Have We Lost our Foundation?

I'm in an adult learning class at my church.  This quarter, we have been discussing Biblical Christianity vs. Postmodernism.  Our associate paster has been marvelously "deconstructing" both world views to help us learn how we may have compromised Biblical Truth in our modern churches.

To sum up the biggest difference between the two world views: We Christians accept the Bible and God's Truth as absolute.  We measure everything to that foundation.  Our moral structure and law system historically was based on these judeo-christian beliefs.  It is wrong to lie.  It is wrong to cheat.  It is wrong to murder.

Conversely, the postmodern worldview indicates that nothing is absolute.  There are no universal foundational truths.  Everything we see and know is based on our perceptions.  If we extend this thinking into our current moral structure and law, we will find the legal system slowly break down to whatever the players think about at the time.  It will become a legal system of persuasion.  I could argue that it already has.

When I think about this, I find myself more than a little scared of our future.  If our society is no longer based on universal absolutes, then anything goes.  It would be fine to lie or cheat, if the circumstances indicated the need.

This scripture caught my attention as soon as I opened my Bible today.

"As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point.

"My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide." ~1 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭3-4‬ (NLT)

Earlier this week, I heard fellow believers remark that they know when they are right and wrong because the Holy Spirit resides within. I don't argue that the Holy Spirit can convict, but what if we only imagined we heard the Spirit, and instead heard our own desires talking?  I worry that the postmodern world view has invaded our Church.  We think it, we feel it, so it must be OK.

In the end, God is the only judge, but when we need a standard to know right from wrong, we need to check His Word. Read the Bible.

He is our foundation on which everything else is based.

Tied up in Knots

Most of you know I took up a new hobby last summer with sailing.  I hate to admit that I started sailing before I had proper training.  This summer, we took the time to listen to the seasoned sailors at the club dock tell us more about wind conditions, sail positions, retrieving a "man overboard," and safe docking.

One of the lessons I found I did not know was how to tie good knots.  I learned there are good knots, and there are bad knots.  For a knot to be considered a "good knot,"it must meet three primary criteria:

1. Good knots must have a purpose.
2. Good knots must hold, and not slip.
3. Good knots must be easy to untie.

There are many knots used in sailing.  Each kind of knot has a unique purpose.  Everyone knows the square knot (not pictured).  This is called a reef knot in sailing, and used to reef a sail (tie it up) during a storm.  The bowline knot (pictured above) is used to create a loop in your line (rope).  The loop end of the rope can then be thrown to catch a dock post.  The sheet bend (pictured left) is used to tie two lines together (can be uneven sized).  The clove hitch (pictured below) is used to secure your boat to a dock post.


I loved learning about these knots, and I found myself thinking about the "good knot" criteria, and comparing it with God's word.  Let's review each one in turn.

1. Good knots must have a purpose.
A knot is not considered "good" if it does not serve a purpose.  Interestingly, neither are believers.  Jesus Himself told the disciples, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone," (Mark 16:15 NLT). This is the purpose He gave each of us.

2. Good knots must hold, and not slip.  
What good is a knot if it slips, and the boat gets away?  In the same manner, a believer who is not holding fast to the Word can slip, and fall away.  God told Joshua, "Study this Book of Instruction continually.  Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.  Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do," (Joshua 1:8 NLT).  This is the key to staying grounded in obedience.

3. Good knots must be easy to untie.
This lesson was the hardest for me to understand.  Why would I need to untie a knot quickly and easily?  To sail away from a dock, the line must be quick to loose and throw into the boat, so that the sailor can quickly jump onboard and man the tiller.  A knot may also need to be loosed quickly to avoid a dangerous situation of being tethered to something that could cause a boat to sink.  I thought about believers who are tethered to things that may become unhealthy.  I'm talking about how sometimes the things we hold onto can become idols in our lives.  A believer must be able to quickly loose the things that become idols to keep us from losing our focus.  "And what union can there be between God's temple and idols?  For we are the temple of the living God.  As God said: 

'I will live in them 

and walk among them.  

I will be their God, 

and they will be my people.'" 

(2Corinthians 6:16 NLT)  

I should mention it took me three hours to learn to tie these knots in a manner that I could remember later.  I was appalled that I couldn't learn these knots as quickly as I thought I should.  I felt stupid, but that message is for another post.

Accommodations

Earlier this week, I spoke about the principle of Differentiation.  This is an educational word used to help teachers understand the individual learning needs of their students, so they can alter the curriculum, expectations, or assignments based on what the student himself needs.

I'd like to talk about accommodations today.  Accommodations are tools or assistance given to a person to help them access something or to do the essential functions of their job.  Everyone needs accommodations for something.  For example, there may be an item in a store I really want.  However, it is on the top shelf, and I cannot reach it.  I have to request a ladder to climb to get to the item, or a store associate to get it for me.  Without the accommodation, I would not have been able to access the desired item.

Life Lines

Many of you may remember I began sailing last summer.  If you want to recall my first solo sailing trip, click Winds.  We are associate members of the Commodore Decatur Yacht Club, and we try to get on the lake every chance we get.  The club membership is open for anyone interested in sailing, and it only costs $75 a season to belong (family).  The club has five boats available for associate members to use, once the senior sailors deem us worthy to sail alone.

Damage to the keel

We received news this past Monday that the choppy wind conditions caused one of the club boats to break free from the ropes (lines) that bound it to the dock.  Because the lines snapped, the boat drifted against some rocks and caused damage to the keel (the weight on bottom) that made it nearly sink.

Investigating the damage

After some investigation, the senior sailors determined the lines were not adequate to keep the boat secure.  We learned that we must use double-braided ropes to secure the boat to the dock.

This made me think about the lines that keep us tethered to God.  If we are not firmly anchored to God with double-braided cords, our lifelines may snap, and we could find ourselves drifting away toward dangerous conditions.

What are some of these lines?
1. Attend a church that teaches Bible truth.
2. Read the Bible, a little each day.
3. Think about the things the Bible teaches.
4. Pray.  Again, I say pray.
5. Spend your free time with other believers who encourage you, and who can keep you accountable.
6. Learn how to love others the way He loves us and act on it.

There are more... name them!

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT)