Friday, August 14, 2015
Legalism is a Killer of the Soul
Legalism is sin, those who indulge in it are more concerned about fleshly appearance than they are about inner holiness of the soul. The desire to impress others through their appearance is pride.
I once encountered a woman who dressed rather shabbily in plain cloths that were two sizes to large for her frame. She mentioned to me how others see her in the supermarket, stopping her to ask for prayer because they thought she had a special “in” with God. She thought her clothing drew them to her, in their minds she must be more holy because of her plain look. I was personally disgusted by this, since I knew this woman was divorced and remarried, which was not an issue for her, but her outer appearance was her focus. She was “straining out a nat and swallowing a camel.”
Matthew 23:24 “"You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”
It was the legalists who put Christ on the cross as much as adulterers, murders and thieves. They were proud of their personal accomplishments, even proud of their false humility. Their focus was their own righteousness, rather than the righteousness of Christ. We might say they were “proud of how humble” they were.
1 Peter 5:5 “5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”
Colossians 2:20-23 “20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.”
I painted the inside walls of our house this spring. It had been a long time since I did anything to the house so I thought it was time to spruce up a little. Every room but one, got a touch up, everything looks so fresh and clean now.
Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost. It makes sense to me to take the time to spruce up the temple when it begins to look shabby. If we were living in a perfect world, as was the Garden of Eden in the beginning, I am quite sure that everything was perfect and never in need of much attention.
However, when God cursed the earth He said that we would have to work hard to subdue the earth, making the gardens would be work and things would fade and die as they didn’t before. Weed come in the garden just as blemishes grow on the face.
The same is true of our bodies, they fade, they wither, they become dirty and shabby without attention. When I hear from people the excuse that God made our bodies the way they are, we don’t need make up and jewelry, I quickly remind them that our bodies are now in the condition of the fall, in need of care and restoration when before the fall it was not necessary, now it is important to do things that keep the temple clean and painted, restoring to it what was lost.
I know that there are those who are deeply committed to living without cosmetics and jewelry and that is their personal conviction, if they do it for Christ. However, a problem arises when these people judge others as sinning or unsaved, who are free to decorate their temple with a little make up and some pretty jewelry.
It is my opinion that when God made the jewels He placed in the earth, He meant for us to use and enjoy them. After all we will have jewels in our crowns when we get to heaven, God never once said he was against jewels for our use.
1 Timothy 6:17 “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly SUPPLIES WITH ALL THINGS TO ENJOY.”
God gave us the jewels, the means to make cosmetics as well as the medicines we have to help us take care of our temple when it deteriorates and degrades from the effects of the fall.
In Ezekiel God tells of His work in giving to Israel wonderful things, the things were not bad, they were a blessing. What was bad is that the people began to trust in those things, becoming haughty, rather than using them wisely they began to pervert them. God never blesses with bad things, but often when God gives us good things to use with discretion we pervert His blessings, forgetting where they came from, that does not make the blessings bad, only the way we use them.
Ezekiel 16:9-14 Jewelry and Cosmetics were blessings from God.
“9 “Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil.
10 I also clothed you with embroidered cloth and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk.
11 I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands and a necklace around your neck.
12 I also put a ring in your nostril, earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.
13 Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey and oil; so you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty.
14 Then your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you,” declares the Lord GOD.”
But the people misused His blessing. We should never think that just because man will misuse something that we should avoid that thing entirely. After all, if we really believed that we should give up anything that would be misused by some, we would not use food, it is misused and abused everyday in a nation that has food and drink at its’ fingertips all day long.
Ezekiel 16:15-19 The people misused the blessings!
“15 “But you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot because of your fame, and you poured out your harlotries on every passer-by who might be willing.
16 You took some of your clothes, made for yourself high places of various colors and played the harlot on them, which should never come about nor happen.
17 You also took your beautiful jewels made of My gold and of My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images that you might play the harlot with them.
18 Then you took your embroidered cloth and covered them, and offered My oil and My incense before them.19 Also My bread which I gave you, fine flour, oil and honey with which I fed you, you would offer before them for a soothing aroma; so it happened,” declares the Lord GOD.”
