Before I became a Christian I wasn’t an atheist or an agnostic. I guess you could say that I was an ambivalent. I really just didn’t care. God, the church, and Christians were part of the landscape, and they left me alone and I left them alone. It was rather a sweet deal. I could do what I wanted without guilt or remorse, and though actions had costs, those consequences weren’t settled if I could avoid them. Lying, cheating, or even stealing were acceptable if it meant avoiding responsibility and increasing my personal pleasure. Everything was justified as long as I believed that I wasn’t hurting anyone else. Who cared if I stole a candy bar from the fat corporations (except fat corporations).
The problem is we don’t live in isolation. We have families, neighborhoods, cities, counties, states and countries. We belong to communities and as much as we try we can’t avoid the responsibility of being part of a community of people. That is unless you remove yourself totally from civilization. Few go to that extreme. Instead they build fences around their homes and walls around their lives. Yet, their actions, attitudes, and choices impact people beyond themselves. This interaction is the reason we establish laws. Without rules there is chaos and no one really wants to live in anarchy.
Rules raise an interesting dilemma. They are moral decisions. If I say it is wrong to kill I am making a moral statement. If I say it is wrong to steal unless you are really hungry I have still made a moral framework for people to live. Even saying that you cannot drive faster than 25 miles an hour creates a moral choice because there are consequences to breaking the rule or moral code. But then, really, who cares?
When I became Christian I quickly learned that actions have greater consequences than I could ever imagine. No, not going to hell. When I break the moral code, whether man’s or God’s, I grieve the heart of my Heavenly Father. This may not seem like a big deal, but my heavenly Father is the one who laid the consequences of my poor choices on His Son. Through faith in that action I no longer have to worry about suffering for my sin—Jesus did that for me. Rather I have to face the grieving heart of a father who wants the best for me. God never pushes, forces, or cajoles me to be obedient, but gently encourages and disciplines so that I will walk with Him and live in His blessing. I am happiest now walking with the Father then at any other time in my life.
The atheist doesn’t have to worry about pleasing God. That has a somewhat tempting sound to it. But then again it takes a lot of faith in the human condition to believe that man is capable of designing a culture where love, respect, justice, and forgiveness will stand the test of time. The opposite has been my experience. Left to themselves man will eat its young and abandon its elderly. OK, not eat their young, but abortion for the sake of convenience and “women’s reproductive rights” is pretty close.
The atheist might say the same for Christians. The church’s history is marked with its abuses of power. But that proves the point that man has a bent toward manipulating even the best that God has to offer. However, those infractions are not an indictment on God but on the human condition. When the church follows God the way that Jesus lived and taught it has contributed most to the world.
I am glad I am no longer ambivalent. I am focused, not on my own ability, but on Christ in me. I am thankful for the boundaries my Father has set to keep me safe. I am grateful that in Him there is life and hope. I feel more free now than in any other time in my life. I am free to live and love. It is my prayer that those I love most would no longer be ambivalent, but find the same hope and peace.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
The Beast Within
When my brother and I were little we would visit my grandmother in Fenton, Illinois. It was a special time for us because, as city slickers, we were able to enjoy farm life. City folk always glamorize the farm, though most would not like the unending hours of hard work. As children it was always an adventure. We were able to name the new calves and claim them as our own. Oblivious to the fact that some if not most ended up in the grocery store. Bales of hay became mountains and forts, citadels to hold and conquer. There was ample room to run, chase, and breathe deeply the clean air.
But not all was bright and cheery. There were dangers unimaginable to the little mind. Monsters lurked in hidden and deep places; none so deep, so fearful, so captivating as the…..basement. What lay beneath the creaky floors of the kitchen? What so frightening it carried warnings of danger? What or who lived in its recesses? There were occasions where we ventured into its recess in an attempt to explore. And any time we began our dissent there would be a warning, “Don’t go near the hole, it’s dangerous?” The hole? What was the hole? Where was the hole? And worse of all what lived in the hole?
Stealthily, my brother and I made our way down the basement stairs. Slowly, step-by-step, careful less we be caught by surprise. Creaks and low groans caused our hearts to quicken and our pace to slow. Encouraged by the others presence we continued into the dank and musty nether regions of the house. It was dark but shadows shimmered as light broke through small dusty windows in the wall. Shadows took shape and led our imaginations to see forms so hideous they set our steps back a few paces. As still as statues we waited until we were sure that the monsters faded once again into the gray.
