Wiser Than Children of Light (II) Luke 16:1-13

Introduction Two major lessons Two major lessons Danger of the love of moneyDanger of the love of money Forethought and wisdom of the worldForethought and wisdom of the world World sees spiritual truth easier World sees spiritual truth easier Rulers (John 12:42)Rulers (John 12:42) Felix (Acts 24:25)Felix (Acts 24:25)

Preaching What Is Needed “The church that is away from the masses is away from Christ, and the church that is with Christ is with the masses. The departure from Christ and the people is the prime cause of all the formality, and coldness, and indifference, and proud-heartedness in the churches which are guilty of it and suffering from it. The remedy for all is to remove the cause by coming back to Christ.”

Preaching What Is Needed “We have not the sturdy faith, and consuming zeal, and deep-toned piety in the churches now which we had fifty years ago. Instead thereof, we have a lightheartedness, and worldly- mindedness which was not so much as named among the saints in those days. We have not the spiritual power and doctrinal convictions in the pulpit now which we had then, but instead of those old-time elements of pulpit

Preaching What Is Needed “strength we have a disposition to astonish and please the world by sensational sermons, ethical lectures, beautiful speeches and soft sayings to which the old-time preachers never gave place for a moment. There is a need of a reformation in all these things ‘whereunto you do well that you take heed’” (Seventy Years in Dixie, p. 380)

Is Smoking Wrong? Some Christians say NO Some Christians say NO “No worse than being overweight“No worse than being overweight “The Bible doesn’t say not to”“The Bible doesn’t say not to”

Is Smoking Wrong? The Bible says, YES The Bible says, YES Application of principlesApplication of principles Some are self-condemned (Romans 14:23)Some are self-condemned (Romans 14:23) Christians are saints, disciples (Matthew 11:29;1 Peter 1:15)Christians are saints, disciples (Matthew 11:29;1 Peter 1:15) Jesus was undefiled, sinless, etc. (John 8:4-6; 18:38; 19:4, 6)Jesus was undefiled, sinless, etc. (John 8:4-6; 18:38; 19:4, 6)

Rick Lanning “Instead I have turned to what many might consider a simple answer given by a simpleton. To me the absolute purity, the radiant holiness, the snow-white innocence of Jesus my Lord stands in total contrast to a Christ peering through smoke-filled eyes and smelly clothes while a poisonous weed ….” “Instead I have turned to what many might consider a simple answer given by a simpleton. To me the absolute purity, the radiant holiness, the snow-white innocence of Jesus my Lord stands in total contrast to a Christ peering through smoke-filled eyes and smelly clothes while a poisonous weed ….”

Rick Lanning (continued) “…hangs from His smoking mouth as He says, ‘Come learn of me.’ What man or woman who wears that holy name, who imbibes His spirit and imitates His example, who seeks to walk even as He walked, and to be holy in all manner of living, can in his wildest imagination picture the holy, harmless, …. “…hangs from His smoking mouth as He says, ‘Come learn of me.’ What man or woman who wears that holy name, who imbibes His spirit and imitates His example, who seeks to walk even as He walked, and to be holy in all manner of living, can in his wildest imagination picture the holy, harmless, ….

Rick Lanning (continued) “… undefiled Jesus asking Peter for a light, or pulling a cigarette from His garment, or putting a pinch between His cheek and gum? I could as easily draw in my mind our Savior at a disco party or a poker game or seated at a bar as I can puffing on a rolled up cancer stick or spitting before offering a … “… undefiled Jesus asking Peter for a light, or pulling a cigarette from His garment, or putting a pinch between His cheek and gum? I could as easily draw in my mind our Savior at a disco party or a poker game or seated at a bar as I can puffing on a rolled up cancer stick or spitting before offering a …

Rick Lanning (conclusion) “…‘holy kiss!’ Any saint (holy one) who can think otherwise, “hath not seen Him, neither know Him.” “…‘holy kiss!’ Any saint (holy one) who can think otherwise, “hath not seen Him, neither know Him.” (Imhoff Avenue Bulletin, Port Arthur, TX, November 1980)

Is Smoking Wrong? Wisdom of the world Wisdom of the world I was in a book store asking for religious books … clerk replied as she removed her cigarette, “You can see from this cigarette that I don’t have any religious books in here.”I was in a book store asking for religious books … clerk replied as she removed her cigarette, “You can see from this cigarette that I don’t have any religious books in here.” Why can’t we tell if it’s wrong?Why can’t we tell if it’s wrong?

Is Dancing Wrong? Many Christians say, NO Many Christians say, NO “It’s just exercise.”“It’s just exercise.” “It doesn’t bother me.”“It doesn’t bother me.” “I have total control.”“I have total control.”

