Your Spouse is More than a Piece of Meat

Your Spouse is More than a Piece of Meat

“I love a good steak.” I’ve probably said that dozens of times in my life. And while I do enjoy a good steak—in all honesty, I do not “love” a steak. In fact, my plan for that piece of meat is not to cherish it, but to devour it. In my mind that steak is something that will bring me pleasure as it is eaten—it is something I plan to act upon.

When I look at the biblical definition of love that Paul wrote about to the Christians in Corinth, it certainly does not represent my feelings toward a steak. Paul wrote, “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

These words do not represent my relationship with a steak. Do I “love” a steak the same way I love God, my wife, my children, and my friends? Of course not—there’s a BIG difference between my feelings for my wife and my feelings for a steak. And scientifically, my brain actually corresponds to this difference. When my wife or children walk into the room, a portion of my brain lights up that corresponds with caring and endearment. When I view a steak, a totally different portion of my brain lights up—the part that commonly lights up when I think about tools and using them. Simply put, I view the steak as an object.

And sadly, this is how I fear many young Christians view their spouses. I am seeing it happen more and more—and I pray it is not becoming a trend: young couples whose marriages are ruined by pornography.

I suspect many of these young people are getting addicted to pornography in college. They don’t realize the damage it will do to future relationships. They don’t comprehend that neurons that fire together usually wire together—meaning they are rewiring their brains.

Here’s my fear—these young men (I say men because pornography is primarily used by men—although it is increasing in women too) lose the ability to view women as humans with souls and as a result they don’t know how to truly love. All they know how to do is view their spouse as an object—a piece of meat. This is not the relationship God intended between a husband and wife.

A recent study presented at the recent American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Chicago clearly revealed that when men see photos of scantily clad women their brain registers the women as objects to be acted on.

Here’s what Nicholson wrote: “Princeton psychologist Susan Fiske presented findings from a new study this past Sunday, at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in Chicago, where she and her colleagues compared, ‘…heterosexual men’s perceptions of scantily clad women, scantily clad men, and fully clothed men and women.’”

And what they found is the 21 male subjects had the best memory for photos of sexy bikini-clad women. No surprise.Then they had the men look at the photos while their brains were scanned and what she found was that, “…this memory correlated with activation in part of the brain that is a pre-motor, having intentions to act on something, so it was as if they immediately thought about how they might act on these bodies.”

Fiske explained that the areas, the premotor cortex and posterior middle temporal gyrus, typically light up when one anticipates using tools, like a screwdriver. “I’m not saying that they literally think these photographs of women are photographs of tools per se, or photographs of non-humans, but what the brain imaging data allow us to do is to look at it as scientific metaphor. That is, they are reacting to these photographs as people react to objects.”

Paul wrote: “ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5).

Young men need to be taught by parents and the church how to possess their own vessel in sanctification and honor! How many more marriages are we going to watch dissolve, all because some guy got hooked on porn in college, has no self-control, and has lost the ability to really love his spouse?

There are three things I want you to think about:

1) Viewing your spouse as a piece of meat is not a reflection of Christ and His bride; 2) Pornography is causing erectile dysfunction (ED) in young men (under 40) at alarming rates, causing many to turn to prescription drugs; and 3) While drug addicts need more drugs to get that same high, porn addicts don’t need more…they need something different (or more intense).

And far too often, this means doing things to a spouse that cause pain and discomfort, or seeking pleasure outside the marriage bed.Young men, stop viewing porn and stop viewing your wife as a piece of meat. She is a daughter of the King. Cherish and adore her. Learn (and practice) self-control! Stop destroying your marriage because of your selfish desires for porn. You are a Christian. Act like one!

“Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).