Should we avoid having children because the people of Israel burned them in the fires to their gods? Children are a blessing from God, but the Israelites abused and misused them.
Cosmetics, jewelry and medicine are gifts from God to be used in moderation as a blessing from God, just as children are a blessing.
It is possible to refrain from using the blessings with the idea that it glorifies God not to do so, and that is the decision of each individual. Personally I believe that using God’s blessings appropriately is glorifying to Him too.
The problem is not the cosmetics or the jewelry, the problem is the abuse of them. It is entirely possible to enjoy these things without placing our trust in them or using them inappropriately.
My advice to those who are being hammered by others about their make-up and jewelry, is to ignore it, if it becomes abusive through the process of shunning, then get away from those people. It is entirely likely that those who would mistreat others over these things, are probably indulging in all kinds of pious nonsense that detracts from our walk with Christ. They often are gossiping and judging about many things that do not matter, but are their idea of righteousness based on appearance.
Legalism always focuses on the external often to the exclusion of the holiness of the soul.
James 4:6 “4:6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.”
Our focus ought to be Christ and His principles, never going beyond, adding to His Word to control others as the Pharisees did. If our focus is Christ, we are free to express our personalities within the guidelines of Scripture, each one a little different from others, while glorifying God in the Spirit.
Remember God gave us our creativity and our personalities, we are free to express these things as long as we have consulted with Christ and our soul is free from condemnation.
Galatians 5:1 “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”
I once encountered a woman who dressed rather shabbily in plain cloths that were two sizes to large for her frame. She mentioned to me how others see her in the supermarket, stopping her to ask for prayer because they thought she had a special “in” with God. She thought her clothing drew them to her, in their minds she must be more holy because of her plain look. I was personally disgusted by this, since I knew this woman was divorced and remarried, which was not an issue for her, but her outer appearance was her focus. She was “straining out a nat and swallowing a camel.”
Matthew 23:24 “"You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”
It was the legalists who put Christ on the cross as much as adulterers, murders and thieves. They were proud of their personal accomplishments, even proud of their false humility. Their focus was their own righteousness, rather than the righteousness of Christ. We might say they were “proud of how humble” they were.
1 Peter 5:5 “5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”
Colossians 2:20-23 “20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.”
I painted the inside walls of our house this spring. It had been a long time since I did anything to the house so I thought it was time to spruce up a little. Every room but one, got a touch up, everything looks so fresh and clean now.
Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost. It makes sense to me to take the time to spruce up the temple when it begins to look shabby. If we were living in a perfect world, as was the Garden of Eden in the beginning, I am quite sure that everything was perfect and never in need of much attention.
However, when God cursed the earth He said that we would have to work hard to subdue the earth, making the gardens would be work and things would fade and die as they didn’t before. Weed come in the garden just as blemishes grow on the face.
The same is true of our bodies, they fade, they wither, they become dirty and shabby without attention. When I hear from people the excuse that God made our bodies the way they are, we don’t need make up and jewelry, I quickly remind them that our bodies are now in the condition of the fall, in need of care and restoration when before the fall it was not necessary, now it is important to do things that keep the temple clean and painted, restoring to it what was lost.
I know that there are those who are deeply committed to living without cosmetics and jewelry and that is their personal conviction, if they do it for Christ. However, a problem arises when these people judge others as sinning or unsaved, who are free to decorate their temple with a little make up and some pretty jewelry.
It is my opinion that when God made the jewels He placed in the earth, He meant for us to use and enjoy them. After all we will have jewels in our crowns when we get to heaven, God never once said he was against jewels for our use.
1 Timothy 6:17 “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly SUPPLIES WITH ALL THINGS TO ENJOY.”
God gave us the jewels, the means to make cosmetics as well as the medicines we have to help us take care of our temple when it deteriorates and degrades from the effects of the fall.
In Ezekiel God tells of His work in giving to Israel wonderful things, the things were not bad, they were a blessing. What was bad is that the people began to trust in those things, becoming haughty, rather than using them wisely they began to pervert them. God never blesses with bad things, but often when God gives us good things to use with discretion we pervert His blessings, forgetting where they came from, that does not make the blessings bad, only the way we use them.
