and I say more than you know. Amen. Thank you. I'm departing today from a normal Mother's Day message. Normally we'd preach about a mother in the Bible. There's great moms that are found throughout the scriptures. Eve, the mother of all living. We talk about Sarah, the mother of promise. We can talk about Ruth, that mother of devotion. We can talk about Hannah. We can talk about Hannah. Hannah was a mother of prayer and commitment. You see, mother of all living, Eve, we know her story, and Sarah, the mother of promise, according to Romans chapter number nine, Paul says that she received that promise just as Abraham did, that she was gonna have a child in her old age. And how that Ruth was that mother of devotion, and she said to Naomi, Naomi said, I'm going back. She said, you go back to your family. You go back and you serve there. And Ruth said, where thou goest, I will go. Where thou lodgest, I will lodge. She said, thy people shall be my people. Thy God shall be my God. Verse number 9 of chapter 1, she says, and where thou diest, I'll die. She made a commitment. I'll be there the rest of my life. What a wonderful story it is. Hannah prayed and asked the Lord to give her a man child. And she came back after she had winged Samuel, and she brought him under the temple, and she said unto Eli the priest, she said, here he is. And Eli said, what is this? And she said, this is what I prayed for. And she said, I told the Lord if he gave me a man child, I'd lend him unto the Lord all the days of his life. And that woman left that baby into that man's care. And Samuel grew up serving Eli the priest. Great story, great story. We talk about Mary, the mother of Jesus. She's a mother of favor. Behold, fear not, for thou hast found favor with God. Talk about Mary. We could talk about Eunice. I love to think about Eunice, and I was singing about her as the ladies sang. I said, maybe I ought to change my message today and preach on Eunice. But Paul said in 2 Timothy chapter number 1, he said to young Timothy, he said that he is to remember some things that was taught him by his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. And I said that her, she, Eunice, was a mother of education. She raised her son on her knee, teaching him the word of God, which is able to make thee wise unto salvation. Wonderful stories about moms in the Bible. I could talk about some moms that are not so wonderful. Paul said to Timothy that Eve was deceived. The mother of deception. That'd be a sad thing, wouldn't it? I could talk about Sarah, that mother of promise, but when the Lord spoke to Abraham and said that I'll return unto thee thy years and thou shalt have a son in thine old age, the Bible says that Sarah laughed. She didn't believe him. This is beyond what you can imagine. We could talk about Rebekah, Isaac's wife. And Isaac prayed and asked God to give them children, and God gave them Jacob and Esau. And the Bible says that Rebekah loved Jacob. My mother visited with us years ago. And there was something that was taking place. And my wife did something for one of my children. And my mother said, you got to do it to the rest of them. You cannot show favoritism. Rebecca had a favorite child. His name was Jacob. We could talk about Omer. Boy, that's a sad story. The mother of self-gratification. You know, I believe that's where a lot of us are today. We're just like Omar. What are you talking about, pastor? Hosea went down and he took a bride out of the harlots, and her name was Omar, and he brought her, they had children, wonderful things taking place. I'm saying Omar, it's Gomer. I'm sorry. Sorry, Omar. Great day. I kept saying Omar and I'm saying that's wrong, that's wrong. Look at your notes, dummy. But Gomer, and you know what happened with Gomer? After she was married, after God blessed her with children, after Hosea cared for her, she left and went back and served her other former lovers, the Bible says. The only thing she was concerned about was self-gratification. That's why I say I think that's where a lot of us are today. We want good things, don't we? We want a community that's sin-free. We want a community that lives for Jesus. We want a church where Jesus is glorified. This is wonderful, pastor, and I think you ought to do it this way. No, we're not going to do it that way. Well, what do you mean? See, we won't until it goes contrary to what we want. And then when it goes contrary to what we think. So my question to you today is what makes wrong, wrong? And what makes wrong, right? Some people would say that it is your culture. It is your culture. that makes things right or whatever. On my Mother's Day message, I just want to talk to you about a few things, and I'm going to come back to John chapter 8 here in just a moment. I've said that culture, in my little estimation, my little thought process, culture is the environment in which you're brought up with. It's based on tradition. And it's passed from one generation to another. And so all of us participate in that thing, because that's what we've always done. That's a culture. Now, we come from different cultures. You look around this auditorium, you're going to see different colors. You're going to see different ages. And we come from different cultures. Now, your culture doesn't make it right. Your culture don't make it wrong. Sometimes people say, well, you shouldn't go to the mission field and preach the gospel. Why? Because you have changed their culture. Terry Burcham has been in Mexico working with the Tatamata Indians for almost 45 years. Terry went there, and he began working with these Indians, and there was great opposition that came against Terry Burcham. great opposition. He suffered and the reason that he suffered was because there were those who were saying you are trying to destroy the culture of these native Indians of Mexico, the Tatamatarans. It's an amazing thing to me. I was down there in August and it was an amazing thing to me as I looked. Terry's been there for almost 45 years and they were dressed the same way that they always dressed. They dressed in their Indian garments, beautiful bright colors. It's just something to see. I thought that was great. The guys, they dressed in their blue jeans and their t-shirts and had their old cowboy hats and had their sandals, if they had sandals or barefooted, and they had come up to an old fence post and they had just propped themselves up on that fence post. And I saw something that took place in August. It took place some 40 years ago when I went down there. They said absolutely nothing. They just stand there and look at you. And after a little while, they go wandering off. Terry, what did he want? Nothing. Well, why didn't he say something? He didn't have anything to say. That's the truth. It's just part of their culture. I still see them today, they still take a wooden ball or a rock and they take, and for seven days, 24 hours a day, they will take teams and run the mountaintops of that valley barefooted. 