Text: 1 Peter 4:2-3, Title: Baptist Biggies, Date/Place: NRBC, 8/24/08, PM
A. Opening illustration: AKA Drugs, Sex, and Rock and Roll, Tell about the perception of Baptist in some areas like Standish,
B. Background to passage: Tonight we will continue in our walk through the NRBC Covenant. The paragraph that we are looking at is best described as promises for our actions toward others in general, for the purpose of demonstrating the worth of our God to a watching world. So far this paragraph has included promises we make to maintain private and family worship, to evangelize our friends and neighbors, to carefully choose our actions in light of a watching world being faithful and just, to avoid gossip and fighting among ourselves, as well as anger. The first week in Sept we will begin to look at the paragraph that deals specifically with our care for one another in the church. The text that we will look at tonight denotes these activities as those that are not of the will of God, but of the will of unbelievers. And lists them and other related sins together.
C. Main thought: Tonight we will look at the things that people really think of when they think “Baptist.”
A. Alcohol (v. 3)
1. Most of these sins listed in verse three are related to alcohol. And it is historic Baptist practice to totally abstain. So much so that we are known as the people who don’t drink, at least publicly. The bible does not forbid categorically the use of alcoholic drinks, but condemns drunkenness and warns against the affects of alcohol. And our covenant states that we will totally abstain, and here is why I believe that it is a good promise to make, even though it may go somewhat further than biblical prescription.
2. Pro 23:19-21, 20:1, Isa 28:7-8, Luke 1:15-16
3. Illustration: $25 billion will be spent this year on beverage alcohol, advertisers will spend $600 million telling you that you ought to drink, every twenty minutes in our country, one person is killed in an alcohol related automobile crash, highest rates in 15 years, 40% of all suicide attempts each year in our nation are alcohol related, In 1996, 1.5 million arrests were made for drinking under the influence of alcohol, “Can I do it before God and before others in total faith and confidence that it is right?”
4. 1) We are dealing with much different forms of alcohol that in bible times. 2) We have other better, cheaper options, plus clean water. 3) Drinking is not wise/best. 4) It can be habit forming. 5) The entire industry leaves a trail of destruction. 6) It may offend other believers. 7) It may hinder your testimony to unbelievers. So yes, I think it is a good promise to have to make to become a member of NRBC. It protects our church from accusation. It protects your life, family, your walk with Christ, and your witness. By the way, the same thing goes for tobacco, but historically, we haven’t stood so strong there--$$$.
B. Drugs (v. 3)
1. There is almost no explanation needed. The OT and NT condemn any sort of mind altering chemical or idolatrous practices. They are illegal in this country. And you can’t find too many good things so say about them or their affects on individual and family lives.
2. Gal 5:20, 1 Thess 5:5-6, 1 Peter 1:13, 4:7, Rev 9:21, 1 Cor 6:12,
3. Illustration: nearly 20% of teens admitted to taking some sort of prescription drug to get high. A lot of kids believe that, since they’re prescribed and the FDA has approved them, they must be safe. Parents need to watch their medicine cabinets closely, taking special note of painkillers. Unfortunately, prescription drug abuse can still lead young people down the same path of self-destruction as illicit drugs. The estimated annual direct cost to our society resulting from substance abuse is more than 250 billion dollars; Take a look at the people who use drugs and line them up with people who do not... big difference! Look at the lives of 5 people you know who use drugs. Generally they have many chums, but few close friends, high rate of changing jobs and are often unemployed, are absentee parents who party all night while their teens are left home unsupervised, are irrational in their logic and thinking pattern being plagued with poor judgment. They have many sexual partners, are often unfaithful to their spouses and are violent and irrational with their children. They tend to be selfish and unable to exercise self control in any area of their lives. When confronted with such facts, they simply deny the truth and accuse you of being crazy, when in fact they are the crazy ones. They are hurting and unhappy but they don’t know why. It is estimated that in the United States alone people spend 80 billion dollars annually on drugs.
