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The Way a Sandwich
Should Be
Romans 1:24-1:32
As we get into
summer I know that many of you will be taking trips to the mountains or
to the beach, and I hope that you will let me know when you are going so
that we can cover you in prayer. I love this time of the year. Growing
up we lived in Texas and California it made it hard to see my
grandparents. Travel took two and three days one way and cooped up in
the back of a Plymouth station wagon looking at where you had been made
two little boys very irritable. Dad would drive and mom would entertain.
We sang church songs, mom told stories, we played the ABC game, as well
as slug bug, but the game that I enjoyed the most was would you rather?
If you haven’t played it, let me explain the rules to you. You have to
ask some one a question and give them two choices. They in turn answer
and then ask the next question: Let me give you an example.
Would you rather drink Coke or Pepsi?
Would you rather swim or ride your bike?
Would you rather go to the mountains or the beach?
Would you rather eat at McDonalds or Pizza Hut?
You see it is a rather simple game, but being the youngest in the
family, this was my opportunity to be heard and have my opinion matter.
And that’s what we all want isn’t it. Let’s take a quick poll by raising
of your hand, how many of you are opinionated in here? Come on, raise
your hand, every one of us are opinionated whether we want to admit it
or not! And our opinion is important because in our mind that is the way
that it should be.
Back in 1996, Doctors Associates started a new marketing campaign
stating that if you are going to live a fast food lifestyle you should
eat at their restaurant. Instead of getting, all of the fat from their
competitors their opinion was to eat at Subway because it is The way a
sandwich should be. And apparently, we agreed with their opinion because
for the last 8 years Subway has been the fastest growing franchise in
the world.
But in the real world we allow our opinions decide what is right and
what is wrong. Moral absolutes have gone the way of the dinosaur, and
the new morality says “This is my opinion and this is the way that it
should be.” But where does that leave us? How are Christians supposed to
act? Tonight I want to give you three thoughts on how your life is
supposed to be.
Remember that there is a Standard of Morality
In Matthew 21, Jesus was asked by the chief priests and the elders, "By
what authority are you doing these things?" Jesus responded with another
question, asking them, "The baptism of John, where was it from? From
heaven or from men?" Jesus said that there are basically two possible
sources of authority. It comes either from heaven or from men.
It’s very evident what the source of authority in our society is. We
live in a world much like in the nation of Israel during the days of the
judges. Several times, we’re told in the book of Judges that "everyone
did what was right in his own eyes." Nobody was concerned about doing
what God said to do. In fact, nobody was interesting in even knowing
what God said to do. Everybody simply did whatever they thought was
right, just like today.
If each of us is free to determine his or her own values, then who is to
say that one way of life is better than any other? It’s like trying to
organize a football game where every player serves as his own referee!
In a world like that, everything becomes a matter of opinion and there
is nothing that you can really depend upon. Doesn’t that sound like the
world we’re living in today -- the world of "do your own thing" and
"alternative lifestyles"?
The result is a world described by Isaiah, "Woe to those who call evil
good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Isaiah 5:20.
We need to be reminded in the midst of such a view that there is a
standard for determining what is right and what is wrong. I heard about
several kindergarten children who found a stray kitten on the
playground. As they played with it, they began to argue about whether it
was a girl cat or boy cat. Finally, one of the kids had a suggestion. He
said, "I tell you what, let’s vote on it!"
Now that is funny because we know that the kids’ vote didn’t change that
cat’s gender. And yet some people assume today that if people in our
society agree on something, and if a majority are in favor of it, then
it must be true. But common sense tells us that life just doesn’t work
that way. Truth is truth even if we unanimously think another way.
For example, if our society decides to kill unborn children, or to
accept homosexuality and adultery as a legitimate lifestyle, we haven’t
made such ungodly behaviors right. We’ve just granted people permission
to choose that which is wrong. But, as Solomon said, "There is a way
that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Proverbs
14:12.
You see that’s why the advertisement hit so close to home. The desire to
have it the way it should be meets a longing in our soul. But we have to
decide if the way it should be is man’s way or God’s way.
Jeremiah said, "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it
is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." Jeremiah 10:23. Our
standard of right and wrong must be the word of God. Jesus said it best
when he prayed, "Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth." John
17:17.
Beneath all the questions in our society about honesty, sexual conduct,
and violence lies a basic moral decision about which standard we will
turn to for the management of our lives. Are we willing to accept God’s
standard as our standard?
Unfortunately, the very thought of returning to God and his standards
scares a lot of people in our society. Somewhere along the line, God and
the Bible have picked up a reputation for dealing with irrelevant
matters that just don’t have much to do with our lives in the 20th
century. A lot of people view the Bible as an old, outdated list of dos
and don’ts that God laid down just to see if people would obey him.
According to this view, God’s desire apparently is to make life as
miserable and intolerable for us as possible.
As a result, in the last 30 years or so, Americans have been led away
from the standard given in the Word of God. We’ve been told that
ultimate freedom was the basis for the founding of America and that the
ultimate freedom is to choose what we want to do in any and all
circumstances. Since religion seems to place restrictions on choice,
religion has become a negative word in our language.
But we as Christians must continue to hold as our standard what God had
in mind. We need to remember that God didn’t put laws in the Bible so he
could punish us when we break them, but because they are the best
guidelines for living our lives.
We need to remember that moral questions are not decided by public
opinion polls. Rather, it is essential that we begin any discussion
about morals and standards by asking the question: "What was God’s
original intention and design for mankind in this situation?" There is a
standard. The one who made us has given us the standard. His holiness,
and the life of his Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the standard by
which life’s choices are made.
