They Are Changing Things to Remove Accountability

A. In this lesson the “they” is going to be broad:

1. “They” at times in this lesson will refer to those of the world who hate Christ and us, His followers, (John 15:18-19). 
2. “They” at times in this lesson will refer to those who have fallen from the faith (I Timothy 1:1-20, II Timothy 4:10, II Timothy 4:14, and II Peter 2:20-22).
3. Anytime “they” are referenced throughout this lesson it needs to be clear that “they” [whether fallen saints or people who have always been of the world] are worldly followers thus their god is Satan (II Corinthians 4:4).

B. The Bible show us clearly that Christians are people who should not be drawn to the fleshly ways of the world, for those ways will not allow one to enter into Heaven (I Corinthians 6:9-10 and Galatians 5:19-21).

1. Romans 12:1-2
2. I Peter 2:9-11
3. We would not want to be spiritual adulterers by loving the world (James 4:4). 

a. One cannot be of God and the world (I John 2:15). 

A. The Bible says we will be judged based upon our deeds:

1. II Corinthians 5:10 
2. Romans 14:11-12 

B. God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11, and Ephesians 6:9), therefore we can conclude that every work of every man will come into judgment with no one be an exempt: 

1. Colossians 3:24-25
2. I Peter 1:17 

A. Two men who decided to burn strange fire found that out (Leviticus 10:1-2).
B. A good guy doing a good thing found that out (II Samuel 6:6-7).

1. This good thing was a violation of God’s law (Numbers 4:15).

C. One guy who decided to pick up a few sticks found out God would judge (Numbers 15:32-36).
D. Even when we think it is a good thing, a preacher may agree with you that it is a good thing, but that does not make it an authorized thing (II Samuel 7:1-7).

1. We must do all things with authority (Colossians 3:17).

A. They are calling alcoholism a “disease” like is something you catch.  Thus, by referring to it this way alcoholics can feel as though it is something they caught and can’t help:

1. The Bible calls it unwise (Proverbs 20:1).
2. The Bible shows that alcohol impairs judgment and is addictive (Proverbs 23:29-35).
3. The Bible says all types of drinking are wrong (I Peter 4:3).
4. The Bible says you will burn in hell for it (Galatians 5:21).

B. They are calling abortion “a choice”.  The woman is told it is her body.  The child, which is alive, is called a fetus.

1. The Bible shows that life begins at conception (Job 3:3).
2. The Bible uses the term “babe” when in the mother’s womb, not fetus (Luke 1:40-41).
3. The Bible says murderers will burn in hell (Revelation 21:8).

C. They are calling erring worship “contemporary worship”.

1. The Bible says there is one type of worship (John 4:24-25).
2. Those that pervert that worship with be eternally damned (Revelation 22:18-19).

D. They are teaching that you can fellowship those who are openly teaching error.

1. The Bible says we cannot fellowship those in error (Ephesians 5:11 and II John 9-11). 
2. The Bible says to mark and avoid (Romans 16:17-18).

E. They are teaching that you can be around anyone you want if you are strong minded enough to be your own person.

1. The Bible teaches that we are to avoid even the appearance of evil (I Thessalonians 5:22).
2. The Bible teaches that we are not to be deceived, that evil companions will corrupt us (I Corinthians 15:33).
3. The Bible teaches that we will fall into the ditch if we follow blind leaders (Matthew 15:14).

F. They say it’s OK to gamble, because you can do good things with the money (what about those who rob a bank and give to the church, does the result justify the means?).

1. The Bible says covetousness [to desire that which belongs to another] is wrong (Ephesians 5:3). 
2. The Bible teaches we are to earn our money (II Thessalonians 3:10). 

a. Scratching a ticket is not working.
b. Wasting your money on a slot machine is not entertainment.

3. Theft is taking something that is not yours; think about what Paul said to the church at Ephesus (Ephesians 4:28). 
4. Proverbs 13:11 

G. They say it is OK to lie, so long as it is only a “little white lie”.  They even say it is OK to lie if you are someone like a politician who is expected to lie:

1. I wonder what Ananias and Sapphira would advise you to do (Acts 5:1-10)?
2. Does God really approve of lying (Revelation 21:8)?

H. They say that it is OK to be too busy to carry out your work for the Lord or attend every service – Hmm (Matthew 6:33, Matthew 22:36-38, Colossians 3:1-3 and Hebrews 10:25).
I. They are saying “wear what you want as long as you look good and feel good it in it; if you got it you might as well show it”.  The Bible does specify what is modest and what is NAKED (Genesis 3:7; 21 and Exodus 28:42). 
J. They say use any version of the Bible you want, what about perversions that add and take from the word of God (Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18-19).  How is error easily spread? – Erring translations! 

A. Many of other things could have been provided in this lesson, but the overall lesson is for us to learn to look to God and stop accepting redefined terms that permit sin.

1. Sin is sin (I John 3:4).
2. All sin has an earning [wage] (Romans 6:23).

B. We are on earth to please God (Ecclesiastes 12:13), let’s aim to accomplish that goal!

1. The world is Satan’s playground.
2. The only way to avoid that bully is to stay off his turf, keep your mind on spiritual things, and surround yourself with spiritually minded brethren!

2003 by Brian A. Yeager may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.