I recently endorsed the movie Schindler’s List in a Facebook entry, recounting how the story moved me with sympathy about the past. (Not to mention vigilance about the future!) I still believe that in that context it is a great movie, one of the classics. But in hindsight, I’m sorry I made the endorsement because of the potential it can have for some to be misled.
In 1st Corinthians 10:23-33, (quoted below) the Apostle Paul admonishes Christians to consider what they do in the light of whether it will make other people stumble into sin. As Christians we are to follow the moral character of God through the power of the Holy Spirit within us. And we are not bound by the ritual obligations of the Old Testament concerning certain foods being ceremonially clean or unclean, because what matters is faith working through love. The Christians in Corinth understood this and would freely eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols in pagan temples, because they no longer worshipped idols, and they simply saw the meat as a provision from God, not an element of pagan worship.
However, Paul cautioned the Corinthians, that while they have liberty in Christ to eat meat that had been offered to idols, engaging that freedom around those who did not understand their freedom could cause some to think that Christians were hypocritical. It would appear that while they claim to only follow Christ, they are actually worshipping idols on the side. This could hinder some from believing the gospel. For those who might be tempted to eat that meat as an act of homage to an idol, it could cause them to follow suit and justify their actions based on what they saw a Corinthian Christian doing.
What does that have to do with Schindler’s List, which I praised the other day? Well, I mentioned skipping past certain scenes (that involved nudity). The nudity in that movie frankly is not a temptation to me. I’ve skipped past it when watching and never feel any desire to play it with the intention of viewing those scenes. But there are those for whom those scenes would be a genuine temptation. They may hesitate to skip them and find themselves not only committing adultery in their thoughts while viewing, but even afterwards re-imagining those scenes and further falling into sin. There may even be other movies with such scenes, not so noble as Schindler, which they may then feel licensed to watch. And I would never want to have been an accomplice to have placed that stumbling block in their path.
There are so many resources that tell the full horror of the holocaust without having to deal with those dangers. A visit to the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. can leave one literally stunned by the impact. While Schindler’s List tells a powerful story, it can also be a powerful temptation for some to sin against the holiness in which the Lord Jesus has called us to walk. I would like to therefore apologize to anyone who may have been misled by my comments. For those reasons, in order to underscore my sincerity, I’m also going to dispose of my copy, lest anyone point to my possession of it as justification for not dealing with temptation in their life. Realize, it’s not a legal requirement for me to do so. But it is an act of love in the context of the passage I’ve just quoted.
1 Cor 10:23-33
23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake; 26 for "the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness." 27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness." 29 Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? 30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? 31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
The Gay Gene (or the absence thereof)
Apparently the American Psychological Association has reversed its position on whether there is a "gay gene." You can read their statement at http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=528376
In it, they say "Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors."
I believe that statement can be helpful in a couple of ways. First it removes a hindrance to faith for those who want to change but wonder if change is possible. For those who don't want to change, it removes a barrier to hide behind in justifying their actions.
The bottom line however is that without regeneration we are slaves to sin. With regeneration, through faith we are being transformed from glory to glory, encouraged by the promise of ultimately being conformed to Christ.
The presence or absence of particular sexual desires is not the main issue. Our submission of those desires to the obedience of God's Word is the issue, and we are called to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. This applies to all people, regardless of their "orientation." Thus homosexual desires, no matter how daunting, must be mortified with Christ. Adulterous desires, no matter how romantic to one's flesh, must be put to death. As so many have sung, we are "crucified with Christ" and it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us. That is our hope for victory.
In it, they say "Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors."
I believe that statement can be helpful in a couple of ways. First it removes a hindrance to faith for those who want to change but wonder if change is possible. For those who don't want to change, it removes a barrier to hide behind in justifying their actions.
The bottom line however is that without regeneration we are slaves to sin. With regeneration, through faith we are being transformed from glory to glory, encouraged by the promise of ultimately being conformed to Christ.