Ezekiel 16:9-14 Jewelry and Cosmetics were blessings from God.
“9 “Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil.
10 I also clothed you with embroidered cloth and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk.
11 I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands and a necklace around your neck.
12 I also put a ring in your nostril, earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.
13 Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey and oil; so you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty.
14 Then your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you,” declares the Lord GOD.”
But the people misused His blessing. We should never think that just because man will misuse something that we should avoid that thing entirely. After all, if we really believed that we should give up anything that would be misused by some, we would not use food, it is misused and abused everyday in a nation that has food and drink at its’ fingertips all day long.
Ezekiel 16:15-19 The people misused the blessings!
“15 “But you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot because of your fame, and you poured out your harlotries on every passer-by who might be willing.
16 You took some of your clothes, made for yourself high places of various colors and played the harlot on them, which should never come about nor happen.
17 You also took your beautiful jewels made of My gold and of My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images that you might play the harlot with them.
18 Then you took your embroidered cloth and covered them, and offered My oil and My incense before them.19 Also My bread which I gave you, fine flour, oil and honey with which I fed you, you would offer before them for a soothing aroma; so it happened,” declares the Lord GOD.”
Should we avoid having children because the people of Israel burned them in the fires to their gods? Children are a blessing from God, but the Israelites abused and misused them.
Cosmetics, jewelry and medicine are gifts from God to be used in moderation as a blessing from God, just as children are a blessing.
It is possible to refrain from using the blessings with the idea that it glorifies God not to do so, and that is the decision of each individual. Personally I believe that using God’s blessings appropriately is glorifying to Him too.
The problem is not the cosmetics or the jewelry, the problem is the abuse of them. It is entirely possible to enjoy these things without placing our trust in them or using them inappropriately.
My advice to those who are being hammered by others about their make-up and jewelry, is to ignore it, if it becomes abusive through the process of shunning, then get away from those people. It is entirely likely that those who would mistreat others over these things, are probably indulging in all kinds of pious nonsense that detracts from our walk with Christ. They often are gossiping and judging about many things that do not matter, but are their idea of righteousness based on appearance.
Legalism always focuses on the external often to the exclusion of the holiness of the soul.
James 4:6 “4:6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.”
Our focus ought to be Christ and His principles, never going beyond, adding to His Word to control others as the Pharisees did. If our focus is Christ, we are free to express our personalities within the guidelines of Scripture, each one a little different from others, while glorifying God in the Spirit.
Remember God gave us our creativity and our personalities, we are free to express these things as long as we have consulted with Christ and our soul is free from condemnation.
Galatians 5:1 “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Joy is Always There
Romans 15:13
"13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
As believers we can have joy through all things, that does not mean that we don't cry, feel sad, even deeply discouraged, but that we ignore the feelings and continue on to do what we should until the feelings pass.
The deep down joy is a part of our flesh and bone and can never leave us, even if the emotions cloud it at times.
The joy comes from the knowledge that we are obeying God no matter what the circumstances. And, when the sadness, tears and discouragement leaves the joy emerges reminding us that the joy is permanent and real and the feelings are temporary and flimsy without substance.
Focus on Christ and nothing without substance will stick to us. Our actions and attitudes will be the same no matter what our feelings are doing.
1 Corinthians 15:58
"58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."
James 1:12
"12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has [a]been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
James 1:2-4
"2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various [a]trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [b]endurance. 4 And let [c]endurance have its perfect [d]result, so that you may be [e]perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Psalm 112:7
" He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord."
Acts 11:23
"23 Then when he arrived and [a]witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;"
Galatians 5:1
"5 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."
"13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
As believers we can have joy through all things, that does not mean that we don't cry, feel sad, even deeply discouraged, but that we ignore the feelings and continue on to do what we should until the feelings pass.
The deep down joy is a part of our flesh and bone and can never leave us, even if the emotions cloud it at times.
The joy comes from the knowledge that we are obeying God no matter what the circumstances. And, when the sadness, tears and discouragement leaves the joy emerges reminding us that the joy is permanent and real and the feelings are temporary and flimsy without substance.
