This is a topic that hits close to home with me. My wife and I do want to have children, but we currently use birth control to keep that from happening at this immediate moment. What does the Bible teach about birth control? What about conception in an 'unnatural' way (in vitro and surrogacy)? This chapter in the book is taken from material assembled by the staff at Grace Community Church.
The Bible is clear that a purpose of marriage is procreation (Genesis 1:27). Psalm 127:3-5 also states that it is a blessing to have many children. But the Bible does not specifically say whether or not a married man and woman can take measures to help determine when they will conceive children.
At its core, birth control is a means to delay pregnancy in order that a married couple can still enjoy the pleasures of sex within the marriage bed. Both children and sex are meant to glorify God. 1 Corinthians 7:5 does forbid a married couple from withholding sex from each other for an extended period of time, so that method is out as a form of birth control. A very common form of birth control, and often the most controversial in Christian circles, is 'the pill'. I will not go into detail in this post about how the pill works. For a more detailed description, visit this link here. In a nutshell, any Biblical hesitation regarding the pill would arise regarding whether the pill can kill an embryo after conception has taken place. As I read through the chapter and took in all the medical descriptions, there is no clear data that says the pill can potentially kill a fertilized egg. Again, if you want a more full description of how the pill works, visit here.
The technological advances that have taken place allow doctors to fertilize a woman's egg with a man's sperm outside of the act of sexual intercourse. While I believe there is nothing wrong with this action, the results of this action can lead to sin, namely murder. (If you haven't read my last post on abortion here, this would be a good time to do so as fertilizing eggs leads to the creation of embryos).
A common practice in in vitro fertilization is the creation of multiple embryos to be implanted in the woman's uterus a some point in the future. Often extra embryos are created. These embryos are then usually frozen for long periods of time or are even 'discarded' when the married couple no longer needs them. What we as Christians need to realize is that this embryo is as much a human being in a glass petri dish as it is inside of a mother's womb. To destroy that embryo is no different than what takes place during an abortion. Both are human beings and both situations should be considered murder.
Here are a couple good guidelines for Christians seeking to have children through the means of in vitro fertilization:
*It should not be an option for singles attempting to have children. Children were meant to be raised in a family consisting of a mother and a father within a marriage.
*It should not be an option for couples who are not married. Again, children were meant to be raised in a family consisting of a mother and a father with a marriage.
*Every embryo that is created from the mother's egg and father's sperm should be eventually implanted in the mother's womb.
*Only a healthy number of fetuses (three at most, but preferably two) should be implanted at once in a mother's womb. Any more than this often results in the death of some of the embryos.
*It is advisable to store a woman's egg and a husband's sperm separately if needed due to an upcoming medical procedure (such as radiation or chemotherapy). See the above points as to why this is advisable.
In regard to surrogacy, again, the Bible does not specifically address this issue as right or wrong. However, when a third party was involved in Scripture, it did not work out in an ideal manner. See Genesis 16 for an example. The ideal way to go for married couples unable to have children via natural method or in vitro fertilization is adoption. What better way to fulfill the command in James 1:27 to look after orphans than by adopting them into a God-loving household?
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Topic # 7: Abortion
Abortion permeates our culture today. It is estimated that as of 2008 some 45 million abortions have taken place in the United States since Roe v. Wade. 45 million babies! 45 million people would be nearly equivalent to Spain the 28th largest country in the world.
While the term 'abortion' does not occur in the Bible, God's Word is still very clear on the subject when you examine it's teachings on unborn children. Bill Shannon, a pastor at Grace Community Church, does a wonderful job in the book of compiling these verses. Here is a sample of what the Bible says about unborn babies:
*Job 10:8-12 shows that unborn babies possess human qualities
*Jeremiah 1:4-5 shows that God can work in the lives of humans before they are born
*Luke 1:41-45 shows that the unborn John the Baptist lept with joy, a human emotion, in the womb of his mother
*Psalm 51:5 even points to the fact that we are sinful beings not from birth, but from conception
There are even points in the Bible when both children and unborn infants are referred to in the same way. In the New Testament the author Luke used the same Greek work to describe an unborn baby in Luke 1:41, 44 as he used to describe a child in Acts 7:19.
The Bible makes it clear that from the moment of conception the fetus possesses human qualities and should be treated as such. Any taking of an innocent life equates to murder (Exodus 20:13).
As a church I think we know that we are to oppose abortion, but I think we lack in our understanding of how to lovingly handle the situation. Too often we forget that there are real human beings involved in the process. When we speak out against the process we too often speak out against the pregnant mothers as well. As a church we must be firm in our stance and yet provide a safe place for pregnant mothers to come when faced with the decision of abortion. Mothers who have an abortion often want to be empowered to make decisions regarding their own lives. As a church we should give them that power to make an informed decision about the tiny life growing inside of them. We ought to come beside Biblically-based organizations that seek to be a safe place for pregnant mothers. We ought to offer hope and forgiveness for mothers who have gone through an abortion.