24 hours a day, seven days, like a soccer ball, kicking it with their foot as they're going. And they will run 24 hours a day for seven days. And that's a game they do. Do it every year. Still do it today. Part of their culture. Things that they do. I also saw some things that took place in August that's just an amazement. Just about the entire village came to church. Wow. Terry had church services just a few weeks ago, had over 750 that were there. Almost the entire village. He did not go to destroy a culture, he went to preach Christ to them. Now there are some things in their culture that is wrong. They like brewing the corn and drinking the Tasqueno. Your culture may say that it's acceptable, but that don't make it right. You hear me? Can I get a little closer to home? I had a girl one time who lost her temper with me just a little bit. And she said, a little while later, she said, brother Steve, you need to forgive me. I've got an Irish temper. Any of you all from Ireland? Any of you all Irish descent beside my wife? By the way, I'm not talking about my wife. Say, well, forgive me. Do you have an Irish temper there, Alice? Do you know that your culture does not make that acceptable? Just because you say, well, it's acceptable because I'm Irish doesn't mean it's right. Wrong's still wrong. I've been to places and I've said, listen, women ought not dress like that, but that's their culture. Just because your culture says that it's acceptable for you to be immodest and indecent does not mean that it's right. OK? I know what I'm talking about. Some things that may be acceptable in other places in our world may not be acceptable here in America. And I'm not going to go into any details. But what I'm saying, if God strikes a string in your heart, you need to listen to what I'm saying. Some people say it's culture things. Some people say it's community. You know, the community, whatever the community wants, can I tell you that the community is people? People. And so whatever the masses decide, that's what's right, that's what's wrong. Can I tell you something? Just because the community says it's acceptable does not mean that it's right. Well preacher, why don't you preach the Bible and get out of the issues? Okay, I will. The Bible says in John chapter 8 and in verse number 1 that Jesus, and you might want to underscore that. Just take and underscore Jesus right there. I'm going to turn my phone off, that light's bothering me now. and it's been on since about 8 30 this morning and but Jesus you might want to underscore Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives and early in the morning notice he came into the temple and notice what he says all the people Culture is that which is just something that is passed on from tradition to one generation to another and we do it because it's just part of who we are. But the community has to do with the mass. All the people came down. Now they came for a purpose. The Bible says that they came there under the temple and he sat down and taught them. But I'm not talking to you about what Jesus's teachings were. I just want to talk to you this morning about some things on this Mother's Day that culture does not make things right. Culture does not make things wrong. Your community involvement does not make things right. Your community involvement does not make things wrong. Your community says this is good. This is acceptable. You can do this. That doesn't mean that it's right. Doesn't mean that it's okay. It can still be something that is wrong. Just because the community says it's acceptable does not mean that it is acceptable. It still can be wrong. There's a third group, individual, I want you to underscore with me in your scriptures, and that person, that individual is the clergy. Look at verse number 3. It says, and the Pharisees. This was the religious people of Jesus' day. And this religious people, these were the religious leaders. If I could say that they're the preachers of Jesus' day would be acceptable. They were religious leaders because the scribes and the Pharisees, these men knew what the Bible said They had been taught what the Bible said, and they were teachers of what the Bible says. And so, these were religious leaders, but they were not only religious leaders, but they were civil leaders. Now, you have to understand that in Jesus' day, 2,000 years ago, they had sheriffs, they had the army, they had the Roman government there, but it was their priest that dealt with civil matters. And when you read the Old Testament, you'll read that they were judges. Now these judges were men that sat at the gate of the city and when people would come to them and they would share their grievances with these judges. These judges would hear what the grievances may be and they would say this is what you are supposed to do. They would make the decision. They were judge and jury and they would make a decision on what these people would do based on their knowledge of the word of God. Now the Bible says in Hebrews chapter 13 and verse number 17 it says obey them which have rule over you and submit yourselves. Now he's talking about those that they're watchmen for your soul. Brother Lars said this morning in Sunday school that he called me on Friday