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What I learned from Acts

What I learned from Acts

During the time I lived in the state of Ohio, I developed a good friendship with a young man outside of the Church.  We would occasionally engage in conversations based his observations or curiosities about religion.  One day, as we drove past a community church building, he expressed that he found a great deal of hypocrisy in the large gatherings there.  He noted the gatherings appeared to be for the music of the band and the social atmosphere rather than worship or to hear the Word of God.  The book of Acts is all about the Word of God and the growth of the Church through it.  It was the Word that converted the Jews of Acts 2:41 and Acts 4:4.  It was the Word of God that was preached “daily in the temple and in every house” multiplying the followers of God.  All the conversions recorded in the book of Acts came from the preaching of the good news of Jesus Christ.  “The Word of God grew and multiplied”.  It converted men of all races, classes, and nations – Jews and Gentiles, male and female, rich and poor.  What has always struck me was something my friend verbalized the day of our drive:  the gospel does not need bands, drama, free meals, hand outs, emotionalism, or any other kind of gimmick to create Christians.  In fact, people like my friend are turned away from religion by the worldliness of such displays.  The will of God is spread by the use of God’s word as recorded in the book of Acts.

acts lessons

There are many fine lessons to be learned from the book of Acts.

The coming of the gospel and birth of the Church saw the sword of the Lord create division.  Sects of the Pharisees and Sadducees sought to hinder the teachings of the salvation of Jesus.  They persued their aims through argument, intimidation, deception, courts and councils, and physical altercation.  The high priest and council of the Jews condemned the teaching regarding Jesus.  They threatened the apostles and commanded them not speak of Him.  Yet, the apostles declared “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”  Stephen preached the Word of God and was stoned as the Jews lashed out in anger.  Saul and others persecuted the Christians imprisoning them and scattering the Church.  When Saul was converted and shared the gospel to the non-Jewish world, he was persecuted city to city as he went.  And the Church grew!  The book of Acts should give great hope to the Church when times are dark.

Similarly, the last decade in America has been fraught with evil.  Opposition to God’s design for the family has risen up.  Homosexuality, transgenderism, transexuality, and other perversions have been actively promoted by the government.  Christians have been classified as extremists.  Parents have been told the government is the one who is in charge of their children.  Abortion has been heralded rather than condemned.  Smaller percentages of the population than ever before are being raised up with the teachings of Christ.   Activist government officials have attempted to limit attendance or close churches altogether through acts of fear and unconstitutional mandates.  The one bright light in the midst of it all, a president who actively supported Christianity, prayer, and family values, rejected abortion, and worked to curtail sexual perversion was deceptively framed, lied about, and persecuted by those who should have been seeking truth and justice.  The hate and vitriol even by those declaring to be religious clearly identifies this period in history as a time evil was called good and good evil.  Yet, one simply needs to recall the days of the book of Acts.  The Church can grow.  It can withstand persecution.  From the time of the apostles, through the ages, today and tomorrow, there is nothing which can destroy the Church.  The first century was fraught with ignorance, persecution, fear, and injustice, just as it is today.  We should stand as Paul when addressed by an angel of God, “Fear not”.  Perhaps, our opportunity to share God’s word will reach into the governing halls of the United States.

The book of Hebrews puts forth a principle to the Christians that is frequently observed among the Christians recorded in Acts.  “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much more as ye contemplate the day approaching.”  This passage is speaking of the importance of Christian fellowship as we consider the coming of Christ.  For that foundation of faith, hope abounded in the first century.  The gathering/assembling of the Christians together daily and house to house helped provide the “gladness and singleness of heart” surrounding the happenings on the day of Pentecost. The exhortation of Christians assembling together with Peter and John following their release from the high priest and rulers of the people produced praises and prayer to God.  It produced unity and selflessness.  Following the imprisonment of Paul and Silas in Philippi, when the Lord gave them their freedom, they assembled with the household of Lydia.  They left having received comfort.  Paul when gathered with the brethren of Ephesus who came to him, encouraged and directed them.  They shared tears with him, hugged him, kissed him, and stayed in his sight as long as possible.  Such strengthening is done through surrounding your life with the saints.  It is not found in singular rote worship on Sunday, but a heart-felt desire to be a supporting, loving Christian at all times.