God loves all humans: the unborn, the scared, the helpless. As the church we must never forget that and strive to love everyone with the love of God.
While the term 'abortion' does not occur in the Bible, God's Word is still very clear on the subject when you examine it's teachings on unborn children. Bill Shannon, a pastor at Grace Community Church, does a wonderful job in the book of compiling these verses. Here is a sample of what the Bible says about unborn babies:
*Job 10:8-12 shows that unborn babies possess human qualities
*Jeremiah 1:4-5 shows that God can work in the lives of humans before they are born
*Luke 1:41-45 shows that the unborn John the Baptist lept with joy, a human emotion, in the womb of his mother
*Psalm 51:5 even points to the fact that we are sinful beings not from birth, but from conception
There are even points in the Bible when both children and unborn infants are referred to in the same way. In the New Testament the author Luke used the same Greek work to describe an unborn baby in Luke 1:41, 44 as he used to describe a child in Acts 7:19.
The Bible makes it clear that from the moment of conception the fetus possesses human qualities and should be treated as such. Any taking of an innocent life equates to murder (Exodus 20:13).
As a church I think we know that we are to oppose abortion, but I think we lack in our understanding of how to lovingly handle the situation. Too often we forget that there are real human beings involved in the process. When we speak out against the process we too often speak out against the pregnant mothers as well. As a church we must be firm in our stance and yet provide a safe place for pregnant mothers to come when faced with the decision of abortion. Mothers who have an abortion often want to be empowered to make decisions regarding their own lives. As a church we should give them that power to make an informed decision about the tiny life growing inside of them. We ought to come beside Biblically-based organizations that seek to be a safe place for pregnant mothers. We ought to offer hope and forgiveness for mothers who have gone through an abortion.
God loves all humans: the unborn, the scared, the helpless. As the church we must never forget that and strive to love everyone with the love of God.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Topic #6: Divorce and Remarriage
This is a topic that is very tempting to skip over. I'm sure every person who reads this post has been touched by divorce in some way or another. Teaching the Biblical stance on divorce can be a very touchy subject because of the many emotions involved. This chapter of the book was adapted from a booklet Grace Community Church put together about divorce and remarriage.
The first thing we must know is that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:14-16), just like God hates lying, stealing, and any other sin. Divorce only exists because of sin within human beings. So naturally, removing sin would equate to the removal of divorce as well.
Marriage was meant to be permanent (Genesis 2:24). Divorce is allowed Biblically only on two grounds. The first is due to sexual sin and the second is when a believing person is basically deserted by his/her unbelieving spouse. Even in these two circumstances divorce is to be the last option.
It can be tricky to discern where domestic abuse falls into this discussion (especially between professing Christians). Under no circumstance should a man or woman remain in a relationship that places his or her life in danger. If the abusive spouse consistently acts in this manner and refuses to change, he or she is to be treated as an unbeliever (see Matthew 18:15-17). An unbeliever who continually abuses his or her spouse has basically deserted his or her spouse, so wouldn't the grounds for Biblically allowed divorce come into play?
Here is where it gets sticky for me: remarriage when dealing with divorcees. The Bible seems to be quite clear that anyone who divorces for a reason other than Biblical grounds commits adultery when marrying another person (Mark 10:11-12). Paul even says that such a person ought to stay unmarried (1 Corinthians 7:10-11).
Now, it's not that God cannot work through a marriage formed under the circumstances mentioned above. God works through me and I am a sinner through and through. But what God desires is clearly mentioned. The ideal situation would be for the divorced parties to repent and eventually be reconciled to each other.
We need to look no further than God himself to see a picture of this. Many times in the Bible marriage is shown to represent God's relationship with humans. In the Old Testament God entered into a covenant relationship with the Israelites. However, they broke that covenant by committing adultery with other gods (Jeremiah 3:6-9). They were then divorced (exiled) for a time. The purpose of that exile was not to be lasting. They were sent into exile so that they might realize their sins, repent of them, and return to God in order to be fully restored. During that time God did not enter into a new covenant with another nation. He waited until the time arose for them to be reconciled back to each other.
We would do well in today's world to treat marriage, divorce, and remarriage in a Biblical manner.
The first thing we must know is that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:14-16), just like God hates lying, stealing, and any other sin. Divorce only exists because of sin within human beings. So naturally, removing sin would equate to the removal of divorce as well.
Marriage was meant to be permanent (Genesis 2:24). Divorce is allowed Biblically only on two grounds. The first is due to sexual sin and the second is when a believing person is basically deserted by his/her unbelieving spouse. Even in these two circumstances divorce is to be the last option.