A light went on, my brother was holding a flashlight. The beam broke the darkness and exposed old and piled up furniture and paper. Treasures of old, forgotten by those in the world above and left to rot and decay. An occasional spider web was met with flailing hands and panic, only to be held in check by curiosity. Slowly, carefully, we turned to the right, back behind the stairs; off in the deep corner of darkness lay the hole. It wasn’t a big hole; in fact it wasn’t very impressive at all. The circumference was a little larger than a basketball. The hole was filled with water and a pole extended from its depths. With great care we moved toward this haven of demons. Step-by-step we approached our hearts pounding in our ears. When all of a sudden there was a large pop, a clank, a whir and a very loud hum! The water churned and swirled and fear caught hold in our throats and set our feet to flight. With haste we ran through the dark, we skipped steps as we ascended the stairs and when we burst through the door we didn’t stop until we were safe in the warm summer sun. Breathing heavily we counted ourselves lucky to be alive.
As an adult I realize that sump pumps aren’t that frightening. Yet, as believers we know that we fight a war of fear. Be not mistaken there is a spiritual battle raging between angels and demons. We may not be able to see the fray but nonetheless it is waged all around. As believers the unknown spiritual battle can scare us. We might not realize what happens in the unseen world but we feel it as it interplays with the physical realm. The evil one wants to make us ineffective for the King. If Satan cannot have our souls then he wants to keep us from impacting our world. Each tactic he uses is specifically tailored according to our own fears. If he can paralyze us with fear then our usefulness to the kingdom is diminished. Do you fear never having enough money and work night and day to store up worldly possessions and have no time for kingdom work? Are you afraid that people will hurt and reject you so you hide yourself away in the safety of your home, never to engage people for the kingdom? Are you afraid that people will see who you really are and not like you so you hide behind a façade of humor and cynicism that keep them from truly knowing you? We have not been given a Spirit of Fear. Through the indwelling spirit we have been given a sound mind; a mind that rests on the promises of God; that finds hope in Jesus’ resurrection; and stores up for the eternal kingdom.
We do not have to fear the darkness because the Son (Jesus) is the light who chases the shadows away. The holes in our lives are mere sump pumps and they do not hold sway over our lives because Jesus has overcome the world. Today you may cast off your burdens and lay them at the feet of Jesus. Take a deep breath and realize you are alive in Christ and He will give you rest.
But not all was bright and cheery. There were dangers unimaginable to the little mind. Monsters lurked in hidden and deep places; none so deep, so fearful, so captivating as the…..basement. What lay beneath the creaky floors of the kitchen? What so frightening it carried warnings of danger? What or who lived in its recesses? There were occasions where we ventured into its recess in an attempt to explore. And any time we began our dissent there would be a warning, “Don’t go near the hole, it’s dangerous?” The hole? What was the hole? Where was the hole? And worse of all what lived in the hole?
Stealthily, my brother and I made our way down the basement stairs. Slowly, step-by-step, careful less we be caught by surprise. Creaks and low groans caused our hearts to quicken and our pace to slow. Encouraged by the others presence we continued into the dank and musty nether regions of the house. It was dark but shadows shimmered as light broke through small dusty windows in the wall. Shadows took shape and led our imaginations to see forms so hideous they set our steps back a few paces. As still as statues we waited until we were sure that the monsters faded once again into the gray.
A light went on, my brother was holding a flashlight. The beam broke the darkness and exposed old and piled up furniture and paper. Treasures of old, forgotten by those in the world above and left to rot and decay. An occasional spider web was met with flailing hands and panic, only to be held in check by curiosity. Slowly, carefully, we turned to the right, back behind the stairs; off in the deep corner of darkness lay the hole. It wasn’t a big hole; in fact it wasn’t very impressive at all. The circumference was a little larger than a basketball. The hole was filled with water and a pole extended from its depths. With great care we moved toward this haven of demons. Step-by-step we approached our hearts pounding in our ears. When all of a sudden there was a large pop, a clank, a whir and a very loud hum! The water churned and swirled and fear caught hold in our throats and set our feet to flight. With haste we ran through the dark, we skipped steps as we ascended the stairs and when we burst through the door we didn’t stop until we were safe in the warm summer sun. Breathing heavily we counted ourselves lucky to be alive.