So here we have lessons I have learned from the book of Acts that drive my spiritual life today.  The Word of God and the lives it produces must be what draw the soul to Christ.  No matter what evil that comes or how dark the days are, the Church will stand forever and can thrive following the Word.  Brothers and sisters following the Word of God strengthen one another when they gather together.

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El DIOS QUE NO PUEDE SER TENTADO

El DIOS QUE NO PUEDE SER TENTADO

Ningún otro asunto es más delicado e importante que el carácter del Dios verdadero en la Biblia. Por esa razón considero que este tema no debe de ser manejado a la ligera o desestimado por asuntos de “terminología” a la primera oportunidad que tengamos. En este año cierta controversia ha surgido en torno al tópico, declaraciones incoherentes atentan a la santidad de Dios y por cinismo o sencillamente ignorancia recibe apoyo de unos cuantos que “pensando ser sabios se hicieron necios”. Quien escribe lo hace parado en la brecha de la convicción y no es para menos por las implicaciones contenidas detrás de este tema. La afirmación categórica que se hace es que Dios permitió que el diablo le tentara, allá en el libro de Job, cuando este pide a Job para zarandearlo. No solamente que el diablo tienta a Dios pidiéndole a Job y Dios se lo permite, sino que añadido a esta declaración se afirma que Jesús es Dios en la carne (Juan 1:14) y que el término “tentar” no debería de sorprendernos pues en Mateo 4 Jesús fue tentado pues era igual que nosotros al estar en la carne. Luego se trata de probar de que la palabra tentar es usada en el sentido de “poner a prueba” y que hay dos corrientes de ideas y esa es lo carnal y lo espiritual.

Jesus Tentado

El término “tentar” no debería de sorprendernos pues en Mateo 4 Jesús fue tentado pues era igual que nosotros al estar en la carne.

Permítame afirmar que aunque este artículo mantenga anónimo a los autores de esta controversia no es para nada la intención atacar a estas personas, sino única y sencillamente analizar y emitir una respuesta bíblica a la “fabula” que se ha construido y que está confundiendo a muchos. Considere conmigo las implicaciones y luego los huecos y falacias creadas entorno a una posición insostenible por la santa inspiración y que podría acarrear gravísimos problemas.

IMPLICACIONES

1.     Dios viola su propia naturaleza santa.  Si Dios le permite a satanás tentarle esta idea por si sola destruye la santidad de Dios. En Santiago 1:13 el texto dice que Dios “no puede ser tentado” esa es una regla de naturaleza. Es imposible hecho carne o en Espíritu Dios sencillamente no puede, ni siquiera mirar el pecado. El profeta Habacuc dice que Dios es muy limpio de ojos para ver el mal (Hab.1:13). Por lo tanto la naturaleza de Dios nunca cambia, no cambió estando en la carne y nunca cambiará.

2.     Lo hizo una ves lo sigue haciendo. Si satanás provocó y puso en tentación a Dios todo poderoso entonces ¿cúal es el limite? Si lo hizo una vez puede seguir haciéndolo pero no sabemos nada de eso ¿verdad? Es pura especulación al igual que afirmar que Dios le permitió a Satanás que lo tentara.

3.     Un chance para el diablo. Si Dios padre dejó que satanás le tentara entonces el diablo tiene mucha más oportunidad de la que habíamos pensado, y no solo oportunidad sino también superioridad, pues al dejarse tentar, Dios estaría sometiéndose a una “trampa” o “prueba” o “truco” el Dios de la Biblia que yo conozco Jamás se prestaría para un “jueguito” de ese tipo. Si él permitió que Job sufriera no fue para “tener un pulso” con satanás como lo afirman algunos, sino para moldear el carácter de Job aún más, y que tuviéramos a través de todas las generaciones en detalle un libro inspirado que nos explique a detalle la cuestión del sufrimiento del ser humano; como erróneamente los hombres observan el dolor mientras se hace palpable la forma tan distinta en la Dios ve el sufrimiento.

