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.

Wiser Than Children of Light (II)Wiser Than Children of Light (II)

Luke 16:1-13Luke 16:1-13

IntroductionIntroduction

Two major lessonsTwo major lessons•Danger of the love of moneyDanger of the love of money•Forethought and wisdom of the Forethought and wisdom of the

worldworld World sees spiritual truth easierWorld sees spiritual truth easier

•Rulers (John 12:42)Rulers (John 12:42)•Felix (Acts 24:25)Felix (Acts 24:25)

Preaching What Is NeededPreaching What Is Needed

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

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

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

(Seventy Years in Dixie, p. 380)(Seventy Years in Dixie, p. 380)

Is Smoking Wrong?Is Smoking Wrong?

Some Christians say NOSome Christians say NO•““No worse than being overweightNo worse than being overweight•““The Bible doesn’t say not to”The Bible doesn’t say not to”


The Bible says, YESThe Bible says, YES•Application of principlesApplication of principles•Some are self-condemned Some are self-condemned

(Romans 14:23)(Romans 14:23)•Christians are saints, disciples Christians are saints, disciples

(Matthew 11:29;1 Peter 1:15)(Matthew 11:29;1 Peter 1:15)•Jesus was undefiled, sinless, etc. Jesus was undefiled, sinless, etc.

(John 8:4-6; 18:38; 19:4, 6)(John 8:4-6; 18:38; 19:4, 6)

Rick LanningRick Lanning

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

Rick Lanning (continued)Rick Lanning (continued)

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

Rick Lanning (continued)Rick Lanning (continued)

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

Rick Lanning (conclusion)Rick Lanning (conclusion)

“…‘“…‘holy kiss!’ Any saint (holy one) holy kiss!’ Any saint (holy one) who can think otherwise, “hath not who can think otherwise, “hath not seen Him, neither know Him.” seen Him, neither know Him.”

(Imhoff Avenue Bulletin, Port Arthur, TX, (Imhoff Avenue Bulletin, Port Arthur, TX, November 1980)November 1980)


Wisdom of the worldWisdom of the world•I was in a book store asking for I was in a book store asking for

religious books … clerk replied as religious books … clerk replied as she removed her cigarette, “You she removed her cigarette, “You can see from this cigarette that I can see from this cigarette that I don’t have any religious books in don’t have any religious books in here.”here.”

•Why can’t we tell if it’s wrong?Why can’t we tell if it’s wrong?

Is Dancing Wrong?Is Dancing Wrong?

Many Christians say, NOMany 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.”


The Bible says, YESThe Bible says, YES•Take heed (1 Corinthians 10:12)Take heed (1 Corinthians 10:12)•Lasciviousness (Greek- Lasciviousness (Greek- aselgiaaselgia), ),

(Galatians 5:19)(Galatians 5:19)

LasciviousnessLasciviousness

Webster- “… lewd, lustful”Webster- “… lewd, lustful” Thayer- “… unchaste Thayer- “… unchaste

handling of males and handling of males and females”females”


The Bible says, YESThe Bible says, YES•Take heed (1 Corinthians 10:12)Take heed (1 Corinthians 10:12)•Lasciviousness (Greek- Lasciviousness (Greek- aselgiaaselgia), ),

(Galatians 5:19)(Galatians 5:19)•Could one pray and dance at the Could one pray and dance at the

same time? (Matthew 6:13)same time? (Matthew 6:13)•What about John the Baptist? What about John the Baptist?

(Mark 6:22)(Mark 6:22)


Wisdom of the worldWisdom of the world•Article about Anita Bryant seen Article about Anita Bryant seen

dancing after speaking out dancing after speaking out against homosexual rights in against homosexual rights in Dade County, FLDade County, FL

•Why was that newsworthy?Why was that newsworthy?


Wisdom of the worldWisdom of the world•Luther Blackmon was once asked, Luther Blackmon was once asked,

“Why do you preach against “Why do you preach against dancing?” He replied, “If you saw dancing?” He replied, “If you saw me on the dance floor next me on the dance floor next Saturday night, knowing that I am Saturday night, knowing that I am a preacher of the Gospel, what a preacher of the Gospel, what would you think of me?”would you think of me?”


Blackmon (Conclusion)Blackmon (Conclusion)•She answered without hesitation, She answered without hesitation,

“I wouldn’t think you were much “I wouldn’t think you were much of a preacher.” of a preacher.”

(Truth Magazine, Volume 18, p. 550)(Truth Magazine, Volume 18, p. 550)

Can We Know What is Modest?Can We Know What is Modest?

Many Christians say, NOMany Christians say, NO•““How short is short?”How short is short?”•““It is totally subjective”It is totally subjective”


The Bible says, YESThe Bible says, YES•Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:7, 21)Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:7, 21)•Naked does not always mean Naked does not always mean

total nudity (Job total nudity (Job 22:6; James 2:15, 16)22:6; James 2:15, 16)


Modest dressModest dress•Commanded (1 Timothy 2:9, 10)Commanded (1 Timothy 2:9, 10)

Modest Modest

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

ShamefastnessShamefastness

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

SobrietySobriety

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

(Vine’s Expository Dictionary)(Vine’s Expository Dictionary)


Modesty dressModesty 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 Is it determined by what we call

it?it?


Wisdom of the worldWisdom of the world•Advertisers know the differenceAdvertisers know the difference

Brooke Shields Jeans AdBrooke Shields Jeans Ad

““What comes between me and What comes between me and my Calvins?” Reply: Nothing my Calvins?” Reply: Nothing •Don O’Brien of CBS standards Don O’Brien of CBS standards

division suggested Klein may division suggested Klein may have started the “pants flap”have started the “pants flap”

•He denied it by saying, “the He denied it by saying, “the tighter they are, the more people tighter they are, the more people want to buy them.” (12/12/80)want to buy them.” (12/12/80)


Wisdom of the worldWisdom of the world•Advertisers know the differenceAdvertisers know the difference•Clothing designers know the Clothing designers know the

differencedifference

Comment on MiniskirtsComment on Miniskirts

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

Comment on MiniskirtsComment on Miniskirts

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


Wisdom of the worldWisdom of the world•Advertisers know the differenceAdvertisers know the difference•Clothing designers know the Clothing designers know the

differencedifference•Exception for athletic events?Exception for athletic events?•Why do we have trouble deciding Why do we have trouble deciding

what is modest?what is modest?

Food For ThoughtFood For Thought

ConclusionConclusion

The wisdom of the world must The wisdom of the world must not be better than oursnot be better than ours

Live in order to glorify GodLive in order to glorify God

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.

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