Rev. David Holwick ZF "Questions People Ask" topical series
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
October 20, 2002
John 8:1-11
ARE CHRISTIANS MEAN?
I. GOOD OL' HELLFIRE AND BRIMSTONE.
A. Jerry Falwell's controversial comments.
1) (Most of his are in this category, at least ones that get
publicity)
2) Falwell has company. Letter to Editor of Star Ledger by
Aref Assaf of Denville:
"The Rev. Jerry Falwell said, 'I think Mohammed was a
terrorist.
I read enough, by both Muslims and non-Muslims, (to decide)
that he was a violent man, a man of war.'
"Another Southern Baptist leader called the Prophet a
'demon-possessed pedophile.'
The Rev. Pat Robertson described the Prophet as 'an
absolute wild-eyed fanatic.
He was a robber and a brigand.
To think that this is a peaceful religion is fraudulent.'
"The Rev. Franklin Graham, son of Billy, has repeatedly
called Islam 'a very evil and wicked religion.'"
10/18/2002
B. Philip Yancey and Gay March in Washington.
A few years back Philip Yancey happened to be in Washington,
D.C., when 300,000 gay-rights activists were having a march.
He was standing on the sidelines directly in front of the
White House when a startling confrontation took place.
About 40 mounted policemen had formed a protective circle
around a small group of outspoken Christian protesters.
Thanks to huge, orange posters announcing hellfire, the tiny
knot of Christians was attracting most of the press
photographers.
The believers began shouting, "Shame-on-you-for-what-you-do."
Then they switched to, "AIDS, AIDS, it's comin' your way."
Yancey, along with everyone else in the crowd, had seen the
group of marchers at the head of the column:
a sad procession of hundreds of people with AIDS - some in
wheelchairs, some covered with purple sores or gaunt faces.
Philip Yancey couldn't imagine how anyone could wish that fate
on another human being.
How did the marchers respond to the Christians?
Some taunted or mocked them.
But one group came to the spot, stopped to face them, and sang,
"Jesus loves you, this we know, for the Bible tells us so."
The irony was unsettling.
On the one side were "righteous" Christians.
On the other were "sinners," many of whom openly admitted
homosexuality.
Yet one side spewed out hate and the other sang of Jesus' love.
#3110
C. We are good at offending people.
1) Christians are noted for judgmental attitudes.
a) Outside a small town in New Mexico is a sign that reads:
"Welcome to Portales, New Mexico, home of 12,493
friendly folks and 8 or 10 grouches."
#17745
b) Does that describe us?
2) Evangelicals have a reputation for putting a negative slant
on everything.
3) Is it true? Are we justified in being that way?
II. JESUS AND THE LOSER. John 8:1-11
A. She was a woman, she was an adulterer, and she was caught.
1) The crowd wanted blood.
2) Similar to Afghanistan stadium executions of women.
3) Mob mentality and righteousness all rolled into one.
B. Jesus turns the tables.
1) He cunningly labels THEM the sinners. 8:7
a) Not directly, but by implication: sinless ones get
to participate first.
b) They judged themselves and slinked away.
2) The obvious sinner he sent off with forgiveness.
C. Even the world recognizes this as a defining event.
1) Jesus loves rather than judges.
2) Why can't we?
III. THE SIN OF NEGATIVISM.
A. Negativism turns people away from Jesus.
1) Negativity seems harsh and un-Christ-like.
2) Jesus stands for radical acceptance and love.
3) He saw people's potential rather than their past.
B. Many believe our world needs a positive approach.
1) Example of a preacher who turns every sermon into positive
angle. He feels it is wrong to preach the negatives.
2) Ministries of Norman Vincent Peale and Robert Schuller.
a) Positive-thinking mantra.
b) They must be tapping a vein because they have huge
followings.
IV. BUT NEGATIVITY CAN BE REALITY.
A. We live in a sin-soaked world.
1) We cannot ignore it just to be positive.
2) Principle of the harvest. Galatians 6:7
a) People reap what they sow.
B. Confronting sin is never pretty.
1) Elijah. 1 Kings 18:21
a) Confrontation with prophets of Baal, winner take all.
b) Stark choice presented to people. No compromise.
2) Ezekiel. Ezek 3:17-18; Acts 20:26-27
a) Don't warn people, their blood is on your hands.
b) Paul in Acts - no blood can be charged to me.
3) John the Baptist.
a) Everyone feared him and his message of wrath.
b) He was popular because they thought he was right.
c) He was executed because he confronted Herod about
his illicit relationship with his sister-in-law,
whom he made his wife. Matt 14:3-5
4) Jesus himself could be harsh.
a) If not with adulterers, at least with hypocrites.
b) He said the locals would be worse off than Sodom and
Gomorrah on the Judgment Day. Matthew 10:15
c) And he leaves the woman with the warning, "Go and sin
no more." (continuous sin is implied)
C. Relativism of our day.
1) Less than a year ago a guest editorial in Newsweek magazine
was written by a student at Yale University.
She said that on September 11 her entire college campus
huddled around television sets, their eyes riveted in
horror to images of the collapsing Twin Towers.
But by September 12, as their shock began to fade, so did
their sense of being wronged.
Students began pointing to the differences between our life
circumstances and those of the terrorists, suggesting
that these differences had caused the previous day's
events.
It was apparent to her that her generation is uncomfortable
assessing whether a moral wrong has taken place.
In her opinion we should recognize that some actions are
objectively bad, despite differences in cultural
standards and values.
Rape is an example. So is a terrorist attack.
She concluded by saying, "Others may disagree.
It is less important to me where people choose to draw the
line than it is that they are willing to draw it at all."