It can be tricky to discern where domestic abuse falls into this discussion (especially between professing Christians). Under no circumstance should a man or woman remain in a relationship that places his or her life in danger. If the abusive spouse consistently acts in this manner and refuses to change, he or she is to be treated as an unbeliever (see Matthew 18:15-17). An unbeliever who continually abuses his or her spouse has basically deserted his or her spouse, so wouldn't the grounds for Biblically allowed divorce come into play?
Here is where it gets sticky for me: remarriage when dealing with divorcees. The Bible seems to be quite clear that anyone who divorces for a reason other than Biblical grounds commits adultery when marrying another person (Mark 10:11-12). Paul even says that such a person ought to stay unmarried (1 Corinthians 7:10-11).
Now, it's not that God cannot work through a marriage formed under the circumstances mentioned above. God works through me and I am a sinner through and through. But what God desires is clearly mentioned. The ideal situation would be for the divorced parties to repent and eventually be reconciled to each other.
We need to look no further than God himself to see a picture of this. Many times in the Bible marriage is shown to represent God's relationship with humans. In the Old Testament God entered into a covenant relationship with the Israelites. However, they broke that covenant by committing adultery with other gods (Jeremiah 3:6-9). They were then divorced (exiled) for a time. The purpose of that exile was not to be lasting. They were sent into exile so that they might realize their sins, repent of them, and return to God in order to be fully restored. During that time God did not enter into a new covenant with another nation. He waited until the time arose for them to be reconciled back to each other.
We would do well in today's world to treat marriage, divorce, and remarriage in a Biblical manner.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Topic #5: Idols in America
It is probably safe to say that there are things about ourselves that we wish we a little different. And in the world we live in today it is extremely easy to find someone who possesses a little of what we desire. The temptation, though, is to place those people on a pedestal. In chapter 5 of the book Tom Patton, another pastor at Grace Community Church, tells about the problem of idol worship in our country.
It's easy to read the first few commandments and assure ourselves that there are no images of gold or silver set up in our houses that we worship. But do we ever place other people in a place where we worship them? Or do we possibly set ourselves up in that place of worship?
What used to be the American dream has changed just a bit. It used to be that the American dream involved a loving family, big house, new car, and the best job possible. Now fame has been added to that dream. It is everyone's desire to have at least a few minutes of fame.
Look at the fads on the Internet today. Youtube, Facebook, Myspace, and even this blog of mine can very easily be all about me trying to make myself more well known. Basically if I'm living the American dream, but nobody knows about it, it is then a waste of time. It seems that we have grown tired of trying to emulate others who've failed us time and time again. In response we place ourselves 'out there' in a way that hopefully causes people to envy our own situation and maybe even strive to be more like us.
King Solomon summed up the problem of living for different idols in this lifetime. He tried living for pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1-3), hard work (Ecclesiastes 2:4-6), material possessions (Ecclesiastes 2:7-8), popularity (Ecclesiastes 2:9-10), and wisdom (Ecclesiastes 2:12-14). In the end he discovered that the only thing worth while was found in God (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26).
Basically, we will never be satisfied with who we are until we discover who God wants us to be and strive towards that. Everything in the world that so briefly fills the God's shaped hole within us will eventually pass away, leaving us empty yet again.
It's easy to read the first few commandments and assure ourselves that there are no images of gold or silver set up in our houses that we worship. But do we ever place other people in a place where we worship them? Or do we possibly set ourselves up in that place of worship?
What used to be the American dream has changed just a bit. It used to be that the American dream involved a loving family, big house, new car, and the best job possible. Now fame has been added to that dream. It is everyone's desire to have at least a few minutes of fame.
Look at the fads on the Internet today. Youtube, Facebook, Myspace, and even this blog of mine can very easily be all about me trying to make myself more well known. Basically if I'm living the American dream, but nobody knows about it, it is then a waste of time. It seems that we have grown tired of trying to emulate others who've failed us time and time again. In response we place ourselves 'out there' in a way that hopefully causes people to envy our own situation and maybe even strive to be more like us.
King Solomon summed up the problem of living for different idols in this lifetime. He tried living for pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1-3), hard work (Ecclesiastes 2:4-6), material possessions (Ecclesiastes 2:7-8), popularity (Ecclesiastes 2:9-10), and wisdom (Ecclesiastes 2:12-14). In the end he discovered that the only thing worth while was found in God (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26).
Basically, we will never be satisfied with who we are until we discover who God wants us to be and strive towards that. Everything in the world that so briefly fills the God's shaped hole within us will eventually pass away, leaving us empty yet again.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Topic #4: Media Consumption
This is a topic that probably increases in importance with each passing day. Advancing technology allows us to access media in more ways today than ever before. It us to be the newspaper, then the radio, then the television, and away we went. Now it is absolutely essential that we as Christians monitor what we take in and, if we are parents, what our children take in.