and asked me a question and when he called he said I'd like to get your opinion and I'd like to get your wisdom in this. Now I appreciate him calling me and I'm thankful that he did. Sometimes people will call and say pastor would you pray with me about this pastor what do you think that we should do in regards to this that and the other and I think that's a wonderful thing. Have you ever thought about talking with your Sunday school teacher and asking him or her to pray with you and ask them if they would have any suggestions for you in regards to decisions that you were making in your life? Have you? Have you thought about trying to meet with a pastor or meet with the pastoral staff and just share something with them and ask them what their opinion is? One of the greatest stories that I have in regards to this in our day was several years ago a young lady and her boyfriend came to the pastor sat down in his office and said we're talking about getting married we'd like to know what you think about it. He said are you crazy? she said what do you mean pastor she said this guy and he began to explain what type of guy this guy was do you want to be married to him and she said no well why are you talking to me about this and she said I just wanted your opinion not a problem that guy got so angry he left this church why you would too wouldn't you And this young lady, she met another young man. She married them. They are a wonderful Christian couple serving God together. Got beautiful children, wonderful children. Their children are grown now. They're serving God together. You know what the other guy's doing? Absolutely nothing. Not doing anything for God. There's a little wisdom in that. Don't you think? seeking the counsel of a pastor well we just don't seek counsel of the preachers anymore I don't blame you you listening to me I don't blame you at one time a preacher was a man of integrity integrity that's not what us Baptist preachers what preachers are known for today not known for integrity why we're alcoholics We're addicts. We're accusers of the brethren. We're out trying to acquire anything and everything everybody else wants. We dress like everybody else. We talk like everybody else. We act like everybody else. We're not men of integrity. And I don't blame people for not going to a pastor and sitting down and talking with him when he's an adulterer. when he's an addict himself. Do you know the Bible says in Romans chapter 2 in verse number 19, Paul said, and are confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them that are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which has the form of knowledge and not of the truth of the law. Boy, that sounds good. And thou art a teacher wonderful, which teachest another. Paul asked a question. Teachest thou thyself? Thou preachest a man should not steal. Dost thou steal? Thou sayest a man should not commit adultery. Dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhors idols, do thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law through breaking the law, dishonorest God. Now, I'm guessing, Brother Jeremiah, you and I, pastors here, and I have to say, I'm not boasting in anything, but I strive to be a man of integrity. I try. I try. I wanna be light, not darkness. And if my light can bring a crowd, praise God. I'm not gonna be darkness so I can have a group. And I've got people, I've got people who say, I'm just real. I go to the pulpit, see I use profanity in the pulpit because I want my people to know I'm real. Yeah, I go out on Friday night with them. I smoke cigars and drink a beer every now and then with them. Not a problem. I want them to know I'm real. And I think one of our problems today is the preachers that are in our pulpits are not men of God. They're men of the world. We're not to love the world, neither the things that are in the world. Now, let me get back to my message. Just because the clergy says it's wrong doesn't mean it's wrong. And just because the clergy says it's right doesn't mean that it's right. What? See, our culture says that there are some things that are acceptable, but the Bible says it's not. our community says we need to be progressive now we need to embrace everybody now we need not don't offend anybody now but the Bible says that there are certain things that are wrong whether the community accepts it or not the Bible says that it's wrong wrong is wrong it doesn't matter whether you're a preacher or whether you're a prophetess or whether you're a missionary or whether you're just a pew warmer if the Bible says it's wrong it's wrong Doesn't matter what your clergy, what your association, what your organization says, it's wrong. We stood in the council chambers. My father, you helped me. Of our city commissioners years ago. And we asked that the city not grant rights to same-sex marriages. And the city granted it. And the Presbyterian pastor of First Presbyterian Church said, I'm not going to pastor in this town. He was opposed to it. And his men said, pastor, we need to be accepting this thing now. This is a different age in which we're living. And that man resigned his church. Why? Because he said, I don't care what the community says, and I don't care what my church family says, this is wrong. Now, I'm just here to tell you that there's a lot of things that goes into work around our lives. Culture, the mass of people, the community, clergy themselves the Bible says there in verse number three and the scribes and the Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery and when they had set her in the mist they say unto him master this woman was taken in adultery notice what he says the very act I think that a lot of times that we think that there are some things that are acceptable some things are permissible long as we do them in private because nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors this woman was brought out in public called in the very act i don't know what that means to you but i believe they drug that girl out of bed and i believe they drug her over to the temple area and those people had gathered together there in that