The Temptation of Sophistication

James 2:1 My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith.

James 2:2-5 If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, (3) and you say to the man in the suit, "Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!" and either ignore the street person or say, "Better sit here in the back row," (4) haven't you segregated God's children and proved that you are judges who can't be trusted? (5) Listen, dear friends. Isn't it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the world's down-and-out as the kingdom's first citizens, with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God.

James 2:8-9 You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: "Love others as you love yourself." (9) But if you play up to these so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it.

1Co 1:18-21 The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. (19) It's written, I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots. (20) So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? (21) Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb-- preaching, of all things!--to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation.

1Co 1:25-30 Human wisdom is so tinny, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God. Human strength can't begin to compete with God's "weakness." (26) Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. (27) Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, (28) chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? (29) That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. (30) Everything that we have--right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start--comes from God by way of Jesus Christ.

1Co 2:1-4 You'll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God's master stroke, I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. (2) I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did--Jesus crucified. (3) I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate--I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it-- (4) and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's Spirit and God's power did it.

Main problems It usually means putting some form of cultural standard above discipleship Being/becoming sophisticated usually involves buying into the reality of some form of social ladder, so that even if you don’t try to be exclusive you contribute to a hierarchy

A couple general principles Obedience to God has to be more important than acting sophisticated Serving/loving others has to be more important

Bad reasons to be sophisticated: You’re impressed by sophistication You want to impress others You’re embarrassed by your lack of sophistication, by your own social roots You mix up cultural notions of sophistication with genuine quality

Good reasons to be sophisticated: You simply enjoy it for its own sake It’s not your fault you just inherited it You hold it loosely and playfully and others don’t feel unsophisticated when they’re with you It’s necessary for your work It’s part of “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some of them.” (1 Cor. 9.22)

“Are you too sophisticated” quiz (Results should be confirmed by your physician before you begin medication)

1.Since you’ve been here this morning you’ve: A) felt disapproving thoughts about how others were dressed, 50 points B) felt relief that you actually remembered to get dressed before you came, 0 points C) realized that you forgot to shave, minus 10 points (if you only forgot to shave ½ your face, minus 50 points)

2. Have you had one of these things happen: A) you had people over you wanted to impress and then felt embarrassed when one of your less sophisticated friends came over, 100 points B) you don’t have any unsophisticated friends, 500 points C) you are the unsophisticated friend your friends are thinking of when they take this test, minus 100 points

3. If you had a daughter, would you prefer she date someone like this? 100 points

Or someone like one of these: minus 100 points

4. Which party would you choose: A party like this ? 50 points

4. Which party would you choose: Or a party with people like these: Minus 50

5. If you believe you are more sophisticated than your parents, 100 points

Add another hundred if you try to make them more sophisticated

6. Insert your own question here:

Corinthians Challenge (0+) If you wonder at all if you’ve been getting sucked in by our culture, getting tempted by desires to be sophisticated: Read 1 Corinthians & James slowly and prayerfully with your social attitudes in mind

If you feel that you’re slipping, invite one of these boys over