Kurt Gebhards tackles this tough topic of media in chapter 4 of the book. Perhaps we wouldn't have to examine media at all if it weren't saturated with sinful content. But it is, and so we will.
A common theme in the Bible is that Christians are to do everything possible to avoid sin. 1 Corinthians 6:15-20, Proverbs 22:3, 2 Timothy 2:22, Psalm 101:3, and 2 Peter 2:20 are just some of the examples. The media placed before us often times glorifies sin and neglects the consequences that come as a result. Constantly listening to this message can distort our thinking and lead us down paths we were never meant to follow.
Even media with little to no sinful content can be a waste of our God-given time on earth (Psalm 90:12). We have no idea how many days we have left. I can only imagine standing before God bragging that I have seen every Christian movie ever made. I'm sure that he would look back at me and assure me there were other plans he had for my life.
And while we must be careful to monitor what goes into our minds, parents also need to take responsibility for the media placed in front of their children. I love a quote made by the author in this chapter: "In a culture where parents excel at sanitizing little hands, bandaging little cuts, and vaccinating little immune systems, we must not neglect the spiritual well-being of little eyes, ears, and hearts."
It is alright to tell a son he can't have a television in his room. It is acceptable not to allow a daughter to have an Internet-enabled computer in her room. As parents we have the right, no, the responsibility, at times to keep things away from our children than will tempt them to sin.
This doesn't mean we make their decisions for them for the rest of their lives. We need to teach them to examine these things for themselves. But I can't imagine teaching my son to swim by throwing him in the pool in the backyard while I ran an errand. Or teaching my daughter to drive by sleeping the back seat while she navigated the busy interstate. No, we were there with them, teaching them, when the time was right. A 2-year-old is not ready to learn to swim. A 9-year-old is not ready to drive a car. And yet, how often do we place our kids in situations regarding media that they aren't mature enough to handle?
Kurt Gebhards tackles this tough topic of media in chapter 4 of the book. Perhaps we wouldn't have to examine media at all if it weren't saturated with sinful content. But it is, and so we will.
A common theme in the Bible is that Christians are to do everything possible to avoid sin. 1 Corinthians 6:15-20, Proverbs 22:3, 2 Timothy 2:22, Psalm 101:3, and 2 Peter 2:20 are just some of the examples. The media placed before us often times glorifies sin and neglects the consequences that come as a result. Constantly listening to this message can distort our thinking and lead us down paths we were never meant to follow.
Even media with little to no sinful content can be a waste of our God-given time on earth (Psalm 90:12). We have no idea how many days we have left. I can only imagine standing before God bragging that I have seen every Christian movie ever made. I'm sure that he would look back at me and assure me there were other plans he had for my life.
And while we must be careful to monitor what goes into our minds, parents also need to take responsibility for the media placed in front of their children. I love a quote made by the author in this chapter: "In a culture where parents excel at sanitizing little hands, bandaging little cuts, and vaccinating little immune systems, we must not neglect the spiritual well-being of little eyes, ears, and hearts."
It is alright to tell a son he can't have a television in his room. It is acceptable not to allow a daughter to have an Internet-enabled computer in her room. As parents we have the right, no, the responsibility, at times to keep things away from our children than will tempt them to sin.
This doesn't mean we make their decisions for them for the rest of their lives. We need to teach them to examine these things for themselves. But I can't imagine teaching my son to swim by throwing him in the pool in the backyard while I ran an errand. Or teaching my daughter to drive by sleeping the back seat while she navigated the busy interstate. No, we were there with them, teaching them, when the time was right. A 2-year-old is not ready to learn to swim. A 9-year-old is not ready to drive a car. And yet, how often do we place our kids in situations regarding media that they aren't mature enough to handle?
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Topic #3: Video Games
If there is anyone who sees the influence of video games, I can as a male who's somewhat recently graduated from college and who works with teens. Video games are a huge part of life for many teens in today's world. In this chapter of the book Austin Duncan, high school pastor at Grace Community Church, cites a study that found that video games are pervasive among all teens, showing no significant difference between ethnicity or income level. But as Christians how should we handle this topic?
When we talk about video games we must break the discussion into two parts: the content of video games and the actual playing of video games.
Easiest first: content. As video games have evolved (we've come a long way since Pong) they have become increasingly realistic and graphic. Many video games exist that promote theft, murder, drug use, and adultery. Not only are they present in many games but in some you are required to do them to advance in the game! Clearly this should be setting off bells and whistles in a Christian's mind. Just because these games are 'fantasy' doesn't mean that it becomes alright for us gratify the desires of our sinful nature in some fictional universe. Philippians 4:8 makes it very clear as to what we should set our mind on. Also, James 1:13-15 gives a very clear picture of the progression of sin in our lives...
