Longshore Jared - By What Standard?: Gods World . . . Gods Rules.

FOUNDERS PRESS

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2020 Founders Press

Second Printing August 2020

Printed in the United States of America

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Unless otherwise indicated Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Interior Design by Samuel Dickison

Cover Design by Jordan Singer

CONTRIBUTORS

Tom Ascol

Tom serves as the President of Founders Ministries. He has served as a Pastor of Grace Baptist Church since 1986. He has earned the MDiv and PhD degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. He has served as an adjunct professor of theology for several seminaries in North America. He and Donna have six children, as well as 3 sons-in-law and a daughter-in-law. They also have 12 grandchildren. Tom has edited and contributed to several books, including Dear Timothy and Redeeming the Gospel and Reforming Churches . He has authored From the Protestant Reformation to the Southern Baptist Convention and Traditional Theology and the SBC .

Voddie Baucham

Dr. Voddie Baucham serves as Dean of Theology at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia. Previously he served as pastor of Grace Family Baptist Church in Spring, Texas. Dr. Baucham is the author of numerous books, including Expository Apologetics : Answering Objections with the Power of the Word , The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World , and Family Shepherds: Calling and Equipping Men to Lead Their Homes .

Timon Cline

Timon Cline is a native of Memphis, TN and grew up in Dakar, Senegal where his parents were missionaries. After graduating from Wright State University he concurrently earned a J.D. from Rutgers Law School and a M.A.R. from Westminster Theological Seminary. His writing has appeared in various publications including the Founders Journal , National Review , and Areo Magazine . He writes regularly on law, religion, and politics at Conciliar Post and Modern Reformation . He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Rachel.

Mark Coppenger

Mark Coppenger is retired Professor of Christian Philosophy and Ethics at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Hes also been a professor, whether full-time or adjunct, at Wheaton College, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Trinity International University, and Elmhurst College; a pastor in Arkansas and Illinois; a denominational worker with Indiana Southern Baptists and the SBC Executive Committee, where he was founding editor of SBC LIFE ; and an infantry officer. He received a B.A. from Ouachita, Ph.D. from Vanderbilt, and M.Div. from Southwestern Seminary. In the last decade, his articles have appeared through the online postings of The American Spectator , Providence, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Post , The Gospel Coalition, and Founders Ministries. His most recent books include Moral Apologetics (B&H) and Cases and Maps: A Christian Introduction to Philosophy (Wipf and Stock).

Jared Longshore

Jared is Associate Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Florida. He serves as a board member and Vice President of Founders Ministries. Having served in pastoral ministry since 2007, he has earned MDiv and PhD degrees from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He and his wife Heather have seven children. Jared has edited and contributed to several works, including A Noble Company and the Founders Journal .

Tom Nettles

Tom J. Nettles retired from his position as Professor of Church History and Historical Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2014 having begun his career in teaching at The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1976. In his writing, he has sought to tap into the historical foundations of present theological issues. He and his wife Margaret live in Louisville, KY, where they are active at LaGrange Baptist Church and he serves when needed as Senior Professor of Historical Theology at the seminary.

Chad Vegas

Chad Vegas is the founding pastor of Sovereign Grace Church, where he has served since 2006. He is also the Founding Board Chairman for Radius International; a missionary training organization. Chad received his M.A. from Talbot School of Theology. He also served 3 terms as an elected Board member of the largest high school district in California. He has been married to Teresa since 1994, and they have 2 children.

INTRODUCTION

Either God created the world, or He didn't. Elijah asked what is still a pertinent question, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions" (1 Kings 18:21)? If Yahweh is God, follow Him. If man is God, follow him. In any case, "Choose this day whom you will serve."

Many have failed to see that a false religion is afoot. But it is getting harder to ignore. The philosophy and empty deceit which says man is the measure of all things has been with us since Protagoras. Yet it materialized in 1960's America in life-altering ways. Having thoroughly worked its way through our educational institutions, this vain ideology now advances in nearly every aspect of our civil and cultural experience.

This false religion is the same one God gave people up to in Romans 1. We have turned from worshiping the Creator to worshiping the creature. This religious system teaches that man is God and the human will is the holy standard. Salvation masquerades as that future state of universal equality attained by strict adherence to the Hegelian dialectic. But, in reality, it consists of satiating the unrestricted human appetite by any means necessary. So we do not leap upon altars crying out to Baal to send fire while cutting ourselves (1 Kings 18:26ff). But we do leap up on cars as we riot in fiery streets, cutting down people's livelihoods while crying out to finite, governmental gods. We do not sacrifice our children to Molech (Leviticus 18:21). But we do sacrifice them to Planned Parenthood.

The book you hold in your hand contrasts this false religion with the true Christian faith. It is an attempt to flesh out some of the message found in the film By What Standard (available at www.founders.org). Contributors address a variety of topics, including vain philosophies, cultural Marxism, race, manhood, womanhood, sexuality, and justice. These topics are set forth in the light of Scripture, providing insight into the times and how to live Christianly in them.

Jared Longshore

one

Hollow and Deceptive Philosophies

By Tom Ascol

S ometimes I wonder how anybody makes it to heaven. Think about all the warnings the Bible gives to those who are walking with God through this world. We are constantly being opposed by that unholy trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil, which means we have enemies around us, within us and above us.

In both Old and New Testaments, the Lord has seen fit to issue repeated warnings to His people to be on their guard against dangers that surround them at every step of their journey to the Celestial City. We are repeatedly warned about the deceitfulness of our own hearts, the strategies of the devil, and the enticements of the world.