OnlyFans or Only Christians?

Only Fans or Only Christians?

There is a website subscription service that many Christian parents and grandparents know nothing about—but it has taken the world by storm. This website has over 50 million registered users and more than 1 million content creators. It’s called OnlyFans.Fornication

Founded in 2016, by British tech entrepreneur Timothy Stokely, OnlyFans was a place where content creators could offer exclusive content to their target audience. For instance, if you were a poet, you could read your poems online for people who paid a monthly fee to see your material. However, it didn’t take long for this site to become primarily about sexual content, lust, and debauchery.

Because it has few restrictions creators can post sexually suggestive images, pornography, and anything their creators are clamoring for. Creators get to pocket 80% of the earnings and OnlyFans keeps 20% as online host. Creators can pocket even more money with paid tips and paid private messages. One popular social media influencer made over 1 million dollars the first 24-hours after being a content creator. Did I mention this is a billion-dollar industry—and it’s not going away.

And so, what began innocently as a poet reading a poem, transformed into someone in their underwear reading poetry while thousands tune in to watch. According to their statistics, OnlyFans is adding about 1,000 new registered users every hour. Imagine a popular high school cheerleader who is able to profit from her popularity by posting exclusive and suggestive images. This is the new reality for our children and grandchildren.

I spent some time trying to think of any positive reason a Christian should be on OnlyFans. I admit up front that there are probably a few legitimate entrepreneurs out there who are still doing things like sharing cooking tips, giving parenting tips, or reading poems while fully clothed. But at this point, OnlyFans is known primarily for one thing—pornography.
Consider for a moment what this site is feeding. It is feeding lust, impurity, selfish ambition, debauchery, and even idolatry—as many of these content creators have become idols to paying customers. Is this website really worth risking eternity in heaven? Consider the inspired Words of Paul:

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).

Paul doesn’t mince words. He boldly points out that “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Paying a monthly subscription to view someone in a provocative setting is the definition of “practicing” such things. Oh, and just in case a married Christian sees no problem in watching some young lady undress in her bedroom since they are not “technically doing anything,” allow me to gently remind you that your marriage is supposed to be a reflection of Christ’s love for the church. Honor your marriage and love your wife! I can’t see Jesus having an OnlyFans account.

Church we need to have an open and honest discussion about these practices. This is not holy or Christian behavior. Christians do not need OnlyFans accounts—and this includes our children. John wrote: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

Our children do not need to be content creators for OnlyFans! I understand they may be “making money they can use to pay for college.” But if their way of making money is sinful or feeds lust, fornication, and immorality then their “selfish ambition” is not in line with what God approves of—and it needs to be stopped. Look at what Jesus said about gaining the whole world but losing your soul (Matthew 16:24).

The Bible is crystal clear about lust and sins of the flesh. (i.e.,1 Peter 2:11, Romans 13:14, , Proverbs 6:25, James 1:14, Romans 8:13) It is equally clear that we are not to cause others to stumble. (i.e., Romans 14:13). As Christians we have been charged to be holy like He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16).

If you are involved in OnlyFans as a user or content creator let me encourage you to quit immediately. Guard your soul. Take up the whole armor of God and fight against the works of darkness. This really is a life and death situation—souls are at stake. James wrote: “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:15). Stop feeding the desire and you will avoid death.

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The Race and the Torch

The Race and the Torch

As you read the Bible, you will find so many references to your life being compared to running a race. We are told to run with patience the race that is before us, always keeping our eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:1). The next verse then points us to Jesus and the way He lived His life.Carrying the Torch

Paul so often compares life to a race. He told Timothy that “…if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Tim. 2:5)—we must get on the track and stay in our lanes! He urged the Corinthians to run the race in such a way that we may obtain the prize. He then contrasted the rewards received in the Grecian games with the one we will receive. “They do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” (1 Cor. 9:24-26). They received a crown made of olive branches, but we receive the crown of eternal life and righteousness.

Every four years we watch as modern athletes compete for Olympic medals. One of the most exciting races is where teams run relay races by passing the baton from runner to runner. The race is often decided by which team is most successful in passing that baton. If they drop it, they do not stop running but pause long enough to pick it up and then resume the race. Many who watch the races find this one to be the most exciting one.

We use a similar phrase in our culture. In the ancient Greek races, there was a lighted torch passed from one runner to the next. In our day it metaphorically refers to transferring one’s job, knowledge and responsibilities to others when one retires. If you are a Christian, it can refer to you in your spiritual life of service and insuring that when your life ends the work will still be done.