The presence or absence of particular sexual desires is not the main issue. Our submission of those desires to the obedience of God's Word is the issue, and we are called to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. This applies to all people, regardless of their "orientation." Thus homosexual desires, no matter how daunting, must be mortified with Christ. Adulterous desires, no matter how romantic to one's flesh, must be put to death. As so many have sung, we are "crucified with Christ" and it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us. That is our hope for victory.
Friday, August 14, 2009
What Is Worship?
What is worship? I was singing the song today, “Here I Am To Worship,” and I thought of the great worshippers throughout the world and in history. I thought of Christians in poverty stricken countries without all the electronic gadgets and toys we are so distracted by; for whom a meal is a treasure and a full meal a dream, who face possible imprisonment or execution for their faith. And I wondered “What must their worship be like!” I thought of the great men of the church through the ages like William Tyndale, who as he was being fastened to the stake to be burned for heresy, shouted “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes!” They strangled him at the stake to shut him up, then burned his dead body, but his words were heard around the world and even today. What kind of a worshipper was he? How passionate was his heart when he would go into the closet for prayer? And when I present myself before the Lord, and sing the words “Here I Am To Worship,” do I even do justice to my prayer?
As I walked down the hall thinking of this I saw the painting of Simon holding the infant Jesus in the Temple. I saw the lines in his face, and the anguished joy bringing tears to his cheeks as he held in his very arms, the Light of the World. Worship in one sense is to see God for Who He is, and to be changed by what we see. Yes, it is even more than that, but how must Simon have been changed by that experience? What were his prayers like afterwards, before the Lord finally took him home, (for as he said in that moment “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation”)
How does my worship, especially my private worship, fill up the measure of that very word “Worship?”
As I walked down the hall thinking of this I saw the painting of Simon holding the infant Jesus in the Temple. I saw the lines in his face, and the anguished joy bringing tears to his cheeks as he held in his very arms, the Light of the World. Worship in one sense is to see God for Who He is, and to be changed by what we see. Yes, it is even more than that, but how must Simon have been changed by that experience? What were his prayers like afterwards, before the Lord finally took him home, (for as he said in that moment “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation”)
How does my worship, especially my private worship, fill up the measure of that very word “Worship?”
"Hands On" Parenting
Matt 19:13-15
13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
Mark 10:16
16 And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.
It is a good thing obviously to pray for our children; to clothe them with our prayers for protection and godliness; that the Lord would “keep” them throughout the day, and bless them with pleasant happenings. In fact, woe to us if don’t pray for them, as it is a dangerous world out there. But we have a daily opportunity to take that to another level, and give our children a precious treasure that they may be missing.
In this passage, parents brought their children to Jesus greatly desiring Him to lay His hands on them and bless them. And the Lord was delighted to do so, even in the face of His disciples’ misguided protests. The hope was that through the laying on if His hands with prayer, that a tangible blessing would be imparted to them from God. And there is much Scriptural support for this very thing.
In Genesis, Israel blessed his grandchildren Ephraim and Manasseh by laying his hands upon their heads. Jesus healed the sick by the laying on of His hands (Luke 4:40) and exhorted His followers to do the same (Mark 16:18). In the Book of Acts the fullness of the Holy Spirit was given to people through the laying on of hands (Acts 19:6)
What a great opportunity we have each day to give a blessing to our children before they go out into the world, by taking the time to lay hands upon them and asking God to impart His wisdom and protection upon them, to fill them with His Spirit, and to keep them healthy (or even make them healthy)! Allow His Spirit to guide your words as you pray, for the Lord may want to impart specific blessings to them or prophetic exhortations. He may give you a word of wisdom or knowledge about them to provide guidance for their day.
We may not always be able to pray as we would like when our children demand our attention, but perhaps we can take advantage of the opportunity by giving them the attention of our prayers.
