Today, there was an excellent discussion on the radio program Revive Our Hearts! The topic was Recognizing Feminist Thought 'mentality'; which has been the spiritual demise of Christian women and Christian Families.
https://www.reviveourhearts.com/
Here is an excerpt
So in a few short decades in the span of my lifetime, the
ideal of a happy, fulfilled woman has gone from one who serves and
exalts her children, her husband, and her community to one who serves
and exalts herself and has a very different type of commitment,
very different type of idea towards men and women. This begs the
question, how did this all happen?
The factors are many and complex, but a very large piece of the
puzzle is feminism. Feminism is a distinct philosophy that shook the
underpinnings of society in the early 1960s like a tsunamic earthquake
shaking the ocean’s floor. Feminism is a distinct worldview. It’s a
distinct worldview with its very own thoughts, its ideologies, values,
ways of thinking. Whether or not you would admit it, all of us in this room have been profoundly affected by feminist thought.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Today's Woman and Work? 2 Thessalonians 3:10
Today's woman and work, what does 2 Thessalonians offer?
2 Thessalonians 3:10 "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." Firstly, this comment is directed toward man and not woman. Does that mean that women are excluded? I would answer yes, but that does not mean that women do not have work to do in God's Kingdom. Certainly, God does not want his people to be idle, not does busybodies 2 Th 3:11. Women and wives have a special role and position in God's Kingdom. We can read about this further in 1 Timothy 2:11 on the subject of instruction on worship. "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent." I agree and I pray that in my blogging I am not sinning. I am quiet in my learning and I do not teach or preach or have authority over a man. I am speaking to women/wives/mothers and I do so quietly and discretely. I realize that I am caught up in this 'Selfie Culture'. It is difficult and I must remind myself everyday to walk with the Lord, to let Him guide me.
The most difficult problem I have is when other people ask me what I do. This is the "What do you Do?" Culture; where people are valued for what they do rather than who they are; unless they are a member of a certain group whose life style trumps everything else. You see, we are groupies too, we group think and this is dangerous for women and for the Church. I will discuss this on a later post.
In this blog, I want to discuss work. Work, work work, that is what Americans do, right? For the most part, this is how Americans identify themselves as mentioned above. Today's woman is protesting she cannot work the same jobs as men and get the same pay and prestige. What is work in God's Kingdom? In God's Kingdom, women, not married, work only for the Lord "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men." Col 3: 23. As for married women, you work for the Lord too in your role as a wife and mother, you work for your husbands and children which effectively is working for the Lord. A wife and mother has enormous responsibilities; namely bringing into this world offspring and raising them into upstanding citizens and of course Christians. The Christians work is for the Lord, and your work is to be salt and light. Matthew 5:13-16... "because there is no need to worry about your life" Matthew 6:25. Jesus talks about roles and role fulfillment. He talks about being wise, watchful and prepared, and making the most of what you have even if it was not yours to begin with... The Parable of the Talents.
You see, we worry too much about work and working... "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men." Col 3: 23. Mostly, Jesus asks us to rest in Him and to know that the last will be first and the first will be the last. Matthew 20:16
2 Thessalonians 3:10 "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." Firstly, this comment is directed toward man and not woman. Does that mean that women are excluded? I would answer yes, but that does not mean that women do not have work to do in God's Kingdom. Certainly, God does not want his people to be idle, not does busybodies 2 Th 3:11. Women and wives have a special role and position in God's Kingdom. We can read about this further in 1 Timothy 2:11 on the subject of instruction on worship. "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent." I agree and I pray that in my blogging I am not sinning. I am quiet in my learning and I do not teach or preach or have authority over a man. I am speaking to women/wives/mothers and I do so quietly and discretely. I realize that I am caught up in this 'Selfie Culture'. It is difficult and I must remind myself everyday to walk with the Lord, to let Him guide me.
The most difficult problem I have is when other people ask me what I do. This is the "What do you Do?" Culture; where people are valued for what they do rather than who they are; unless they are a member of a certain group whose life style trumps everything else. You see, we are groupies too, we group think and this is dangerous for women and for the Church. I will discuss this on a later post.
In this blog, I want to discuss work. Work, work work, that is what Americans do, right? For the most part, this is how Americans identify themselves as mentioned above. Today's woman is protesting she cannot work the same jobs as men and get the same pay and prestige. What is work in God's Kingdom? In God's Kingdom, women, not married, work only for the Lord "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men." Col 3: 23. As for married women, you work for the Lord too in your role as a wife and mother, you work for your husbands and children which effectively is working for the Lord. A wife and mother has enormous responsibilities; namely bringing into this world offspring and raising them into upstanding citizens and of course Christians. The Christians work is for the Lord, and your work is to be salt and light. Matthew 5:13-16... "because there is no need to worry about your life" Matthew 6:25. Jesus talks about roles and role fulfillment. He talks about being wise, watchful and prepared, and making the most of what you have even if it was not yours to begin with... The Parable of the Talents.
