Central thought: Believers must maintain the Christian values in our changing world
Hymn: Onward Christian Soldiers Marching as to war
Text: 2 Timothy 3:14-17, Jude 3-4, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-15, Galatians 1:6-9
Introduction:
Upholding means the act by which something is sustained or maintained. To uphold is to hold up, to lift on high, to elevate, it also means to keep erect, to support, and to sustain among others. Upholding Christian values therefore means to sustain, keep erect/straight, the values of Christianity as laid down in scriptures. Christian values refer to the guiding principles derived from the teachings of Christ and as taught in scriptures. The values taught in scripture are always opposite to worldly values.
Lesson objectives:
- To understand the meaning of upholding Christian values in a changing world
- To identify the threats to upholding Christian values
- To state ways the individual and the church can uphold Christian values
- To appreciate the benefits of upholding the Christian values in a changing world
Question 1.a) What do you understand by “Christian Values”?
“Christian values” are based on the principle of godliness laid down by scriptures. It means, “Esteeming highly or holding strongly as important the principles laid down in scripture by Christ”. This involves living out the word in our everyday life. These values are taught throughout the Bible. They are most important to the Christian race, and are opposite of worldly values. While worldly values include amassing wealth, power, pleasure, revenge, fame, status, etc., Christian values teach humility instead of pride, forgiveness instead of revenge, self-control instead of self-indulgence, love instead of hate etc. The Christian values as taught in scriptures are the foundational basis for the Christian faith and most beneficial to the believers who pattern their lives after them. It is not avoiding evil like a set of moral laws. Christian values are based on God and the work of Jesus Christ. The word of God is a clear guide for Christians to know what Christian values are. The word of God is the basis for Christian values and the believer must treasure the word and study it to be approved. The most important Christian value is for the believer to value God more than anything else and obey His word. Core Christian values include: repentance from dead works, to live by faith, live by grace, exercise love (to render to people more than they deserve), to give hope to the dying world, to ensure justice and peace as well as self-control and selfless service to God and humanity.
Question 1.b) What does it mean to uphold Christian values in a changing world?
To uphold Christian value means sustaining the laid down principles taught in scripture. In spite of the contrary value system of the world and the contradictions aimed at watering down the standard laid down in the scripture, to uphold Christian value involves holding tenaciously to biblical truths. The most important Christian value is for a Christian to value God more than anything, anybody or any idea. We have to worship only God and love him with all our heart, soul and might (Luke 10:27). Christian values are based on spiritual things against material things; and though spiritual in nature, the evidence of these values come through deeds and actions. Upholding Christian value is valuing God first in our lives beyond all others. The world we live in is dynamic and it is so unfortunate that some present day Christians have been caught in this web of dynamism. God and His standard remains the same. Just as God does not change, so are His standards and values. As such, we Christians must dare to uphold these standards. It is disheartening that, worldliness has influenced the values of some Christians and the church has compromised Christian values to accommodate the world, hence the rightness of the statement that, “the church is becoming more worldly and the world is becoming more churchy”. In a bid to increase membership of our congregations, church leaders have upturned basics scriptural truths to get the crowd the way they are. The church is presently exacting a lot of energy in the organization of program that are full of entertainment and devoid of the power of God. The world has also learnt the language of the church. Hence it is common to meet unbelievers who speak the church language, in an attempt to confuse the unsuspecting/unguided Christian. It is not wrong for unbelievers to get into the church the way they are, but it is wrong to remain in the church and retain their ungodly nature. It is for this same faith we currently hold with levity, that the heroes of Hebrew 11 were killed. In our days so many have been killed, all because they refused to deny Christ. Upholding the Christian value in the changing world entails standing for Christ in spite of all odds. The world has always been there with the pleasure and pressure it offers, yet Saints have passed through this world uncorrupted/uncompromising. We must decide to sustain this same basic scriptural truths handed over to us. It involves being different from the crowd with determination not to defile ourselves. We must decide not to be carried away by this world. Decide to be the mouth piece and instrument in the hands of God, and must purpose to remain in God. Other key Christian values we must uphold include: honesty, integrity, respect for God, elders and other people, showing agape love, humility, etc. the Christian values are not inherent in man i.e. No one is born with these values. When we give our lives to Christ, which is the foundation of becoming a Christian, these values are taught and learnt from scriptures. The family is the unit that must teach these values.
Question 2.a) Identify those things that threaten our efforts to upholding Christian values today. Galatians 1:6-10, 2 Corinthians 11:1-4, 1 John 2:18-19
The act of upholding the Christian value is a consistent one, not for a time but must be maintained throughout all generations, guarding jealously this faith that have been handed over to us (Jude 1:3). The believer must purpose in his/her heart to stand for Christ even if it means standing alone. Daniel 1:8. One of the threats/challenges facing the believers of today from upholding the Christian values is the heretical teaching of our time. Surprisingly some Christians are gullible, having been carried away by these false teachings and have developed itching ears because they are not able to put up with sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3). In Galatians 1:6-9, Apostle Paul warned the Galatian brethren to remain consistent in the Gospel and must not yield to any contrary gospel no matter the source. The financial demands of our time is another threat. Brethren who want to make ends meet compromise their faith, just to put food on their table. Believers must know that economic hardship did not start today. We serve God not because of our needs but because He is God and deserves our worship; however, in serving God, our needs are met. The crave and craze for material things is on the increase. The elevation of materialism above the knowledge of God in the present day church is a great challenge to the Christian values. There is gradual shift from core Christian repentance from sin, holiness, righteousness, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, personal Bible study, the place of prayers and fasting, knowing God for one self, the second coming of Jesus, etc. to more mundane things of no eternal consequence. Whatever the threat is, we must know that God always has a remnant preserved for Him (1 Kings 19:18), choose to be one of the remnant upholding the Christian values in our changing world.