FALACIAS

A.   No reconocer distinciones.  Esta falacia sucede cuando al observar “x” y sus características similares a las de “y” se asume que son parecidos en todo. Note como se trae a colación que Jesús fue tentado y como Jesús es Dios en esencia, se sume que es igual al Padre en todo. Por lo tanto si Jesús fue tentado en la Carne en Mateo 4 también el Padre lo es, (o puede) en el relato de Job.  Esto es un movimiento astuto pero al final hueco. El Padre nunca ha sido tentado, mientras que el hijo estando en la carne si lo fue (Heb.4:15) pero sin pecado. Existe obviamente una enorme diferencia a la que no deberíamos de pisotear tan fácil.

B.    Paralelismomania verbal. Enumera paralelismos verbales como si esos fenómenos demostraran algún vinculo. Note con cuidado como se apela al significado del verbo “peraismos” y como este podría significar también “someter a prueba”.  Mientras que esto es verdadero en conexión a cada contexto en especifico, ¿Qué relación tiene esa explicación con el caso de Job? Con alevosía y ventaja se inserta en la mente del oyente que Dios no fue tentado en Job en el sentido de ser atraído al pecado sino que fue el sentido de ser puesto a prueba. Pero ¿en qué parte del libro de Job aparece la palabra “tentación”? Es claro que en ninguna parte más que en la mente llena de fabulas de algunas personas solamente. Pero en la explicación se estable un paralelismo verbal que sencillamente no existe.

C.   La falacia del hombre paja. Esta consiste en armar un argumento contrario débil para poder refutarlo mas fácilmente. Se ha dicho que Jesús fue humano y que un puñado de pasajes prueban lo real que fue su humanidad. A eso solo podemos responder amén y amén… jamás eso estaría en discusión por algún estudiante serio de la palabra porque la Biblia lo enseña. Note como un argumento débil es construido paralelamente, para distraer la mirada de la cuestión a tratar y así poder destruirlo más fácilmente dejando una impresión en el oyente de que realmente tal persona ha lidiado correctamente con la carga que tenía delante suyo.

La naturaleza de Dios impide que sea puesto en tentación. Aunque el texto en Hebreos 4 dice que Jesús fue tentado en toda la idea aquí es que hubo accesibilidad mientras él estuvo en la carne pero no que alguna de esas tentaciones llegase a él de la misma forma en la que nosotros somos atraídos. El hermano Wayne Jackson escribe “esto recuerda la declaración de Habacuc de que Jehová es de ojos más puros que para mirar el pecado (1:13). A diferencia de los dioses falsos del paganismo, Dios no se deja seducir por el mal. El Señor es perfectamente santo (Isaías 6: 3; Apocalipsis 4: 8)” (Christian Courier; God cannot be tempted).

Por su parte el hermano H. Leo Boles hace notar que en Mateo cuatro en la tentación de Jesús no es un evento que sucede espontáneamente sino que fue orquestado por el Padre cuando leemos que “el Espíritu le llevó al desierto”. El Padre seguía estando en control por lo que no, la tentación de Jesús no es igual a la nuestra. En el relato de Santiago la inspiración santa nos dice que somos atraídos a la tentación por nuestros propios deseos.

También el hermano Guy N. Woods hace una aportación magistral en su comentario a Santiago 1:13 cuando explica:

Dios está más allá de la esfera de la tentación.  El no puede ser tentado. La palabra aquí traducida no aparece en ninguna otra pare de las Escrituras, sino que es una compuesta de “a” (no) y perao, que podría significar “estar familiarizado con”, “tener experiencia en”.  Por tanto parecería que, cuando se afirma que Dios no puede ser tentado significa que no tiene experiencia en ninguna cosa mala y así sin base para la tentación. Uno que es totalmente removido del mal, jamás tendría el deseo de verlo o causar que aparezca en otros. Dios ni tienta ni es tentado.

