Deciphering the Cultural Zeitgeist

Love, Truth, Hope and the Right Side of History

Pastor Dan Cox — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 18:32:53 +0000

The spirit of the age demands conformity with its temporal, human-centered philosophy, but the Spirit of God urgently calls people to embrace eternal, God-centered truth and graciously offers the gift of eternal life while warning of eternal judgment. In part 9 of Deciphering the Cultural Zeitgeist, Pastor Dan Cox reads from Titus 3:1-7, 1 Peter 3:13-17, Romans 8:18-25, and Revelation 21:1-8.

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Study Notes

The Right Side of History

The Spirit of the Age…

demands conformity
is temporal
is a human-centered philosophy

How Should Followers of Jesus Respond to the Zeitgeist?

Followers of Jesus…

submit to rulers and authorities
are ready for every good work
speak evil of no one
avoid quarreling
are gentle and courteous toward all people
were once foolish and disobedient
were saved by God’s mercy
are heirs of eternal life
are zealous for good
will be blessed if suffering for righteousness’ sake
must not fear
honor Christ the Lord as holy
are prepared to make a defense
demonstrate gentleness and respect
maintain a good conscience
demonstrate good behavior
maintain eternal perspective
will inherit a glorious life and freedom
groan inwardly along with the creation
wait patiently in hope
will inherit a new heaven and a new earth
will dwell forever with God
will see the end of tears, death, mourning, crying and pain
will see all things made new
serve a sovereign, eternal, trustworthy God
will be children of God forever
warn of eternal judgment

The Spirit of God…

urgently calls people to embrace eternal, God-centered truth
graciously offers the gift of eternal life
warns of eternal judgment

Sons of Thunder

Applying the Text

Are you a son of thunder or a child of light and love?

Critical Theory and Intersectionality

Pastor Dan Cox — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 18:37:23 +0000

The spirit of the age says all human beings find their value in group identity, can be divided into oppressor and oppressed, have varying degrees of moral authority based on their level of oppression and can find salvation through activism with the goal of social liberation, but the Spirit of God says all human beings find their value in having been created equal in the image of God, have fallen in sin which includes expressions of oppression, can find salvation and reconciliation through repentance from sin and faith in Christ and can dwell with God forever in beautiful diversity. In part 8 of Deciphering the Cultural Zeitgeist, Pastor Dan Cox reads from Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 3:21-25, Ephesians 2:11-16, and Revelation 7:9-10.

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Study Notes

A Video Primer on Critical Theory and Intersectionality

The Spirit of the Age Says All Human Beings…

find their value in group identity
can be divided into oppressor or oppressed
have varying degrees of moral authority based on their level of oppression
can find salvation through activism with the goal of social liberation

My Take: Terminology… Phraseology… Historical Considerations

The Spirit of God Says All Human Beings…

find their value in having been created equal in the image of God
have fallen in sin which includes expressions of oppression
can find salvation and reconciliation through repentance from sin and faith in Christ
can dwell with God forever in beautiful diversity

Applying the Text

Do you harbor any sinful attitudes toward those who are different than you?
Do you seek biblical peace and justice for all?
Do you faithfully proclaim gospel hope to all?

Socialism, Marxism and Cultural Marxism

Pastor Dan Cox — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 19:50:11 +0000

The spirit of the age increasingly endorses Socialism as the preferable economic system, Marxism as the preferable overarching grand narrative of the flow of history, and ideological uniformity and its variants such as “Neo-Marxism,” “Cultural Marxism” and others as effective tools for social transformation and economic equity, but the Spirit of God says humans have been given a responsibility to manage God’s resources and gifts well, are called to exercise compassionate care for the poor, and presents the Grand Story of Redemption and Restoration as the true overarching grand narrative for the flow of history. In part 7 of Deciphering the Cultural Zeitgeist, Pastor Dan Cox reads from 1 John 3:11-18.

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Study Notes

Understanding the Text

The Command to Love (3:11-13)
The Proof of Life (3:14-15)
The Proof of Love (3:16-18)

The Spirit of the Age Says…

Socialism is the preferable economic system

Socialism is a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole. In Marxist theory it is a transitional social state between the overthrow of capitalism and the realization of Communism.

Marxism is the preferable grand narrative of history

Marxism is the political and economic theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, later developed by their followers to form the basis for the theory and practice of communism.

Communism is a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.

Ideological uniformity is an effective tool for social transformation and economic equity

My View…

Totalitarianism is a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state.

The Spirit of God Says…

God owns everything
Humans have been given a responsibility to manage God’s resources well
Humans are called to exercise compassionate care for the poor
The Grand Story of Redemption and Restoration is the true grand narrative of history

Applying the Text

Who do you think owns what?
Do you manage what you have been given for the glory of God?
Do you care for the poor?
What Grand Narrative do you live by?

