thoughts. They are higher and holier. His purposes will be accomplished; his will shall succeed. our responsibility, as repeatedly referenced in this study, is simple and straightforward. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Eph 5:15-17) In the end, therefore, the question is infinitely bigger than"Why can't we?" or "What's the big deal?" Despite our opinions, justifications, and rationalizations, the only thing that truly matters in the final analysis is this: how does God treat his silence in the Scriptures? Is it prohibitive or permissive?

• When It’s Time to Make a Judgment Call * We know what it is to make “judgment calls” in various circumstances of everyday life. In general terms, a judgment call is a decision based on personal opinion or preference. In our last session, we noted the difference between specific and generic instructions from an authority figure:  Specific instructions specify. By their very nature, they exclude and rule out every other option. Specific instructions don’t generally leave room for judgment calls on the part of the recipient.  On the other hand, general instructions generalize. By their very nature, they include any number of options within a specific group, category, or class. General instructions typically leave room for judgment calls on the part of the recipient. One word that naturally arises in discussions of judgment calls is expedient. An expedient is an appropriate, profitable, advantageous way of accomplishing something. Expedients are helpful means to necessary ends. The word expedient is used seven times in the King James Version of the Bible. “Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.” (John 11:50)  “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John 16:7)  Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. (John 18:14) If in all circumstances he allowed us to determine for ourselves what is right and wrong based purely on our own judgments of what is “better,” “beneficial” or “advantageous,” we would basically become a law unto ourselves and do whatever was right in our own eyes. And yet, God has allowed us to choose for ourselves how a number of general commands will be carried out and general examples will be modeled in our own modern context. Some aspects of discipleship can be accurately described and faith fully fulfilled within the realm of human judgment. In such cases, we have liberty to determine what would be most appropriate, profitable, and advantageous in a given situation. We have freedom to ask, “What would be the most helpful and beneficial means of reaching this necessary end?” Constructive Questions to Ask in the Making of Expedient Judgments Is it lawful?“ ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful” (1 Cor 10:23). Some of the early Christians in Corinth were arguing that all things were lawful for the Christian. There was great confusion and argument over how to regard meat that had been sacrificed to a pagan idol. Paul provides practical instruction in the larger context of 1 Corinthians 10, but establishes that things must first and foremost be “lawful.” Before we consider whether a thing is expedient, we must honestly ask, “Is it lawful?” If it’s not lawful, it can’t be expedient. Has God been specific? If something has been specified, there is no room for expedients. Is it helpful? In 1 Corinthians 10, the Spirit encourages us to recognize that even lawful things may not be helpful in a specific situation. Some press their opinion or insist on their “pet project” in the name of expediency, even if it causes division among God’s people. Such attitudes and actions destroy rather than edify and buildup (1 Cor 14:26). Will this cause my brother or sister to stumble? In 1 Corinthians 10.32, Paul qualifies his instructions about expediencies by saying, “Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God.” In 1 Corinthians 8:7-13 he encourages careful recognition that “not all possess” mature knowledge and that the mature must act accordingly. And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat mea

