Post Modern Mindset (#7)
We will start drawing the “Post Modern Mindset” to a close with the next three verses over the next few weeks. So far in regards to the “PMM” we have looked at: 1 Pet 3:14-15 that established we are to be able to give an answer for the hope that lies within us. Remember the reason we looked at this is because we live at such a time that any kind of absolute truth is regarded as arrogant and possibly even unloving. For the follower of Christ this mindset is foreign to Scripture, because we are not only to build our house on the sound foundation (Matt 7:24ff) of God’s Word but His Word reveals that we are to give an answer for this hope. Anything other than Jesus finished work on the cross and our believe that His perfect life paid for our screwed up life falls short of giving an answer for the hope that lies within us. It is not humble to reject truth; it is rooted in unbelief and ultimately rebellion. When distilled down, this is rejecting God’s perfect Son for the forgiveness of our sins. The unforgiveable sin of giving glory to something that only God can do. Next we looked at the exclusivity of Jesus and His statement that nobody comes to the Father except through Him (John14:6). Next we looked at Heb 9:27 that declares “everybody is going to die and everybody is going to face judgment”. Not popular but accurate. Then we looked at Matt 7:23 that warn not everybody calling Jesus “Lord, Lord” really know Him as Lord. They are deceived and deceiving. They are actually workers of lawlessness. Their lives have not changed internally, they are externally just going through the motions. Scripture established in 2 Cor 4:4 that this deception the “false claimers” are going through is the work of the enemy has “blinded their minds” to the truth of God’s Word. We understood further that the enemies game has not changed since Gen 3:1whe he questioned “did God really say” when in fact He did say. The last few verses sum up the fact that we have been warned about this. We won’t memorize the entire verse but hopefully enough to see that the “PMM” was really foretold by the apostle Paul.
“But understand this that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self,” 2Tim 3:1-2a
Notice I stopped the quote where the list just begins. The list goes on to talk about being, “lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” I think I could make a case that the rest of the list is driven by the first declaration of being a lover of self. The “PMM” is driven by a self-centered, it’s all about me and God had better give me an answer mindset. This autonomous mindset has somehow been deceived into thinking that God owes them an answer. This is the furthest thing from biblical truth. To think than an all knowing, all powerful God has to answer to a sinning unthankful human is ludicrous. All are without excuse (Rom 1:19-20), God has made it plain to everyone. If they will not honor Him or thank Him, His judgment will come. Again, not popular but accurate.
If you are in the place where you think God somehow owes you an answer and you are in the drivers seat…I would get out of that place. God owes you nothing. You owe Him everything up to and including that next breathe He hopefully with give you (Ps 104:29; Isa 42:5; Eze 37:5; Acts 17:25) to respond to Him. Jesus made it clear in Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel”. That’s good news.