Her editorial got some attention.
One conservative gave her two cheers. (out of three)
He commended her on realizing the murder of thousands of
people is in fact bad.
But her bold moral judgment is not quite so bold as all
that.
Look at her conclusion again: "To me," it begins. To me.
Hijacking planes and killing thousands is not objectively
bad after all.
It is objectively bad only in her OPINION.
Indeed, she rushes to reassure on this point: "Others may
disagree." Others may disagree.
And she adds: "It is less important to me where people
choose to draw the line than it is that they are willing
to draw it at all."
#6532
Yes, we need to draw lines.
But it matters where we draw them, too.
Christians should know how we can decide that.
2) Judgmentalism is bad, but relativism is far worse.
a) We believe in absolute standards.
b) If we ignore them, we allow people to hurt themselves
more.
V. CHECK YOUR MOTIVES WHEN JUDGING.
A. Are we out to get attention?
1) Some who stress the positive really want to be popular.
2) Of course, being negative can be attention-getting as well!
B. Questions to ask ourselves:
1) Are we willing to apply same standards to ourselves?
2) What outcome are we looking for?
a) To put them down?
b) To open their eyes to God's standards, and love?
C. Are we offering them same hope Jesus offers us?
VI. THE PLACE FOR AFFIRMATION.
A. People need hope and love.
1) Many already realize the effects of their sins.
a) Talking with Mary V. at reunion, how she worked out
divorce and rejection of her kids by first husband.
2) Let them know of God's forgiveness.
B. Let God speak for himself.
"Pastor, is it OK to sell a Bible to a prostitute?"
Laura is a member of a small church in a small town in central
Brazil.
She has sold Avon products for years in the town to supplement
the family income.
One of her weekly routes takes her through the red light
district, and with those business contacts she often shares her
faith in Jesus Christ.
One day after asking her pastor if it is Ok to sell Bibles to
prostitutes she took a few Bibles with her on her Avon trips to
the red light district.
God opened a door for her to present Bibles and Christian books
in a house of prostitutes.
Oddly enough, the house was located directly across the road from
a large evangelical church.
Ten of these women gathered around a table one afternoon as Laura
shared with them the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.
A few Bibles and some books containing testimonies of transformed
lives were sold that afternoon.
Several months later there were terrible rains and floods in that
part of Brazil, causing several deaths.
With the floods came mudslides in communities that had been
inundated by the rising rivers.
Two prostitutes who had attended the book demonstration earlier
that year talked about the danger and decided to read the Bible
they had purchased.
Perhaps thinking the book to be like an Agatha Christie mystery
novel, they started with Revelation in order to find the
conclusion of the story.
What they read terrified them.
They read with dismay Revelation 21:7-8: "He who overcomes will
inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, and
the sexually immoral, the idolaters and all liars -- their
place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
This is the second death."
The gal who owned the Bible became alarmed and exclaimed, "We're
lost! We're lost!"
Her housemate replied, "No, you're lost. I'm not lost because I
do penance every day."
Still alarmed and concerned, they continued to read.
A few days later Laura visited her Avon customers.
These two women literally pulled her off the street and shoved
the Bible into her hands.
"Read this part right there! Tell us what it means!" they
ordered.
Laura read the verses and responded, "It means that when you
practice and live in one of these sins, you will not be
permitted to enter heaven."
Again, the owner of the Bible cried, "We're lost! We're lost!
I told you we were lost!"
Her friend again assured her, "No, you're lost.
I'm not lost because I repent every day."
"Repentance," Laura explained, "is when you confess your wrong
and completely turn around.
You do not repent.
Repenting is turning from your sin.
You only feel guilty for your sins."
Again, the prostitute shouted even louder, "We are lost! We're
lost!"
After sharing the plan of salvation and trying to pray with them,
Laura returned home planning to visit again.
One week passed by and she made her way down the muddy and rutted
dirt streets of that little suburb.
The two prostitutes were not in their "business" but at the home
of one of them.
On arriving at the house, Laura was handed a note by the one who
had been so assured of her false repentance.
It read:
Laura,
Enclosed is the money I owe.
Thank you so much for help.
After your visit last week, I returned to my hometown
and am living with my parents.
On Sunday I attended an evangelical church and gave my
heart to the Lord Jesus.
If ever I visit your city
again, it will only be to attend your church.
Jesus has made me a different person.
Maria Isabel
We can never estimate the power of God's Spirit working through
His Word to convict, regenerate and transform lives in Jesus
Christ.
#22359
Sin is a negative topic.
But we can deal with it in a positive, loving way.
The same way Jesus deals with us.
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
# 3110 "We Have No Right To Scorn," by Philip Yancey, Christianity Today
magazine, January 15, 1988, page 72.
# 6532 "My Turn: The Question That We Should Be Asking," by Alison
Hornstein, Newsweek magazine, December 17, 2001. Conservative
commentator is Michael Kelly, "A non-judgemental Yale?",
Washington Post Writers Group, December 19, 2001.
Illustration is given the title, "Is Terrorism Wrong? Really
Wrong?"
#17745 "The Negative Versus The Positive," by Bill Bouknight, from Brett
Blair's Illustrations by Email, www.sermonillustrations.com,
August 4, 2002.
#22359 "Is It Ok To Sell A Bible To A Prostitute?," from sermon by Rev.
Will Pounds entitled "Neither Do I Condemn You," #6554 in
Holwick sermon database. Original true story is called "A
Miracle in Ipatinga," by Richard Jacobsen, American Bible
Society Record, (April 1988, Vol. 134, No. 4.), pp. 12-14.
These and 20,000 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://illust.holwick.com
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