How Can the Church Battle "Trendy" Sin?

BobVigneault · #1 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 08:55 AM

The orthodox/confessional churches are going to be facing such a severe challenge. Values are decided by the TV watching public so the church is forced into battling in a public relations arena. We can't win in that forum, it is soaked in man centered motivations.

How does the church fight against TRENDY SIN? That's what we are up against. When homosexuals get standing ovations and control the public argument we have little room to effect change.

No group can resist a trend, trends are powerful elements of social change. WWJD, Prayer of Jabez, The Shack - the church itself is too easily changed by trends. Now homosexuality is becoming trendy even in the church.

Our only course is to hold the line, to try an hold the land we have occupied, but we are not going to win any popularity contests for it.

Quote:

Rom 12:1 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. 2 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.
.........

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

How can we effectively battle 'trendy sin'?

Kim G · #2 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobVigneault

How can we effectively battle 'trendy sin'?

To battle trendy sin we must renew our minds with the Word of God.

With all of the homosexuals, for example, proclaiming that their trials are similar to the trials of slaves in the 19th centure or of women's right to vote, it is easy to start feeling that maybe this is kinda-sorta normal in a gross kind of way. I have to deal with this every day because I work with one.

I often have to remind myself, "What saith the Lord?" The pure water of the Word of God is effective toward thinking God's thoughts after Him.

Backwoods Presbyterian · #3 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 09:33 AM

This is an excellent question Bob.

The hardest sin to speak about is the sin your congregants commit the most.

BobVigneault · #4 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 09:56 AM

Kim, I agree we must renew our minds but how do we take the battle into the public arena? Or do we? The majority of churches just want to be liked. What practical steps can be taken that satisfy Paul's exhortation to 'overcome evil with good'?

Richard King · #5 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 09:57 AM

We need to remember to teach that you can love a sinner and not embrace his/her sin.

Whether it is gluttony, slothfulness, homosexuality, or abortion it has to be seen as part of our sin nature that we all have. Once you tell a homosexual that you realize sin exists in ALL of us you take away the weapon they intend to use on you.

Also teaching that total depravity can only be overcome by the Spirit of God will make them realize they don't have to hate themselves.

BobVigneault · #6 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 09:59 AM

Oh, another trendy sin - women pastors.

Kim G · #7 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobVigneault

Kim, I agree we must renew our minds but how do we take the battle into the public arena? Or do we? The majority of churches just want to be liked. What practical steps can be taken that satisfy Paul's exhortation to 'overcome evil with good'?

Ahhhhh. I see the question. I'm not sure of a good answer, though.

Do we see a biblical precedent for churches taking the battle over specific sins to the public? I seem to remember that when the Apostles were given opportunities to speak, they proclaimed the salvation of God from sin, not a specific condemnation over one sin they found particularly offensive.

For me, I don't have any large public influence. But in my relationships with people around me, I have an obligation to speak the good news of Christ. And if I must confront a specific sin, then may God give me grace to love Him more than I "want to be liked" by a sinner.

If the Lord gave me the opportunity to appear on a major talk show or news station to discuss the homosexual debate, for example, I don't know how much I would dwell on the homosexual debate, aside from quoting God's Word on the issue. I think I would use the opportunity to preach (okay, speak--I'm a woman) Christ. He can woo sinners to love Him and to abandon their sexual sins. I cannot.

I'm still mulling over the reference to overcoming evil with good. I always took that verse in its context to be referring to specific enemies you may encounter. Though they may expect vengeance from you, the Lord says we are to love and feed our enemies, which heaps coals of fire on their heads. In this way we are overcoming evil with our good deeds toward our enemies. Perhaps I should broaden the context of this exhortation?

BobVigneault · #8 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 10:34 AM

I make the distinction between those who are sinners and those who form a militant movement to radically change society. Preaching 'love the sinner' will not stop the cultural slide toward making vice a virtue and decency a joke.