And we must continue to remind ourselves that no matter how many people
may be choosing the wisdom of mankind, we intend to build our lives on
the wisdom of God as demonstrated for us in the life of Christ and
described in the New Testament.
Make a Commitment Not to Be Like the World
Paul says to us, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is
that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2.
It’s evident from this passage that Christians should not allow the
world to set the standard for us but rather we should follow the
standard of God’s Word. When we allow ourselves to conform to the world,
the end result is that we dress no differently, talk no differently, and
live no differently from the world around us. The values and standards
of the world become our values and standards. But we dare not let that
happen.
There is a word used in the New Testament to describe our commitment to
live differently -- it’s the word "holiness". Peter wrote his first
epistle to a group of people struggling with the same problems we face.
They, too, lived in a society that was immoral and corrupt. Listen to
Peter’s instructions to them, "...as obedient children, not conforming
yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as he who
called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is
written, ’Be holy, for I am holy.’" 1 Peter 2:14-16.
The idea of "holiness" suggests something or someone that is different
and set apart from others. The challenge of holiness is a powerful
influence in a Christian’s life. It’s not so much that we want to be
different from others, because it’s only natural that we should want to
conform. It’s certainly not the case that we just want to be difficult
and contrary. Rather, we have an obligation to be different from the
people of the world because of the commitment we have made to God. We
are to be holy because he is holy. And we must always remember that God
is our first commitment and priority. Anything that comes in between
that priority can only be secondary at best.
Those of us who are Christians must make a commitment to live lives of
holiness regardless of how the world all around us may live.
Make an Effort to Change the World
Jesus said, in the Sermon on the Mount, "You are the salt of the earth;
but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then
good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You
are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be
hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a
lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your
light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify
your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16
This passage is important for us to understand the nature of true
Christianity, especially in our present day. Jesus said, "Those who are
my disciples should affect the world in a positive manner by the way in
which they live." All too often, we allow the world to change us or, at
very best, we sit on the sidelines and do nothing to make a positive
impact on the world.
We sometimes make the mistake of thinking that, because the world is
rotten, a Christian should try to dissociate himself from the world as
much as possible, retreating not necessarily to a monastery but at least
within the walls of the church building. And let the world continue on
its path to hell.
Jesus said, though, "I do not pray that you should take them out of the
world..." John 17:15.
The church has to exist in the world, and in fact it serves a positive
purpose by doing so. As Jesus clearly pointed out in the Sermon the
Mount, a Christian is to be a preserving force in the world wherever he
finds himself. Salt didn’t do any good in the old days if you kept it on
one shelf and kept the meat on another shelf. To be effective, the salt
had to be rubbed into the meat. In a similar way, Christians must allow
God to rub us into the world. That means that we have to be Christians
at work, Christians in politics, Christians at home, Christians in
school, and Christians everywhere else that a normal life in our society
would take us.
Does that mean that we’re always going to be effective, we’ll always
influence others around us to do what is right? No. Listen to what Peter
told Christians whom he had encouraged to live holy lives.
"...that he should no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh for
the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of
our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles -- when we walked in
licentiousness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and
abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that
you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation." 1 Peter
4:2-4.
Peter says that living a moral Christian life will cause your old
buddies to think you’re kind of strange. They may make fun of you, they
may ridicule you, but Peter says don’t let it change your efforts to
live a holy life for God. We need to be willing to speak up when the
occasion calls for it.
Should we expect that if we stand up for what is right, the world will
automatically listen and pay attention? No, I’m not so naive as to
believe that. I know that the problem is not with the messenger or the
message. The problem is with the hearers. They simply are unwilling to
hear what we have to say, but we need to keep on giving the message. And
those who have ears to hear will hear.
Jesus often spoke in parables, but sometimes he spoke using blunt
language to those in powerful positions in his day -- the scribes and
Pharisees. The truth wasn’t received very well by them either. Why
didn’t Jesus choose to be more "politically correct" in his language?
Why didn’t he take a more moderate stance? Perhaps if he had done things
a little less boldly he would have been more popular and well-received.
Perhaps if he had just gently shown people the truth, they would have
recognized their mistakes and changed. No. We learn from Jesus that
there comes a time when we need to take a stand for what is right, even
if that stand is unpopular.
Maybe you have heard the story about the man who was vacationing on an
east coast beach. One morning, very early, he was walking along the
beach -- the sun was still below the horizon and the sea was calm. While
enjoying the beauty about him, he glanced down the beach and saw a young
man running to the water and then back to the shore. Back and forth,
back and forth. As the man got closer he noticed that the young man was
picking up objects and tossing them into the sea. When he got to the
young man he noticed that he was throwing starfish back into the water.
He asked, "Why are you throwing starfish into the sea?"
The young man said, "The tide is going out and if they are still here
when the sun rises, they will die." And he continued tossing them.
The older man said, "That’s ridiculous! There are thousands of miles of
beach and millions of starfish. You can’t really believe that what you
are doing could possibly make a difference!"
The young man smiled, bent over and picked up another starfish, paused
thoughtfully, and remarked as he tossed it into the waves... "It makes a
difference to this one."
You can’t change the world! Or can you? Perhaps not all at once. But you
can change it one piece at a time by making a difference in somebody’s
life, by taking a stand for what is right, for making your voice heard
as you say, “I intend to follow God.”
Three things for us to keep in mind. First of all, we need to remember
that there is a standard of right and wrong -- it’s the standard found
in God’s Word.
Secondly, we need to make a commitment not to be like the world.
And, thirdly, we need to have the courage to make the effort to change
the world around us.
The way it should be, church that’s our task.
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