As an adult I realize that sump pumps aren’t that frightening. Yet, as believers we know that we fight a war of fear. Be not mistaken there is a spiritual battle raging between angels and demons. We may not be able to see the fray but nonetheless it is waged all around. As believers the unknown spiritual battle can scare us. We might not realize what happens in the unseen world but we feel it as it interplays with the physical realm. The evil one wants to make us ineffective for the King. If Satan cannot have our souls then he wants to keep us from impacting our world. Each tactic he uses is specifically tailored according to our own fears. If he can paralyze us with fear then our usefulness to the kingdom is diminished. Do you fear never having enough money and work night and day to store up worldly possessions and have no time for kingdom work? Are you afraid that people will hurt and reject you so you hide yourself away in the safety of your home, never to engage people for the kingdom? Are you afraid that people will see who you really are and not like you so you hide behind a façade of humor and cynicism that keep them from truly knowing you? We have not been given a Spirit of Fear. Through the indwelling spirit we have been given a sound mind; a mind that rests on the promises of God; that finds hope in Jesus’ resurrection; and stores up for the eternal kingdom.
We do not have to fear the darkness because the Son (Jesus) is the light who chases the shadows away. The holes in our lives are mere sump pumps and they do not hold sway over our lives because Jesus has overcome the world. Today you may cast off your burdens and lay them at the feet of Jesus. Take a deep breath and realize you are alive in Christ and He will give you rest.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Where Angels Fear To Tread – Politics and Faith
I deplore extremist rhetoric. People who use it are dictatorial fascists whose only aim is to destroy the American way of life, and deserve to be strung up or run out of town! For those who don’t get it that was sarcasm. Extremist rhetoric never benefits anyone and marginalizes the ideas and feelings of everyone. For people to demonize public union workers as self-absorbed, money hungry, lazy surfactants on the American taxpayer are ignorant of the demands and realities of most of their jobs. On the other hand those who portray conservative politicians as Hitler Nazis who only care about obtaining and maintaining power at the cost of the people is over the edge as well. Are their lazy public workers who need to be fired and politicians who are on an egotistical power trip? Yes!
The bottom line is that we all want to pay less and make more. No one wants to pay more taxes, more for groceries, or more at the gas pump. We all wouldn’t mind a little, or a lot, more in our paycheck. Both go hand in hand. In order to receive more in my paycheck someone has to pay more for a product. If government employees are paid more then someone is going to be taxed more. The cycle is vicious but unavoidable. At some point something has to give.
I am a fiscal conservative. I believe that living within your means is the only way to true prosperity. I have to do it and I expect the government to do it as well. But what happens when debt spending gets out of hand and the drastic cuts not only mean less for everyone but maybe all for some? What if the necessary steps means a change in the way we live our lives and the standard of living that we have grown accustomed to? And the real sticker is what if it happens to me and not to you? Why should I have to struggle and not you? I’m not a socialist and distribution of wealth person, but my goodness Charlie Sheen made 3 million dollars an episode and still feels under paid, sports stars are paid millions a year, and cooperate fat cats pay more for their homes then most of us will make in a lifetime. Should we tax them more? No, and the reason is that taxes do not bring prosperity. I have received little if any benefit when taxes are raised on the rich. It sounds good but it doesn’t make its way into my wallet.
So, what is the answer? It is love. It is thinking of others as more important than you. It is looking to the needs of your fellow man and making an effort to meet their needs. It’s about self-sacrifice for the common good of all. It’s about acting in complete deference to conventional wisdom. But it won’t work unless there is a change of heart and mind. It won’t work until we can learn to love and that only comes from God. It won’t work until we admit that there is someone who is a higher authority and has a better plan. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and life…and the truth will set you free.” It won’t work until we give our lives over to a loving Father through His Son Jesus. God balanced the budget of His holiness on the shoulders of His Son. In doing this he taught us love.
Yes, we have a right in the United States to freely express ourselves, our needs and our desires. But if we want a future for our children we need to remember the principles that have gotten us here today. Above all else let us love one another. Now go out and do it.
I’m just saying………..
The bottom line is that we all want to pay less and make more. No one wants to pay more taxes, more for groceries, or more at the gas pump. We all wouldn’t mind a little, or a lot, more in our paycheck. Both go hand in hand. In order to receive more in my paycheck someone has to pay more for a product. If government employees are paid more then someone is going to be taxed more. The cycle is vicious but unavoidable. At some point something has to give.
