A Christian Girl and Hollywood

A Christian Girl and Hollywood

If you know our family then you know Melinda and I were blessed with three “scruffy” boys and one princess. The boys have always been 100% boys—for instance, when they play indoor knee football in the upstairs playroom I often fear the ceiling is going to cave in. My little princess is different. Now don’t get me wrong, she can certainly handle herself with her brothers, but she is definitely a girl. She spends more time selecting what she’s going to wear (and she actually hangs her clothes up rather than selecting them by smell from a pile on the floor!), she enjoys doing girl things, and has more lotion than a Bath and Body shop.

hollywood girls

Who are you teaching your girl to be like?

Watching her mature into a young lady has been a joy and a somewhat nerve-racking event. The reason it is nerve racking is because as I travel, I see young ladies her exact same age who are trying to appear like they just walked down the runway of a Hollywood-modeling studio. They wear make up by the pound and wear clothes meant to accentuate certain areas of the body. These are 12-15 year old girls who want to appear to be 18-22. And far too often, members of the church encourage this Hollywood transformation through words of affirmation and “likes” on social media.

I have two problems with this. Problem number one is that there is a massive amount of pressure on young ladies, by friends their own age, to imitate this grown up look. (And lets be honest for a moment—young girls can be cruel, even in the church. I’ve watched firsthand this “pack mentality” where three or four girls make fun of another girl because of the phone she is carrying or clothes she’s wearing. They can be almost vicious with their tongues.) Christian young ladies who have been baptized should be kind, exhibiting the new man (Colossians 3; Ephesians 4), and should not be worldly (1 John 2). Christianity is about loving God and loving your neighbor—not making fun of someone or pressuring him or her to fit in.

I’m just going to say it—too many Christian parents are spending more time selecting and purchasing name brand clothes than they are molding and shaping the hearts of their daughters. They want them to fit in so badly that they will spend loads of money to insure they have the latest trends. Friends, Jesus Christ did not go to the cross so our young ladies could “fit in” with the culture and have the perfect Instagram picture. We are called to be different—different in speech, dress, actions, and thoughts. Maybe we should be spending more time “parenting” their hearts and less time at the local boutique.

Problem number two is we are encouraging our young ladies to look like Hollywood rather than to look like innocent young ladies. From the pulpits preachers point out the evils of Hollywood and we say “Amen”, all the while members hit “like” on Instagram and Facebook when the youth in our congregations are dressed just like them. Do you not see the problem here?! Friends, the Hollywood look should not be the goal for Christian young ladies. Hollywood should never be held up as a role model for Christian young people.

Hollywood believes fornication (sexual activity outside of marriage) is acceptable. Hollywood believes lust is a game.

Hollywood believes that commitment is optional.

Hollywood believes homosexual tolerance is a must.

Hollywood believes that sensual pleasure is a goal for every relationship.

Hollywood believes that curves should be accentuated and revealed.

Hollywood believes that there is no such thing as immodest dress.

And yet, many of our young ladies in our church auditoriums are running in this direction as fast as they can! And too often, they pressure the young ladies sitting around them to dress the same. As a result, usually sometime in April or May we get a wake up call and hear a single sermon on immodest dress, as summer clothes are pulled out of the closet. Where are the godly fathers who should be saying, “No” and not paying for clothes that accentuate the body? Where are the spiritual leaders who are teaching purity and cultivating meek and gentle spirits?

Friends, a single sermon on immodest dress is not going to fix the problem. This is a worldview/mindset problem. We are raising young people who would rather look like Hollywood than Jesus Christ. Isn’t it time we address the real issue? Maybe we need to retrain parents. Maybe we need to focus more on the cross. Maybe we need to stop competing with the world.

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God Always Feeds His Saints

God Always Feeds His Saints

The saints of God have often found themselves in dire circumstances. In the first century when God’s just judgment was about to come against the Jewish nation, it was preceded by wars, rumors of wars, famines, pestilences and earthquakes. Christians were in the midst of all these troubles. What hope did they have?

Saints adversity

Through God there is victory.

In addition to this, their faith in God created even more adversity. Hebrews 10:32-34 vividly describes what was happening around them. “You endured a great struggle with sufferings…both by reproaches and tribulations…the plundering of your goods.” Shortly after the church began, Saul led the assault against the church which brought great adversity. “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging of men and women, committing them to prison” (Acts 8:3). What hope did they have?