Focus on Christ and nothing without substance will stick to us. Our actions and attitudes will be the same no matter what our feelings are doing.
1 Corinthians 15:58
"58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."
James 1:12
"12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has [a]been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
James 1:2-4
"2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various [a]trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [b]endurance. 4 And let [c]endurance have its perfect [d]result, so that you may be [e]perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Psalm 112:7
" He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord."
Acts 11:23
"23 Then when he arrived and [a]witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;"
Galatians 5:1
"5 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."
On Fire For God!
We are commanded by God not to allow ourselves to become lazy and stoic concerning our Christian walk. If we are walking closely with our Lord we cannot be indifferent to the things of the Lord, just the contrary, we become more excited about the Lord and His principles. The more we immerse ourselves in Him! The greater our devotion to Him the more we hate what is evil and love what is good.
Romans 12:9-12
"9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality."
Romans 12:9-12
"9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality."
Language Changes, So Does Our Understanding
The word "decimate" no longer means to reduce by one tenth, it has been used continually in recent years to mean "completely destroyed."
Not that long ago, many people understood that if a city was decimated, it meant that one tenth of the city was destroyed. Now when we hear the context of that word, we understand it to mean that the entire city was destroyed.
The word "fewer" has nearly been dropped from our language and replaced with the word "less."
The word fewer has long been used to refer to things that can be counted, such as "fewer apples in the bin." While the word "less" refers to things that cannot be counted but must be measured, "there is less flour in the bin."
I have been thinking long and hard about the need to convey the proper message to those with whom we speak. If we are using words that mean the opposite from the understanding of the person we are speak to, then we have given them a wrong message.
It is vitally important to understand what God is telling us in His Word. Many misunderstandings of God's truths have created cults that hold to a standard or principle, that isn't at all what God taught in His Word.
My hope is that all those who call themselves Christian will read the Word, praying over the understanding, even digging deeply as far as we are possible to discern what God is telling us, not based on our own cultural bents.
The misunderstanding about divorce and remarriage emerged from men's hearts, a desire to contort the meaning of God's Word by using English words that do not mean what God meant in His Inspired Word, but will give them the answer they want.
Many things believers hold to today are not accurate because they rely entirely on the English versions without knowledge of the original languages or seeking the Holy Spirit in prayer for truth.
I am woefully ignorant about the original languages, but when I ask the Lord to show me truth about a matter, almost inevitably someone comes along with the meaning of the original language that brings great insight.
I knew before I had done any real study on divorce and remarriage that these practices were sin. The Holy Spirit showed me, that even though most of our culture accepted it, somethings was just not right.
I began to pray reading the word more carefully, and searching out teachers who didn't say what I have heard all my life. God quickly brought the truth to me on these matters so completely, there could be no mistaking the truth.
Even when we don't know the original languages, God can warn us when something is taught that is amiss. He can bring uneasiness to our soul, it is our responsibility to go to prayer and then to study. When He brings the answer we can know it was Him, peace floods over our soul and the answer becomes clear. There is no backing up or confusion any more!
Not that long ago, many people understood that if a city was decimated, it meant that one tenth of the city was destroyed. Now when we hear the context of that word, we understand it to mean that the entire city was destroyed.
The word "fewer" has nearly been dropped from our language and replaced with the word "less."
The word fewer has long been used to refer to things that can be counted, such as "fewer apples in the bin." While the word "less" refers to things that cannot be counted but must be measured, "there is less flour in the bin."
I have been thinking long and hard about the need to convey the proper message to those with whom we speak. If we are using words that mean the opposite from the understanding of the person we are speak to, then we have given them a wrong message.
It is vitally important to understand what God is telling us in His Word. Many misunderstandings of God's truths have created cults that hold to a standard or principle, that isn't at all what God taught in His Word.
My hope is that all those who call themselves Christian will read the Word, praying over the understanding, even digging deeply as far as we are possible to discern what God is telling us, not based on our own cultural bents.
The misunderstanding about divorce and remarriage emerged from men's hearts, a desire to contort the meaning of God's Word by using English words that do not mean what God meant in His Inspired Word, but will give them the answer they want.
