1. Fatalism2. Relativism

3. Pragmatism

Fatalism: I can’t change my life…• Isaiah 22:12-13 And in that

day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we shall die

• I Corinthians 15:32…what advantageth it me…?

Fatalism: I can’t change my life…• Fatalism in the world:

– Atheistic evolution breeds fatalism•Ephesians 2:12 That at that

time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world

•I Thessalonians 4:13 …that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope

Fatalism: I can’t change my life…• Fatalism in religion:

– Calvinism breeds fatalism•T otal hereditary depravity•U nconditional election•L imited atonement•I rresistible grace•P erseverance of the saints

– Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Fatalism: I can’t change my life…

• Fatalism in the church:– Ecclesiastes 9:3-10 This is an

evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion…for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Relativism—It’s right for me…

• Deuteronomy 12:8 Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes

• Judges 17:6 …but every man did that which was right in his own eyes

• Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes…(21:2)

• I Chronicles 13:4 …for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people

Relativism—It’s right for me…

• Relativism in the world:– Atheistic evolution breeds

relativism•To the world: morality is

defined by society•As society changes, morals

change• Relativism in religion:

– II Timothy 4:3 …after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears

• Relativism in the church: selfishness

Pragmatism—If it works…

• Acts 5:34-39 …now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

• Genesis 16:1ff—Sarai and Hagar

Pragmatism—If it works…

• Pragmatism in the world:– The end justifies the means:

•With money•With success•With education

• Pragmatism in religion:– “We are growing, so we

must be doing something right…”

Pragmatism—If it works…

• Pragmatism in the church:– We sometimes allow things

that are wrong because they are practical•Living together•“Safe” sex•Compromises in attendance•Appointment of elders•Etcetera…

What was Christ’s worldview?

• Was it fatalism?– Mark 10:17-27—the rich young

ruler•Jesus knew his challenges

(21)•Jesus believed he could

change (21-27)– Luke 23:43—Jesus believed in

a condemned thief – Luke 22:31-32—Jesus believed

Peter could win the battle with Satan

What was Christ’s worldview?

• Was it relativism?– Matthew 5:17-18 Think not

that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

– Hebrews 4:15 …tempted in all points like as we are…

What was Christ’s worldview?

• Was it pragmatism?– Matthew 4:1-11:

•Satan had a way for Jesus to prove His godhood (3, 6)

•But it was not the right way•Satan had a way for Jesus to

control the world (8-9)•But it was not the right way

What was Christ’s worldview?

• Man decides his own fate (Luke 9:23)

• There is an objective standard man must follow (John 12:48; 17:17)

• Man must follow God’s way in order to be right (Matthew 7:13-14)

What is our worldview?

Consider During the Lord’s Supper:

Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.