Gender

Pastor Dan Cox — Sun, 18 Oct 2020 17:30:46 +0000

The spirit of the age says gender is a social construct that is fluid, multitudinous and based on the potentially shifting feelings of a person, but the Spirit of God says that God created human beings as male and female and that though social conventions and cultural expectations may vary, our fundamental identities as either male or female are biologically based and unchanging. In part 6 of Deciphering the Cultural Zeitgeist, Pastor Dan Cox reads from Genesis 1:26-31.

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Study Notes

A Crisis of Feelings

Some Context First…

Understanding the Text

Creation in God’s Image (1:26-27)
Creation as Male and Female (1:27)
Divine Blessing and Delegated Dominion (1:28-31)

The Spirit of the Age Says Gender…

is a social construct
is fluid
is multitudinous
is based on shifting, subjective feelings

The Spirit of God Says Gender…

was created by God and is male and female
is a reflection of the image of God
is biologically based
is unchanging

Sex…Gender…Intersex Variation…Social Conventions and Cultural Expectations

Gender Dysphoria, Biblical Compassion and the Hope of Eternal Redemption

Applying the Text

Do you believe God is your all wise Creator?
Do you believe God has revealed Himself in Scripture and that what He says is true and best for your temporal flourishing and everlasting blessedness?
Do you find your identity in Christ and trust Him to redeem you completely and make all things new?

Marriage

Pastor Dan Cox — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 17:37:15 +0000

The spirit of the age says marriage is a legal contract between two persons (currently) regardless of biological sex or gender identification, but the Spirit of God says marriage is a sacred covenant in which one biological man and one biological woman are joined together in complementary one flesh unity for the purpose of reflecting the nature and glory of God, satisfying human needs for companionship, partnership and sexual expression and creating the best environment in which to produce and raise children. In part 5 of Deciphering the Cultural Zeitgeist, Pastor Dan Cox reads from Ephesians 5:22-33.

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Study Notes

Foundational Worldview… and Marriage

Some Context First…

Understanding the Text

Mutual Submission and Wifely Submission (5:22-24)
Mutual Love and Husbandly, Christlike Love (5:25-30)
Marriage as Illustration of Christ and the Church (5:31-32)
Love and Respect (5:33)

The Spirit of the Age Says Marriage…

is a human institution
is a legal contract
is between two persons regardless of biological sex or gender identification

The Spirit of God Says Marriage…

was created by God
is a sacred covenant
is between one biological man and one biological woman
is a complementary one flesh unity
reflects the nature and glory of God
satisfies human needs for companionship, partnership and sexual expression
creates the best environment in which to produce and raise children

The Church should be known more for what we are FOR than for what we are AGAINST.

Applying the Text

What are you FOR?
How can you best communicate that to the people in your world?

Homosexual Practice (Part 2)

Pastor Dan Cox — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 17:53:10 +0000

The spirit of the age says homosexual practice stems from innate, unchangeable, morally praiseworthy attractions, but the Spirit of God says homosexual practice stems from the sinful nature and violates God’s good design for human sexuality, but can be forgiven and the person redeemed by the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. In part 4 of Deciphering the Cultural Zeitgeist, Pastor Dan Cox reads from 1 Corinthians 6:1-20.

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Study Notes

Peer Pressure and Cultural Tipping Points

Attractions are not actions
Desires are not decisions
Predilections are not practices

Some Context First…

Understanding the Text

The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God (6:1-10)
God has redeemed people from all manner of sins (6:11)
The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord (6:12-20)

The Spirit of the Age Says Homosexual Practice…

stems from innate attractions
is unchangeable
is morally praiseworthy

The Spirit of God Says Homosexual Practice…

stems from the sinful nature
violates God’s good design for human sexuality
can be forgiven and the person redeemed

Applying the Text

Do your sexual practices conform more to the world or God’s good design?
Repent of anything unworthy of God’s good design
Rejoice and rest in God’s grace, deliverance and hope

Homosexual Practice (Part 1)

Pastor Dan Cox — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 19:15:32 +0000

The spirit of the age says homosexual practice stems from innate, unchangeable, morally praiseworthy attractions, but the Spirit of God says homosexual practice stems from the sinful nature and violates God’s good design for human sexuality, but can be forgiven and the person redeemed by the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. In part 3 of Deciphering the Cultural Zeitgeist, Pastor Dan Cox reads from 1 Corinthians 6:1-20.

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Study Notes

Peer Pressure and Cultural Tipping Points

Zeitgeist: Literally, “time ghost/spirit”: the spirit of the time/age

It is the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time.