ChristopherPaul · #9 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 10:47 AM

We can effectively battle trendy sin within our churches through consistent church discipline. From the pulpit, faithfully preach the law and holiness of God not sidestepping sensitive toes. Knowing at all times we do such for Christ and act on His behalf under His authority.

People may be offended and may leave fellowship, but our focus is on God and His precepts, not reactions to those precepts. If any leave then they will be judged by being given over to such trendy sins.

Outside the church? School the congregation to know what they believe and why they believe it. Equip the ambassadors to faithfully represent the position of the kingdom from which they speak for. Make the focus of every training opportunity, be that Sunday Schools or Bible Studies, etc., to be knowing the scriptures and how the trends are in defiance to God's image.

As in all battles, the state of the soldiers are the key to victory or defeat. They will only be effective in areas they are prepared.

Kim G · #10 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobVigneault

I make the distinction between those who are sinners and those who form a militant movement to radically change society. Preaching 'love the sinner' will not stop the cultural slide toward making vice a virtue and decency a joke.

Once again then, I would ask:

Quote:

Do we see a biblical precedent for churches taking the battle over specific sins to the public? I seem to remember that when the Apostles were given opportunities to speak, they proclaimed the salvation of God from sin, not a specific condemnation over one sin they found particularly offensive.

I really would like to know. How can we influence the public? How can we change culture? Isn't it only as Christ is preached and magnified that the cultural slide toward vice will abate? Without a moral compass, there is no definite belief in what virtue and decency is.

Richard King · #11 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobVigneault

I make the distinction between those who are sinners and those who form a militant movement to radically change society. Preaching 'love the sinner' will not stop the cultural slide toward making vice a virtue and decency a joke.

I agree.
There is a militant faction out there.
But they are selling our opinions as 'intolerent' of the people.
I think we fail to make the distinction clear.

I guess the real battle is holding on to the concept of right and wrong.
It is fading.

Pilgrim · #12 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 11:15 AM

I also think that we make a mistake if we think that the radicals will be content to allow churches to "do their own thing." Already in Sweden, Canada and elsewhere we have seen pastors prosecuted or threatened with prosecution for merely proclaiming the biblical teaching on this issue.

Backwoods Presbyterian · #13 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I also think that we make a mistake if we think that the radicals will be content to allow churches to "do their own thing." Already in Sweden, Canada and elsewhere we have seen pastors prosecuted or threatened with prosecution for merely proclaiming the biblical teaching on this issue.

How many of us are willing to face prosecution to preach the gospel?

Pilgrim · #14 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Backwoods Presbyterian

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I also think that we make a mistake if we think that the radicals will be content to allow churches to "do their own thing." Already in Sweden, Canada and elsewhere we have seen pastors prosecuted or threatened with prosecution for merely proclaiming the biblical teaching on this issue.

How many of us are willing to face prosecution to preach the gospel?

Parental rights will be a battleground as well. See here: Another Chilling Precedent -- A Court Undermines a Parent

toddpedlar · #15 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim G

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobVigneault

I make the distinction between those who are sinners and those who form a militant movement to radically change society. Preaching 'love the sinner' will not stop the cultural slide toward making vice a virtue and decency a joke.

Once again then, I would ask:

Quote:

Do we see a biblical precedent for churches taking the battle over specific sins to the public? I seem to remember that when the Apostles were given opportunities to speak, they proclaimed the salvation of God from sin, not a specific condemnation over one sin they found particularly offensive.

I really would like to know. How can we influence the public? How can we change culture? Isn't it only as Christ is preached and magnified that the cultural slide toward vice will abate? Without a moral compass, there is no definite belief in what virtue and decency is.

Maybe a more direct way to put it is this - we can only influence the public, influence culture, insofar as our members experience life change, and our members are also part of the public, and part of the culture. We will not be able to dictate behavioral change in "billboard" fashion - that is, as though we can put church signs on the side of the road with condemnations of this or that sin, and expect the public to change thereby. It just doesn't work that way - the broader world can only be changed through the Spirit- and Word-induced change in the people of the church who are also in the world.