Many things believers hold to today are not accurate because they rely entirely on the English versions without knowledge of the original languages or seeking the Holy Spirit in prayer for truth.
I am woefully ignorant about the original languages, but when I ask the Lord to show me truth about a matter, almost inevitably someone comes along with the meaning of the original language that brings great insight.
I knew before I had done any real study on divorce and remarriage that these practices were sin. The Holy Spirit showed me, that even though most of our culture accepted it, somethings was just not right.
I began to pray reading the word more carefully, and searching out teachers who didn't say what I have heard all my life. God quickly brought the truth to me on these matters so completely, there could be no mistaking the truth.
Even when we don't know the original languages, God can warn us when something is taught that is amiss. He can bring uneasiness to our soul, it is our responsibility to go to prayer and then to study. When He brings the answer we can know it was Him, peace floods over our soul and the answer becomes clear. There is no backing up or confusion any more!
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Following the Culture Is Death to Our Soul
I just witnessed, on another thread a picture of a prominent Christian motivational speaker, his wife and he at the beach. The wife was late in her pregnancy wearing a very tiny almost non-existent bathing suit with her very pregnant belly completely exposed.
My question is: "how could any godly Christian man display his wife in this way in front of millions of people? I question the integrity and level of spirituality in a man who would not care whether or not his wife was seen in dignity.
The reaction of those commenting was, how lovely this couple was and what a good example of a marriage they had.
I was the only one commenting on the clothing......or lack of it, on the wife. I felt like I was the little girl in the story of "The Emperors New Clothes."
In case someone doesn't know the story, the towns people were told by officials of the King that the King would be coming down the street in his new clothes. What the people were not told was that the king would be coming down naked. As the king approached each group of people, there could be heard voices proclaiming how lovely the new clothes were, except for one little girl who shouted out boldly, "but he doesn't have on any clothes." The people were appalled that the little girl would say this and she was summarily chastised for saying such a thing, as though they really did see clothes.
We are living in such a culture as described in "The Emperors New Clothes." The king is not chastised for not wearing any clothes, however, anyone telling the truth about it are called trouble makers and scolded harshly for telling what they really saw.
Are we that blind, or are we so deeply frightened over the loss of crowd approval that we pretend to ignore what we see blatantly? Or, perhaps our culture is so immoral now we will see many Christians on the beach clad in clothing the prostitutes didn't even wear 150 years ago.
When the bikini first came out regular models wouldn't model in it, the designers had to get prostitutes to do that.
It seems that our culture is willing to overlook any and all sins as long as the person we are looking at is famous, or highly favored as a speaker or teacher. It is my humble opinion that no matter who the celebrity is, we ought to always tell the truth, perhaps particularly if they are influential, public and Christian.
Proverbs 12:19 "Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment."
To ignore or deny what we really see is lying! Do we get this, it is lying!
2 Timothy 2:15 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."
That is the first admonition in this post, to seek the truth. The second admonition is to tell the truth no matter how many people don't like to hear it.
Ephesians 4:25 "Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another."
Our job as believers is to help one another grow in holiness, that is not possible when we ignore blatant sin. Do we understand that nakedness.....even partial nakedness on the beach is a sin before God?
There are two reasons for wearing scanty clothing in public, the first is to exhibit ourselves for men to see and the other is to keep up with the fashion. Neither of these things is good. If the culture is violating God's principles then we must not follow it.
Believers are fish swimming up stream against the current. Our greatest desire is to be acceptable to God not our culture. The culture has a father, that father is the devil, nearly everything it does is contrary to Christ.
John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
How do we swim up stream......its simply......ask God to change our hearts so that we do not desire the things of the world. When the desire is removed by God, then there is no struggle to be different, being different will come naturally without effort.
An elderly lady once was asked by a non-believer what she gave up to be a Christian. Her answer was "I never gave up anything.....that I wanted." When we have been born again we are not controlled by the culture, we are controlled by the Holy Spirit. When we fail temporarily, we are hounded by Christ Who lives in us and we return to obedience again, the sadness we feel in the sin drives us back to the Savior. We are not comfortable with sin or worldliness, we are only at peace when we are in sweet obedience to Christ.