temple to hear the words of jesus and to be taught by jesus and these Pharisees and these scribes bring this girl into their presence and cast her down right there before him and they said now this is here it is we've taken her in the very act Moses and the law commanded us that such should be stoned but what sayest thou our culture says stone her to death our community is embarrassed by this why because now it's a public matter do it in private and everybody's okay But you're gonna make a public spectacle out of it. No, that's not acceptable. The community here is disappointed. So we say stoner. But we wanna know what do you say. Notice verse number six. This is a very, very key verse in this story. This they said, notice, tempting him that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down and with his finger wrote on the ground as though he heard them not. I wonder what Jesus wrote. We don't know what he wrote. Maybe he wrote a little verse out of Leviticus chapter 20 or a verse out of Deuteronomy chapter 22 which says that the man and the woman are to be stoned. Where's the man? And I've said before, Michael, I believe this woman was set up. I believe these scribes and Pharisees, I think the preachers got together and said, let's find a fault in him. Okay, why don't you go over and you seduce this girl over here, we'll come in, we'll take her and we'll bring her over. I kind of think that's what happened, folks. I may be wrong, that's whereology. But I'm just here to tell you that she was brought out. She was brought before the Lord and said, now we want to know what thou sayest. What did he write? Maybe he wrote, thou shalt not bear false witness. And when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself and said unto them, he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again, he stooped down and he wrote on the ground. And they which heard it being noticed, they were convicted by their own conscience. Some people have seared their conscience, by the way. They went out one by one beginning at the eldest, even unto the last. And Jesus left alone, and the woman standing in the mist. When Jesus had lifted up himself and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those unaccusers? Hath no man condemned thee? And she said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more. Four things about this little lesson. There's a woman there. There are scribes and Pharisees that are there. There's a community of people that is there. And there's the Lord Jesus Christ. He's standing there. Now think with me just a second. I've set up the setting. What's wrong? What makes a wrong wrong and what makes a wrong right? And the first thing, Jesus sat. Everybody else stood. These people were standing in judgment. These people were saying, this is wrong. This has got to be done. Jesus sat there. The second thing is, Jesus was silent. These people were shouting, stoner! The Bible says stoner! The law of Moses says stoner! And Jesus sat there, silent. And the third thing is, the Bible says Jesus showed mercy. Jesus showed mercy. How did Jesus show mercy? When Jesus stood up, Jesus stood up and looked at the woman and he asked her a question, were thine accusers? Do you remember when Peter denied the Lord? Peter was there on the porch warming himself and Jesus was down there with Caiaphas and they were questioning him. They were sending Jesus away, sending him off to Pilate. And the Bible says that Peter turned and saw the Lord. Now, I'm a visual guy. I read things. I got pictures flashing in my head. I'm seeing images. And I see Peter turn And I wonder what he saw when he looked at Jesus. I think he may have saw what this woman saw. Peter turned and Peter looked. Rafa, just as I look at you, I'm not looking at your shoes. I'm not looking at your pants. I'm not looking at your front. I'm looking at your eyes. And you're looking back at me. you're looking into my eyes and I think when Peter turned and he saw Jesus I think he I think Jesus may have looked at him and the eyes when they met the eyes of the Lord Jesus Christ when Jesus stood up and spoke to this woman I believe Nancy he looked into her eyes and he said we're your accusers I believe those eyes are eyes of conviction. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, you see Jesus, you want to get sin out of your life. And she said, she said, Lord, I have not. their eyes of compassion. Praise God! I'm glad there's forgiveness in the family. Community may say it's wrong, your culture may say that it's wrong, the clergy may say that it's wrong, but you get people to Jesus and Jesus makes everything okay, folks. But there's something else there. Jesus stood and Jesus spoke and Jesus said, go thou and sin no more. She looked at Jesus's face, I think, saw his eyes. Jesus dealt with her about a fact And Jesus forgave her. And Jesus set her free. April the 8th of 1973, I trusted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, folks. I've never gotten over it. And the reason that Ralph said, what is wrong with you when I got into that truck? And he said, but you're different. is because there was not profanity on my lips. I didn't have that stogie in my mouth. I was conducting myself different. Nobody sat me down and said, preacher, or said, Steve, you need to do this. Steve, you need to do that. Steve, you need to do this. Nothing happened like that. What happened? I came in contact with Jesus. And if any man be in Christ, he's a new creature. All things are passed away. Behold, all things become new. He made me new that night. If you've never been made new, you've never been to Jesus. Your culture may say you're okay. The community may say you're a good little boy. That's okay. See, the Bible is an old book. We're living in a different age than what the Bible was written. This is God's book. The Ancient of Days is the author of this book, and it's forever settled in heaven. And not one jot or one tittle will pass until this world is consumed with a great fire, fervent heat. If you've been to Jesus, bow with me for a word of prayer. I started off saying what makes wrong wrong