I am a fiscal conservative. I believe that living within your means is the only way to true prosperity. I have to do it and I expect the government to do it as well. But what happens when debt spending gets out of hand and the drastic cuts not only mean less for everyone but maybe all for some? What if the necessary steps means a change in the way we live our lives and the standard of living that we have grown accustomed to? And the real sticker is what if it happens to me and not to you? Why should I have to struggle and not you? I’m not a socialist and distribution of wealth person, but my goodness Charlie Sheen made 3 million dollars an episode and still feels under paid, sports stars are paid millions a year, and cooperate fat cats pay more for their homes then most of us will make in a lifetime. Should we tax them more? No, and the reason is that taxes do not bring prosperity. I have received little if any benefit when taxes are raised on the rich. It sounds good but it doesn’t make its way into my wallet.
So, what is the answer? It is love. It is thinking of others as more important than you. It is looking to the needs of your fellow man and making an effort to meet their needs. It’s about self-sacrifice for the common good of all. It’s about acting in complete deference to conventional wisdom. But it won’t work unless there is a change of heart and mind. It won’t work until we can learn to love and that only comes from God. It won’t work until we admit that there is someone who is a higher authority and has a better plan. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and life…and the truth will set you free.” It won’t work until we give our lives over to a loving Father through His Son Jesus. God balanced the budget of His holiness on the shoulders of His Son. In doing this he taught us love.
Yes, we have a right in the United States to freely express ourselves, our needs and our desires. But if we want a future for our children we need to remember the principles that have gotten us here today. Above all else let us love one another. Now go out and do it.
I’m just saying………..
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
A World Away in My Backyard
I opened my Ipad this morning to catch a glimpse of world events. I am hungry for news from the Middle East; I am glued to the unfolding revolution and change. My particular focus is on a little island kingdom that most in the world has little knowledge -- Bahrain. CNN, WSJ, Fox News, and USA Today are filled with accounts of Egypt and Iran but say little to nothing about this particular monarchy. I have downloaded an app from the infamous Aljazeera News Agency (English Version) to find up to date news.
Inspired by the protesting in Tunisia and Egypt the Bahrainis have taken to the streets as well, an upsurge against the government to decry its oppression of the Shia majority. There has been one death and many injuries as the protesters clash with police and military. The Shia delegation to parliament is threatening to walk out if certain demands are not met. A world away, we sit back, watch and wait.
For me, it is not just a world away but right in my backyard. My son, Joshua, and his family (Alison and Eva) lives in Bahrain. There are Christian brothers and sisters there that we have met and pray for who live, work, and minister in Bahrain.
The pastor of the church that Joshua attends wrote this:
“I managed to get myself tear-gassed at one point when I went for a ride to see what was happening…..Why would I go out there to look? Because we value incarnational ministry. Just as Jesus came to us, becoming fully human, sharing our sorrows and temptations, so we also go to others in the same way. We aim to become as much like them as possible, to rejoice in their hopes and weep in their despairs.…We can't witness to people, unless we also witness their struggles. The defining reality for Bahrainis is their feeling of injustice and oppression, of being excluded from government and denied many rights we take for granted. We may disagree with their goals, and dislike their methods, but we must understand their passion. “
It reminds me how easy we have it in the U.S., and how often we (I) squander the blessing and ignore the eternal needs of the people around us. There are spiritually oppressed people around us who don’t even know they need deliverance. However, they struggle with life issues. They fight with their children, argue with their spouse, suffer under abuse and addictions. Unless we are willing to go to where they are, to engage them in their struggle, to be the incarnate Christ in their midst then all we are doing is playing at church.
I continue to pray for my family in the Middle East, but maybe they need to pray for me more.
I'm just say……
Inspired by the protesting in Tunisia and Egypt the Bahrainis have taken to the streets as well, an upsurge against the government to decry its oppression of the Shia majority. There has been one death and many injuries as the protesters clash with police and military. The Shia delegation to parliament is threatening to walk out if certain demands are not met. A world away, we sit back, watch and wait.
For me, it is not just a world away but right in my backyard. My son, Joshua, and his family (Alison and Eva) lives in Bahrain. There are Christian brothers and sisters there that we have met and pray for who live, work, and minister in Bahrain.
