{"id":1620,"date":"2013-09-15T11:22:06","date_gmt":"2013-09-15T11:22:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.all-creatures.org\/blog\/?p=1620"},"modified":"2013-09-15T11:23:09","modified_gmt":"2013-09-15T11:23:09","slug":"worldly-acceptable-ungodliness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.all-creatures.org\/blog\/worldly-acceptable-ungodliness\/","title":{"rendered":"Worldly Acceptable Ungodliness"},"content":{"rendered":"

Worldly Acceptable Ungodliness<\/h2>\n

As we look at the world around us, or at what we see from the media, we can easily see that our whole society seems to operate on the premise of worldly acceptable ungodliness.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Worldly<\/a>
Lamb of God<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Sermon Delivered to
\nThe Compassion Internet Church<\/p>\n

15 September 2013<\/p>\n

Frank L. Hoffman, Pastor<\/p>\n

Scripture References:<\/p>\n

Psalm 14:1-7
\nJeremiah 4:11-28
\n1 Timothy 1:12-17<\/p>\n

As we look at the world around us, or at what we see from the media, we can easily see that our whole society seems to operate on the premise of worldly acceptable ungodliness.<\/p>\n

The major problem is that the vast majority of the people fail to even recognize this worldly acceptable ungodliness for the evil it is, because they like living the way they are and don\u2019t want to change.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at an example:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Almost all people would recognize the evilness of killing another human being during a robbery or even as the result of a random shooting, and want the perpetrators punished.<\/li>\n
  • Fewer people would recognize the evilness of the death and suffering caused by acts of terrorism, because some people believe it is justifiable.<\/li>\n
  • Even fewer people would recognize the evil of retaliation and war, and the suffering and death that they cause, because they also believe it is justifiable.<\/li>\n
  • And only a relatively small percentage of society would recognize the evil and ungodliness in the atrocities committed against billions of animals every year. Why? Because the killing, eating, wearing, and testing on animals have become an acceptable part of our culture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Every one of these examples is premeditated, which makes them all acts of murder.<\/p>\n

    This is an example of the worldly acceptable ungodliness and evil in our society.<\/p>\n

    And just because most people, including our lawmakers, accept this ungodliness as being part of our way of life doesn\u2019t make it any less evil; in fact, it makes it even more evil, because the people have hardened their hearts and souls so that they no longer have empathy for the suffering animals.<\/p>\n

    However, we strongly believe that God sees all this worldly acceptable ungodliness and evil, and responds very much in the way that David wrote about in Psalm 14:1-7.<\/p>\n

    1. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
    \nThey are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds;
    \nThere is no one who does good.<\/p>\n

    2. The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men,
    \nTo see if there are any who understand,
    \nWho seek after God.<\/p>\n

    3. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
    \nThere is no one who does good, not even one.<\/p>\n

    Even though this verse says that God doesn\u2019t see a single person who seeks the Lord and strives to live by His heavenly will, elsewhere in the Bible we see God selecting people to help lead society back to repentance and live in God\u2019s heavenly will, and help free creation from its present corruption.<\/p>\n

    4. Do all the workers of wickedness not know,
    \nWho eat up my people as they eat bread,
    \nAnd do not call upon the LORD?<\/p>\n

    In the context of our discussion, we believe that all the other animals are also God\u2019s people, for He lovingly created them with souls and spirits as He created us, and it is these animal people who are being eaten as they eat bread.<\/p>\n

    And these people do this when they are eating a burger or a hot dog, which in reality is an animal on a bun.<\/p>\n

    5. There they are in great dread,
    \nFor God is with the righteous generation.<\/p>\n

    See, God does recognize those who are striving to be righteous.<\/p>\n

    6. You would put to shame the counsel of the afflicted,
    \nBut the LORD is his refuge.<\/p>\n

    7. Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
    \nWhen the LORD restores His captive people,
    \nJacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad.
    \nNASB<\/p>\n

    And we believe that the animals will rejoice along with the angels in heaven, when they are freed from their suffering and captivity.<\/p>\n

    These kinds of worldly acceptable ungodliness and evil also existed in the days of Jeremiah, and it resulted in the people going into captivity in Babylon.<\/p>\n

    Note what we are told in Jeremiah 4:11-28.<\/p>\n

    11. In that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A scorching wind from the bare heights in the wilderness in the direction of the daughter of My people \u2014 not to winnow, and not to cleanse,<\/p>\n

    12. a wind too strong for this \u2014 will come at My command; now I will also pronounce judgments against them.<\/p>\n

    As we have mentioned before, we see this same kind of judgment coming upon us today for our collective failure to compassionately care for the animals and for our continued corruption of creation.<\/p>\n

    13. “Behold, he goes up like clouds,
    \nAnd his chariots like the whirlwind;
    \nHis horses are swifter than eagles.
    \nWoe to us, for we are ruined!”<\/p>\n