SUNDAY MORNING(February 16th) •The Intersection of Heavenly Authority and Everyday Life * As human beings, we understand and apply authoritative instructions using our God-given common sense every day. In fact, we learn to do so from a very early age.We may not use distinctive labels or philosophical definitions to describe what we’re doing, but we comprehend and follow the fundamental principles of authority and compliance in thousands upon thousands of actions and reactions over a lifetime of interactions. For example, a father knocks on the bedroom door of his teenage son and communicates clear instructions to him. “Take this $25 and go to Pizza Hut on Main Street.I just called in an order for a sausage pizza, an order of breadsticks, and a Diet Coke.Go straight there, and come straight back home.We’ll have the table set when you get back.”That teenager is now the recipient of very specific instructions that carry the authoritative weight of his father.These instructions, by their very nature, logically rule out millions of other variables.Can the teenage son take his father’s $25, pick up his girlfriend, and head for the movie theater? No! Why not?His father specifically told him to go to Pizza Hut and spend the money there.Even though his father did not methodically list every possible place his son should not go, the teenager naturally understands something, doesn’t he?To take that $25 and spend it anywhere other than Pizza Hut will be to disobey his father at home.His father’s specific mention of Pizza Hut on Main Street logically rules out every other pizza place, every other restaurant, every other venue, and even every other Pizza Hut other than the Pizza Hut on Main Street.The same principle applies to the sausage pizza, the order of breadsticks, and the Diet Coke.If the teenager comes home with a pepperoni pizza, an order of hot wings, and a Mountain Dew, he will have failed to follow his father’s instructions. Why? Even though the teenager went to Pizza Hut, his father specifically ordered a sausage pizza,breadsticks,and a Diet Coke.The specific nature of his communication logically rules out every other kind of pizza, every other side item, and every other beverage.“Go straight there, and come straight back home” were his father’s final specific instructions.Even if the teenager goes to Pizza Hut, to go any where beyond Pizza Hut will be to blatantly disregard his father’s instructions. Why? All other stops are logically ruled out by the specific instructions of his authoritative father. As a human being, the teenage son has freedom of will.He has received specific instructions from his father.The way he acts from the point of instruction forward depends entirely on the level of respect he has for his father. On the other hand, suppose the same father knocks on the bedroom door of the same teenage son with similar, but more general instructions.“Your mom is in the mood for pizza. How about taking this $25 and picking one up for all of us? And while you’re at it, grab some dessert and a soft drink or two.”That teenager has received some very generic instructions that carry the authoritative weight of his father.He is still expected to go and pick up some pizza with the money provided, but the nature of his father’s instructions logically carry a certain amount of freedom to choose how those instructions will be carried out. Pepperoni? Sausage? Supreme? Hawaiian? Cheese? Any one of these—including a number of other options—are available to the teenager, as long as he comes home with a pizza.  Ice cream? Cookies? Cake? Brownies? Candy?Any of these—including a number of other options—are available to the teenager, as long as he comes home with some type of dessert. His father has no logical right to be upset with his son if the teenager comes home with vanilla ice cream instead of Milky Way candy bars. Why not? He gave his son generic instructions

Having grown in our appreciation of the raw materials inherent to all communication (tell, show, imply), it's time to delve a little deeper. Practically speaking, how does the Bible direct us? In real-life terms, how do we transition from reading God-breathed words on the printed pages of our Bibles to leading God-approved lives? How can I faithfully interpret his communication to mankind that was delivered thousands of years ago and faithfully apply it to my own individual life? How does God speak to me and direct meat this point in history? consider six "connective paths"-within the tell, show, and imply realm of communication-between the word of God and the human heart. Straightforward Declarations of Truth There are hundreds, if not thousands, of straightforward,direct, to-the-point statements throughout both the old and New Testaments. They are candidly delivered truths from divinely-appointed spokesmen, Spirit-led writers, or, at times, even from the very mouth of God himself. From the eternal mind of the infinite Creator, these matter-of-fact statements of truth are communicated to finite, temporal human beings so that we, as image-bearers of God, might believe and act upon his will for our lives. Examples of this"connective path" between the word of God and the human heart abound.In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.(Gen 1:1)For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Eccl12:14) "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.For as the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa 55:8-9)Regardless of my reaction, these are straight forward declarations of truth from the Creator of the universe to humanity. I can hear them, believe them, and act upon them or not, but my ignorance of or chafing under, or rebelling against these God-breathed truths will not change the fact that they are true. God has seen fit to define reality for all mankind in a written revelation. As a part of that revelation, he makes many straight forward declarations of truth. Overarching Principles A principle is a general law or basic truth from which further elements of instruction or expectation are derived. Principles provide a guiding sense of requirement and obligation. They serve as the groundwork of a system, an essential part of a whole. Jesus' words in Matthew 6:22-24 are just a few of the many principles we find in the New Testament. Like foundational building blocks, they support the structure of Christian living."The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy,your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad,your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."There's a difference between "In the beginning, God created ..."and "You cannot serve God and money." The former is a straightforward declaration of truth; the latter is an overarching principle. It's not a specific command or an explicit example, but it is an overarching principle. Regardless of my geographical, historical, or cultural context, the principle holds true-I cannot simultaneously serve God and money.

