Man, a Responsible
Being
07/09/06
Romans 14:12
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to
God.
Illustrations of irresponsibility:
Robert Horton, who worked for Family Services in
Shreveport, was found with kiddy porn in his computer:
Shreveport, La.
Child Welfare Worker Convicted of
Possessing Child Porn. While installing a hard
drive on Robert Horton's computer, agents with the "geek
squad" came across child porn, and that's when
prosecutors say the "the geeks," did a pretty cool
thing. They arrested him. (From KSLA web site-on a later
broadcast, I heard the State fired him.) Mike Sieve, a
reporter for the local radio station KEEL, was arrested
for pedophilia. His case is pending. 26-year-old
Terrance Carter. A Coushatta man accused of killing a
5-year-old Natchitoches boy is now sitting in the Caddo
Parish jail. Red River Parish authorities transported
26-year-old Terrance Carter this morning saying their
jail doesn't have enough space to hold Carter until his
trial.
Carter is charged with first-degree
murder in the death of Corinthian Houston. Police say
Houston was found tied to a chair with an electrical
cord found around his neck. They suspect Houston was
also burned alive. Investigators say Carter confessed to
the crime, telling them he did it to get back at the
boy's mother whom he dated off and on 07/06/06, KSLA. It
was reported by Chief Prater of Caddo that there are
over 200 sex offenders in the parish. He is arresting
all that have not registered with the parish.
Hogan’s Heroes. Bob Crane, who played
the primary part in this comedy serial production, ended
up murdered. He did not start out to end up that way.
But his irresponsible behavior brought on the murder. It
all started with a chance meeting with a man by name of
Carpenter. Carpenter invited him to meet him at a strip
club. This man eventually tempted Crane with a lot of
porn and the end of it was the murder of Crane,
apparently by Carpenter. The point is Crane’s
irresponsible behavior and the disregard of his wife’s
pleading to leave that life style, let to his demise.
Do you think the police always act in
a responsible way? How about the courts? How about the
business world? (Enron and Ken Lay) How about school
teachers? What about some members of the Armed Forces?
What about our politicians? What about Hollywood? What
about the medical profession? (40,000,000 abortions).
It is a never ending of reporting all
the irresponsible people in our society today. Newscasts
now are nothing more than a report of all the criminal
activity of our communities. They spend most of the time
telling us how many people were murdered that day, how
many children were abused, how many wives were shot by
their husbands, how many drug dealers were arrested, how
many banks were held up, how many sex perverts were
roaming around the park, how many drivers were arrested
for DWI, how many frauds were committed, how many
identity thefts occurred, and how many people were
caught with kitty porn on their computers. When
confronted with their lack of responsibility, they offer
such excuses as, the devil made me do it, it was the
alcohol, the drugs, a bad environment, a mean father, I
was temporarily insane and such other ridiculous
thoughts or ideas.
Clearly, our society has become very
irresponsible in the last 20 years. One of the earmarks
of the antichrist and the last days is that of complete
disregard of the (accepted) law, as he will magnify
himself above everything and everybody, which translates
to becoming a law unto himself.
I. Human Beings Are Moral Beings
"Man is a moral creature. By this we mean that he is
responsible for his actions. This is one of the marks by
which man is distinguished from the animals. Man is
constituted a moral creature by those faculties which
make him responsible for his actions. These faculties
are three: Intellect, conscience and will." (Taken from
T.P. Simmons book on Bible Doctrine) Intellect. "It is
man’s power of knowing or receiving knowledge.
(Knowledge is an accumulation of facts- Ed.)
John 9:39 "And Jesus said, For
judgment I am come into this world, that they which see
not might see; and that they which see might be made
blind. 40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him
heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should
have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin
remaineth."
What is He saying? That those who are incapable of
understanding are not accountable but those who are
capable and reject the truth, will be held accountable.
Conscience. Conscience enables us to judge between right
and wrong. "Judgment is involved in conscience. And
reason is involved in judgment."
A conscience accusing or excusing
Romans 2:15 Which shew the work of
the law written in their hearts, their conscience also
bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while
accusing or else excusing one another;)
A pure conscience
1 Timothy 3:9 Holding the mystery of
the faith in a pure conscience.
A "seared" conscience
1 Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in
hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot
iron;
A defiled conscience
Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things
are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving
is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is
defiled.
An evil conscience
Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a
true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts
sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed
with pure water.
A good conscience
1 Peter 3:21 ¶ The like figure
whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the
putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer
of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ: The Will. "The soul’s power to choose
between motives and to direct its subsequent activity
according to the motive thus chosen-in other words, the
soul’s power to choose both and the means to attain it"
(from Strong). "The will is not independent of its
possessor." "The acts of the will are determined by two
factors-motives and character. We use the term ‘motives’
to mean reasons and inducements influencing toward
certain acts of the will. Of the two factors character
is the most dominant; for in every act of the will we
make a choice between two or more motives and it is our
character that determines which motive we choose." It is
hard to go against character but if we don’t have much
character, it is easier to make bad choices. Every act
of the will tends to modify character either for the
better or for the worse. We are moral beings as opposed
to animals. Animals cannot talk, think, and understand
the difference between right and wrong. Essentially,
they act by impulse and nature. They cannot become human
like. All these misguided animal lovers that are trying
to teach monkeys how to talk are beating a dead horse or
is that dead monkey? However, man can easily become
animal like. The example above of the man murdering the
little boy is a good example. We are seeing this more
and more.
We are told God created man in His
own image
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in
his own image, in the image of God created he him; male
and female created he them.