4. No controversy about use. Only issue here is prevention and recovery. Prevention comes with discipleship in the home. Recovery programs that are biblically based are my recommendations. Remember too that recovery may not only involve caring for the addict, but also the family. These are the two places that the church of God must stand up. Do you really “use your influence?”
C. Sexual Immorality (v. 3)
1. I am going to broaden this issue a little because of the force of the message to not only include pornography, which is a huge problem, but also other sexual sins. This is a third one that Baptist in particular, but Christians in general are labeled as being against. The perception is that we have govern and regulate sex so much that you can’t even enjoy it. Premarital sex, extramarital sex, phone sex, self sex, internet sex, homosexual sex, all kinds of sex we are against…
2. 1 Cor 6:18, 1 Thess 4:3-4, Rom 1:28-32, Gal 6:1
3. Illustration: Hollywood currently releases 11,000 adult movies per year – more than 20 times the mainstream movie production, The U.S. Customs Service estimates that there are more than 100,000 websites offering child pornography, and 3X more adult entertainment businesses than McDonald’s restaurants, But I would guess the major cable TV providers probably get a couple hundred million, maybe as much as $500 million, off of adult entertainment, in a broad sense, its about a 10-12 billion dollar industry overall, At a men’s summit in Oregon before 2,000 men, Shelley Lubben of Shelley Lubben ministries challenged those who were struggling with porn addiction to stand. 30% rose to their feet. She immediately challenged them a second time, with the result that some 70% were standing. In his book, "Men’s Secret Wars", Patrick Means reveals a confidential survey of evangelical pastors and church lay leaders. Sixty-four percent of these Christian leaders confirm that they are struggling with sexual addiction or sexual compulsion including, but not limited to use of pornography, compulsive masturbation, or other secret sexual activity.
4. Again, the question is not about the right or wrongness of it all, but about how we deal with it. Again, prevention and recovery is the key. First of all, don’t take it lightly. Even though chemical addiction is not necessarily involved, the consequences can be just as destructive. Prevention: do not have an internet connection without a password protected filter. Shoot straight with young people about the destruction that it brings to marriage and emotional scars. Teach accurately not only about the sin, but about the joy and wonder of sex within a marriage. Sex is not inherently bad; don’t let people believe that you think it is. Memorize the scripture about purity. Men, be accountable! Women, be accountable in this area. No one is immune. Be careful if you think you stand…Recovery: more accountability than usual. Tell about George and Maddie. Repentance! And did I mention repentance? Grace, know that God will forgive, restore, and help you to stand. If it has progressed to the addiction level, treat it that way. And finally, we must stop looking down our “holier than thou” noses at those who get trapped in this sin. It can happen to believers, but they will want out. And when that happens, we must help them. Remember we all struggle with this at some level, at some point in our lives. If you haven’t consider yourself blessed, but it is more likely that you are having a memory lapse of your sexual sin. And when we bring sin to the light, it is ugly, but then it dies and we are freed. Don’t put the scarlet A on those who have struggled. Link arms with them and help them to realize that we are more than conquerors in Christ!
A. Closing illustration: I just had a great lunch with three of the guys in our young adult ministry who are a part of the group of guys studying and teaching through the New Testament in our classes this year. We were talking about 1 Corinthians 1, and how Paul makes such a big deal about the fact that his message is Christ and Him crucified.
I wonder what would happen if we had walked downtown and done an impromptu "Man on the Street" interview with the people walking by. I wonder if we had asked them to describe the message of Christianity in a sentence what they would have come up with.
My guess is that we would have received hundreds of answers: Christianity is about being pro-life, anti-homosexual, conservative, pro-family, pro-moral reform and ethics...I wonder how many people would have said, "Christianity is about Christ and Him crucified?"
It’s okay to be a lot of the things listed above, but when those things become the message, something is seriously wrong. What are you known for? What do you stand for? Is it Christ and Him crucified, or something else?