The design of Christianity is for those who are taught to teach others and to teach them to teach others. Paul taught Timothy the gospel and then urged him to take that which he had learned and pass the “torch of truth” to them. “The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). The torch was passed from Paul to Timothy to faithful men then to others. There is a sense in which we now have that same torch!

Palm Beach Lakes began a century ago, and we celebrate our 100th anniversary. We owe a debt to all those who over the past ten decades have faithfully served the Lord. The torch is now in our hands. We owe a debt to those who have gone before, but we owe an even greater debt to those in the future. God help us to faithfully pass the torch to others!

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Access to God Through Jesus

Access to God through Jesus

In Revelation 4:8, the four living creatures cry out, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” God is holy; He is above and beyond all created things. He is unknowable unless He reveals Himself to us. “For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11). No created thing has direct access to God. “No man has seen God at any time” (John 1:18, 1 John 4:12). Paul affirms this also in 1 Timothy 6:16: “who only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power eternal. Amen.”

This was one of Job’s many problems. He begged for access to God, but never got what he desired. When God showed up, it was not to give Job access, but a stinging rebuke. Job said, “Wherefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6). Job remained cut off from what He was ultimately seeking from God. He did not find a mediator that could intervene on His behalf before God (Job 9:33).

Job’s problem is all of humanity’s problem. Who may approach God? Thank God for Jesus! He resolves this problem by being both God and man. John wrote further in John 1:18, “the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” Jesus literally interprets who God is for us so that we may know and have access Him. “For through Him we both have our access by one Spirit unto the Father.” (Ephesians 2:18). What a great blessing! If you pray to God today, thank Jesus.

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The Importance of a First Impression

The Importance of First Impressions

Sometimes when you meet a person there is just something about them that sets them apart from others. There are those negative people who impact us in such a way that we find it difficult to see their souls and the potential they may have in Christ. On the other hand, there are those to whom we are immediately attracted, and we want to get to know them better.First impressions

When God became man, He was like us in so many ways. He took on Himself the frailties of mortals, suffered like we do and was tempted in all ways like we are. However, the first impression He made on others could never be forgotten.

When He was only twelve years of age, He was separated from His parents, and they finally found Him in the holy temple talking to the religious leaders. The Bible says that when they found Him, He was “…sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers” (Luke 2:46-47). The first impression He made greatly impacted all those who heard Him.

The same is true of the impression He had on the multitude who heard the Sermon on the Mount. “When Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His teachings, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matt. 7:28-29). In His first discourse in the synagogue in Nazareth, “…all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth” (Luke 4:22). Not all accepted His words in the city where He had grown up, and some of them sought to kill him by throwing Him over a cliff.

He left Nazareth and went and taught in the synagogue in Capernaum for several weeks. What was the impression He made there? “And they were astonished at His teaching for His word was with authority” (Luke 4:32). The story does not end here. Read the gospel account of His life. It happens again and again.

We may not always make the kind of impression Jesus did everywhere He went, but the very fact that we know Him impacts how others see us. Salt that is really salty and light that is not hidden under a bushel impacts all that they touch. The impact that His apostles had on others shows this. Shortly after Pentecost they were arrested and brought before the Jewish counsel. The Bible says, “When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). Think carefully about the first impression you make on others!

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DINOSAURIOS HACE MILLONES DE AÑOS ¡

DINOSAURIOS HACE MILLONES DE AÑOS ¡NO LO CREO! 

Un plato con humo Descripción generada automáticamente con confianza bajaLa paleontología es la ciencia que se dedica a estudiar los fósiles más antiguos. Es esta misma disciplina la que nos guiará con humildad a un mejor entendimiento de uno de los descubrimientos más trascendentales del último siglo con respecto a los dinosaurios.Dinosaur

Millones de Años.

 En una larga lista de diapositivas Howie Baum compila bastante información presentando su material como “facts” (hechos). En su diapositiva número 7 establece 165 millones de años para la existencia de dinosaurios. [1] Por otra parte Richard Dawkins ha sido una voz muy respetada dentro de las filas del ateísmo como biólogo evolutivo, etólogo y zoológo. [2] El profesor Dawkins aparece en una caricatura  muy jocosa pero con un intertulio real en donde se muestra a Richard Dawkins dando una charla en la Semana de Escritores y Lectores de Wellington. Un dinosaurio aparece en escena y dice que tiene partidas de nacimiento que demuestran que vagaba por la tierra hace unos 6.000 años. Richard Dawkins le dice a la audiencia que no le crean una sola palabra porque los certificados de nacimiento son todos falsos.  Según el profesor los grandes dinosaurios vivieron hace 200 millones de años.[3]

Millones de Años, destrozados por la Ciencia.