The same happened to Old Testament saints. Think of those many years when David fled from King Saul and later from the Jewish army led by his rebellious son. He and his men lived in the wilderness where there were caves in which they took refuge.  He had to flee from the Promised Land to even survive, living among the enemies of Israel. Once he had to feign insanity before the pagan king to keep from being put to death. What would have been our thoughts if we had been with him. What hope did he and his followers have?

Hear the words of David: “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread” (Psa. 37:25). There were times when it appeared that this man after God’s own heart failed. David speaks of this in this same psalm and then turns his eyes toward God. “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.”

Hear the words of Jesus, given first to those who would suffer the ravages led by Saul. He told them to look at the birds. God feeds every one of them. Not a single bird has even fallen to the earth without God being aware of it. He feeds every bird. Look at the birds! (Matt. 6:26; 10:29-31; Luke 12:6-7, 24). The practical results of this is His promise to the faithful. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).

There is a vivid application in what is happening all around us. We have seen the horrendous storms which swept through the Bahamas, just fifty miles from West Palm Beach. We have listened as our brethren describe what they have endured. However, in the midst of all of this there is one thing which we must always remember. You will never see a skinny bird in the Bahamas! God feeds His birds and His saints!

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LA CULPABILIDAD DE LA MUJER ADULTERA

EL GRAN DEBATE SOBRE LA CULPABILIDAD DE LA MUJER ADULTERA (Juan 8)

Es necesario antes echar un vistazo al contexto. Específicamente en esta ocasión el contexto es la celebración de la fiesta de los Tabernáculos. El capítulo 7 se divide en 3 partes (Antes de la fiesta 1-10, durante la fiesta 11-36, y el final de la fiesta 37-52)Note que en este debate público sobre el Señor Jesús intervinieron tres grupos diferentes de personas. 1) Los dirigentes religiosos 2) El pueblo (Jn 7:12) 3) Los judíos que vivían en Jerusalén (Jn.7:25). El debate empezó incluso antes de que Jesús llegara a la ciudad, y se centró en su carácter (Juan 7:11–13). Si era un hombre bueno o un engañador, pero no podía ser los dos al mismo tiempo.

LA MUJER ADULTERA

No se estaba hablando de todos los pecados… era del adulterio.

Cuando Jesús empezó a enseñar abiertamente en el templo, el debate giró en torno a su doctrina (Juan 7:14–19). El carácter y la doctrina van unidos, por supuesto. ¡Sería necio confiar en las enseñanzas de un mentiroso!. Todo esto da la ocasión en trasfondo a la trampa que desean tenderle con respecto a la mujer encontrada en el acto de Adulterio.

I CUESTIONES ACERCA DEL TEXTO.
A Canonicidad del Relato. ¿Es el relato de la mujer adultera, parte de la escritura? Si lo es ¿dónde debería de estar?. Es verdad que el relato no aparece en “algunos de los manuscritos más antiguos”, así lo escriben algunas versiones de la Biblia en sus márgenes como (LBLA, ASV 1901). Otros explican que el pasaje aparece en Lc.21:38.

1 Sin embargo el pasaje sí aparece en los manuscritos, más antiguos y está localizado aquí mismo en Juan 7, y no fue un problema hasta el siglo doce.
2 Para muchos de nosotros el pasaje encaja perfectamente aquí donde lo tenemos y aquí algunas evidencias internas.

a La declaración de nuestro Señor de ser la luz del mundo (Juan 8:12) por cierto encaja, al igual que sus palabras sobre el juicio recto y falso (Juan 8:15–16, 26).
b La frase repetida “en vuestro pecado moriréis” (Juan 8:21–24) claramente se relaciona con el juicio de la mujer.
c El hecho de que el capítulo termina con un intento de apedrear a Jesús muestra un paralelo a la historia de la ella.
d La transición de Juan 7:52 a 8:12 sería demasiado abrupta sin una sección de transición.

B ¿Porqué algunos han intentado quitar el relato? Hay varias razones y no debería de sorprendernos que ese sea el caso. Necesitamos estar alertas y enterados de los ataques a la Biblia es este caso a como Obró Jesús. Un reconocido Erudito y versado en estos asuntos ofrece la siguiente explicación: “Agustín definitivamente declaró que ciertas personas habían eliminado de sus códices la sección sobre la adúltera, porque temían que las mujeres recurrieran a esta historia como una excusa para la infidelidad … el ascetismo desempeñó un papel importante en la era sub-apostólica. De ahí la sugerencia de que la sección (Juan 7: 53-8: 11) era en realidad parte del Evangelio de Juan pero (más tarde) eliminada de ella no puede ser descartada por completo”. William Hendriksen, Exposition of the Gospel according to John (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1961), II, p. 35.

