What is “The West?”
• Civilization in Europe emerged after Near
Eastern Civilizations declined; Daniel’s era
How Did the “The West” Begin?
• Civilization in Europe emerged after Near
Eastern Civilizations declined; Daniel’s era
What is “The West?”
• Classical civilizations arise in Greece and
Rome
• Great Commission of early Christians takes
root in Greece, Rome, Balkans, North
Africa, southern Spain, Western Europe
What is “The West?”
• Civilization in Europe emerged, after
Middle Eastern Civilizations declined.
• Celtic & Gothic (Anglo/Saxon) peoples
embraced and developed it.
• Spreads to America,
South Africa,
& Australia.
Natural law
Social contract
Individual worth
& sanctity of life
4. Rule of Law
5. Goodness
6. Rationality
7. Unification: “E
Pluribus Unum.”
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2.
3.
Natural law
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Genesis 1:28 “…Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish
the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the
fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over
every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
Genesis 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and
his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall
be one flesh.”
Genesis 3:22 “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man
is become as one of us, to know good and evil.”
Genesis 3:19 “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat
bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it
wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt
thou return.”
Social Contract
Exodus 24:12 “And the LORD said unto Moses…I will give thee tables
of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that
thou mayest teach them.”
I Kings 12:6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that
stood before Solomon 7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt
be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and
answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy
servants for ever. 8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which
they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were
grown up with him, and which stood before him: 11 And now whereas
my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke:
my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with
scorpions. 15 Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; 16
So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the
people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David?
neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel:
now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their
tents.
Individual responsibility & worth
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Matthew 25:15 “To one he gave five talents, to another
two, to another one--to each according to his individual
capacity…”
Romans 5:17 “For if, through the transgression of the one
individual, Death made use of the one individual to seize the
sovereignty, all the more shall those who receive God's
overflowing grace and gift of righteousness reign as kings in
Life through the one individual, Jesus Christ.
Psalms 139:13 “…thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right
well.
Rule of Law & Justice
Romans 13:1 “Everyone must submit himself to the
governing authorities, for there is no authority
except that which God has established. The
authorities that exist have been established by
God.”
Matthew 5:25 “Come to an agreement quickly
with him who has a cause against you at law…”
Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and
have left undone the weightier matters of the
law: justice, mercy, and faith…”
The Search to “find the Good; be good” (ethics)
• Psalms 37:3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
• Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do good. Seek justice.
Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of
orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.
• Luke 6:33 And if you do good to those who
are good to you, what credit is that to you?
Even 'sinners' do that.
Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore
get wisdom. Though it cost all you have,
get understanding.
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason
together," says the LORD.
1 Peter 3:16 Yet argue modestly and
cautiously, keeping your consciences free
from guilt, so that, when you are spoken
against, those who slander your good
Christian lives may be put to shame
Unification: “E Pluribus Unum”
•
John 11:51 …he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the
entire nation. 52 And not only for that nation, but to bring
together and unite all the children of God scattered around the
world.
Ephesians 4:16 …from whom all the body, being fitted and knit
together… according to the working in measure of each
individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of
itself in love.
Philippians 1 If you have any encouragement from being
united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any
fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having
the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
It is just the ideas of irrelevant
“Dead White Men!”
2. “It fosters oppression!”
3. “It is hypocritical!”
4. “It is destructive!”
1.
II Corinthians 4:4 “…the god of this world
hath blinded the minds of them which
believe not, lest the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them. ”
Mark 4:19: “…but the worries of this life,
the deceitfulness of wealth and the
desires for other things come in and
choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Job 34:30 “That the ungodly man
reign not, that the people be not
ensnared.”
Romans 8:6 “For the mind of the flesh
is death, but the mind of the Spirit is
life and peace.”
2 Corinthians 12:21 “…I shall bewail
many which have sinned already, and
have not repented of the uncleanness
and fornication and lasciviousness
which they have committed.
Romans 1:23 “And changed the glory of
the uncorruptible God into an image
made like to corruptible man, and to
birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping
things.
Titus 2: 3 “Likewise, teach the older women to be
reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or
addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4
Then they can urge the younger women to love their
husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure,
to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to
their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of
God.