The Zeitgeist and…

Human Sexuality
Homosexual Practice
Marriage
Gender Identity/Transgenderism
Socialism/Marxism/Cultural Marxism
Critical Race Theory/Intersectionality

Some preliminary thoughts…

Attractions are not actions

Desires are not decisions

Predilections are not practices

Some Context First…

Understanding the Text

The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God (6:1-10)
God has redeemed people from all manner of sins (6:11)
The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord (6:12-20)

The Spirit of the Age Says Homosexual Practice…

stems from innate attractions
is unchangeable
is morally praiseworthy

The Spirit of God Says Homosexual Practice…

stems from the sinful nature
violates God’s good design for human sexuality
can be forgiven and the person redeemed

Applying the Text

Do your sexual practices conform more to the world or God’s good design?
Repent of anything unworthy of God’s good design
Rejoice and rest in God’s grace, deliverance and hope

Human Sexuality: From the Beginning

Pastor Dan Cox — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 17:36:57 +0000

The spirit of the age says sex is a pleasurable pursuit that can be disconnected from marital commitment and can be experienced in whatever way one finds desirable within the bounds of consent, but the Spirit of God says sex is a pleasurable gift of God given to promote human connection and flourishing within the bounds of biblical marriage for the purpose of physical, emotional and spiritual intimacy and oneness and the propagation of the human race through procreation. In part 2 of Deciphering the Cultural Zeitgeist, Pastor Dan Cox reads from Genesis 1:26-28 and Genesis 2:18-25.

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Study Notes

We are living in an age of intellectual, emotional, political and spiritual upheaval. The zeitgeist – the spirit of the age – speaks persistently to people both inside and outside of the church and influences their thinking, feelings, values and choices. Our age is characterized by a revolutionary fervor that seeks to overthrow traditional values and fundamental institutions and replace them with a progressive vision, elements of which can be characterized as utopian. These waves of rethinking can be seen in our culture’s attitudes and beliefs regarding such things as human sexuality, marriage, gender, economics and race. As followers of Jesus, we must seek to better understand these beliefs and then lovingly counter the modern, ever-shifting “truth” proclaimed by the spirit of the age with the ancient, unchanging Truth revealed by the Spirit of God.

Zeitgeist: Literally, “time ghost/ spirit”: the spirit of the time/ age

It is the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time.

The Zeitgeist and…

Human Sexuality
Marriage
Gender Identity/Transgenderism
Socialism/Marxism/Cultural Marxism
Critical Race Theory/Intersectionality

Understand God’s design and intent for human sexuality, and then everything else falls into place for understanding why the Bible says what it does about sex outside of that design.

Some Context First…

Human Beings…

were created by God in the image and likeness of God
were given dominion over the earth
were created male and female
were blessed by God
were commanded to be fruitful and multiply

Human Beings…

were not made to flourish alone
were created with interdependent, complementary correspondence
become one flesh in biblical marriage

The Spirit of the Age Says Sex…

is a pleasurable pursuit
can be disconnected from marital commitment
can be experienced in whatever way one finds desirable within the bounds of consent

The Spirit of God Says Sex…

is a pleasurable gift of God
promotes human connection and flourishing within the bounds of biblical marriage
is intended to create physical, emotional and spiritual intimacy and oneness
is the vehicle for the propagation of the human race through procreation

Applying the Text

What are your core beliefs about human sexuality?
Do your sexual attitudes and practices line up more with the zeitgeist or the Spirit of God?
Repent of sexual attitudes and practices that dishonor the Creator and do not promote human flourishing
Give thanks for the abundant mercy and grace of God

First Things First

Pastor Dan Cox — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 17:34:48 +0000

Followers of Jesus must counter the anger and confusion of our times with God’s love and truth as we pursue personal holiness and demonstrate practical love for people. In part 1 of Deciphering the Cultural Zeitgeist, Pastor Dan Cox reads from James 1:19-27.

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Study Notes

We are living in an age of intellectual, emotional, political and spiritual upheaval. The zeitgeist – the spirit of the age – speaks persistently to people both inside and outside of the church and influences their thinking, feelings, values and choices. Our age is characterized by a revolutionary fervor that seeks to overthrow traditional values and fundamental institutions and replace them with a progressive vision, elements of which can be characterized as Utopian. These waves of rethinking can be seen in our culture’s attitudes and beliefs regarding such things as human sexuality, marriage, gender, economics and race. As followers of Jesus, we must seek to better understand these beliefs and then lovingly counter the modern, ever-shifting “truth” proclaimed by the spirit of the age with the ancient, unchanging truth revealed by the Spirit of God.

Zeitgeist: Literally, “time ghost/ spirit”: the spirit of the age

It is the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time.

The Zeitgeist and…

Human Sexuality
Marriage
Gender Identity/Transgenderism
Socialism/Marxism/Cultural Marxism
Critical Race Theory/Intersectionality

Three Promises….

I will not seek to deliberately offend people. (Nevertheless, some people will be very upset by some things I say).
I will endeavor to speak the truth in love. (Nevertheless, some people who are not upset by much of what I say, may get upset by some of what I say).
While I will do my best to understand and explain complex issues with respect and sensitivity, I will never compromise or deviate from the simple, revealed truth of the Word of God.