The Dangers of Cultural Religion

Textual Idea: Lot had been so assimilated into the culture of Sodom that he could not leave the soon-to-be destroyed Sodom without God’s help.

Thesis: Cultural religion separates us from God and endangers our families

Interrogative: What are the dangers of cultural religion / Baalism?

Cultural Religion Places Security in Money rather than in Christ

A. Exegesis, vv. 5-13

1. Lot was interested in furthering his financial status, and chose the fertile and rich plains, leaving Abraham with rocky mountains.
2. Lot “pitched his tents toward Sodom,” v. 13.
3. Lot next was “in” Sodom; he grew rich: wife, two daughters, and a house.
4. Lot separated himself so far from God that he got used to living apart from God.

B. Illustration

College students know what they want–money, and lots of it. 75% of incoming freshmen believed that being well-off financially is essential. And 71% said the key reason they were going to college was to get high-paying jobs when they graduate. However, the percentage of freshmen who though it was vital to develop a meaningful philosophy of life was at an all-time low–only 39%

C. Application

1. Money is never enough to satisfy.
2. Only Christ provides security of mind and soul.
3. The danger is separation from depending on Christ for security.

Cultural Religion Lives for Worldly Prestige rather than for Christ.

A. Exegesis, v. 1

1. The “gateway of the city” in the ancient world was where important men went to be seen and to conduct business.
2. Lot enjoyed public attention, that’s why he spent so much time at the city gates.
3. Lot’s motivation for lodging strangers is questionable.
4. The culture soon turns on Lot, v. 9.

B. Illustration–>Mathew 6:1-5

C. Application

1. People sometimes do good things for the wrong reasons.
2. Cultural, casual Christians make an appearance at church as a matter of duty, not worship.
3. Culture changes and viciously turns on us; Christ never changes, and He always stands by us.
4. The danger is that we separate ourselves from Christ and worship the work of our hands.

Cultural Religion Adopts a Worldly Standard of Morality rather than God-given Standards of Righteousness.

A. Exegesis, vv. 5-8

1. Throughout history, many cultures tolerated homosexuality, bisexuality, familial incest, and beastiality as acceptable alternative expressions of sexuality.
2. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah not only was homosexuality, but also homosexual rape, v. 5.
3. Lot tried to lead the Sodomites to choose a lesser of two evils: he offered his two daughters to them for raping.

B. Illustration–>Changing social mores: pre-marital sex, card-playing, wearing make-up, getting tattoos, etc.

C. Application

1. Morality is not decided by majority vote. Moral ethics are dictated by a Holy and Sovereign God.
2. Social mores change with the times; eternal truths are immutable–there are no gray areas, only right and wrong.
3. Saints are different; they live a life worthy of the high call of God.
4. The danger is that we separate ourselves from Christ that we become too much like the world.

Cultural Religion reluctantly Flees from the World’s Destruction rather than Fleeing to Christ for Salvation.

A. Exegesis, vv. 15-16

1. Lot had lived too long in Sodom. He was accustomed to Sodomite culture. While he did not agree with everything, he was enslaved to it.
2. Only divine assistance rescued him from sin’s captivity.
3. When he was some distance away from Sodom, truth overwhelmed Lot. How could he have lived like that, to be blinded to the truth?
4. Lot’s wife looked back; she was destroyed by desirous sin, v. 26; see also Luke 9:62.

B. Illustration–>alcoholic, drug addict, sexual perversion, etc. If you lie with dogs, you will get up with fleas.

C. Application

1. The Bible explicitly teaches us to flee from evil, 2 Timothy 2:22 to 3:6.
2. Cultural religion has a form of godliness and a “right” sound and feel to it, but it is false.
3. Flirting with evil destroys our relationship with God, but worse, it can destroy our families: Lot’s wife, his two daughters, etc.
4. There is no such thing as a lesser of two evils; evil is evil.
5. The danger is that we get too used to worldliness that we cannot escape destruction.

Conclusion

Christian, church member, have you been flirting with evil?

1. Stolen tools or items from your employer?
2. Sexually immoral, unfaithful adultery or fornication?
3. Viewing pornographic or violent movies?

Remember, Lot looked toward Sodom, and went there to live on the outskirts of Sodom, just to better himself, not to indulge in their sin. But it was not long before Lot was living in Sodom.

Repent, turn away from your sins and temptations, and return to Christ–your only security, your only life, your only standard of right, your only salvation from destruction.

<<Back<<