Romans 1: 26 For this cause God gave them up
unto vile affections: for even their women did
change the natural use into that which is against
nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the
natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one
toward another; men with men working that
which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves
that recompence of their error which was meet.
Ephesians 4:14 “that we may no longer be
children, tossed back and forth and
carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the trickery of men, in
craftiness, after the wiles of error.
Romans 1: 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from
heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of
men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness ; 19 Because
that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for
God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things
of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made, even his
eternal power and Godhead (natural law); so that they
are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew
God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful;
but became vain in their imaginations (atheists) and their
foolish heart was darkened.
Romans 1: 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they
became fools (materialists), 23 And changed the glory of
the uncorruptible God into an image made like to
corruptible man (humanists), and to birds, and
fourfooted
beasts,
and
creeping
things
(environmentalists). 24 Wherefore God also gave them
up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts
(hedonists), to dishonour their own bodies between
themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie,
and worshipped and served the creature more than the
Creator, (secularists) who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Romans 1: 26 For this cause God gave them
up unto vile affections: for even their women
did change the natural use into that which is
against nature: 27 And likewise also the
men, leaving the natural use of the woman,
burned in their lust one toward another;
men with men working that which is
unseemly, (homosexuals) and receiving in
themselves that recompence of their error
which was meet.
Romans 1: 28 Since they thought it foolish to
acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish
thinking and let them do things that should never be; 29
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy,
murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters,
inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without
natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who
knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit
such things are worthy of death, not only do the same,
but have pleasure in them that do them.
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God is omnipotent
God’s law pervades all
Individuals: important & responsible
Righteousness as the model
Sharing, caring & loving as key concepts
(family & community)
Unselfishness; humility
Duty, honor, dedication
Social contract – rule of law (Constitution)
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God is dead
There is no natural law; only survival
Collectivism trumps individualism
Whatever serves the “public” is best
The state defines what is good (see above)
Arrogance & pride; empowerment through
victimization (preferential treatment)
License, pragmatism, and instant gratification
Social contract – current state policy
Ephesians 4:14 “that we may no longer be children, tossed
back and forth and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles
of error.
Are you kidding me?!
Is this your best shot!?!
1.
Do you really want to risk losing eternal
life to a gamble; a roll of the dice?
• Matthew 25:46 And these will go away into
everlasting punishment, but the righteous
into eternal life.”
• John 4:36 And he who reaps, receives wages and
gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who
sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.
2. “Intelligent Design” is at least as plausible as
“It’s All An Accident;” probably more so.
• Romans 1:20
For his invisible attributes, namely, his
eternal power and divine nature, have
been clearly perceived, ever since the
creation of the world, in the things that
have been made. So they are without
excuse.
3. Is the assumption that Believers are unhappy, valid?
• Psalm 146:5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob
for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God
• Psalm 128:2 When you eat the labor of your hands,
You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
• Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no revelation, the
people cast off restraint; But happy is he who
keeps the law
• Proverbs 16:20 He who heeds the word wisely
will find good, And whoever trusts in the Lord,
happy is he.
4. If you were convinced that God did not exist,
would that cause you to stop worrying?
25 “Therefore
I say to you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your
body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food
and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds
of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into
barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you
not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by
worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
Matthew 6: 28: “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider
the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of
the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven,
will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What
shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these
things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that
you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to
you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow
will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own
trouble.
Blaise Pascal, French, 1650. Christian scientist
mathematician, inventor, philosopher, and reformer.
1. Western Civilization is the result of the Christian belief
system.
•
Supreme Court ruling against polygamy in 1890: “It is
contrary to the spirit of Christianity and the civilization
which Christianity has produced in the Western world.”
2. Satan tirelessly works to destroy it:
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II Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be
accompanied by the power of Satan. He will use every kind
of power, including miraculous signs, lying wonders, 10 and
every type of evil to deceive those who are dying, those who
refused to love the truth that would save them. 11 For this
reason, God will send them a powerful delusion so that they
will believe the lie. 12Then all who have not believed the
truth but have taken pleasure in unrighteousness will be
condemned.