Pastor Dan Southern 1\11\04 a.m.

Centreville Community Church

Title: Mad Cow Religion

Text: Exodus 32: 1- 6

Mad Cow Disease – Medical term is “Bovine spongiform ecephalophathy.”

It is the cause of alarm among many ranchers and other companies that buy U.S. beef.

Illustration: A man and his wife had been arguing just prior to walking into a restaurant. The waiter asks the man what was his selection, the man said, “I’ll have the biggest steak you have”. The waiter ask, “but sir, what about the mad cow. The man responded, “She can order for herself”

Mad Cow is a progressive deterioration of the central nervous system. It attacks the brain and spinal cord leaving the brain soft and spongy. Tiny neurons in the brain affect the cattle, breaking down the brain matter. The brain is left full of holes much like the appearance of Swiss cheese. The infected animal loses muscle control, such as involuntary shaking, unable to control voluntary movements such as turning of the head. The animal has hallucinations and the lost of sensory organs. Images and sounds become confused and nothing makes sense.

Illustration: Hindus worship the cow.

The first cow was introduced to America in Jamestown Colony in

1611.

Until the 1850’s nearly every family had it’s own cow.

COWS ARE MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE

Genesis 13:2 Exodus 3:11

Psalm 50:10 1 Samuel 6:7

Genesis 41

MAD COW RELIGION IS A LOT LIKE MAD COW DISEASE.

Exodus 32:1- 6 Exodus 32:4, 21, 24

l. A FIGURATIVE COMPARISON.

A. One infected cow

1954 the words “under God” were added to pledge of allegiance

1955 the words “In God We Trust” were added to U.S. coins

1965 the words “In God We Trust” became our national motto

*1965 Immigration restrictions eased

“court decisions, ordinances, and a vocal and increasing diverse minority have altered the spiritual landscape of America”

- John W. Kennedy, May 2003 issue of Pentecostal Evangel, One Nation under gods

B. A contagious herd

“There are 2,630 faith groups in the nation, some with practices that include psychedelic drug use, cloning, channeling, nudism, mummifying bodies to await resurrection, drinking blood and a belief in communicating with flying saucers.”

- Gordan Melton, Encyclopedia of American Religion

C. The center of attack

1962 -The Supreme Court rules that authorities could not compose official prayers in public school.

1963 School sponsored Bible reading and prayer in the classroom was banned by the nation.

1992 The Supreme Court stopped school sponsored graduation prayer.

1 Timothy 4:1

“The light and power of Christianity has dimmed in the United States in the last 50 years… As it has, there’s more and more room for the encroachment of non-Christian religions”

- Douglas Groothuis, editor of The Dictionary of Contemporary Religion In The Western World

ll. A FAULTY CONCEPT OF GOD. Exodus 32: 4

Polytheism - The belief in MANY GODS .

Exodus 9:3 Exodus 32:1

A gospel of inclusion of all religious beliefs is being preached today.

1925 Bruce Barton’s book The Man Nobody Knows

1971 Jesus Christ Superstar

2003 Joan of Arcadia

A. They had forgotten their past. Exodus 34:1

1. There was a distance.

2. There was a difficulty.

3. There was a demand.

“It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”

- George Washington

“I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the savior of the world is communicated to us through this book.” – Abraham Lincoln

“The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been written”

- Patrick Henry

“Today the American landscape is filled with religious ideas such as Ancient wisdom, New Age psychics, magical religions, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Indian faiths such as Hindu, liberals such as Unitarians and atheists, communal clusters such as Heaven’s Gates and metaphysical groups.” - Melton Gordon

B. They had forgotten God’s Provision. Exodus 32:3, 4

1. The source of their Prosperity. Exodus 3:21, 22

2. The sacrifice of their Possessions. Exodus 35:20- 22

C. They had forgotten God’s Purpose.

1. They had rejected God’s word. Exodus 20:1- 5

2. They now refused God’s will. Exodus 32:1- 6

lll. A FATAL COMPROMISE.

A. An improper Proclamation. Exodus 32: 5

B. They rose up to Play. Exodus 32:6

C. God began a Pruning. Exodus 32:27

D. They were Plagued. Exodus 32:35

E. Paul refers to this irreverent Passion. 1 Corinthians 10:7

lV. FINDING A CURE.

A. The confession of sin. Exodus 32:24

B. The choosing of sides. Exodus 32:26

Matthew 12:30

C. The consecration to service. Exodus 32:29

TODAY IS A TIME OF MAD COW RELIGION.

INSTEAD OF BEING BOVINE, IT MUST BE DIVINE.

HOW CAN I APPLY THIS MESSAGE TO MY LIFE?