First, there is the temptation to sin
Second, there is the enticement to sin
Third, there is the desire/intent to sin
Fourth, there is the action of sin
In order to keep away from number 4 we must strive to keep ourselves from number 1. There is great temptation and enticement to sin when there are no consequences, as is often seen in video games. What starts as seemingly innocent in a fantasy world can quickly give birth to sin and death in the real world.
Now to address all of us, whether we spend our time playing anything from morally questionable games to solitaire or pinball. We must understand that our time on this earth is precious. Not one of us knows how much more of it we have. That being said, we must look at our video game habits and question whether or not they are a good use of our God-given time (see Psalm 90:12). Again, not that video games are inherently evil. (There are times in the office where my brain just won't kick into gear. I've found that a quick Sudoku puzzle can get the juices flowing.) But when we spend 5, 10, or even 40 hours a week playing a video game, we must look at it from God's perspective. There are so many people on earth who we are called to love. How are we able to do that when seated in front of a glowing screen? As Christians there has to be a point where we look at a video game and say, "There is something of more eternal value that I could be doing right now."
Teens: are we willing to put the controller down and see what God might have for us in reality? Parents: are we willing to put our foot down and limit our children's video game playing? Adults: are we willing to stop and ask God how he might want us to use that time or money we've been giving to video games?
When we talk about video games we must break the discussion into two parts: the content of video games and the actual playing of video games.
Easiest first: content. As video games have evolved (we've come a long way since Pong) they have become increasingly realistic and graphic. Many video games exist that promote theft, murder, drug use, and adultery. Not only are they present in many games but in some you are required to do them to advance in the game! Clearly this should be setting off bells and whistles in a Christian's mind. Just because these games are 'fantasy' doesn't mean that it becomes alright for us gratify the desires of our sinful nature in some fictional universe. Philippians 4:8 makes it very clear as to what we should set our mind on. Also, James 1:13-15 gives a very clear picture of the progression of sin in our lives...
First, there is the temptation to sin
Second, there is the enticement to sin
Third, there is the desire/intent to sin
Fourth, there is the action of sin
In order to keep away from number 4 we must strive to keep ourselves from number 1. There is great temptation and enticement to sin when there are no consequences, as is often seen in video games. What starts as seemingly innocent in a fantasy world can quickly give birth to sin and death in the real world.
Now to address all of us, whether we spend our time playing anything from morally questionable games to solitaire or pinball. We must understand that our time on this earth is precious. Not one of us knows how much more of it we have. That being said, we must look at our video game habits and question whether or not they are a good use of our God-given time (see Psalm 90:12). Again, not that video games are inherently evil. (There are times in the office where my brain just won't kick into gear. I've found that a quick Sudoku puzzle can get the juices flowing.) But when we spend 5, 10, or even 40 hours a week playing a video game, we must look at it from God's perspective. There are so many people on earth who we are called to love. How are we able to do that when seated in front of a glowing screen? As Christians there has to be a point where we look at a video game and say, "There is something of more eternal value that I could be doing right now."
Teens: are we willing to put the controller down and see what God might have for us in reality? Parents: are we willing to put our foot down and limit our children's video game playing? Adults: are we willing to stop and ask God how he might want us to use that time or money we've been giving to video games?
Friday, December 18, 2009
Topic #2: Internet Dating
I was somewhat debating whether to skip over this topic, but since this has been a huge area of growth on the Internet lately I thought I better read up. This is obviously an area that is not addressed directly in the Bible. The closest we get is when the disciples catch fish 'in-the-net'. Okay, so that was a bad joke. Marching on...How should we as Christians respond to Internet dating and online 'match-making' companies?
The author of this chapter of the book (Rick Holland, executive pastor at Grace Community Church) brings a couple good points to mind. First, does increased compatibility lead to automatic success in a relationship? After all, what the websites base matches on seem to come strictly down to compatibility. But the Bible never mentions compatibility in relationships. In fact, marriage is to be an earthly picture of the relationship between God and humans. Did God choose to give his Son for us because we are compatible? I don't think that was the case. It seems to me that Jesus came to earth solely because of love.
Now, I wouldn't say compatibility is evil or unrealistic. Every couple has some degree of compatibility. But I wouldn't base a relationship solely on it. In order for a marriage to work (which is exciting that I'm beginning to have credibility in this area, coming up on 3 years of marriage) the couple must choose to love and serve each other. Simple enough. And it's also the picture of the relationship we are to have with God, loving and serving him.
