Is the Bible Morally & Culturally Outdated?

Lincoln Village Church continued its Question & Answer series by tackling whether the Bible is morally and culturally outdated. The talk reframes that broad charge into two sharper questions: is the Bible true, and is it good? It argues that modern objections often confuse personal or cultural preference with objective moral worth, noting that “whose morals?” matters when people claim the text is outmoded. The Bible is presented as a book written for every culture and era, an “equal opportunity offender” that cuts across all human societies because it calls all people to account.

The address stresses the difference between passing cultural fashions and the unchanging character of Christ. Culture shifts like fashion; Jesus does not. C. S. Lewis’s notion of “chronological snobbery” is used to expose the modern habit of dismissing older ideas simply because they are old rather than because they have been refuted. The claim that parts of Scripture are offensive is anticipated and reframed: offense often signals confrontation with a standard higher than one’s own. Jesus himself offended listeners, and the cost of following his teaching has always been real.

A pastoral defense of biblical moral demands follows: the Bible’s commands function not as arbitrary do’s-and-don’ts but as the framework of a covenantal relationship—vertical with God and horizontal with others—meant to cultivate flourishing. Rules and boundaries are not primarily constraints but the means by which true freedom is discovered. The example of Adam and Eve and Paul’s teaching in Romans illustrate how self-chosen “freedom” often becomes slavery to desire, while obedience to God’s ways leads to genuine flourishing.

Practical application is emphasized: readers must choose whether to reshape Scripture to fit the culture or allow Scripture to reshape them. The goal is not performative religion—checking boxes—but transformation into Christlikeness. The address concludes with a call to root morality in the unchanging Christ, to read Scripture with humility rather than presumption, and to live courageously when biblical truth sets one at odds with prevailing cultural trends. The final appeal is for a church that pursues maturity by holding truth and expressing it in love.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Truth versus cultural approval Modern conversations usually start by asking whether a teaching feels “good” rather than whether it is true. That habit makes personal preference the final court of appeal and confuses subjective approval with moral reality. Relearning to prioritize truth reorients moral judgment away from popularity and toward faithful obedience. [23:01]
• 2. Jesus is the unchanging foundation Cultural values shift quickly; Jesus does not. Basing morality on a changing social consensus guarantees instability, but rooting life in Christ supplies a steady standard for discernment and courage. This steadiness invites persistence when present norms pressure conformity. [30:47]
• 3. Boundaries maximize true freedom Rules are often resisted as restrictions, yet well-ordered boundaries enable meaningful freedom and flourishing. The biblical narrative shows that self-authorized license leads to bondage, while disciplined obedience opens life’s fuller possibilities. Freedom discovered this way is not license but alignment with life-giving truth. [47:09]
• 4. Let Scripture change the reader There is a choice: reshape Scripture to suit preferences, or allow Scripture to reshape desires and actions. Genuine spiritual growth requires submission to a higher wisdom that will at times offend and correct. That posture produces maturity, not mere cultural accommodation. [39:29]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [12:58] - Iglesia Los Echos launch
• [13:47] - Offering and prayer
• [20:48] - Is the Bible outdated?
• [23:01] - Truth versus goodness question
• [30:47] - Jesus: same yesterday, today, forever
• [33:29] - Chronological snobbery explained
• [39:29] - Change the Bible or be changed
• [44:10] - Truth that frees
• [59:20] - Final charge and prayer

1. According to Hebrews 13:8, what is said about Jesus Christ?
2. What does Jesus promise in John 8:31–32 to those who abide in His word?
3. What does 2 Timothy 3:16–17 say Scripture is useful for?
4. In the sermon, what term was used to describe how the Bible speaks to all cultures and people? [28:39]

1. Why might it be significant that Jesus is described as “the same yesterday and today and forever” in a world where cultural values are always shifting?
2. How does the idea that “the truth will set you free” contrast with the world’s definition of freedom? [44:31]
3. The Bible is referred to as an “equal opportunity offender.” What does this mean, and why might that be a sign of its relevance rather than being outdated? [28:39]
4. How can Scripture’s purpose of “training in righteousness” help someone flourish, rather than just restricting them? [50:38]

1. Where in your life have you been tempted to value cultural approval over biblical truth? What would it look like to reorient toward God’s unchanging standard? [23:01]
2. Can you identify an area where God’s Word has felt offensive or uncomfortable to you? What might He be inviting you to reconsider or surrender? [39:29]
3. How have you experienced true freedom through obedience to God’s Word, rather than through doing whatever you want? [47:09]
4. In what practical ways can you move beyond just “checking the box” of spiritual habits to being genuinely transformed by Scripture? [40:52]
5. Is there a specific biblical teaching you’ve tried to explain away or soften because it conflicts with modern values? What would it look like to let that truth reshape you instead? [39:55]
6. How can you cultivate a heart that seeks God’s truth even when it’s different from what you want to hear? [42:08]
7. Who in your life can help you stay grounded in Scripture when cultural pressures urge you to conform?