The pastor of the church that Joshua attends wrote this:
“I managed to get myself tear-gassed at one point when I went for a ride to see what was happening…..Why would I go out there to look? Because we value incarnational ministry. Just as Jesus came to us, becoming fully human, sharing our sorrows and temptations, so we also go to others in the same way. We aim to become as much like them as possible, to rejoice in their hopes and weep in their despairs.…We can't witness to people, unless we also witness their struggles. The defining reality for Bahrainis is their feeling of injustice and oppression, of being excluded from government and denied many rights we take for granted. We may disagree with their goals, and dislike their methods, but we must understand their passion. “
It reminds me how easy we have it in the U.S., and how often we (I) squander the blessing and ignore the eternal needs of the people around us. There are spiritually oppressed people around us who don’t even know they need deliverance. However, they struggle with life issues. They fight with their children, argue with their spouse, suffer under abuse and addictions. Unless we are willing to go to where they are, to engage them in their struggle, to be the incarnate Christ in their midst then all we are doing is playing at church.
I continue to pray for my family in the Middle East, but maybe they need to pray for me more.
I'm just say……
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Standing on the Right Side of the Wall
I don’t think I could be any colder if I were standing in a cooler full of dry ice. This frigid weather has put a damper on the beautiful snow that gently fell across the landscape. I guess gentle is too nice a word; it was a blizzard. But it looked so nice after Rebecca and I spent an hour and half digging out. Yesterday I walked outside and thought, “Hmmm, this isn’t too bad.” After standing by the car for a minute the minus one degree bore through my clothes and my body was being stored in a cryogenics tube.
My poor dog Tobi has it the worst. He thinks because it is warm inside that it’s time to go out and play. I put him out for a bathroom break and had to chisel him free before letting him in the door. I want to take him for a walk but I don’t want his little pads to get freezer burn, and he refuses to wear those little socks I bought him. Teens what are you to do with them.
Stepping outside I run to my Jeep (it moans when I try to start it), shiver all the way to the church and finally make it to the semi-warmth of my office. It just won’t warm up if it is less than 15 degrees outside. So I wear two shirts, a sweater, and a light jacket---and I am still cold. A friend stopped in and I asked him if he was keeping warm. He said, “yep, I’ve been standing on the right side of the wall today.” That got me thinking.
Life is a lot like cold weather. It starts off refreshing, the snow looks pretty, but after a long winter you wished you lived somewhere else. Life can get tough and the joy of marriage, the enthusiasm of children, the adventure of a new career starts to wear thin after the years go by. We start to think that it might have been better to live somewhere else, pack it in, run away, or just give up. And when you’ve lived in the cold for too long you wonder whether you will ever warm up; if things will ever get better. That’s when you have to stand on the right side of the wall.
Psa. 107:10, 14 There were those who dwelt in darkness [Cold] and in the shadow of death, prisoners in misery and chains... He brought them
When we walk with Christ we are standing on the right side of the wall. He gives us hope because He is our hope. The difficulties that we face are not ours alone and Jesus gives us the strength to endure and the tools to bring healing---He brings healing. There have been tim
I’m just saying…….
My poor dog Tobi has it the worst. He thinks because it is warm inside that it’s time to go out and play. I put him out for a bathroom break and had to chisel him free before letting him in the door. I want to take him for a walk but I don’t want his little pads to get freezer burn, and he refuses to wear those little socks I bought him. Teens what are you to do with them.
Stepping outside I run to my Jeep (it moans when I try to start it), shiver all the way to the church and finally make it to the semi-warmth of my office. It just won’t warm up if it is less than 15 degrees outside. So I wear two shirts, a sweater, and a light jacket---and I am still cold. A friend stopped in and I asked him if he was keeping warm. He said, “yep, I’ve been standing on the right side of the wall today.” That got me thinking.
Life is a lot like cold weather. It starts off refreshing, the snow looks pretty, but after a long winter you wished you lived somewhere else. Life can get tough and the joy of marriage, the enthusiasm of children, the adventure of a new career starts to wear thin after the years go by. We start to think that it might have been better to live somewhere else, pack it in, run away, or just give up. And when you’ve lived in the cold for too long you wonder whether you will ever warm up; if things will ever get better. That’s when you have to stand on the right side of the wall.