Second, the other thing to be cautious of when dating online is accountability, or lack thereof. Rick states that in a healthy face-to-face relationship the couple interacts with many other people and those people can observe the growing relationship. Advice and/or warning can then be given to the couple as needed. But online there is no one that 'has your back'. An extra measure of precaution needs to be taken in those instances.
Online dating reminds me a bit of in vitro fertilization or test tube babies. At the outset it wasn't commonplace for babies to be conceived in that 'unnatural' way. That doesn't mean there was anything inherently evil or wrong about it. Today it has grown into a common and accepted form of conception. I imagine online dating will evolve in much the same way in the future.
The author of this chapter of the book (Rick Holland, executive pastor at Grace Community Church) brings a couple good points to mind. First, does increased compatibility lead to automatic success in a relationship? After all, what the websites base matches on seem to come strictly down to compatibility. But the Bible never mentions compatibility in relationships. In fact, marriage is to be an earthly picture of the relationship between God and humans. Did God choose to give his Son for us because we are compatible? I don't think that was the case. It seems to me that Jesus came to earth solely because of love.
Now, I wouldn't say compatibility is evil or unrealistic. Every couple has some degree of compatibility. But I wouldn't base a relationship solely on it. In order for a marriage to work (which is exciting that I'm beginning to have credibility in this area, coming up on 3 years of marriage) the couple must choose to love and serve each other. Simple enough. And it's also the picture of the relationship we are to have with God, loving and serving him.
Second, the other thing to be cautious of when dating online is accountability, or lack thereof. Rick states that in a healthy face-to-face relationship the couple interacts with many other people and those people can observe the growing relationship. Advice and/or warning can then be given to the couple as needed. But online there is no one that 'has your back'. An extra measure of precaution needs to be taken in those instances.
Online dating reminds me a bit of in vitro fertilization or test tube babies. At the outset it wasn't commonplace for babies to be conceived in that 'unnatural' way. That doesn't mean there was anything inherently evil or wrong about it. Today it has grown into a common and accepted form of conception. I imagine online dating will evolve in much the same way in the future.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Topic #1: Entertainment
John MacArthur begins the book by tackling a broad topic. Entertainment can range from anything like movies, to music, to video games, to knitting. As we look at this topic we must understand that entertainment in and of itself is not evil. However, it sure can lead us down the wrong path if we aren't careful.
We must understand that as humans we are not created to be entertained. If so, God would have a show like no other out in the sky each evening for us to watch...wait, maybe he already does. :) The miracles Jesus performed were never to amuse people or excite them. They were to help bring them to faith in God and reveal a little more about who he was.
When we are faced with a decision regarding entertainment we should ask a few questions (straight from John MacArthur):
1. Will this activity produce spiritual benefit? (1 Corinthians 10:23)
2. Will this activity lead to spiritual bondage? (1 Corinthians 6:12)
3. Will this activity expose my mind or body to defilement? (Philippians 4:8)
4. Will this activity benefit others, or cause them to stumble? (1 Corinthians 8:8-9)
5. Will this activity further the cause of the gospel? (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
6. Will this activity violate my conscience? (Romans 14:23)
7. Will this activity bring glory to God? (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Think about the last time you did something purely for entertainment. Now run that thing through this series of questions. How does it stack up?
Odds are most entertainment placed before us in our culture has at least a hint of evil in it. But what if I were to find something wholesome with which to entertain myself. Golf, for example. I like to golf. It is good exercise and allows me to get outside and have fun. But if I spend 3 hours on the golf course by myself, how does that mesh with question #5? Could I have spent those 3 hours in a better way? Probably. Does that mean that I should not have gone? Thoughts?...
We must understand that as humans we are not created to be entertained. If so, God would have a show like no other out in the sky each evening for us to watch...wait, maybe he already does. :) The miracles Jesus performed were never to amuse people or excite them. They were to help bring them to faith in God and reveal a little more about who he was.
When we are faced with a decision regarding entertainment we should ask a few questions (straight from John MacArthur):
1. Will this activity produce spiritual benefit? (1 Corinthians 10:23)
2. Will this activity lead to spiritual bondage? (1 Corinthians 6:12)
3. Will this activity expose my mind or body to defilement? (Philippians 4:8)
4. Will this activity benefit others, or cause them to stumble? (1 Corinthians 8:8-9)
5. Will this activity further the cause of the gospel? (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
6. Will this activity violate my conscience? (Romans 14:23)
7. Will this activity bring glory to God? (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Think about the last time you did something purely for entertainment. Now run that thing through this series of questions. How does it stack up?
Odds are most entertainment placed before us in our culture has at least a hint of evil in it. But what if I were to find something wholesome with which to entertain myself. Golf, for example. I like to golf. It is good exercise and allows me to get outside and have fun. But if I spend 3 hours on the golf course by myself, how does that mesh with question #5? Could I have spent those 3 hours in a better way? Probably. Does that mean that I should not have gone? Thoughts?...