II LA CUESTION DE LOS ENEMIGOS
A El Complot.v.4 dice en el “acto mismo de adulterio”. Es muy poco probable que hayan realmente encontrado a una pareja en el acto del Sexo. Si ese era el caso, ¿dónde está el hombre? Es probable que él sea parte del complot. La ley de Moisés exigía la muerte de ambos (Lv.20:10, Dt.22:22) y no solo la mujer. Los fariseos actuaron en todo esto tan abruptamente, que incluso interrumpieron la enseñanza de Jesús y pusieron en medio (Thayer: Hacer firme, establecer a la fuerza) a la mujer. Esto revela el carácter violento de ellos.

B El Plan. Si el decía “si, esta mujer debe ser apedreada”, no solo cometería una injusticia sino que también estaría perdiendo al pueblo, ya que El era amigo de publicanos y pecadores y muy distinto a los fariseos. Si el decía “no, esta mujer no debe ser apedreada” estaría en contradicción directa a la ley de Moisés porque tenía que contar con el hombre y de él no había rastros. Su plan era perfecto. Dejarían al maestro en ridículo, y en violación a la ley de Moises Ahí mismo donde estaba enseñando en el templo.

C Los cargos. Adulterio. Albert Barnes y James Coffman dicen que la palabra sugiere la idea de que ella era una mujer casada, ya que fornicación es una sombrilla más amplia para hablar de Coito ilícito en cualquier circulo(porneia Thayer G4202) mientras que adulterio específicamente es tener intercambio sexual ilícito con la esposa(a) de otro (Moicheia G3430). El problema es observado en el v.7 “el que de vosotros esté sin pecado…”, Sugiere que el Señor se estaba refiriendo a ese pecado en especifico del adulterio. Por varias razones.

1 El contexto. No se estaba hablando de todos los pecados… era del adulterio.
2 Anamartétos dice Adam Clarke sugiere el mismo tipo de pecado.
3 Jesús no estaba pidiendo que hombres sin pecado juzgaran a la mujer, porque El era el único que no tenía pecado. La ley de Moisés entonces hubiera sido absurda.
4 El estaba exponiendo la hipocresía de ellos. El momento exacto cuando los cargos se dan la media vuelta a golpean a los acusadores, cuando los jueces son juzgados. Ellos vivían una vida sexual inmoral y si alguien debía ser apedreado ese día, sin duda alguna eran ellos mismos.

III CRISTO ES LA CUESTION.
A Su carácter en medio de lo abrupto. Jesús se encobra y comienza a escribir en el suelo. ¿Qué habrá escrito? Tal vez les estaba recordando que los mandamientos fueron escritos con el dedo de Dios (Ex.31:18) y que por lo tanto él es Dios. O tal vez escriba las advertencias de Jr.17:13? La verdad es que no sabemos…pero él estaba muy calmado.

B Su carácter con respecto al pecado. Jesús no tomó a la ligera el pecado de ella. El hecho de que le perdonara no significa que él no tendría que morir por esos pecados. El perdón es gratuito pero no es no barato. El perdón y la gracia de Cristo no es una excusa para pecar: “Vete y no peques más” V.11. De hecho el perdón inmerecido motivará al pecador penitente a vivir una vida Santa delante de su Dios, así es como funciona correctamente.

C Su carácter con respecto al pecador.

1 Sola con Jesús v.9 ¡Qué lugar más dulce y santo, que refugio!
2 Su primera palabra produce humildad, arrepentimiento y fe (V.10).
3 Con la segunda, la angustia de muerte es quitada (V.10)
4 Con la tercera palabra produce la seguridad del perdón (V.11).

IV CONCLUSION:
A En este debate observamos como Cristo es la cuestión. Es la cuestión para que el pueblo estuviera ahí escuchando, la cuestión de la trama de los enemigos, la cuestión que obró el perdón de esa mujer, la cuestión de la vida misma (a la mujer la vida le cambió).