La muy reconocida paleontóloga  Mary Schweitzer sacudió la comunidad científica en el 2006 cuando publicó su grandioso descubrimiento y es que después de “68 millones de años” bajo tierra, un Tiranosaurio Rex encontrado en Montana fue desenterrado, el hueso de su pierna fue roto en pedazos y los fragmentos se disolvieron en ácido en el laboratorio de Schweitzer en la Universidad Estatal de Carolina del Norte en Raleigh. “geniales creaturas”, dijo ella, mientras miraba la imagen en la pantalla[4]. Ella descubrió que en los rastros de sangre había células que aún preservaban colágeno entre otros químicos que obviamente no sobreviven millones de años.

De un nuevo estudio publicado en 2015 otro reconocido paleontólogo en “The Nature Communications” y dirigido por Sergio Bertazzo del Colegio imperial de Londres, muestra una vista extremadamente ampliada de una garra de terópodo de 75 millones de años, tomada de la colección del Museo de Historia Natural de Londres. Cuando los investigadores rasparon pequeños trozos del fósil y los observaron con un microscopio electrónico, encontraron estructuras diminutas que se parecen mucho a las fibras de colágeno presentes en nuestros propios ligamentos, tendones y huesos. Claramente esto respaldaba las publicaciones de su colega Mary Schwitzer.  Pero nos preguntamos cual fue la respuesta que obtuvo de la comunidad científica en ese momento. Observe que al igual que este Señor la respuesta de la mayoría fue muy similar es decir; vacía, sin argumentos de peso sino una sabor a frustración. Thomas Holtz le contó al Smithsonian sobre artículo de 2006 en cuanto al descubrimiento de Schweitzer. “No hacemos todo este esfuerzo para sacar estas cosas del suelo para luego destruirlas con ácido”.[5]

Millones de Años destrozados por la ciencia…implicaciones.

Pues como hemos notado anteriormente no hay manera razonable de que los dinosaurios daten de miles de millones de años. Los creacionistas parecen tener respaldo bastante solido después de este importante descubrimiento. Algunas implicaciones están en juego y por eso ateos como Richard Dawkins insisten con gran ánimo a que el mundo académico les continué escuchando a pesar de que la evidencia ahora levanta sospechas. Aquí algunas de esas implicaciones.

1.     Fósiles de dinosaurio han sido encontrados en todos los continentes. El hecho de su extinción tras un evento catastrófico y añadido un menor tiempo en vez de millones de años son elementos circunstanciales que compaginan mejor con el relato del diluvio fechado hace unos 6000 años atrás.

2.      Si el relato del diluvio se sostiene no solamente con esto sino en rastros de sedimentos marinos como por ejemplo en el gran cañón del colorado sugiriendo una inundación global, ratificaría a la Biblia como un documento verdadero y auténtico.

3.     Si la Biblia es un documento auténtico la declaración del Génesis en el 1:1 que le atribuye a Dios la existencia de todo sería la disyuntiva que dejaría como falsa la teoría de la evolución. Además, declaraciones acerca de Jesucristo como la de Juan 1:1 y su deidad deberán de ser aceptadas.

4.     Pasajes como Salmos 19:1 estarán en lo correcto al decir que es el necio quien dice en su corazón que no hay Dios. Porque este hecho la ciencia estaría contradiciendo a los “necios” pues no aceptar la validez de la evidencia no es un método científico valido para ser una oposición responsable.

Estas cuatro implicaciones son lo suficientemente fuertes para hacer enojar a los ateos y agnósticos. El mundo antes del diluvio era radicalmente diferente de donde emanaba la violencia y la inmoralidad. En el Nuevo mundo que Dios estaba creando después del diluvio los dinosaurios no podían ser parte. Así que sus huesos son testimonio vivo de que un día Dios tomó una decisión radical y nos afirma que su carácter no ha cambiado y que un día nuestro mundo igual que el de ellos, también llegará a su fin.

REFERENCIAS

1.     https://www.uc.edu/content/dam/refresh/cont-ed-62/olli/dinosaurs.pdf

2.     https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dawkins

3.     https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22699007

4.     https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/dinosaur-shocker-115306469/

5.     https://www.vox.com/2015/6/9/8748035/dinosaur-fossil-blood-proteins

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