Psa. 107:10, 14 There were those who dwelt in darkness [Cold] and in the shadow of death, prisoners in misery and chains... He brought them
When we walk with Christ we are standing on the right side of the wall. He gives us hope because He is our hope. The difficulties that we face are not ours alone and Jesus gives us the strength to endure and the tools to bring healing---He brings healing. There have been tim
I’m just saying…….
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
God Can Be So Intolerant!
God Can Be So Intolerant!
That is the mantra of those who disagree with God. They do not come right out and say that God is intolerant; they rather lay it on those who strive to be faithful and obedient to God’s revealed will. I am referring to the latest political decision of the illustrious body that governs our state. Here is a quote from the New York Times.
"It's an important moment in the land of Lincoln," Governor Patrick J. Quinn said as the standing-room only crowd cheered and snapped pictures. "We believe in civil rights, and we believe in civil unions."
Our State has become one of the few that have approved civil unions for same sex couples. The argument goes that homosexual couples have been denied the same rights as heterosexuals; “emergency medical decision-making powers, inheritance rights, pension benefits, adoption and parental rights, and the ability to share a room in a nursing home.” Of course, in a secular/civil society it would seem logical for the government to make its decisions based on what people ‘feel’ is their right, and if we were a totally secular/civil society I might agree. However, we are not, nor have we ever been. A minority of people would like us to believe that our faith in God has no bearing on the decisions we make as a nation. Yet, we are a nation of and by the people. And though our government is to stand up for the rights of minorities that are repressed it is not its job to bow to the whims of people who believe their immoral behavior constitutes a minority status. Here is where I will be considered intolerant and misguided. This is what God says,
“1Cor. 6:9; 1 Tim. 1:10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals….and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching…”
I know there are gays who argue that these passages are cultural, but that would be to say that condemnation of kidnappers, liars and perjurers are too, and we should not think those actions wrong. They might also say that if we deny them rights why not deny rights to those who commit the other immoral behavior. I would agree; fornicators, idolaters, and adulterers are just as wrong and sinful as homosexuals.
I can say this because the word of God says it. God has granted ‘inalienable’ rights to us, and true joy and peace come when we follow his commandments. In the end, however, the right or wrong about an action is determined, not by what you or I think is the standard, but what God lays down as an expression of His holy character. It is a sad day for the State of Illinois, not because same sex couples can be on the same insurance, but because, once again, they have trampled underfoot the Holy Character of God and have rejected Him.
Let’s keep praying, preaching, and teaching the gospel that all might hear and come to know the saving grace of God through Christ; only in this way will people change.
I am just saying……
That is the mantra of those who disagree with God. They do not come right out and say that God is intolerant; they rather lay it on those who strive to be faithful and obedient to God’s revealed will. I am referring to the latest political decision of the illustrious body that governs our state. Here is a quote from the New York Times.
"It's an important moment in the land of Lincoln," Governor Patrick J. Quinn said as the standing-room only crowd cheered and snapped pictures. "We believe in civil rights, and we believe in civil unions."
Our State has become one of the few that have approved civil unions for same sex couples. The argument goes that homosexual couples have been denied the same rights as heterosexuals; “emergency medical decision-making powers, inheritance rights, pension benefits, adoption and parental rights, and the ability to share a room in a nursing home.” Of course, in a secular/civil society it would seem logical for the government to make its decisions based on what people ‘feel’ is their right, and if we were a totally secular/civil society I might agree. However, we are not, nor have we ever been. A minority of people would like us to believe that our faith in God has no bearing on the decisions we make as a nation. Yet, we are a nation of and by the people. And though our government is to stand up for the rights of minorities that are repressed it is not its job to bow to the whims of people who believe their immoral behavior constitutes a minority status. Here is where I will be considered intolerant and misguided. This is what God says,
“1Cor. 6:9; 1 Tim. 1:10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals….and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching…”
I know there are gays who argue that these passages are cultural, but that would be to say that condemnation of kidnappers, liars and perjurers are too, and we should not think those actions wrong. They might also say that if we deny them rights why not deny rights to those who commit the other immoral behavior. I would agree; fornicators, idolaters, and adulterers are just as wrong and sinful as homosexuals.
I can say this because the word of God says it. God has granted ‘inalienable’ rights to us, and true joy and peace come when we follow his commandments. In the end, however, the right or wrong about an action is determined, not by what you or I think is the standard, but what God lays down as an expression of His holy character. It is a sad day for the State of Illinois, not because same sex couples can be on the same insurance, but because, once again, they have trampled underfoot the Holy Character of God and have rejected Him.