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Controversial Issues
I've recently started a book spearheaded by John MacArthur entitled Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong. In the book John and others from Grace Community Church (where he is a pastor) tackle different issues that Christians face in our world today. They look at the issues from a Biblical perspective and encourage Christians to pause and decide for themselves what their response will be.As I read through the book I will highlight each issue and give a short summary along with my thoughts. This will allow me to clarify my thoughts and also give you an opportunity to dialogue along with me. So get those responses ready and feel free to post them.
Warning: There are nearly 20 issues covered in the book so this may be a longer series. Yet I feel it will be a good one...
Friday, December 11, 2009
True Christmas Story
December 25th get closer with each passing day. Empty space below Christmas trees disappears. Cookies are being baked by the billions. Credit cards are being maxed out everywhere.
Welcome to America's version of Christmas. It's a holiday that centers around spending lots of money, spending time with family you may or may not get along with, and gaining an extra 5 or 10 pounds. But what does all of that have to do with the reason we celebrate Christmas? Do we really know what happened on that night over 2,000 years ago?
A powerful and refreshing way to read the Christmas story is to place yourself in either Joseph's or Mary's sandals, depending on your gender. As you read, ask yourself these questions:
Girls: What would you think if you found out you were going to have a baby, yet have never had sex? How would you convince your friends and family you really were still a virgin?
Guys: What would you think if your fiance was pregnant and you hadn't had sex with her? Would your feelings for her change?
Girls: Imagine being pregnant and traveling 90 miles via donkey or camel or whatever animal it was simply to take part in a census.
Guys: Imagine traveling 90 miles with a pregnant woman on a donkey or camel or whatever animal it was.
Girls: Imagine being 9 months pregnant and sleeping in a cold, smelly barn with all the animals.
Guys: Imagine sleeping in a barn with a 9-month pregnant woman.
Guys and Girls: Imagine your son being worshipped right before your eyes.
Guys and Girls: Imagine your son in danger of being killed by a decree from the king.
When we place ourselves in their sandals we see that this was a pretty intense story. Joseph and Mary must have been incredibly grounded in their faith to make it through everything that came at them.
But above all that, the God of the universe came to earth as a baby. He gave up so much to live a human life. The One who provides for everyone in history needed to rely completely on his parents to provide for him. What irony.
Fun facts about Christmas:
*Nowhere in the Bible does it mention that there were 3 wisemen. I guess we just assume there were because the Bible mentions 3 gifts being given to Jesus. There could have been 50 for all we know.
*The wisemen did not come see Jesus as an infant in a manger. They came to a house to see a child, probably 2 years after Jesus was born. (Contrary to every nativity scene ever made)
*The angel didn't tell Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem, Caesar did.
Welcome to America's version of Christmas. It's a holiday that centers around spending lots of money, spending time with family you may or may not get along with, and gaining an extra 5 or 10 pounds. But what does all of that have to do with the reason we celebrate Christmas? Do we really know what happened on that night over 2,000 years ago?
A powerful and refreshing way to read the Christmas story is to place yourself in either Joseph's or Mary's sandals, depending on your gender. As you read, ask yourself these questions:
Girls: What would you think if you found out you were going to have a baby, yet have never had sex? How would you convince your friends and family you really were still a virgin?
Guys: What would you think if your fiance was pregnant and you hadn't had sex with her? Would your feelings for her change?
Girls: Imagine being pregnant and traveling 90 miles via donkey or camel or whatever animal it was simply to take part in a census.
Guys: Imagine traveling 90 miles with a pregnant woman on a donkey or camel or whatever animal it was.
Girls: Imagine being 9 months pregnant and sleeping in a cold, smelly barn with all the animals.
Guys: Imagine sleeping in a barn with a 9-month pregnant woman.
Guys and Girls: Imagine your son being worshipped right before your eyes.
Guys and Girls: Imagine your son in danger of being killed by a decree from the king.
When we place ourselves in their sandals we see that this was a pretty intense story. Joseph and Mary must have been incredibly grounded in their faith to make it through everything that came at them.
But above all that, the God of the universe came to earth as a baby. He gave up so much to live a human life. The One who provides for everyone in history needed to rely completely on his parents to provide for him. What irony.
Fun facts about Christmas:
*Nowhere in the Bible does it mention that there were 3 wisemen. I guess we just assume there were because the Bible mentions 3 gifts being given to Jesus. There could have been 50 for all we know.
*The wisemen did not come see Jesus as an infant in a manger. They came to a house to see a child, probably 2 years after Jesus was born. (Contrary to every nativity scene ever made)
*The angel didn't tell Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem, Caesar did.
Friday, December 04, 2009
Jesus is a human, just like you!