Para concluir permítame afirmas que la naturaleza de Dios es total y absolutamente perfecta. Si Jesús estuvo sentado o caminando o corriendo en el desierto antes de la tentación es tema de discusión para aquellos que ignoran las escrituras pero aman alimentar “supuestos” para hacer parecer que la palabra de Dios es más interesante de lo que podemos llanamente leer. Roy C. Deaver dijo una vez que uno solo puede inferir aquello que se haya implicado. El Padre estuvo de acuerdo en que Jesús fuera tentado, el Espíritu también consintió y voluntariamente Jesús permitió al tentador acercarse, pues “es imposible que Dios”, (aún estando en la carne) sea atraído por el mal. Encarecidamente le exhorto amado lector a que pueda escuchar con claridad e inclusive leer con objetividad pero siempre procesar la información en el divino “filtro”. Atentar contra la naturaleza del creador es algo que no debe de ser tomado a la ligera por ninguno de nosotros. Dios nos ayude a poder manejar con precisión la palabra de verdad (2Tim.2:15)

Referencias.

Boles, Leo. (1999). Comentario del Nuevo Testamento. Nashville, TN: Gospel AdvocateCompany. Pág.77.

Jackson, Wayne.  Dios no puede ser tentado. Christian Courier.com.  Consultado el 6 de oct.de 2021.

Woods. N. Guy. (1963) Comentario del Nuevo Testamento Santiago. Nashville, TN: GospelAdvocate Company. Pág.31.

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Cheer the Death of a Newborn Infant?

Cheer the Death of a Newborn Infant?

Not too long ago, the State of New York’s legislature passed legislation that permitted a woman to abort a child up to the time of birth. The governor signed the bill into law, and the legislature cheered. Not too long after this happened, Virginia’s recently elected governor proposed something along the same line. Such news saddens me because it tells me that our society is drifting further from God each day. Who, in their right mind, would cheer the death of a newborn infant? Yet, some would cheer the death of infants seconds from being born.

cheer infant

The newborn life of an infant is something to embrace.

The so-called pro-choice movement is not really for choice at all. They don’t want women to be presented with the facts of abortion. They don’t want women to be educated as to what happens when a baby is literally ripped from the womb. When women are given the opportunity to make a real choice, they will choose life. Many women are deliberately refused access to alternate information so that the abortion will not be refused. These political panderers don’t want women to have a choice. They would lose their money. It would also take away their political power.Their power and their money depend upon their being able to legally murder babies. Shameful.

Can those who get abortions be forgiven? Yes. God will forgive. It is heartening that many women who were formerly pro-choice are now pro-life. They will, however, live with the consequences of their choices and the memories of their actions. That is a high price to pay for “sexual freedom.” God, however, can change even the leopard’s spots, and can bring someone through such difficult struggles to where real joy may once again be found. We should pray for the women of our country, our local, state, and federal governments, and for those who have had abortions that we all may be healed.

 

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Jesus’ Prayer and the Vaccinated Debate

Jesus’ Prayer and the Vaccinated Debate

I do not pray for these alone, but for those who are vaccinated, don’t take up hospital beds, and love others enough to get the booster; that they may point out how the unvaccinated are unloving and stand strong, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be divided over fleshly things in Us, that the world may know what side they are on. And the glory which You gave will be spotlighted on me when I belittle those who disagree with me and win this argument! (1 Opinions 17:20-22)

Jesus vaccine

Are you worthless in Gods eyes if you don’t get the jab?

The night Jesus went into Garden of Gethsemane to pray and was arrested, He first prayed for unity. Hopefully the “passage” above seems ludicrous and ridiculous—but consider many of the posts shared on social media compared to Jesus’ prayer:

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one” (John 17:20-22).

He prayed that we would be united—ultimately united in Christ. He wanted His followers to be one. In John 13:35 Jesus observed, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Church, it’s past time we stop living in the flesh and focus our hearts and minds on spiritual things. Two hundred years from now this virus, the vaccine, masks, and opinionated posts won’t matter. They really won’t.

I encourage Christians to abandon earthly arguments, become united, and demonstrate a love that sets us apart from the world. Spend some time meditating on Romans 8:5-9:

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”

The toughest night of His life Jesus prayed we would be united. It’s time we seek that unity together!

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