So ... the pulpits need to be full of men who embrace the gospel and preach the whole counsel of God, and pray for the work of the Spirit within - I don't think programs that try to "influence culture" in any kind of direct way (i.e. tackling issues head-on instead of through the organic processes of human interaction by the Body of Christ) can be expected to be successful ultimately.

CaseyBessette · #16 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 12:06 PM

"Trendy sin" isn't new. In the first century, wasn't one of the trendy sins emperor worship? As our culture reverts back to a more Pagan mindset (seen in the homosexual/feminist agendas), it seems we're returning to the relationship the church had with the state around the time of the early church. How did the early church battle trendy sin? I think we can learn from their emphasis on committed Christian character and virtue (basically the answer given in Wells' Losing Our Virtue).

The modern church (broad evangelicalism, and all of us to a degree) suffers from an inability to distinguish the church from the world (I'm not talking about theonomy vs. two-kingdoms here; Scripture makes this distinction when it says we're to be in the world but not of it). I've met many well-meaning Christians who have equated America as being a Christian nation, then equating "Christian America" with OT Israel, and thus the "foreign nations" of the OT are the foreign nations surrounding America -- we're to not be influenced by them (not realizing that "foreign nations" are our next door neighbors now). This may not be as much of a problem in Reformed circles, but it's still a problem.

I remember what Ken Myers wrote in a book of his. We're told in the Word of God to be in the world but not of it, and it seems much of the American church is of the world but not in the world! We take our cue from the unbelieving culture around us and then stay in our holy circles, not influencing the culture but allowing it to influence us. And the media plays no small part. It influences us, but we don't influence it. And while the TV is what propagandizes these "trendy sins," the solution isn't to simply throw the TV out (the fundamentalist answer) or to start "Christian TV stations" (the broadly evangelical answer) (I'm not saying things things shouldn't be done ever, perhaps certain families should throw out their TVs!).

The answer is wisdom, moderation, and discernment, or, at the very least, that's part of the answer. The rest of the time we pray that we might remain faithful and be ready for persecution -- something I don't know that I'm ready for, but it seems it's going to be coming. The other factor is instructing and praying for our children because the culture is trying to influence them more than ever before (when was advertising directed at children first started? And now it's everywhere, even with their own singers and bands).

Blue Tick · #17 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 12:06 PM

Here are a couple of thoughts on how to combat trendy sin.

1. The preaching of the gospel. When the gospel is proclaimed and people are converted their worldview will change. Their value system will be Christocentric rather than man-centric. Secondly, when Christians (more so evangelicals but also Reformed believers) understand the doctrine of vocational calling. I believe this has a huge influence within society. When we (believers) apply the doctrine of vocational calling and work to the Glory of God we will be salt to the world. In my experience quite a few Christians I know struggle with not being "sold out" for the Lord. The thought behind this is that all believers need to be pastors, missionaries, evangelists, etc. Rather then concentrating on being "sold out" for the Lord we should accept that God has given men and women vocational callings for his glory.

These are thoughts are more directed at the Evangelical worldview; but the same principal applies to Reformed believers. We can take comfort that were called to glorify God in our vocation, which will let our lights shine before men, thus allowing us to battle with sin.

The Doctrine of Vocation

Excerpt from the article.

Quote:

Luther understood that the Christian is genuinely bi-vocational. He is called first through the Gospel to faith in Jesus Christ and he is called to occupy a particular station or place in life. The second sense of this calling embraces all that the Christian does in service to the neighbor not only in a particular occupation but also as a member of the church, a citizen, a spouse, parent, or child, and worker. Here the Christian lives in love toward other human beings and is the instrument by which God does His work in the world.

Pilgrim · #18 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 12:57 PM

Northern Ireland's first lady accused of hate crime

BertMulder · #19 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 01:20 PM

This