As the calendar turns to December (or if you're in retail...October) our thoughts turn more to the upcoming Christmas holiday. It's a wonderful time to celebrate the fact that God himself came to earth as a baby and spent his next 33 years or so showing how to live life to the full.
In youth group this week we took time to examine just what it means that Jesus became a human. Now, first we must establish that when Jesus came to earth he did not simply dwell inside the shell of a human body. Jesus was a human (and actually still is). Everything about him was human. These next two stories tell us very clearly that Jesus dealt with many things that we as humans deal with.
In Luke 4:1-13 we read the story of Jesus being tempted by Satan. I won't go into detail but it is quite obvious that Jesus was tempted during his life on earth (and not only that but he was tempted after not having eaten for 40 days!). When we are faced with temptation in our lives, we can go to God and know that he knows firsthand what we are going through.
While Jesus might not have experienced the exact same temptation you face down to the smallest detail, he was tempted and does know what that's like. Just because Jesus didn't have to stand up to temptation coming from an adulterous Internet website doesn't mean that he wasn't ever tempted by beautiful women. Rest assured that even if he hasn't faced the exact same temptation as you, he has still dealt with the emotions that are present. And besides...when was the last time you were tempted by Satan HIMSELF? That's what I thought...
We also see a great picture of the humanity of Jesus in John 11:1-44. This is the story of Jesus and Lazarus. Jesus is good friends with Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. When Lazarus dies Jesus comes to the family and deals with some very real emotions. He deals with sorrow when he sees humans wrestling through the concept of death (something we were never meant to experience). He maybe deals with some pain as Mary and Martha get on his back about taking too long to get there. The fact is: the emotions Jesus felt were very real. When you experience emotions in your life you can go to Jesus and know that when he says, "I know how you feel," he really means it.
These aren't the only emotions Jesus experienced. Jesus dealt with a close friend betraying him (Mark 14:43-52), his best friends abandoning him (Mark 14:50; Mark 14:66-72), and even crowds of people wanting to kill him (Mark 15:1-15).
Bottom line: Jesus came to earth and experienced humanity to the fullest. He was not spared from any human emotion during his life. we can approach Jesus with anything and know that not only does he know what we are going through, he also knows what it's like to go through that.
Some questions to help you stretch your picture of Jesus:
-Can you picture Jesus sweating?
-Is it possible Jesus didn't like certain foods, even though he created them?
-Can you picture a physically unattractive Jesus?
-Is it possible James (Jesus' brother) beat him in a footrace?
In youth group this week we took time to examine just what it means that Jesus became a human. Now, first we must establish that when Jesus came to earth he did not simply dwell inside the shell of a human body. Jesus was a human (and actually still is). Everything about him was human. These next two stories tell us very clearly that Jesus dealt with many things that we as humans deal with.
In Luke 4:1-13 we read the story of Jesus being tempted by Satan. I won't go into detail but it is quite obvious that Jesus was tempted during his life on earth (and not only that but he was tempted after not having eaten for 40 days!). When we are faced with temptation in our lives, we can go to God and know that he knows firsthand what we are going through.
While Jesus might not have experienced the exact same temptation you face down to the smallest detail, he was tempted and does know what that's like. Just because Jesus didn't have to stand up to temptation coming from an adulterous Internet website doesn't mean that he wasn't ever tempted by beautiful women. Rest assured that even if he hasn't faced the exact same temptation as you, he has still dealt with the emotions that are present. And besides...when was the last time you were tempted by Satan HIMSELF? That's what I thought...
We also see a great picture of the humanity of Jesus in John 11:1-44. This is the story of Jesus and Lazarus. Jesus is good friends with Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. When Lazarus dies Jesus comes to the family and deals with some very real emotions. He deals with sorrow when he sees humans wrestling through the concept of death (something we were never meant to experience). He maybe deals with some pain as Mary and Martha get on his back about taking too long to get there. The fact is: the emotions Jesus felt were very real. When you experience emotions in your life you can go to Jesus and know that when he says, "I know how you feel," he really means it.
These aren't the only emotions Jesus experienced. Jesus dealt with a close friend betraying him (Mark 14:43-52), his best friends abandoning him (Mark 14:50; Mark 14:66-72), and even crowds of people wanting to kill him (Mark 15:1-15).
Bottom line: Jesus came to earth and experienced humanity to the fullest. He was not spared from any human emotion during his life. we can approach Jesus with anything and know that not only does he know what we are going through, he also knows what it's like to go through that.
Some questions to help you stretch your picture of Jesus:
-Can you picture Jesus sweating?
-Is it possible Jesus didn't like certain foods, even though he created them?
-Can you picture a physically unattractive Jesus?
-Is it possible James (Jesus' brother) beat him in a footrace?
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