July 22, 2007
“X-Mass, the Ungodly Attack on Christmas & Christianity”
Romans 8:5-7
Every year it seems we here new stories of bans on Christmas Carols, bans on teachers in schools even using the word “Christmas” and even bans on the colors red and green! The excuse usually given for such actions is an illegitimate reference to Thomas Jefferson’s writing on the “separation of Church and State.” These attacks on Christmas are just the tip of the ice berg too.
According to Wikipedia (a free online encyclopedia) – Piss Christ is a controversial photograph by American photographer Andres Serrano. It depicts a small plastic crucifix supporting the body of Jesus Christ submerged in a glass of the artist's urine. The piece was a winner of the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art's "Awards in the Visual Arts" competition,[1] which is sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, a United States Government agency that offers support and funding for artistic projects.
Now, why do people want to do such things and why would our government pay someone to do something so wicked and dreadful?
I. Messed up minds –
1. Our minds were messed up by the fall –
A. We carry the guilt of Adam’s sin- Romans 5:12 & :18
B. We lack the righteousness that Adam had before the fall – Romans 3:10-11
C. We inherit (from Adam) the corruption of sin, which infects every part of our nature, including our minds – Isaiah 1:5-6
D. Because of this our minds are the root source of sin – Matthew 15:19
2. Our minds are further messed with by this ungodly world – Romans 12:2
3. We were, before Christ, spiritual zombies, walking according to the course of this world, according to blinding power of Satan and according to the rule of our ungodly lusts – Ephesians 2:1-4; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
4. Of course all this includes, enmity against God – Romans 8:5-7
You may ask, what are the implications of this?
II. No understanding and no “free (from sin) thinking, living or choosing” - Romans 3:10-11
1. Many people misunderstand the concept of “free will” as far as Calvinists teach it because they see it as in contrast or conflict with Predestination:
A. The Bible teaches predestination – Ephesians 1:11
B. Yet, this does not mean God forces us to do anything, nor does it make us robots, we have disobeyed God’s commands – Exodus 20:1-21
2. We deny “free will” because unbeliever’s wills our bound by sin and their sin natures:
A. They cannot do right – Jeremiah 13:23
B. They cannot truly choose God or Christ (not without God’s Spirit changing them first) – Romans 3:10-11; John 6 (Wolf meat or veggies illustration)
3. This means we should make clear and Biblical presentations of the Gospel to people, not try to deceive them into the Kingdom – Matthew 19:16-30
III. No relish or desire for heavenly things – 1 Corinthians 2:14
IV. Hatred for Christ and His followers – John 15:18-20
1. Now Bible believing Christians are called “haters” … we believe Christ is the Only Way – John 14:6
2. Yet, the real hatred is that hatred that nailed Jesus to the cross – Isaiah 53:1-6; John 19:5-6
V. Is there hope? Yes, in God’s great Love – Romans 5:6-11
NKJ John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
