The Big Leagues: Being Counter-Cultural

Intro:
The Scriptures are able to make us wise. There is a wisdom in the Book that the world in all its wisdom cannot find. We are either dead on it or we are fools. There is no middle ground. A strong hold on the Scriptures will make us counter-cultural.

There is a lot of temptation to soften up on the Scriptures. If we want to be in the big leagues we will need to remain in it.

Read: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2
14 But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. 15 From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. 16 Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Chapter 4
I command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom: 2 preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching.

Think:
In the first part of this passage Paul reminds Timothy to remain (“hold on to”) what he has become assured of. Are you assured that the Word of God is true? This is a weird world that might accept a god but only if he/she/it is not demanding or exclusive. We use big words like “pluralistic” for a culture like America – basically it means we do not hold to any absolute truth. A little god and a little Darwin. A little god and a little Freud. A little god and a little Capitalism. They want us to keep the mix.

The folks in Timothy’s day were exactly the same. They were good at sales, good a making gods, good at immorality. So Paul reminds Tim to hold on to the Book. It takes a big league believer to hold on the Bible in a culture adrift. Try telling your friends that you believe in God and see what happens. Tell them you believe that Jesus is the only way to God and see what happens (see Acts 4:12).

When Paul tells Tim to “remain” in what he has learned, this is not a suggestion but a command. It is not just a good thing it is imperative. Christians lose anchor when they move away from the Bible. We are people of the Book.

What comes from the Bible that is counter-cultural? Here are some things: creation, dying to self, service to others, our need of salvation, Jesus as the only way to God.

Do:
Reflect on what your worldview. How biblical is your view of the world?

How hard is it to stand up for your faith at work? Neighborhood?

Listen to song #10 “Famous One” in the “worship center” and worship the God that loves you .

DevoLink: Devotions to help you Link with God.