    However, there is a remnant today that does see the truth in Jesus, and the evils being committed, and they see the pending doom; but very few are listening to them, just as happened in the days of Jeremiah.<\/p>\n

    14. Wash your heart from evil, O Jerusalem,
    \nThat you may be saved.
    \nHow long will your wicked thoughts
    \nLodge within you?<\/p>\n

    And still God calls us to repentance, but we see very few who are listening and responding.<\/p>\n

    15. For a voice declares from Dan,
    \nAnd proclaims wickedness from Mount Ephraim.<\/p>\n

    16. “Report it to the nations, now!
    \nProclaim over Jerusalem,’
    \nBesiegers come from a far country,
    \nAnd lift their voices against the cities of Judah.<\/p>\n

    17. ‘Like watchmen of a field they are against her round about,
    \nBecause she has rebelled against Me,’ declares the LORD.<\/p>\n

    Every single compassionate child of God who sees all the warring madness, the horrible way animals are treated and killed, and the continual destruction of our environment, and sounds the alarm that these things are against God\u2019s creation and heavenly intent is one of these watchmen of the Lord.<\/p>\n

    It seems as though almost everyone around us considers this worldly acceptable ungodliness and evil as being a normal part of society, and that there is nothing wrong with living this way, when in fact, nothing is further from the truth.<\/p>\n

    And, this is the reason that God spoke this way to Israel in the days of Jeremiah, and why we believe that this message is also meant for the people of the world in the here and now.<\/p>\n

    18. “Your ways and your deeds
    \nHave brought these things to you.
    \nThis is your evil. How bitter!
    \nHow it has touched your heart!”<\/p>\n

    The watchmen and the people that do hear the cry of God\u2019s watchmen and respond are filled with great sorrow, as is God, because of all the evil they see and the pending disaster coming upon the world.<\/p>\n

    19. My soul, my soul! I am in anguish! Oh, my heart!
    \nMy heart is pounding in me;
    \nI cannot be silent,
    \nBecause you have heard, O my soul,
    \nThe sound of the trumpet,
    \nThe alarm of war.<\/p>\n

    20. Disaster on disaster is proclaimed,
    \nFor the whole land is devastated;
    \nSuddenly my tents are devastated,
    \nMy curtains in an instant.<\/p>\n

    21. How long must I see the standard,
    \nAnd hear the sound of the trumpet?<\/p>\n

    22. “For My people are foolish,
    \nThey know Me not;
    \nThey are stupid children,
    \nAnd they have no understanding.
    \nThey are shrewd to do evil,
    \nBut to do good they do not know.”<\/p>\n

    God thinks back to the time of creation and what has become of His beautiful creation.<\/p>\n

    23. I looked on the earth, and behold, it was formless and void;
    \nAnd to the heavens, and they had no light.<\/p>\n

    24. I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were quaking,
    \nAnd all the hills moved to and fro.<\/p>\n

    25. I looked, and behold, there was no man,
    \nAnd all the birds of the heavens had fled.<\/p>\n

    26. I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a wilderness,
    \nAnd all its cities were pulled down
    \nBefore the LORD, before His fierce anger.<\/p>\n

    27. For thus says the LORD,
    \n“The whole land shall be a desolation,
    \nYet I will not execute a complete destruction.<\/p>\n

    28. “For this the earth shall mourn,
    \nAnd the heavens above be dark,
    \nBecause I have spoken, I have purposed,
    \nAnd I will not change My mind, nor will I turn from it.”
    \nNASB<\/p>\n

    This is the disaster that the worldly human way of life is bringing upon this earth.<\/p>\n

    Look at the problems that global warming is causing, and then realize that we humans could prevent most of it if we really wanted to.<\/p>\n

    Look at what our out of control rising health care costs is doing to our economy, because of human greed and insistence upon raising and eating animals, with total indifference to the horrible suffering inflicted upon them.<\/p>\n

    And while we are looking at the economy, look at the unbelievable amount of money being wasted through terrorism and war, and how that same amount of money could solve most of our problems if we returned to the Lord our God with a whole heart.<\/p>\n

    We must end our worldly acceptable ungodliness.<\/p>\n

    These are the things we can do, just as Paul wrote about in 1Timothy 1:12-17.<\/p>\n

    12. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service;<\/p>\n

    We should all want this for ourselves, too.<\/p>\n

    13. even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;<\/p>\n

    14. and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.<\/p>\n

    Most of us who are ethical vegans for reasons of compassion can look back upon our former lifestyle and see the horrible suffering and death of the animals that we contributed to; but the grace of God saved us from that way of life.<\/p>\n

    15. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.<\/p>\n

    16. And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.<\/p>\n

    17. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
    \nNASB<\/p>\n

    This is our calling, too.<\/p>\n

    We have the ability to help end all the worldly acceptable ungodliness and evil that continually corrupts the earth.<\/p>\n

    We can help free creation from its present corruption into the glory of the children of God.<\/p>\n

    We can help bring peace to this earth.<\/p>\n

    Amen.<\/p>\n

    Since \"date\"