Question 2.b) Suggest what we should do as individuals and as a church to uphold Christian values in a changing world. Psalms 1:1-2, 2 Timothy 2:15, Hebrews 10:25, Proverbs 27:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, James 4:7, 1 John 4:1, Revelation 2:2-3
To uphold the Christian value, it must start from us, as it is the individual that makes up the church. We are in the era when believers must separate themselves. Psalms 1:1-2. The believer must be careful of the company he keeps; being warned not to make the scornful, the ungodly and sinners his confidant. (1 Corinthians 15:33). The believer must not yield him/her self to them. The believer must surround himself with fellow believers, as iron sharpens iron. Proverbs 27:17.
The place of complete total submission to God and His will is important to sustain the Christian value in our changing world James 4:7. There must be willingness to obey God in all circumstances. We must decide to stand, and choose not to compromise because it is the only way to upholding the values, Believers must be courageous to stand. Believers should not seek recognition from the world at the expense of their faith. Being called names should make us bold to declare the faith and to stand.
The believer must watch his verbal and body language. We should not say something and mean another thing, Self-control is paramount in upholding the Christian value. To enable the believer uphold the Christian values in our changing world we are to remain in fellowship with fellow believers (Hebrews 10:25). It builds up the weaker believer, as iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). We need to be there for one another because we are at various levels of spiritual growth.
The place of prayer cannot be overemphasized to combat the changing world. The individual and the church must not relent in prayers. We must rely on the Holy Spirit, and pray trusting God to uphold His people. Jesus said He will build His church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). The believers must rely on Him to sustain them in upholding the Christian value.
The believer must be grounded in the knowledge of the word of God, in order not to be carried away with every wind of doctrine. The believer must delight in the word, study and live by it (2 Timothy 2:15, Psalms 1:2). It is by the extent of the word the believer has in his/her life that guarantees his/her understanding of God and His ways; this builds the required confidence tin the believer.
The Christian who must keep the Christian values in this changing world must be ready to face the opposition from the world; he/she must resist the devil (James 4:7) and he will flee. You resist the devil by applying the word of God to tackle or combat any of his suggestions and refusing to succumb to satanic gimmicks. Ephesians 6:11.
The times we are in demands that the believer be very watchful and prayerful. The believer must awake from slumber and be vigilant. Romans 13:11. The believer must try all spirits (1 John 4:1) and must not believe every spirit until he/she tries same. This is so because so many are now in the world professing to be Christ’s.
Question 2.c.) What are the benefits of Upholding Christian values in a changing world? 2 Timothy 2:12, Proverbs 14:34, Romans 13:11, 1 Peter 1:3-4, and John 10:10.
The benefits of upholding Christian value in this changing world cannot be over emphasized. Some of them include: joy/satisfaction that comes from obeying God here on earth, preservation of the core Christian values, being good examples to younger believers as well as encouraging and building up the faith of other believers. We have eternity with God and in all He is glorified.
Question 2.d) What are some of the effects of neglecting to uphold Christian values Proverbs 14:34
“Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people” When Christians fail to uphold Christian values a lot of atrocities will be the resultant effect. The nation is robbed of God’s presence and people will do abominable things; some nations of the world that are today unbelieving, were once predominately Christian. When believers fail to uphold Christian values, false doctrines take over and evil prevails. Ungodly values hinder the spread of the gospel of Christ. Our world will be denied of true Christianity and ultimately many would end up in hell.
Daily Living Application
If governments of this world can because of the health of their citizens set up agencies to regulate the production of foods, water and drugs, and these agencies in spite of intense pressure and attacks and stand their grounds against faking and counterfeiting, the church must not do anything less. The purity and completeness of the Gospel must be preserved and upheld and we must be relevant and deliver souls from eternal destruction.
Memory Verse: Hebrews 12:28-29
“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire”
Daily Devotional Guide
Monday: Uphold Christian values in a changing world
Daniel 1:8
Tuesday: Scriptural doctrine of Holiness and Sanctification
Psalms 96:9, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, Hebrews 12:14
Wednesday: threats to our efforts to upholding Christian values today
Galatians 1:6-10, 1 John 2:18-19
Thursday: How to uphold Christian values in a changing world
Psalm 1:1-2, 2 Timothy 2:15, Hebrew 10:25, Proverbs 27:17
Friday: Benefit of upholding Christian values in a changing world
2 Timothy 2:12, Romans 13:11
Saturday: Negligence of not upholding the Christian value
Proverbs 14:34