## Battling Authories of Darkness Paul Bailey<br> [neutron.studio/talks/](https://www.neutron.studio/talks/) --- ## Beheading Hydra <img src="/talks/hydra.jpg" alt="Beheading Hydra" style="height: 400px"> 16 core assumptions of the modern world and how to battle them --- ## Become Creatively Subversive "One of the problems with Christianity is that it has become respectable instead of radical" *Fr Dwight Longnecker* "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;" *1 Peter 2:9* --- ## Materialism and Atheism - proposal that this physical world is all there is - everything, including reason, is a product of the material world - end point of materialism must be atheism - yet most people aren't Atheist --- ## Giving and Prayer vs Materialism and Atheism - Our money and our time are manifestations of the this world. When we give them to God we declare who our real master is by our actions - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. *Matthew 6:21 NKJV* --- ## Giving and Prayer No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. *Matthew 6:24 NIV* For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. *1 Tim 6:10 NKJV* --- ## Giving and Prayer But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. *Matthew 6:33 NKJV* Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. *1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 MSG* --- ## Scientism and Historicism - Scientism: philosophical notion which refuses to admit the validity of forms of knowledge other than those of the positive sciences - Historicism: truth is determined on the basis of its appropriateness to a certain period and a certain historical purpose --- ## Spritual Gifts and Scripture versus Scientism and Historicism Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. *2 Timothy 2:15 KJV* --- ## Spiritual Gifts But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. *1 Corinthians 12:7-11 NKJV* --- ## Utilitarianism and Pragmatism - Utilitarianism: whatever brings the greatest happiness to the greatest number is the measure of what is good - Pragmatism: an attitude of mind which, in making its choices, precludes theoretical considerations or judgments based on ethical principles --- ## Evangelization & Daring vs Utilitarianism & Pragmatism Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. *Luke 14:23 NKJV* [Mark 6:7-12](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%206&version=NKJV#en-NKJV-24415) But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; *1 Corinthians 1:27* --- ## Progressivism and Utopianism - Progressivism: focus on advancing the public good is the ultimate goal, the new thing is always the right thing - Utopianism: human beings can reach ultimate society through their own perfection --- ## Tradition and Subsidiarity vs Progressivism and Utopianism Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. *2 Thessalonians 2:15* Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. *1 Corinthians 11:1-2* --- ## Subsidiarity idea that initiatives should be taken and solutions should be implemented at the lowest local level possible --- ## Subsidiarity If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. *Deuteronomy 15:7-8* If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows. *1 Timothy 5:16 NKJV* --- # Part 2: Battling Authories of Darkness --- ## Beheading Hydra <img src="/talks/hydra.jpg" alt="Beheading Hydra" style="height: 400px"> 16 core assumptions of the modern world and how to battle them --- ## Relativism and Indifferentism - Relativism: view that there is no such thing as truth - Indifferentism: idea that every religion is just a different expression of the same religion and that every religion is of equal value --- ## Truth & Authority vs Relativism & Indifferentism Know the Truth and Act in Authority [Matthew 7:24-27](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%207%3A24-27&version=NKJV) [Matthew 16:15-19](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16%3A15-19&version=NKJV) --- ## Individualism and Tribalism - Individualism: there is nothing other than me, myself, and I - not to be confused with being entrepreneurial, and independent spirit - Tribalism: there is nothing other than my group --- ## Obedience & Family of God vs Individualism & Tribalism - [Disciple's Prayer](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6:9-13&version=NKJV) - But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you. Jeremiah 7:23 --- ## Obedience & Family of God - And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. *Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV* - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; *Romans 3:23 NKJV* - But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. *Romans 5:8 NKJV* --- ## Sentimentalism and Romanticism - sentimentalism: decision-making or taking an action based only on one’s emotions - romanticism: rejection of the precepts of order, calm, harmony, balance, idealization, and rationality. emphasizes the individual, the subjective, the irrational, the imaginative, the personal, the spontaneous, the emotional, the visionary, and the transcendental --- ## Education & Charity vs Sentimentalism & Romanticism This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. *Joshua 1:8 NKJV* The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. *Proverbs 9:10 NKJV* --- ## Education & Charity [Proverbs 4](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%204&version=NIV) Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. *Hebrews 13:16 NKJV* Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. *Matthew 5:42* --- ## Eroticism and Freudianism - eroticism: putting sexual pleasure as a core value or right of your being - freudianism: Sex is a fact of life. It’s no big deal. Get over it --- ## Marriage & Chastity vs Eroticism & Freudianism - Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. *Hebrews 13:4 NKJV* - [Matthew 19:4-6](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+19:4-6&version=NKJV) - [1 Corinthians 20 7:2-11](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%207%3A2-11&version=NKJV) - [1 Corinthians 6:18-20](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+6:18-20&version=NKJV)