I usually think of these myths or fables as theologically driven narratives - in the first century associated with either Judaism or notions of power and the nature and course of the Kingdom. In other cases it may have referred to Hellenistic notions or cosmological myths connected to mystery religions, or perhaps the emanations and hierarchies that would become so prominent in later Gnosticism.
In this case the pastor spoke of contemporary issues (or fables and myths as he would have it) associated with the culture wars - myths concerning sexuality - fornication and sodomy, gender theory, abortion, and the like. Though not exactly in keeping with the apostle's concern in the passage, it can be granted that these claims and condemnations are all true enough to be sure. But I was bothered by what he refused to say and some of what needed to be said.
These 'myths' certainly function within the context of apostate mainline churches - bodies that long ago abandoned the authority of Scripture. Most of these myths don't affect conservative churches but are in relation to the larger society - to America. If you just swap that for Babylon or Rome, I don't think you can make a case regarding the passage. To suggest that Paul was concerned with such questions (which certainly were present then as well) lacks evidence and contradicts statements made elsewhere that suggest no interest in trying to change the social order.
But what of the other myths that reign supreme in so-called conservative or Bible believing circles? They are no less deceitful and just as dangerous to the life of the Church.
What of the myths and fables concerning so-called Christian America? How about the Christian West? What about the mythology surrounding individualism, wealth, and the regime of rights? This has all been woven into a peculiarly 'American' narrative that has been wedded to Christianity and has also been exported globally. But these too are myths and dangerous ones at that as they cancel out and override large sections of New Testament teaching, especially regarding questions of the Kingdom and the ethics it demands.
These myths are running riot within the Church and wreaking great havoc and destruction.
And like the errors being called out in the New Testament, these myth-errors contain both a philosophizing (Hellenistic) and Judaizing aspect. The latter is in reference to their ideas concerning the kingdom, power, and the kind of Pharisee and Zealot ethics they are willing to legitimate in order to meet these goals. The former is represented by the kind of philosophical syncretism at work that often drives these myths and narratives.
Further, when these myths are combined with politicking they take on a very different character. It's one thing for the Church to stand up and denounce sin - to condemn homosexuality and the like from the pulpit and in literature and so forth. All well and good, but when the proclamation is effectively made with a sword in hand (which is what happens when it's cast in political terms)... the nature of our message and witness is radically changed. And when the Church allies itself with political forces that bear the sword - the Church is party to this and it destroys both its witness and message in the process. And in time it self-destructs, loses its identity and falls into apostasy - something we are watching unfold right before our eyes.
The pastor cannot see this (it would seem) and cannot grasp the incongruity of denouncing Christian politicking (Amen) even while he encourages the congregation to appear down the street in front of the courthouse flag pole in a couple of weeks for the so-called National Day of Prayer. And as such my amen quickly turns to an oy vey.
It is essential that Christians understand that the Kingdom calls us to be pilgrims and strangers on the earth. We will always be counter-cultural... our saltiness is in terms of savour not preservation. The oft quoted passage in Matthew 5.13 does not suggest preservation but flavouring.... the same is true in Job 6.6, belying the frequent claim that salt was not a seasoning in the ancient world but always a preservative. The argument begs the question anyway, assuming that there's something we Christians are to preserve. And just what is there to preserve in this present evil age that is under the god of this world? Bearing witness is not an act of preservation but a proclamation of coming doom. Repent!
We are here to 'agitate' as it were - but never in political terms. Don't worry, merely being faithful will generate grief as the political authorities will resent us and in many cases pursue us anyway. But we shouldn't give them a reason to - one that delegitimizes our witness.
That counter-culturalism is true in all contexts. It was true in the 1940's and 1950's though few understood this. No golden age, for the Church it was period of fatal compromise and we're still dealing with the fallout, the unfaithfulness and lack of discernment on the part of Church leaders at that time.
And for New Testament Christians, the counter-culturalism is no less true in the context of a 'Christian society', 'Christendom', or as one especially misguided commentator calls it 'the positive world'. No, in those contexts the counter-culturalism is even more pressing as we must bear witness on a multi-faceted front, with the stiffest opposition coming from the so-called Christian community. It's a long and well evidenced story from Church history, but one that few have any interest in today. That legacy was destroyed by the Magisterial Reformation in that it established not a reformed Church but a rival Christendom. In any case it was not a return to New Testament Christianity.
The sermon was decent but flawed, helpful, but harmful in what it omitted. More discernment is needed. May God raise up bold, courageous, and sound teachers for the Church - we need them and there are so few.