13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
Mark 10:16
16 And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.
It is a good thing obviously to pray for our children; to clothe them with our prayers for protection and godliness; that the Lord would “keep” them throughout the day, and bless them with pleasant happenings. In fact, woe to us if don’t pray for them, as it is a dangerous world out there. But we have a daily opportunity to take that to another level, and give our children a precious treasure that they may be missing.
In this passage, parents brought their children to Jesus greatly desiring Him to lay His hands on them and bless them. And the Lord was delighted to do so, even in the face of His disciples’ misguided protests. The hope was that through the laying on if His hands with prayer, that a tangible blessing would be imparted to them from God. And there is much Scriptural support for this very thing.
In Genesis, Israel blessed his grandchildren Ephraim and Manasseh by laying his hands upon their heads. Jesus healed the sick by the laying on of His hands (Luke 4:40) and exhorted His followers to do the same (Mark 16:18). In the Book of Acts the fullness of the Holy Spirit was given to people through the laying on of hands (Acts 19:6)
What a great opportunity we have each day to give a blessing to our children before they go out into the world, by taking the time to lay hands upon them and asking God to impart His wisdom and protection upon them, to fill them with His Spirit, and to keep them healthy (or even make them healthy)! Allow His Spirit to guide your words as you pray, for the Lord may want to impart specific blessings to them or prophetic exhortations. He may give you a word of wisdom or knowledge about them to provide guidance for their day.
We may not always be able to pray as we would like when our children demand our attention, but perhaps we can take advantage of the opportunity by giving them the attention of our prayers.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Pinned Down On Omaha Beach
I was thinking today about the depiction of the Omaha beach landing in the movie “Saving Private Ryan.” The American troops were so pinned down they could barely return fire. Casualties were piling up all around and it looked for a time that the invasion might actually fail. With body parts and blood flying everywhere, one particular soldier began screaming at the Germans “Give us a (deleted) chance!” It made me think about the church, pinned down by the onslaught of Satan’s devices, crippled by materialism and temptations, torn by schisms and strife, bloodied by media viciousness and the lies of deceitful liberal “scholarship;” commissioned by God to advance His kingdom, but pinned down and seemingly unable to return fire.
It is for such a time as this that the prayer warriors of Jesus Christ are called to engage heaven for power from on high. This battle cannot be fought by carnal weapons, and our best efforts, unaided by the Holy Spirit’s anointing, simply bounce off the fortifications of the enemy. There’s only one way to penetrate the concrete bunkers of hell and put the enemy to flight, and that is focused, prevailing prayer and intercession. Do not believe the lie that because God’s Spirit is in you, that every hastily mumbled “prayer” pitifully squeezed out between hours of entertainment and worldly distractions is sufficient for the crisis. Don’t believe for a second that the cold, callous, obligatory prayers of “duty” will move heaven and bring His will to pass on earth as it is in that place.
It is the heated prayers of desire for God’s honor in this earth; the broken prayers of crucified men and women who are moved by holy hunger to cry out for God’s strength that will bring heaven down and demolish the strongholds of darkness. Praying at all times in the Spirit; continuing steadfast in prayer; praying earnestly until His witness in our soul tells us that our cries have prevailed and His answer is coming. Let’s seek God for a spirit of intercession to arise within His church; for an opening of the doors of opportunity to give ourselves to fasting and prayer; to sovereignly arrange our schedules and our hearts so that prayer becomes the hallmark of our life and family. Let this generation be the generation that knows their God, and lives in His presence, in worship and prayer before His glorious throne. It is then that the gates of hell will not prevail, His kingdom will be unleashed; and His bride will be arrayed in her garments of splendor, awaiting her groom under banners of victory.
It is for such a time as this that the prayer warriors of Jesus Christ are called to engage heaven for power from on high. This battle cannot be fought by carnal weapons, and our best efforts, unaided by the Holy Spirit’s anointing, simply bounce off the fortifications of the enemy. There’s only one way to penetrate the concrete bunkers of hell and put the enemy to flight, and that is focused, prevailing prayer and intercession. Do not believe the lie that because God’s Spirit is in you, that every hastily mumbled “prayer” pitifully squeezed out between hours of entertainment and worldly distractions is sufficient for the crisis. Don’t believe for a second that the cold, callous, obligatory prayers of “duty” will move heaven and bring His will to pass on earth as it is in that place.
