World Stains...

I remember reading Donald Barnhouse write that years ago "...some musicians noted that errand boys in a certain part of London all whistled out of tune as they went about their work. It was talked about and someone suggested that it was because the bells of Westminster were slightly out of tune. The boys did not know there was anything wrong with the peals and quite unconsciously copied their pitch."

In the same way, we as Christians can be whistling the world's tune without even realizing it. If we're going to keep that from happening we must be continually going back to the Word of God and make sure that it is really setting the pitch for us.

Two examples, first...what's our attitude towards money?

The world's attitude towards money, treasure it.

God's attitude? Treasure me.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal..."

We've got to ask ourselves the hard questions:

Why do we work? Why do we save money? Why do we have the house we have? Why do we drive the car we drive? What are our financial goals? Do they make sense biblically? What master are we really serving?

Second, what's our attitude towards entertainment?

Wayne Wilson writes, "Every Christian seems to agree that we live in a time of cultural decline. Obscenity, vulgarity and perversion are the norms. Decency, honor and purity are the exceptions. Christians talk about a culture war as though it were an us versus them contest. I...argue that we are the enemy. The decadence prevails because it is largely funded by Christian dollars, viewed in Christian homes, and welcomed by Christian hearts. Somehow we have grown fond of the world. Christians have always been tempted by the world, but this is I believe the first generation of Bible believing Christians to have ever embraced the world's temptations so completley. We delight in that which is offensive to God. Because we love what the world loves, the world is tearing us down."

Does our view of entertainment match up to Ephesians 5:3-7, "But do not let immorality or impurity or greed even be named among you as is proper among the saints, and there must be no filthiness or sill talk or coarse jesting, which are not fitting but rather the giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them..."