How should Christians respond to wickedness in the world? - Nate Clarke

"Understanding the Times"
Colossians 2:6-8; 1 Chronicles 12:32
Pastor Nate Clarke
September 14, 2025


The government has gone out of its lane:
https://youtu.be/Kd9ZG5pMYFI

Should Christians pay attention to POLITICS? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak82aD16r04

Have you heard the news about the FUTURE of Oasis Church?
https://www.oasischurch.online/future


SERMON NOTES:
- Colossians 2:6-8
- 1 Chronicles 12:32
- Understanding the Times
- Wise: rejoices in and embraces the truth
   Foolish: ignorant of or ignores the truth
   Wicked: hates and attacks the truth
- Encourage, spur-on, and feed the wise
  Correct, teach, and guide the fool
  Drive out the wicked
- John 10:11-13
- Positive World (pre-1994): Society at large retains a mostly positive view of Christianity. To be known as a good, churchgoing man remains part of being an upstanding citizen. Publicly being a Christian is a status-enhancer. Christian moral norms are the basis moral norms of society and violating them can bring negative consequences.
- Neutral World (1994-2014): Society takes a neutral stance towards Christianity. Christianity no longer has privileged status but is not disfavored. Being publicly known as a Christian has neither a positive nor a negative impact on one’s social status. Christianity is a valid option within a pluralistic public square. Christian moral norms retain some residual effect. 
- Negative World (2014-Present): Society has come to have a negative view of Christianity. Begin known as a Christian is a social negative, particularly in the elite domains of society. Christian morality is expressively repudiated and seen as a threat to the public good and the new public moral order. Subscribing to Christian moral views or violating the secular moral order beings negative consequences. 
- Positive World (pre-1994)
  Neutral World (1994-2014)
  Negative World (2014-present)
- “We shall soon be in a world in which a man may be howled down for saying that two and two make four, in which furious party cries will be raised against anybody who says that cows have horns, in which people will persecute the heresy of calling a triangle a three-sided figure, and hang a man for maddening a mob with the news that grass is green.” GK Chesterton
- Patriarchal if you believe what the Bible says about men’s leadership in the home.
  Sexist if you believe what the Bible says about wives prioritizing the home and following their husbands leadership.
   Racist if you believe what the Bible says about a biblical definition of justice.
   Homophobic if you believe what the Bible says about marriage and sexuality.
   Transphobic if you believe what the Bible says about gender.
- If you believe someone is mistaken, you try to persuade them. If you believe someone is evil, you feel a moral obligation to stop them. 
- “Bold-hearted men are always called mean-spirited by cowards who shrink from disagreeable truths that save souls.” Charles Spurgeon 
- So what do we do?
- Recognize it is a spiritual battle. 
- Ephesians 6:10-12
- Pray for boldness and courage.
- Acts 4:29-31
- “A scared world needs a fearless church.” AW Tozer
- Let your light shine in grace and in truth.
- John 1:14
- John 8:32
- 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Oasis Church exists to Worship God, Equip the believers, and Reach the lost.
We are led by Pastor Nate Clarke and are located in Richmond, VA.

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