Let’s keep praying, preaching, and teaching the gospel that all might hear and come to know the saving grace of God through Christ; only in this way will people change.
I am just saying……
Monday, January 31, 2011
To have or not to have --- SEX!
I got your attention, but don’t worry this is not a bait and switch blog. It really is about sex. I was reading an article in The Economist entitled “The waiting Game”. They reported that a study just published in the Journal of Family Psychology suggests that delaying sexual activity is actually healthier in developing relationships. The study showed that couples (religious and non-religious) that postpone their sexual activity develop closer relationships in communication, sexual quality, relational satisfaction, and stability. Of course they do not know why their findings are true, only that the data indicates it to be correct. The article states that religious organizations will use this to support and underline their positions concerning sex. Praise God for science. Now people can really know that delaying sexual activity before marriage is a good thing?
For some reason, we (in the broad sense) need to have scientific approval before we accept the reality of what the Scriptures says. Do not get me wrong; I like research, statistics, and science. However, I start with the biblical truth. Applying the truth of Scripture will bring about blessing and peace, even if ‘science’ does not support its precepts.
So, why does waiting to have sex increase relational stability and health? In the recent movie “No Strings Attached” (I have only read the reviews) a couple begins a sexual relationship that will last until one or the other begins to have feelings. The idea is that casual sex is possible, satisfying, and meaningful apart from commitment. Of course, there are people who can jump in and out of bed without thought to a deeper relational tie, but the long term effect is a diminished capacity for intimacy. Sex is meant for marriage because it is the most intimate act that a couple can experience. It is intended to deepen a relationship that is already committed.
The idea that sex is for pleasure only is not new, but it underlies a belief that pleasure apart from responsibility is a good thing. This humanistic hedonism fosters casual sexual encounters that leave relationally starved people wounded. The Bible says that when we give ourselves to multiple people we leave a piece of ourselves (1 Cor. 6:15). When that happens repeatedly what is left? What do we keep of ourselves sexually and emotionally for that “special one”?
For the young I strongly urge you to follow the biblical command of sexual abstinence before marriage. It may sound restrictive but in the end the blessings will be multiplied 100 fold. For those who are (or have been) sexually active there is grace in Christ and hope for a new beginning.
I am thankful for research, and if that is what you need to nudge you towards obedience and blessing to God’s good will; all the better. Just remember that your sexuality is intended for intimacy, pleasure, and procreation. Don’t waste it on someone who is not willing to commit for the long haul. After 31 years, I can tell you it is well worth it!
I'm Just Saying.....
For some reason, we (in the broad sense) need to have scientific approval before we accept the reality of what the Scriptures says. Do not get me wrong; I like research, statistics, and science. However, I start with the biblical truth. Applying the truth of Scripture will bring about blessing and peace, even if ‘science’ does not support its precepts.
So, why does waiting to have sex increase relational stability and health? In the recent movie “No Strings Attached” (I have only read the reviews) a couple begins a sexual relationship that will last until one or the other begins to have feelings. The idea is that casual sex is possible, satisfying, and meaningful apart from commitment. Of course, there are people who can jump in and out of bed without thought to a deeper relational tie, but the long term effect is a diminished capacity for intimacy. Sex is meant for marriage because it is the most intimate act that a couple can experience. It is intended to deepen a relationship that is already committed.
The idea that sex is for pleasure only is not new, but it underlies a belief that pleasure apart from responsibility is a good thing. This humanistic hedonism fosters casual sexual encounters that leave relationally starved people wounded. The Bible says that when we give ourselves to multiple people we leave a piece of ourselves (1 Cor. 6:15). When that happens repeatedly what is left? What do we keep of ourselves sexually and emotionally for that “special one”?
For the young I strongly urge you to follow the biblical command of sexual abstinence before marriage. It may sound restrictive but in the end the blessings will be multiplied 100 fold. For those who are (or have been) sexually active there is grace in Christ and hope for a new beginning.
I am thankful for research, and if that is what you need to nudge you towards obedience and blessing to God’s good will; all the better. Just remember that your sexuality is intended for intimacy, pleasure, and procreation. Don’t waste it on someone who is not willing to commit for the long haul. After 31 years, I can tell you it is well worth it!
I'm Just Saying.....
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