Art Katz challenges believers to grieve deeply over the spirit and system of the world, calling them to live as authentic pilgrims who reject worldly values and idolatry.
This sermon delves into the theme of resisting the corruption of values in society and the church, emphasizing the need for moral discernment and a deep anguish for the prevailing anti-Christ culture. It challenges believers to not conform to the world's standards and promotions but to remain authentic and sensitive to God's ways, even if it means being seen as foolish pilgrims and strangers in the world.
Full Transcript
2018, what did I pay, $50,000 for a pitch? The rise and fall of the American empire and the corruption of its values because there's a church of dum-dums upon whom this has not been registered and will even go along and pay the bill. No moral discernment, no anguish of soul for the anti-Christ thing that is already prevailing in our culture. We are not in a felt disjuncture with the world.
We are in the world and with the world and using its promotions, its mentality, and all the kinds of things to augment our religion that augment the sales in Walmart. All you have to do is flood the mailboxes, Oral Roberts knows that, and you'll get a certain percentage back that will far exceed anything that it cost you to send out that enormous mass mailing and finance everything, even a lifestyle, that you can live as a robber baron and be celebrated as the great hero of faith. You think the powers of the air are impressed with that? Jesus they know and Paul they know.
They know whom to fear, whom to recognize. When they see authenticity, when they see a fluke, fake, counterfeit success based on the world's model, using manipulation, they yawn. We need to be so, how shall I say it, sensitive as to not to condescend to anything in which the world majors.
Choosing to be foolish pilgrims, strangers, and sojourners in the earth, rather than we should in any way accommodate them in response to their advertising, to their lures, to their seductions. We would hate it. Our souls should be chafed like righteous lot rather than condescend and be in the whole system of merchandising together with everybody else.
Paul, when he woke up that morning in Athens where he had not intended to be, in flight from persecution, and he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. He was chafed and grieved in his soul. Therefore, confronted he the devout Jews in the synagogue and in the marketplace where idolatry has its most profound forms.
There was a therefore that set Paul on an apostolic journey in Athens because his spirit within him grieved when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Where's our grief? The true apostolic church will be grieving. It will be at disjuncture with the world.
It will not be one of the boys. It will not embrace a Christianity by which it could think itself Christian at the same time enjoy the acceptance of its neighbors as being nice guys. You'll no longer be fun.
You'll no longer be invited to the barbecue. You're too solemn. You're too serious.
There's a strange look in your eye as if you see beyond the apparent and see the things that are ultimate and eternal that makes you unfit to be fun and one of the boys. You're willing for that? Do you wanna be a pilgrim and a stranger? Or you wanna be accepted even as a Christian?
Sermon Outline
-
I
- The corruption of worldly values infiltrating the church
- Lack of moral discernment among believers
- The church's complicity with worldly systems
-
II
- The emptiness of worldly success and manipulation
- The spiritual powers recognize authenticity versus counterfeit faith
- The need for sensitivity to avoid worldly condescension
-
III
- Paul’s grief over idolatry in Athens as a model for believers
- The call to be pilgrims and strangers in the earth
- The cost of authentic Christianity: rejection and solemnity
Key Quotes
“We are not in a felt disjuncture with the world.” — Art Katz
“Paul, when he woke up that morning in Athens... he was chafed and grieved in his soul.” — Art Katz
“You'll no longer be fun. You'll no longer be invited to the barbecue. You're too solemn. You're too serious.” — Art Katz
Application Points
- Examine your life for any compromise with worldly values and repent.
- Cultivate a spirit of grief and sensitivity toward the idolatry in culture.
- Embrace the cost of being a pilgrim and stranger for the sake of Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to grieve over the spirit and system of the world?
It means to have a deep spiritual anguish and moral discernment over the pervasive idolatry and corruption in culture that contradicts God's truth.
Why does Art Katz emphasize being a pilgrim and stranger?
Because true believers must separate themselves from worldly values and live with an eternal perspective, even if it means social rejection.
How does the world’s model of success contrast with biblical faith?
Worldly success often relies on manipulation and promotion, which is recognized as counterfeit by spiritual powers, whereas biblical faith values authenticity and holiness.
What example does Paul’s experience in Athens provide?
Paul’s grief over the city’s idolatry shows the proper response of believers to a culture that rejects God, motivating them to confront and pray for such a world.
