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May252010
On Cultural Morality
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 12:33AM
In his sermon from 2002, "The Deadly Dangers of Moralism," John MacArthur, Jr. emphasized at least a dozen points. I've been chewing on this one point for the past week, because in one short paragraph MacArthur reaches from the past to address many issues that I have been thinking about lately.
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
"Cultural morality is dangerous because it has no New Testament model to follow except the Pharisees. So if you're going to try to find a New Testament pattern for this effort, you're going to end up with the Pharisees. They were the moral ones. And you know what Jesus said about them? Matthew 23:15: He said when you are through making somebody a convert to your morality, you have made him "twice as much a son of hell as yourselves." Wow. Wow. So if you're looking for a New Testament model for cultural morality, you're going to end up with Pharisees. They were legalistic. I don't know about you; I don't think I would be rejoicing to live in a Pharisaic-dominated society; dominated by the mandates of self-righteous, cruel, merciless legalists, who laid heavy burdens on people, right, and gave them no help to bear them, Jesus said. Jesus said to them one day as they picked up stones to stone an adulterous woman: Whoever is "without sin... throw the first stone." And stones started dropping. I don't know that I'd want to live in that kind of environment. There is no New Testament model for political action. Jesus didn't try to overthrow slavery; neither did Paul; neither did any of the Old Testament. Both Jesus and Paul, however, did say if you're a slave, be a good one, be a faithful one, be an honest one. Serve your master well; make wise investments; do it under the Lord, and God will reward you. And if you're in a harsh, difficult situation, you'll know His grace."
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
tagged Church, Culture in Notes for my kids
Church, Culture in Notes for my kids
Reader Comments (5)
Thank you for this post. I have been thinking about this for some time also. I just had a conversation about this issue with my grandparents the other day. Where can I find this sermon? I would like to listen to it or read the text.
- Tessa
Andy,
First, I have not listened or read MacArthur's sermon, but the Jewish people all had cultural morallity- the Ten Commandments. All Jewish factions could agree on the basic morality of the Decalouge, the issue with the Pharisees is making adherence to this morality the basis for Justification. They applied a rigid system of tradition to guard their adherence to the Law. One could hold this outwardly, but inwardly they were like tombs.
Second, all cultures live out a morality. ALL cultures. The point is not if, but which morality is our culture following. One that follows the morality of the Bible would be better than our current one.
Third, grace makes no sense without law.
I probably am just missing your point or MacArthur's point. My guess is it is addressing a desire to impose Christian morallity on our society?
Forgive the blunt post above- didn't mean for it to be like that. I read your post about Dirk Russell's comment. If that sheds light on this post, I think I may get where you are coming from. I will probably link to that post.
Ron,
Thanks for dropping by. http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/80-257.htm" rel="nofollow">Here is the full text from MacArthur's sermon.
You won't find me disagreeing with what you said. However, by using the nifty search bar on theMT, enter the word "culture." You will get a sense for what I was getting at by including this post by Mac here.
Like Christ, I would never advocate legalism or licentiousness. I would advocate that we communicate a gospel that sets captives free. I would advocate that we teach the Law as the standard for righteousness and our absolute inability to justify ourselves through adherence to that Law. I would advocate the righteousness of Christ as our only means of justification.
Here's my point though: I would advocate that we address those in the culture that try to reattach those chains or teach seminars or create movements or encourage lifestyles that seek to bind men to anything other than their love for Jesus Christ. Furthermore, when we see a gospel being preached that teaches "how you should live" versus "what has been done for you", I think we should kick those evangelists out of God's house.
I'll add my Amen!
We are going to start using the Heidelberg Catechism out here and my main reason to do so is that the Ten Commandments are treated in the section on "Gratitude".