1 religious indifference what’s the big deal?. 2 indifference "having no concern or feeling,...

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Religious Indifference

What’s the big deal?

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Indifference

• "Having no concern or feeling, no interest; showing no preference.”

• One of Satan’s most effective tools

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Materialism

• The doctrine or philosophy that physical well-being and the accumulation of material possessions constitute the highest goal in life.

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Materialism

• People in pursuit of possessions have very little time for religion.–To be materialistic is to be carnally

minded – Romans 8:6-8

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Romans 8:6-8

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and

peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those

who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

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Matthew 6:24

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and

despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

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Matthew 6:24

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and

despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

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Materialism

• Solomon concluded in the end that it was all empty, vain, and striving after the wind –Ecclesiastes 2:4-11

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Ecclesiastes 2:4-11

“I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; 5 I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit

trees; …”

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Ecclesiastes 2:4-11

“… 6 I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of

growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and I had homeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and

herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. …”

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Ecclesiastes 2:4-11

“… 8 Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male

and female singers and the pleasures of men—many concubines. 9 Then I

became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My

wisdom also stood by me. …”

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Ecclesiastes 2:4-11

“… 10 All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my

heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my

labor. …”

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Ecclesiastes 2:4-11

“… 11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and

the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the

sun.”

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Ecclesiastes 2:4-11

“… 11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and

the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the

sun.”

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Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His

commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring

every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”

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Humanism

• "A doctrine, attitude, or way of life centered on human interest or values; esp: a philosophy that asserts the dignity and worth of man and his capacity for self-realization through reason and that often rejects supernaturalism.”

–Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary

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Humanism

• A broad category of ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people, based on the ability to determine right and wrong by appeal to universal human qualities—particularly rationalism.–Via - Wikipedia

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Humanism

• Very similar to communism.–"A political doctrine or movement based

on Marxism and developed by Lenin and others, seeking a violent overthrow of capitalism and the creation of a classless society."

–Wikipedia - Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization, based upon common ownership of the means of production.

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2 Thessalonians 3:10

"For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is

not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either."

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Humanism & Communism

• Promote man's supposed well-being with no reference whatsoever to God.–It worships and serves the creature

rather than the Creator.

–Christianity requires that one deny himself and follow Christ.

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Galatians 6:2

"Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.“

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Galatians 6:5

"For each one will bear his own load."

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Misunderstandings

• Many truly don't understand Christianity.

• Many claim to be Christians, but they don't know Christ nor what He taught.

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John 6:44-45

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 "It

is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught of God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the

Father, comes to Me.”

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Ephesians 4:17-24

“So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility

of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the

life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness

of their heart; …”

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Ephesians 4:17-24

“… 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to

sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in

Jesus, …”

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Ephesians 4:17-24

“… 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old

self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23

and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, …”

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Ephesians 4:17-24

“… 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in

righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

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John 8:31-32

"So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in

My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth,

and the truth will make you free."

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Hypocrisy

• The hypocrisy of those who claim to be Christians causes much indifference in the world today.

• The division among those who claim to be followers of Christ causes indifference –John 17:20-21

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John 17:20-21

"I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me

through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that

You sent Me."

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Hypocrisy

• Religious division proves that many are truly prejudiced, blind, and bias regarding truth.–2 Timothy 4:2-4

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2 Timothy 4:2-4

"preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke,

exhort, with great patience and instruction. …"

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2 Timothy 4:2-4

"… 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but

wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, …"

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2 Timothy 4:2-4

"… 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths."

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Hypocrisy

• The unfaithfulness of members of the church causes indifference.–"If your religion hasn't done any

better than that for you, I don't want any part of it."

–Christians are to be the salt of the earth • 1 Peter 2:11-12

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1 Peter 2:11-12

"Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. …"

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1 Peter 2:11-12

"… 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds,

as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation."

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Prevalence of Immorality

• Matthew 24:12-13

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Matthew 24:12-13

"Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. 13

"But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved."

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Prevalence of Immorality

• We are living in a sin-sick society.–There are over 14 million alcoholics

in the U.S.

–There were over 16,000 murders in the US in 2004 and in many places the rate continues to increase.

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Prevalence of Immorality

• We are living in a sin-sick society.–Divorce rates are high

• For every two couples married in a year, there is 1 divorce.

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Prevalence of Immorality

• We are living in a sin-sick society.–Divorce rates are high

–But Marriage is in decline• In a USA Today article from 2005 “8.1% of coupled households are made up of unmarried, heterosexual partners”

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Prevalence of Immorality

• We are living in a sin-sick society.–Divorce rates are high

–But Marriage is in decline• “The USA has the lowest percentage among Western nations of children who grow up with both biological parents, 63%, the report says.”

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Prevalence of Immorality

• We are living in a sin-sick society.–Divorce rates are high

–But Marriage is in decline• “Cohabiting couples have twice the breakup rate of married couples, the report's authors say. And in the USA, 40% bring kids into these often-shaky live-in relationships.”

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Prevalence of Immorality

• We are living in a sin-sick society.–There have been over 48,000,000

abortions since 1973• 1,287,000 last year

• But one is too many

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Prevalence of Immorality

• It's very easy to get caught up in a sin-sick society, and just go along with the crowd.–Matthew 24:35-39; Luke 17:26-27; 2

Peter 2:4-6

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Matthew 24:35-39

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. 36 "But

of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son,

but the Father alone. 37 "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just

like the days of Noah. …”

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Matthew 24:35-39

“… 38 "For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking,

marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the

flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

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Luke 17:26-27

“And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 they were eating,

they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah

entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.”

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2 Peter 2:4-6

“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and

committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; 5 and did not

spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness,

with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

…”

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2 Peter 2:4-6

“… 6 and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by

reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would

live ungodly lives thereafter;”

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"A True Disciple"

• If you follow Christ - -–When public opinion opposes,

–When the church and state are hostile,

–When high society disapproves,

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"A True Disciple"

• If you follow Christ - -–When your devotion brings sneers

and jeers,–When your fellow disciples turn

back,–When your relatives and friends

frown,–When it means a personal loss,

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"A True Disciple"

• If you follow Christ - -–When you must follow alone - -

• You are His disciple indeed.

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