[Scripture: Genesis 19:1-5; 12-14]

Introduction

The story of the Bible is not the story of the past but of our ongoing spiritual story. Galatians 3:29 says, “If you belong to Christ, you are Abraham’s children and heirs according to the promise.” In Christ, Christians are the spiritual children of Abraham. Therefore, the story of Abraham and the story of Lot can be our stories.

Today I will talk about two spiritual challenges that Christians face in their daily lives.

The first spiritual challenge is the rejection of biblical worldviews and the moral standards and ethical guidelines that are connected to them. I want to share with you a phrase that many people say to encourage each other. That phrase is: “whatever.” Some people say, “Believe whatever you want. Do whatever seems best to you. Live for whatever makes you happy as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone.”

That way of life may not hurt others, but it will hurt your relationship with Jesus Christ. We Christians should guard our thoughts and words because in Matthew 12:36, Jesus said, “Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, they will be judged for every careless word they have spoken.”

Second challenge is biblical illiteracy. There was a report that said that 82% of adults who believe “God helps those who help themselves,” and 56% mistakenly think the idea comes directly from the Bible. However, that phrase is not in the Bible, but rather Benjamin Franklin once said and popularized it. It is also said that 50% of graduating high school students think Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife. It sounds like a joke, but research shows that many people believe that way. 

Sodom and Gomorrah

Genesis 19 is the story of Lot’s family when they lived in Sodom and Gomorrah. In the story, Lot found strangers in the square, and he invited them into his house and provided them a room and a hot meal. For Lot, this was the proper way to show hospitality because his Uncle Abraham always did it that way.

On the other hand, the people who lived in the city practiced hospitality the opposite way. They wanted to call the strangers to come out among the people so they could interrogate and physically abuse them. They believed this was the right thing to do in their city. The story tells us about the conflict of interest between Lot and that group of people.

The Hidden Historical Background

In verse 5, it says, “They called to Lot, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.’” We cannot even understand how that kind of criminal activity could happen in a public square. However, we need to check the historical and religious background to know why they did that.

Historically, it is clear that Sodomites did not worship God (Yahweh), the God of Abraham, but instead they possibly worshiped pagan gods or goddesses. In Canaanite society, Baal and Asherah  were honored as  a god and goddess of fertility. People worshiped them in various ways including practicing public prostitution. This practice likely evolved to the point of legalizing public sexual offenses against outsiders. This became the Sodomites’ tradition, so the people committed crimes against humanity without feelings of guilt.

For example, a Roman emperor once hired a gladiator to kill people while he watched the event for fun and to make political statements. This first, single event grew to become multiple events and eventually became one of their most prevalent traditions, which accompanied major religious festivals that everyone enjoyed.

In classical Islamic law, it is encouraged to perform Jihad, which means to do armed struggle against unbelievers and outsiders. Even though individuals commit crimes against humanity, such as the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, if it is considered a Jihad, terrorism like that is justified in their culture and society.

Observation of Details

In the story of Lot, there are three groups of people.

1. The first group is the house of Lot. In Lot’s house, there were at least six individuals staying. Lot, his wife, two daughters, and the two angels. They acted as followers of God. They knew what was right or wrong before God.
2. One the other hand, the people who stayed outside of the house “were all the men from every part of the city of Sodom.” People who stayed outside the house seemed physically abusive, especially to outsiders. Their moral standard was different from that of those inside the house.
3. The last group of people was Lot’s sons-in-law. They were born and raised in the city of Sodom, but they had a relationship with the family of Lot. So, they could visit the house, but they lived outside of the house.

The two sons-in-law seemed to have lived a borderline life. A borderline life means living between two different conditions, with the possibility of belonging to either one of them. Sometimes, the two sons-in-law belonged to Lot’s house, and sometimes they belonged to the city of Sodom.

Finally, the time had come. The angels tried to destroy the city and all living beings who belonged to the city. The angels told Lot, “Go and tell your sons-in-law to hurry and get out of the place because the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But Lot’s sons-in-law did not believe Lot because they thought Lot was joking. So, they stayed there. Then, they were destroyed along with the city. When they thought Lot was joking, that meant that they did not have the ability to discern the voice of God.

Spiritual Insights

We still see these three groups of people in our lives today.

The first group is Christians who are fighting the good fight of faith to belong to Jesus Christ.

The second group of people is non-Christians who live outside of Jesus Christ. When the day of judgment comes, Jesus will not know their names because they do not believe in Jesus Christ and are not interested in his teachings.

The third group of people is those who know Jesus, but Jesus does not know them. They believe that they know Jesus Christ, but Jesus doesn’t remember their name. Matthew 7:23 says, “When many people come to me and say, ‘Lord I know you,’ but I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.’”

In Revelation 3:15-16, Jesus rebukes the Church in Laodicea. “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”

Jesus said he would not take a person whose lifestyle is lukewarm on the day of the Lord. Being lukewarm means taking the words of God as a joke. This is what Lot’s sons-in-law did when Lot told them the message.

Conclusion

The story of Sodom is full of suggestions for Christians on how to maintain our spirituality in the society that we live in. We should gain spiritual insight from the story because the story of Sodom is our story.

Today’s lesson is about taking the word of God into your heart and life when you hear it. Even though our society tells us we are narrow-minded people because of what we believe, Christians should trust God and believe that His Word is true. The Word of God is the truth, and it guides us in the right direction. However, the truth is not what the majority of people say is true; absolute truth is what God said through the Bible.  

Christian faith comes from hearing the message, the message is heard through the word of God, and Christian faith is completed by doing what is heard.

2022.04.03. Pastor Cloud Poy

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