THE CITY OF GOD, THE CITY OF MAN

THE CITY OF GOD, THE CITY OF MAN
TITUS 3:1-2

“AGUSTINE DID NOT MEAN THAT THE CITY OF MAN IS DESTITUDE OF ALL CIVIL RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE. YES, PAGANS HAVE BUILT GREAT CIVILIZATIONS, THANKS TO THE VIRTUES THEY INHERITED AS THOSE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. INDEED, CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE CITY OF MAN, BUILDING IT, MAINTAINING IT, AND WORKING ALONG SIDE OF THOSE HEADED TO DESTRUCTION. BUT CHRISTIANS SHOULD HAVE NO ILLUSIONS ABOUT BUILDING ANY EARTHLY UTOPIA, FOR THEY MUST PASS THIS LIFE WITH CONTINUAL OPPOSITION FROM THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF MAN. THEY MUST MARCH THROUGH THE EMPIRES OF THE WORLD, SPREADING THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOSPEL.” LUTZER

PREMISE; THE CHURCH FACES THE TEMPTATION OF FIGHTING A LEGITIMATE BATTLE IN AN ILL-LEGITMATE WAY –
RESULT, THE MOST IMPORATNT MESSAGE IS LOST IN THE FRAY -  THE GOSPEL!

THOUGHT; OUR SO-CALLED CULTURAL WAR IS A SPIRITUAL WAR …

 JESUS CALLED US TO BE, “SALT AND LIGHT”
WE LIVE IN THE CITY OF MAN TO DEMONSTRATE THE REALITY OF THE CITY OF GOD.

RESPECTING RULERS, VS.1

   “REMIND THEM,”

   “TO BE SUBJECT …” MEANING, TO RANK IN ORDER, UNDER

“THERE IS A GROWING ANTAGONISM TO GOVERNMENT, THERE IS A GROWING PESSIMISM TOWARD INSTITUTIONS, THERE IS A GROWING MOVEMENT OF ISOLATION AMONG BELIEVERS WHERE THEY ABANDON CULTURE ENTIRELY AND BASICALLY HEAD FOR THE HILLS.”

   CHRISTIANITY DOESN’T MAKE YOU AN ISOLATED CITIZEN, IT MAKES YOU A BETTER CITIZEN; CHRISTIANITY DOESN’T RELIEVE YOUR CIVIC DUTIES, IT ENFORCES THEM …

   “… AUTHORITIES”
ROMANS 13:1-7; I PETER 2:13-17

   “ … OBEDIENT”

IS THERE EVER A TIME TO DISOBEY GOVERNMENT?
ACTS:27-29


RELATING TO OTHERS, VS.1-2

   GO THE EXTRA MILE, “GOOD DEEDS”

MATT.5:41, “WHOEVER FORCES YOU TO GO ONE MILE, GO WITH HIM TWO MILES.”

   AVOID THE GRAPE VINE – “MALIGN NO ONE”

ONE HISTORIAN SAID OF CRETE, “VERBAL SLANDER WAS PRACTICED AS A FINE ART.”

   DON’T SWING BACK – “TO BE UNCONTENTIOUS”
   STAY THE COURSE – “BE GENTLE”

   “LET YOU GENTLE SPIRIT BE KNOW TO ALL MEN.”
PHIL.4:5

“REASONED DISCOURSE IS NOW IMPERILED. IT IS GIVING WAY TO IN-YOUR-FACE SOUND BITES; PLAYING HARDBALL IS A DOMINANT METAPHOR FOR AMERICAN DIALOGUE. OUR INTERCHANGES ARE CONFRONTATIONAL, DEVISIVE, AND DISMISSIVE. BALANCE AND FAIRNESS ARE CASUALITIES ON EVENING SHOWS AS TWO, THREE AND SOMETIMES FOUR VOICES CONTENT SIMULTANEOUSLY FROM DOMINANCE. VOLUME AND STUBBORNNESS ARE THE NEW VIRTUES.”

   DON’T SHOW FAVORITISM – “CONSIDERATION FOR ALL MEN”

APPLICATION