B Observamos que el pecado siempre es abominación a Dios y solo hay tres maneras de tratarlo.1) Como el pecador trata al pecador, 2) Como la ley trata al pecador 3) Como trata Jesús al pecador.

C Lo más impactante para mí de todos los debates del Señor es saber que el Señor un día moriría también por ellos.

D Al estudiar la naturaleza de Cristo queda más que evidenciado y su carácter divino al leer Job 38:32-36 uno puede hacer un paralelo meditando en la respuesta de Job en Job 42:1-6. Ante el carácter del Señor nosotros deberíamos de estar como lo que dice el v.4 “Oye, te ruego y hablaré; te preguntaré y tu me enseñarás”.

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Google It?

Google It?

“Just google it!” Thus rings the clarion cry of our current culture. Whether fact, fiction, formula, definition, or historic or current event, just google it! The entire world and all its information instantaneously at your inquiring fingertips! What a tool! What a weapon! What an incredible blessing… or is it?

google it

Google… Does not operate with the wisdom of God, only men.

Now the answer to the question is, yes, of course, it is all of those things – an incredible tool, weapon, and blessing – just as long as the Christian who is using it is always and forever mindful of the fact that it does exactly that: Puts the entire WORLD at their fingertips. You see, Google can only give out, the information that man has put into it. The Christian – and especially our young people in the church – must be ever aware that Google is but a tool of man, programmed by man, and thus subject to the false and fallacious religious errors of man. It must never, therefore, be allowed to replace or become a substitute for consistent, personal, and in-depth Bible study, knowledge, and application.

For example, in recently googling the question, “Is baptism essential for salvation?” the top website referred to (1) said in part: “…Being put right with God by union with Christ in the divine miracle of conversion and new birth — is by faith and faith alone on our part.” That is precisely the exact opposite of what God’s word says (Jms. 2:17-24). Said website went on to say, “God uses faith as the sole instrument of union with Christ, and thus counts us righteous and becomes one hundred percent for us in the instant that we have faith in Jesus. That’s my answer.” That’s the problem: That’s his answer – and not God’s answer.

When asked further about those Biblical texts that clearly state that water baptism is indeed essential to salvation, Google’s top website referred to in answer to our question said: “The first thing I would say is that the thief on the cross was told by Jesus that that very day he would be with him in paradise. He was not baptized. I know he’s a special case. I don’t think you build a theology of baptism on the thief on the cross. But one thing it says is baptism is not an absolute necessity, because it wasn’t in his case.” If ever there was a religious response that proved the absolute necessity of taking Bible study over the word of man on anything (Rom. 3:4), it should be this one. This, because if this man had truly studied his Bible as much as he should have, then he would know for certain that the thief on the cross both lived and died under the Old Covenant (Hebs. 9:15-17) – the same Old Covenant as Abraham, David, and the like – and therefore did not need to be baptized like those of us living under the New Covenant do today (Matt. 26:27-28; Acts 2:38-41). The New Covenant, which, again, only came into effect AFTER the death of Jesus on the cross (Col. 2:8-14). Google’s number one/this man’s answer/conclusion to the question? “Baptism is the outward expression of calling on the name of the Lord in faith.” Once again, God’s word never calls baptism an ‘outward expression’ of anything, but the very act of faith by which we are cleansed and forgiven of our sins by the blood of Jesus Christ to become children of the living God and added by Him to His Son’s church (Col. 2:12-13; Acts 2:38, 47; 1 Peter 3:21; Gal. 3:26-27).

In further response to our question, “Is baptism essential for salvation?” Google additionally supplied the following under the “People Also Ask” section: “Is immersion baptism necessary? The immersion used by early Christians in baptizing need not have meant full submersion in… water.” (2) Once again, this is a complete contradiction of God’s word, easily recognized by those who have actually studied and know their Bibles (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12).

Google took us to yet another site (3) which answered: “Is baptism necessary for salvation? If the question is concerning water baptism, the answer is no. We are not saved by ritual or works but by “grace through faith.” “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Therefore, water baptism does not save us.” Once again; if these googled folks had actually studied their Bibles as much as they should have, then they would know that there is not just one, but a number of different, essential elements listed therein which God says save us – including water baptism!  Hear what God said in 1 Ptr. 3:20-21 (ESV), beginning with those who: “formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you.” Did you get that? God said that “Baptism… now saves you.” So, who are you going to believe, trust, and obey when it comes to your eternal soul? God, or google?

