Strand Baptist Church
  • About
    • Our Beliefs
    • What is a Baptist?
    • Our History
    • Our Leadership
  • Ministries
  • Sermons
    • Sermons by date
    • Sermons by series
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • About
    • Our Beliefs
    • What is a Baptist?
    • Our History
    • Our Leadership
  • Ministries
  • Sermons
    • Sermons by date
    • Sermons by series
  • Blog
  • Contact
Search

Cultural Chameleons

19/8/2013

 
Picture
Dear brothers and sisters. 

A good few years ago I preached a series of messages called 'Cultural Chameleons', in which I pointed out some cultural values that expose us to the risk of a fatal contamination. 

The Word of God exhorts us to keep ongoing vigilance against the ungodly and dangerous assumptions of our culture, saying in 1 John 2:15 'do not love the world or the things in the world'. What this well know Bible verses says is one thing, but what it means for us today is another. In the past few Pastor's Weekly's I have been pointing out some aspects of our culture that we need to sit up and take note of, and immunize ourselves against. The cultural trend I want us to briefly consider is The Time of the Spectator. 

Are you not aware of how much today entices us into the position of passive viewing? Consider a filled stadium crowded with observers waiting to be entertained by some event. Today, that spectator-experience is now delivered on-tap for us in our own homes and wherever we go (without the inconvenience of having to physically be at any event). We have access through a variety of media (internet, TV, smart phones etc) to a whole world full of engrossing activities whenever we want. What a time we are living in! I do not so much want to judge what is available for us to watch today, but I want the spotlight of your awareness to fall on how much we are tempted today to take up the posture of the irresponsible spectator before modern media. 

This particular temptation is not new (the exponential bombardment is!). In the book of Proverbs the same temptation appeared in a different form. In chapter 7 and 8 the father warns his son not to be enticed by the 'grass-widow' seductress but rather to dearly embrace and follow Lady Wisdom. The 'simple' fool naively follows the attraction that is before his eyes, listens to her promises of 'entertainment' and passively follows where she leads. The father urges his son to choose rather to follow Lady Wisdom, 'who dwells with prudence and possesses knowledge and discretion' (8:12). 'Don't just follow passively what your eyes see son', the father says, 'but rather listen to the voice of wisdom and wise counsel. Guard your eyes and and choose to follow in the path of wisdom'. Though a different time and example, the urgent call of Lady Wisdom for us to responsibly follow in the paths of prudence and discernment is what we so need to hear and obey in our time. 

I think that in all that is brought before our eyes today, we need to have 'minds that are alert and fully sober' (1 Peter 1:13) so that 'we may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ' (Philippians 1:10). This translates into subjecting all the media into the position of a good servant, and not allowing ourselves to passively take up the posture before it as a master. It will mean saying No to mind-filleting viewing and Yes to viewing that helps us to better understand our world and our responsibility within it. I personally believe that this must entail more active reading and less passive  viewing. Unnecessary 'spectatoring' enfeebles the mind and leads it down the comfortable and wide road that leads to destruction. Necessary reading cultivates and strengthens the mind and leads down the road of life; it engages us in a way that makes us more human not less. 

So friend, consider the temptations that are on offer today. Be aware that you need to make a daily responsible choice to engage your faculties more than pamper them. Let us keep our focus on loving and serving real other people in Christ's name, engaging with our families over Scripture and good literature, and keeping vital contact with our Father in prayer. Let us embrace with call of Lady Wisdom today. 

In Christ, 
Pastor Paul


Comments are closed.

    Topics

    All
    Attributes Of God
    Bad Theology
    Being Human
    Book Review
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    Church
    Evangelism
    Faith
    Family & Parenting
    Gender
    Jesus And The Gospel
    Last Days
    Love
    Paul Hartwig
    Pieter Pienaar
    Podcasts
    Prayer
    Scripture & Bible Reading
    Sexuality
    Suffering
    Technology
    Work
    Worship

    By Date

    April 2024
    January 2024
    November 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    December 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    December 2015
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    April 2013
    January 2013

Sunday Worship 9:00am    |    We welcome you to join us!   
​

Office Hours

M-F: 8am - 12:30pm

Telephone

021 854 6869

Email

[email protected]
Picture
Strand Baptist Copyright © 2023
  • About
    • Our Beliefs
    • What is a Baptist?
    • Our History
    • Our Leadership
  • Ministries
  • Sermons
    • Sermons by date
    • Sermons by series
  • Blog
  • Contact