This does not say man is a moral
being but we know God is and we are created in His
image, so we are both moral and accountable beings.
II. We Are Trichotomous Beings
That is we consist of body, soul and
spirit. Someone said that our bodies make us world
conscious, our soul makes us self-conscious, and our
spirits make us God conscious. We offer Paul’s words as
proof: 1 Thessalonians 5:23 ¶ And the very God of peace
sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit
and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, some contend that we
are dichotomous (two part) beings.
|Jesus comments on this when He says: John 4:23-24 But
the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers
shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the
Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and
they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in
truth. This passage rules out the body in as far as
worshipping the God of the Bible. Therefore, all the
mumbo, jumbo of all the rituals of all the so-called
Christian churches is nothing more than an exercise in
futility. Our bodies are important to us. If we have a
diseased body early on, for example, it is a great
burden to us. Old age becomes a burden. Regardless of
how well we care for the body, it will in time,
deteriorate. It is not designed to be eternal.
Therefore, we need to keep that in mind. Our soul and
spirits are eternal and must not be neglected. Many
people have beautiful bodies but horrible looking souls
and spirits. To put it bluntly, our spirit is dead. When
we become a Christian, our spirits are "quickened" made
alive, and or put in contact with our Creator again.
This process is called "being born again."
Ephesians 2:1 ¶ And you hath he
quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead
in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by
grace ye are saved;)
Colossians 2:13 ¶ And you, being dead
in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath
he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all
trespasses; The word "dead" means out of touch or
contact, separated, disconnected from God. When we die
physically, we are separated from this world. Nobody
wants any further contact with us. Being dead
spiritually, means we are out of contact with God.
III. Human Responsibility Dependent
on Knowledge
James Madison, the Father of our
Constitution, said that our form of government was
predicated on the self-discipline of the individual
members of our society. When too many of the members of
our society refuse to exercise that self discipline, our
form of government will fail. We seem to be rushing
toward that time. Speaking of the Founders of our
country, I believe, based on what I have heard and read,
that George Washington was the most responsible American
who ever lived. For example, he spent most of his life
serving the public in some capacity (around 45 years).
Some of this was done without any kind of financial
reward. After the Revolutionary War was over, he turned
in his uniform and command for the life of a farmer. He
was offered the kingship of the country but he turned it
down. Later, he was elected the first President of the
new republic and served two terms with honor. He
demanded good speech habits from his troops and anyone
caught using bad language was given 20 stripes. He was
reported to have believed that the war could not be won
without God’s help and they could not expect His help if
they continually used His name in vain. Thomas Jefferson
who served with him and knew him quite well, said he was
one of the most just (fair) men he ever knew. He tried
to keep all his decisions from prejudice of any kind,
personal or that of others. Once upon accidentally
learning one of his generals serving under him was
planning a coup, he wisely acted as though he knew
nothing of it. He needed the help of troops this man was
commanding. Yet, later, upon learning there was another
rebellion brewing on the part of certain men under his
command, he determined who they were and had them
executed. Upon his death in Dec. of 1799, "Flags were
set at half mast as the news swept across the country.
Churches opened for prayer. Sate assemblies and the
national government went into mourning. Memorial
services were held in many towns. But it was Harry Lee,
the ‘Light Horse Harry’ of Washington’s military staff
during the War who uttered the perfect tribute to his
leader: ‘First in war, first in peace, first in the
hearts of his countrymen’" (quoted from The World Book).
All of us and especially our politicians, would do well
to emulate this great American.
The following scriptures clearly
teach that even the heathen are aware of God and
therefore are accountable:
Rom 1
19 ¶ Because that which may be known
of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto
them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the
creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood
by the things that are made, even his eternal power and
Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 2:12 For as many as have sinned
without law shall also perish without law: and as many
as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13
(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but
the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the
Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the
things contained in the law, these, having not the law,
are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the
law written in their hearts, their conscience also
bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while
accusing or else excusing one another;)
All of us have our right minds and
certainly know that God exists and therefore we are
accountable.
Conclusion:
There is a man in prison in Texas by
name of David Hoffman, who writes for The Berea
Baptist Banner. He says he is serving from 12-25 for
some crime he committed a few years back. He does not
tell what he did but I do know he acted in an
irresponsible manner. He tells how he became a
Christian. After becoming a Christian, he seemed to be
like a fish out of water among his world of fellow
prisoners. It began with another Christian prisoner
asking him to read a poem written from a Christian
perspective. Reading this poem seemed to excite his
interest in reading a Bible which he and most prisoners
keep in their cells. He tells it in his own words: "The
Lord plucked the scales from my eyes and drew me to
Himself. Most of the guys around me thought I’d lost my
mind. Others said it was as if someone flipped a light
switch and I was a different person. And they were
right. I wasn’t the same guy they’d known, sure, it was
the same tattooed flesh and blood they all knew but the
old man had died and a new creature was born within. The
guards and other inmates all asked me if I didn’t know
that a person could not live the Christian life behind
prison walls" (from The Berea Baptist Banner). Let us
imagine what a Sunday is like for this imprisoned
Christian. He arises early but in his small cage (cell).
He sure would like to go to church but there is no
church and he is cannot get out of his cell. He sure
would like to be baptized but alas! There is no church
or baptistery. He would like to participate in the
Lord’s Supper but again there is no hope of that. He
thinks it would certainly be great to have Christian
fellowship but there is no place for that. He is greatly
restricted. What is my point? Though he would love to be
able to do all of these things, he cannot. However, we
can do all of these things but we do not. Who is better
off?