It’s also high time to get just as serious about Siri and Alexa. Despite the fact that the Biblical record, fully considered, confirms that the earth is only about 6,500 years old, when Siri was recently asked how old the earth was, the answer was a whopping 4.54 billion years! When asked which religious group(s) were going to heaven, Siri’s top answer was to send us to a website (4) which contained only people’s opinions – and we know from God’s word how eternally life and death, Biblically dead wrong those can be (1 Sam. 13:11-13; Matt. 7:21-27; Acts 26:9-11; Eph. 4:4-6).

The thing we must always remember as truth seeking New Testament Christians, is that while all of these newly-minted electronic devices and resources may put the WORLD at our fingertips, they are still completely man-made, and therefore wholly subject to and reflective of, man-made error; while the word of God is forever pure, perfect, and totally unpollutable by earthly man (Ps. 19:7-11; 119:89; 2 Tim. 3:16-4:4). Therefore, when it comes to your eternal soul and all other things religious, don’t google it – but thoroughly study the word of God for it. That is the only way you will ever show yourself approved of God (2 Tim. 2:11-19). After all, the words of Jesus are just as true, timeless, and relevant to our eternity today, as they were the day they rolled off of His divine lips: “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’” (Jn 8:31-32).

Footnotes: (1) www.desiringgod.org (2) www.wikipedia.org (3) www.gotquestions.org (4) [https://www.pewresearch.org%20%20%20%20%20/fact-tank/2015/11/10/most-americans-believe-in-heaven-and-hell/]www.pewresearch.org

 

 

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Jesus Our Brother

Jesus Our Brother

We are familiar with the Bible’s teaching about God being our Father. Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father who art in heaven” (Matthew 6:9), and Paul told us we have “one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:6). Are we as familiar with the Bible’s teaching about Jesus being our brother? Hebrews 2:11-12 states: “For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: ‘I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.’” We often refer to the church as the family of God, and it is, but what does it mean that Jesus is our brother? Let’s study this relationship and notice a few answers to this question.

Jesus Brother

We are set apart in Christ.

To have Jesus as our brother means that He claims those who have been sanctified as His family. Paul discussed this relationship in Galatians 3:26-29: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Paul begins by pointing out that we are children of God in Christ Jesus. We became such children by going through the new birth in baptism (John 3:3-6). At that point, we became sanctified (1 Corinthians 6:11) and Christ became our identity, and just as Christ is God’s child, so also, we become children of God. This means that we are all part of Abraham’s family now, and brothers and sisters with Jesus. Romans 8:17a states, “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” It is a wonderful blessing to have family!

To have Jesus as our brother means that He seeks fellowship with us. If you have ever had a brother or sister growing up, then you know that this was the person with whom you spent the most time. He or she was your friend and constant companion since you lived together in the same family. However, while many natural brothers and sisters eventually grow apart and go their own ways, Jesus is a brother that stays with us always because He desires to stay with us. In 1 Corinthians 1:9, Paul wrote, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,” and in Hebrews 13:5-6 we read, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” Indeed, Jesus said, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). Having Jesus as a brother means having a constant friend and companion.

To have Jesus as our brother means that He experienced the same human passions that we experience. Life can be tumultuous. There are many troubles and trials that will come our way, and our emotions can be overwhelming. Loss of employment, separated friendships, the death of our loved ones, and our own sinscan bring us great grief and sorrow. Sometimes we wonder, “Does anyone truly understand?” Jesus is our true brother because He completely understands what we go through in this life. Hebrews 4:15 states, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin,” and Hebrews 2:17-18 states, “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Having Jesus as a brother means that someone truly understands what we are going through.

To have Jesus as our brother means that He was subjected to death. We must all face the specter of death within our lives. It begins by seeing the death of our loved ones, but ultimately it is something that we must face individually. Having Jesus as a brother means that we have someone who helps us do what no other can—overcome death. Hebrews 2:9 says, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” He experienced death for everyone so that He would know what it is like to die, but more than this, so that He could show us that death can be conquered. Hebrews 2:14-15 states, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Because Jesus was sinless, death could not hold on to Him, and He came forth from the grave (Acts 2:24). Today, through Jesus, we can conquer death as well. Jesus says, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (Revelation 1:18), and “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:11). Only the best of brothers would die for us so that we could live for Him (2 Corinthians 5:15).

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