Communication can be defined in a variety of different ways: the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs; something imparted, interchanged, or transmitted; a document or message imparting news, views, or information. Remember the foundation we've laid to this point in our study: .:. What is authority and why does it matter? .:. God's authoritative expectations in the old Testament .:. God's authoritative expectations in the New Testament .:. The catastrophic consequences of lawlessness If we're to fully grasp how God's authority translates into and impacts our own lives, it's important that we take some time to focus on the raw materials of communication itself. How does God communicate his authoritative will to us? What might be surprising to some is that God communicates his will in the same ways you communicate your will. Doy Moyer has done some very insightful and helpful writing onthis topic': There is no magic formula here. By understanding how we communicate at the most basic levels, we will understand how God communicates also. There is no special way of looking at communication when we study Scripture. People may buck against the idea of "establishing" authority, but the issue here is the same: How does God communicate His will? When we answer that, we've answered how His authority is made known. How is anyone's will communicated? How do you communicate your will to someone else? If you want to communicate your desire that someone do or consider something, how do you go about it? The possibilities are actually very narrow and straightforward: 1. You tell someone what you want. This is the most direct form of communication. It could take the form of a statement or even an order. 2. You show someone what you want. You might go so far as to show them how to go about doing it. Illustrations and examples are a commonly employed tool in this vein of communication. 3. You imply what you expect others to get by what you say or show. Gestures could be helpful; even silence could be leveraged to make the point.Now, here's the challenge. Can you think of any way to convey what is in your mind to the mind of someone else other than to tell, show, or imply that information? Moyer asserts: This is logic at the most fundamental level, and the principles we are discussing here are what we would call self-evident. Something is self-evident when it is true in itself. Such is the case with tell, show, and imply. How can we demonstrate this? It is obvious that any attempt at communication will utilize one or more of these ways of communication. Try to communicate without it! I would issue this challenge if you disagree with what I'm saying: go ahead and disagree, but don't tell me anything about it, don't show me anything about it, and don't imply your disagreement. To do so would be self-defeating, for you will utilize the very process you are denying. Such cannot be done, and we would logically collapse on ourselves by thinking otherwise. Tell, show, and imply are logically self-evident. No further proof is needed,and objections to this are self-defeating and logically incoherent.Let's make this personal.Pick a moment in the last week that you communicated something to someone via each of these three a venues: • When did you tell someone to do something? How did you do it?

In Matthew 7:21-23, toward the end of his famous “sermon on the mount,” Jesus made some statements that are worthy of some in-depth attention at this point in our study.“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”With these words, Jesus established a straightforward distinction between “the will of my Father who is in heaven” and “lawlessness.” There are image-bearers of God who do the will of the heavenly Father, and there are image-bearers of God who are workers of lawlessness. The first will gain entrance into the kingdom of heaven, and the latter will be told to depart from God.It is vital, therefore, that we understand the difference between the will of our Creator and lawlessness.Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Eph 5:15-17)In our last session, we determined that the apostles delivered authoritative teaching as commissioned envoys of the risen Christ (Acts 2:42). What they delivered in oral and written form is to be regarded and abided within as the God-breathed doctrine of Christ (2 John 4-9). We are called to do more than refer to Jesus as “Lord.” The one who enters the kingdom of heaven will have put the revealed will of God into practice.On the other side of the spectrum is “lawlessness.” In Greek, the word is anomia. Nomos in Greek is translated “law” into English. Add an a to the front of the word and it becomes negative—similar to the way many of our English words work.On Sunday mornings at 9:45 AM throughout the months of January, February, and March, Jason Hardin is leading an adult Bible class called God-Shaped Respect for Authority. Our schedule for the quarter: Week 1 (January 5th) • What is Authority and Why Does It Matter? Week 2 (January 12th) • God’s Authoritative Expectations in the Old Testament Week 3 (January 19th) • God’s Authoritative Expectations in the New Testament Week 4 (January 26th) • The Catastrophic Consequences of Lawlessness Week 5 (February 2nd) • The Raw Materials of Communication Week 6 (February 9th) • The Nature of God’s Written Revelation to Mankind Week 7 (February)On Sunday mornings at 9:45 AM throughout the months of January, February, and March, Jason Hardin is leading an adult Bible class called God-Shaped Respect for Authority. Our schedule for the quarter: Week 1 (January 5th) • What is Authority and Why Does It Matter? Week 2 (January 12th) • God’s Authoritative Expectations in the Old Testament Week 3 (January 19th) • God’s Authoritative Expectations in the New Testament Week 4 (January 26th) • The Catastrophic Consequences of Lawlessness Week 5 (February 2nd) • The Raw Materials of Communication Week 6 (February 9th) • The Nature of God’s Written Revelation to Mankind Week 7 (February