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Is It Good To Be Bad? Series
Contributed by Mark Lennon on Apr 10, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: Sermon Series on Malachi #5. In a world where truth seems to be realtive how can we know right and wrong.
Malachi 2:17
Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?
Here we see another dialog between God and Israel.
1. Everyone who does evil is good?
A. New Age movement. Evil is relative, evil is even part of God. James 1:12
a. The new age train of thought is far from new.
b. Most new age persons will not refer to them selves as new agers.
B. Homosexual agenda (they are pushing hard to have everyone believe that it is OK)
a. Leviticus 18:22
b. Jude 7 (You can find the whole story in Gen. chapters 18-19)
c. Romans 1:21-27
2. God delights in him who does evil. Isaiah 5:18-25
3. Where is the God of judgment? God is too nice to judge or God does not judge men.
A. God does judge men.
B. God is a just God. Would you want to go to a judge that has reputedly let loose law offenders?
C. Since God is the Just Judge we do not have to judge, but are told not to judge.
DC Talk, on their song what if I stumble says, “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians. Who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, and walk out the door, and deny Him with their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds, unbelievable.”
What if I have a friend that is a new age thinker? Listen to them and do not interrupt, if you give them an ear then you’ve earned the right for them to listen to you uninterrupted. Do not argue with them remember what drew you to Christ; it was not condemnation or judgment, but rather the love and forgiveness that God offers. Remember you are not trying to win an argument but a soul.
What if I have a homosexual friend? Once again love. Not a demented love that they have but a genuine love that Christ brings in us. Remember we must have brokenness for their soul and not condemnation. Christ is the only one worthy to judge and He still offers forgiveness. (John 4:7-42)