It is the heated prayers of desire for God’s honor in this earth; the broken prayers of crucified men and women who are moved by holy hunger to cry out for God’s strength that will bring heaven down and demolish the strongholds of darkness. Praying at all times in the Spirit; continuing steadfast in prayer; praying earnestly until His witness in our soul tells us that our cries have prevailed and His answer is coming. Let’s seek God for a spirit of intercession to arise within His church; for an opening of the doors of opportunity to give ourselves to fasting and prayer; to sovereignly arrange our schedules and our hearts so that prayer becomes the hallmark of our life and family. Let this generation be the generation that knows their God, and lives in His presence, in worship and prayer before His glorious throne. It is then that the gates of hell will not prevail, His kingdom will be unleashed; and His bride will be arrayed in her garments of splendor, awaiting her groom under banners of victory.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Standing In The Presence Of God
When the Lord sent an angel to tell Zacharias that he would be a father, (of John the Baptist)
Zacharias had a hard time believing it, since he and his wife were advanced in years. And in response to Zacharias’ doubt, the angel said these very potent words, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time." Luke 1:19-20
There is such a majesty in his introduction, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God.” I have always thought of that as such a faraway concept, to stand in the very presence of the unveiled glory and grandeur of the living God. And while it will one day be a reality for those who follow Christ, in a sense it is somewhat faraway from our daily existence.
But in another sense, maybe we should ask ourselves “Why?” For after all, God has given His Holy Spirit to those who believe, who are born again by faith in Christ. And His Spirit is able to fill us with all the fullness of Christ if we will seek Him with our whole heart. And therein lies the key. Gabriel stands in the presence of God. But how much time do we spend in His presence? We sing songs in church about yearning to see God’s face. But in order to see someone’s face, we must be looking at them. And I know that I spend far too much time with my back towards God, and my face pressed against the glass of the world’s toy stores and candy shops.
What does God see when He looks at me? Is He acquainted with my face? Or is He offered only my back, while my affections are lavished on the world? What do I see when I look at God? Do I spend enough time to truly meet Him in the Spirit? Or do I leave Him an email to read at His convenience?
Lord help us to long for Your face; for the tender and fatherly wisdom reflected in Your eyes; for the unspeakable joy of knowing Your delight in us by the favor of Your countenance; and to cherish Your fellowship as riches beyond measure.
Zacharias had a hard time believing it, since he and his wife were advanced in years. And in response to Zacharias’ doubt, the angel said these very potent words, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time." Luke 1:19-20
There is such a majesty in his introduction, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God.” I have always thought of that as such a faraway concept, to stand in the very presence of the unveiled glory and grandeur of the living God. And while it will one day be a reality for those who follow Christ, in a sense it is somewhat faraway from our daily existence.
But in another sense, maybe we should ask ourselves “Why?” For after all, God has given His Holy Spirit to those who believe, who are born again by faith in Christ. And His Spirit is able to fill us with all the fullness of Christ if we will seek Him with our whole heart. And therein lies the key. Gabriel stands in the presence of God. But how much time do we spend in His presence? We sing songs in church about yearning to see God’s face. But in order to see someone’s face, we must be looking at them. And I know that I spend far too much time with my back towards God, and my face pressed against the glass of the world’s toy stores and candy shops.
What does God see when He looks at me? Is He acquainted with my face? Or is He offered only my back, while my affections are lavished on the world? What do I see when I look at God? Do I spend enough time to truly meet Him in the Spirit? Or do I leave Him an email to read at His convenience?
Lord help us to long for Your face; for the tender and fatherly wisdom reflected in Your eyes; for the unspeakable joy of knowing Your delight in us by the favor of Your countenance; and to cherish Your fellowship as riches beyond measure.
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