The moral of the story, don't follow the culture it will only destroy you, follow Christ and you will see much peace and joy!!!!
My question is: "how could any godly Christian man display his wife in this way in front of millions of people? I question the integrity and level of spirituality in a man who would not care whether or not his wife was seen in dignity.
The reaction of those commenting was, how lovely this couple was and what a good example of a marriage they had.
I was the only one commenting on the clothing......or lack of it, on the wife. I felt like I was the little girl in the story of "The Emperors New Clothes."
In case someone doesn't know the story, the towns people were told by officials of the King that the King would be coming down the street in his new clothes. What the people were not told was that the king would be coming down naked. As the king approached each group of people, there could be heard voices proclaiming how lovely the new clothes were, except for one little girl who shouted out boldly, "but he doesn't have on any clothes." The people were appalled that the little girl would say this and she was summarily chastised for saying such a thing, as though they really did see clothes.
We are living in such a culture as described in "The Emperors New Clothes." The king is not chastised for not wearing any clothes, however, anyone telling the truth about it are called trouble makers and scolded harshly for telling what they really saw.
Are we that blind, or are we so deeply frightened over the loss of crowd approval that we pretend to ignore what we see blatantly? Or, perhaps our culture is so immoral now we will see many Christians on the beach clad in clothing the prostitutes didn't even wear 150 years ago.
When the bikini first came out regular models wouldn't model in it, the designers had to get prostitutes to do that.
It seems that our culture is willing to overlook any and all sins as long as the person we are looking at is famous, or highly favored as a speaker or teacher. It is my humble opinion that no matter who the celebrity is, we ought to always tell the truth, perhaps particularly if they are influential, public and Christian.
Proverbs 12:19 "Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment."
To ignore or deny what we really see is lying! Do we get this, it is lying!
2 Timothy 2:15 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."
That is the first admonition in this post, to seek the truth. The second admonition is to tell the truth no matter how many people don't like to hear it.
Ephesians 4:25 "Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another."
Our job as believers is to help one another grow in holiness, that is not possible when we ignore blatant sin. Do we understand that nakedness.....even partial nakedness on the beach is a sin before God?
There are two reasons for wearing scanty clothing in public, the first is to exhibit ourselves for men to see and the other is to keep up with the fashion. Neither of these things is good. If the culture is violating God's principles then we must not follow it.
Believers are fish swimming up stream against the current. Our greatest desire is to be acceptable to God not our culture. The culture has a father, that father is the devil, nearly everything it does is contrary to Christ.
John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
How do we swim up stream......its simply......ask God to change our hearts so that we do not desire the things of the world. When the desire is removed by God, then there is no struggle to be different, being different will come naturally without effort.
An elderly lady once was asked by a non-believer what she gave up to be a Christian. Her answer was "I never gave up anything.....that I wanted." When we have been born again we are not controlled by the culture, we are controlled by the Holy Spirit. When we fail temporarily, we are hounded by Christ Who lives in us and we return to obedience again, the sadness we feel in the sin drives us back to the Savior. We are not comfortable with sin or worldliness, we are only at peace when we are in sweet obedience to Christ.
The moral of the story, don't follow the culture it will only destroy you, follow Christ and you will see much peace and joy!!!!
The Life Means More Than The Words
1 Peter 3:1
"3 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;"
The word "conversation" here does not mean "speech", but rather, it means "life."
In short, God meant that the husbands could be won over by the "life of the wives."
This is why it is important to understand the meaning, one might believe that the wives should speak to their husbands, and it is partly true, except in the original language it means her life as a whole will witness to her husband.
After all, words are easy, it is by the life that support the words that make the difference.
"3 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;"
The word "conversation" here does not mean "speech", but rather, it means "life."
In short, God meant that the husbands could be won over by the "life of the wives."
This is why it is important to understand the meaning, one might believe that the wives should speak to their husbands, and it is partly true, except in the original language it means her life as a whole will witness to her husband.
After all, words are easy, it is by the life that support the words that make the difference.
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