1. …the men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.
1 Chronicles 12:32

2. We live in an increasingly post-modern, post-Christian culture that values tolerance and resists moral absolutes.

3. Truth comes from the world/science; the authority: university
We live in an increasingly post-modern, post-Christian culture that values tolerance and resists moral absolutes.
Pre-modernism
up to the 1650’s
Truth comes from God;
the authority: Bible
Modernism
1650’s-1950’s
Truth comes from the world/science;
the authority: university
Post-modernism
1950’s-today
Truth comes from self;
the authority: self.

4. We live in an increasingly post-modern, post-Christian culture that values tolerance and resists moral absolutes.
Post-Christian: a culture in which Christianity is no longer the dominant influence in morals, ethics, world-view, etc.

5. We live in an increasingly post-modern, post-Christian culture that values tolerance and resists moral absolutes.
Tolerance (dictionary definition): allowing for beliefs or practices that are different from your own or that you believe are wrong.

6. We live in an increasingly post-modern, post-Christian culture that values tolerance and resists moral absolutes.
Tolerance (dictionary definition): allowing for beliefs or practices that are different from your own or that you believe are wrong.
Tolerance (cultural definition): declaring the beliefs or practices of other people to be equally valid to your beliefs and practices.

7. We live in an increasingly post-modern, post-Christian culture that values tolerance and resists moral absolutes.
moral absolutes: behaviors or beliefs that are always right or always wrong for everyone, all the time.

8. We live in an increasingly post-modern, post-Christian culture that values tolerance and resists moral absolutes – particularly in the areas of sexual morality and the protection of the unborn.
moral absolutes: behaviors or beliefs that are always right or always wrong for everyone, all the time.

9. We live in an increasingly
post-modern culture: fewer and fewer people look to God for ultimate truth
post-Christian culture: Christianity no longer has the same dominant influence on our culture’s morals or ethics.
Many in our nation value the cultural definition of tolerance: we cannot declare our position to be superior to someone else’s.
Our culture resists moral absolutes – particularly in the areas of sexual morality and the protection of the unborn.

10. Responding to a post-modern, post-Christian culture that values tolerance and resists moral absolutes:
Be nice!
Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.
Colossians 4:6

11. Plan on (and accept) persecution.
Responding to a post-modern, post-Christian culture that values tolerance and resists moral absolutes:
Be nice!
Plan on (and accept) persecution.
All those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
2 Timothy 3:12
Those who are persecuted…are blessed…. You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven….
Matthew 5:10-12