Is Dancing Wrong? The Bible says, YES Take heed (1 Corinthians 10:12) Lasciviousness (Greek- aselgia), (Galatians 5:19)

Lasciviousness Webster- “… lewd, lustful” Webster- “… lewd, lustful” Thayer- “… unchaste handling of males and females” Thayer- “… unchaste handling of males and females”

Is Dancing Wrong? The Bible says, YES The Bible says, YES Take heed (1 Corinthians 10:12)Take heed (1 Corinthians 10:12) Lasciviousness (Greek- aselgia), (Galatians 5:19)Lasciviousness (Greek- aselgia), (Galatians 5:19) Could one pray and dance at the same time? (Matthew 6:13)Could one pray and dance at the same time? (Matthew 6:13) What about John the Baptist? (Mark 6:22)What about John the Baptist? (Mark 6:22)

Is Dancing Wrong? Wisdom of the world Wisdom of the world Article about Anita Bryant seen dancing after speaking out against homosexual rights in Dade County, FLArticle about Anita Bryant seen dancing after speaking out against homosexual rights in Dade County, FL Why was that newsworthy?Why was that newsworthy?

Is Dancing Wrong? Wisdom of the world Wisdom of the world Luther Blackmon was once asked, “Why do you preach against dancing?” He replied, “If you saw me on the dance floor next Saturday night, knowing that I am a preacher of the Gospel, what would you think of me?”Luther Blackmon was once asked, “Why do you preach against dancing?” He replied, “If you saw me on the dance floor next Saturday night, knowing that I am a preacher of the Gospel, what would you think of me?”

Is Dancing Wrong? Blackmon (Conclusion) Blackmon (Conclusion) She answered without hesitation, “I wouldn’t think you were much of a preacher.”She answered without hesitation, “I wouldn’t think you were much of a preacher.” (Truth Magazine, Volume 18, p. 550) (Truth Magazine, Volume 18, p. 550)

Can We Know What is Modest? Many Christians say, NO Many Christians say, NO “How short is short?”“How short is short?” “It is totally subjective”“It is totally subjective”

Can We Know What is Modest? The Bible says, YES The Bible says, YES Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:7, 21)Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:7, 21) Naked does not always mean total nudity (Job 22:6; James 2:15, 16)Naked does not always mean total nudity (Job 22:6; James 2:15, 16)

Can We Know What is Modest? Modest dress Commanded (1 Timothy 2:9, 10)

Modest “orderly, well arranged, decent, modest… ‘the well ordering is not of dress and demeanor only, but of the inner life, uttering indeed and expressing itself in the outward conversation’ (Trench)” “orderly, well arranged, decent, modest… ‘the well ordering is not of dress and demeanor only, but of the inner life, uttering indeed and expressing itself in the outward conversation’ (Trench)” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary)

Shamefastness “a sense of shame, modesty” … ‘shamefastness is that modesty which is fast or rooted in character…’(Davies, Bible English)… ‘that which would restrain a good man from an unworthy act’ “ (Vine’s Expository Dictionary) “a sense of shame, modesty” … ‘shamefastness is that modesty which is fast or rooted in character…’(Davies, Bible English)… ‘that which would restrain a good man from an unworthy act’ “ (Vine’s Expository Dictionary)

Sobriety “denotes soundness of mind… ’it is that habitual inner self-government, with its constant rein on all the passions and desires which would hinder the temptation to these from arising…” “denotes soundness of mind… ’it is that habitual inner self-government, with its constant rein on all the passions and desires which would hinder the temptation to these from arising…” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary)

Can We Know What is Modest? Modesty dress Modesty dress Commanded (1 Timothy 2:9, 10)Commanded (1 Timothy 2:9, 10) Reflects the heart (1 Peter 3:1-7)Reflects the heart (1 Peter 3:1-7) Is it determined by what we call it?Is it determined by what we call it?

Can We Know What is Modest? Wisdom of the world Wisdom of the world Advertisers know the differenceAdvertisers know the difference

Brooke Shields Jeans Ad “What comes between me and my Calvins?” Reply: Nothing “What comes between me and my Calvins?” Reply: Nothing Don O’Brien of CBS standards division suggested Klein may have started the “pants flap”Don O’Brien of CBS standards division suggested Klein may have started the “pants flap” He denied it by saying, “the tighter they are, the more people want to buy them.” (12/12/80)He denied it by saying, “the tighter they are, the more people want to buy them.” (12/12/80)

Can We Know What is Modest? Wisdom of the world Wisdom of the world Advertisers know the differenceAdvertisers know the difference Clothing designers know the differenceClothing designers know the difference

Comment on Miniskirts “I don’t mean that you won’t see even shorter skirts on some women some of the time. Among the teenaged, the near-anorexic and the deliberately provocative, minis are bound to be popular. (Among prostitutes, they never went out of fashion) … “I don’t mean that you won’t see even shorter skirts on some women some of the time. Among the teenaged, the near-anorexic and the deliberately provocative, minis are bound to be popular. (Among prostitutes, they never went out of fashion) …

Comment on Miniskirts “…The miniskirt is the relentless enemy of modesty.” (Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 4/29/87) “…The miniskirt is the relentless enemy of modesty.” (Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 4/29/87)

Can We Know What is Modest? Wisdom of the world Wisdom of the world Advertisers know the differenceAdvertisers know the difference Clothing designers know the differenceClothing designers know the difference Exception for athletic events?Exception for athletic events? Why do we have trouble deciding what is modest?Why do we have trouble deciding what is modest?

Food For Thought

Conclusion The wisdom of the world must not be better than ours Live in order to glorify God