How Do We Walk Upright In A Fallen World?

[Overaged]

This week's sabbath school lesson is about "Victory Over Sin." I was asked to teach the Sabbath School Lesson this Sabbath; and I thought it might prove helpful/interesting to start this topic.

Mostly what spurred me to start this thread was an article I read by Barry C Black, Chaplain to the US Senate. He wrote an article in The Andrews University Magazine, (spring, 2010 issue), called "Walking Upright In A Fallen World." It was a very good article; and Barry raised some very interesting points.

There are a lot of different viewpoints on "Victory Over Sin" or "Living Upright In A Fallen World. That does not worry me a lot within this topic. I would be interested in learning more about what others think about it.

Barry gave one example of when he had to minister on a boat with a bunch of sailors who had "very colorful language." How should Christians respond to all these types of things and still remain "upright?" I liked what Mr Black said in this article: "There will never come a day on the planet when you will not need the guidance and direction of God's Word."

Perhaps people interested could share some scripture that has helped them to live upright in a fallen world? I will share them with the Sabbath School Class!

[John317]

Psalm 1:1-6

Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

[2] but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

[3] He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

[4] The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

[5] Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

[6] for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

If you have the New World Translation, read Ps. 1 in it. It is probably the only Psalm which reads very well in that translation.

[Neil D]

This week's sabbath school lesson is about "Victory Over Sin." I was asked to teach the Sabbath School Lesson this Sabbath; and I thought it might prove helpful/interesting to start this topic.

Mostly what spurred me to start this thread was an article I read by Barry C Black, Chaplain to the US Senate. He wrote an article in The Andrews University Magazine, (spring, 2010 issue), called "Walking Upright In A Fallen World." It was a very good article; and Barry raised some very interesting points.

very rarely do I recommend a podcast, but here is a good place to start on this very SS lesson...It's an hour long, but well worth a listen too....

http://comeandreason.com/files/ss_lessons-2010/2010_Q3_L07_victory_over_sin.mp3

[Overaged]

I'm run out of internet time for now but in his article; Mr Black also stated: "If you are going to walk upright in a fallen world, value the spiritual more than the physical. 'Man does not live by bread alone' Jesus said." I will talk more about that in the next post, but thanks for these references. I will check out the podcast...

[Gerr]

Walk on our knees and look up.

[Overaged]

Very interesting and helpful replies so far - thankyou all. Mr Black's story, as I referred to in his article above sheds some great inspiration on the question of this topic. He states:

Quote:

There is a final thing that you must do if you are going to walk upright in a fallen world. Refuse to compromise in order to make your dreams come true...When I first joined the Navy, I had planned to stay for only a few years, but I enjoyed ministry there so much that by the fifth year I knew I was going to stay for the long haul. One of my mentors came to me and said, “Barry, God has given you enormous favor. Let me give you just a little advice. I believe that one day you could be an admiral in the Navy. There has never been an African-American admiral in the Navy Corps before, but I believe that you could become one. Let me make a suggestion. I know you’re a Seventh-day Adventist, but on paper,change your denomination. People appreciate your ministry, but there is no way that you will ever become an admiral as a Seventh-day Adventist. There has never been, and never will be a Seventh-day Adventist chaplain in the Navy chaplain corps!” he said.

Now, if you are reading this topic; and if you were in Barry's shoes at just the time this "advice" was given; how would/should you have responded? How do you think this turned out for Barry, and why?

How to live "upright" in a fallen world!" Is it really, even possible? Who here has done that?

[Gerr]

When God opens a door, NO ONE can shut it!

[Overaged]

Very true. Very true. I shared this story of Barry Black with the Sabbath School Class today. He has such a great testimony; I could not resist.

To continue his story; Barry puts it like this: (quoted from article)

Quote:

There has never been, and never will be a Seventh-day Adventist chaplain in the Navy chaplain corps!” he said.

I said, “I respect your wisdom, but I don’t select my denomination like I select my ice cream. I worship because I am convicted by Scripture that this is the way I am supposed to worship.”

The years went by, and I went from Lieutenant Commander to Commander and Commander to Captain and finally,from Captain, the Admiral Board met and I got a call from this friend. He said, “Barry, I told you you should have switched your denomination, but let me give you nine other reasons why there’s no way you can be selected for Admiral.” With friends like that, you don’t need enemies. He said, “You’ve never had a joint assignment. You’ve never had a Washington assignment...You haven’t had the Pacific Fleet assignment ...When he finished the nine other reasons, I said, “Are you done?” He said, “Well, yeah, I think that’s pretty exhaustive.”

I said, “You missed one significant fact.” He said, “What is that?” I said, “You don’t know my God.” He said, “I’m a minister, ordained. I talk to the same God you talk to!” I said, “No you don’t. Because the God that I talk to every day likes it when the odds look bad because then He gets the glory.”

The board met. They were looking at 168 Captains and were only going to select one for Admiral. Lineally, and in terms of seniority, I was number 167...When it was announced that I was an Admiral, I’ll show you how God gets the glory. I was the selectee...I picked up my telephone and my friend said, “Barry...I guess I was wrong about the ten reasons. And by the way, when you get a chance, could you please introduce me to your God?”

When people want to meet our God; when they come right up to you out of the blue and ask about not what; but who you believe in; it is a pretty safe bet that you are indeed living the secret...living Upright in a fallen world.