You see, we worry too much about work and working... "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men." Col 3: 23. Mostly, Jesus asks us to rest in Him and to know that the last will be first and the first will be the last. Matthew 20:16
Monday, April 28, 2014
The Selfie Culture, where is it leading us?
The selfie Culture... What is it? Basically, taking a picture of yourself. However, it is morphing into much more than just that. In some social discussions, sociologists like myself are calling this phenomenon the
'rise of the selfie'. Is this a serious determinant to society? As a
sociologist and a Christian the answer to that question is Yes. It is so because it is a major illustration of indulgence in self
idolatry linked to the virtual reality of today's popular
telecommunications platforms which is hardly the venue for healthy
social interaction. Christians are asked to die to themselves and submit to the will of the Lord God Jesus Christ. Being self indulgent is not the means to live a Christ minded life. Self indulgence does not motivate one to seek the Lord, find Him and rest in Him. In our culture, we as Americans want to and like to rely on ourselves for prosperity, we like to show ourselves off especially for what we do... the work we do, the way we do it, the way we look doing it and how much we love the way we look doing it. Where is there room for God? What relationship could we possibly have with the Lord in this kind self absorbed life ... self idolatry?
Where is this kind of selfie culture leading? Certainly away from Christ and into a dark abyss where we are disengaged socially in face to face interaction running the risk of losing not only ourself but losing others around us and thus losing social stability moving toward social decay.
Where is this kind of selfie culture leading? Certainly away from Christ and into a dark abyss where we are disengaged socially in face to face interaction running the risk of losing not only ourself but losing others around us and thus losing social stability moving toward social decay.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Family is Important... 1Ti 5:8
Family is important. I am sure everyone will agree. Yet, as I listen to my favorite Christian radio programs, and I talk to people hearing their issues, I am saddened to hear so many stories about broken families. I am not just referring to divorce, but broken in many places and especially broken in relations with immediate and extended family: parents, spouses, grandparents, parent in-laws, brothers and sisters, cousins and aunts and uncles... how can this be? How can Christian families be suffering in this way? How can Christians find themselves homeless, struggling to make ends meet, or not have the care of extended family readily available when they need them. How is the possible?
Are we as Americans so embedded in this culture of 'mine', that we cannot even share with loved ones? We have been ingrained with the idea of private property, this is mine, my house, you are under my roof! Get out and get your own life... my answer to that "I thought I had my own life, my own family, my own support group." Yet, many Americans think that relying on family is a transgression in this culture of individuality and self determinism. This is a tragedy. The rebuttal is usually, "I cannot live under the same roof with them, I need my space, I want my own things, I don't want what they want, nor do I like what they do, I am different, I am my own person. If you hear that, if you say that, you are not yet of the Kingdom of God. As children of God, we need to be together, we need to share our lives, our homes, our food, our clothing with our family. If all families practiced this, the world (the US) would be a better place. If we want a better life for ourselves and children, then we need to forgive each other, love each other and live together under one roof, practically and spiritually! This... the State cannot and should not provide.
1 Ti 5:8 " If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." This quote from 1 Timothy is not meant to point fingers at anyone, wives/mothers, nor to condemn or to criticize women; but to get people 'Christians' to wake up and stop living as independent islands from each other and especially from family. Today's popular culture is all about individualism and independence = freedom in all forms of self expression: the driving force behind this is none other than the 'serpent' whose desire is to usurp the Lord by encouraging lawlessness in man by having him seek self satisfaction and self preservation at any cost. Americans have developed over the last 40 years the idea that any hindrance of self expression and or opportunity is now a moral wrong which is essentially taking evil and turning it to good; the lie that the serpent told Eve, the self is superior to anyone. Hence, Americans are determined to be disconnected from anyone that does not respect their self absorbed, prioritized schedule of life style experiences. Where could family possibly fit into that kind of society? I beg you to seek the Lord and read His Words. There is the best advice of all. Not only for women, (wives and mothers) but also for husbands and fathers. 1Ti 3:2 "Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?"
Are we as Americans so embedded in this culture of 'mine', that we cannot even share with loved ones? We have been ingrained with the idea of private property, this is mine, my house, you are under my roof! Get out and get your own life... my answer to that "I thought I had my own life, my own family, my own support group." Yet, many Americans think that relying on family is a transgression in this culture of individuality and self determinism. This is a tragedy. The rebuttal is usually, "I cannot live under the same roof with them, I need my space, I want my own things, I don't want what they want, nor do I like what they do, I am different, I am my own person. If you hear that, if you say that, you are not yet of the Kingdom of God. As children of God, we need to be together, we need to share our lives, our homes, our food, our clothing with our family. If all families practiced this, the world (the US) would be a better place. If we want a better life for ourselves and children, then we need to forgive each other, love each other and live together under one roof, practically and spiritually! This... the State cannot and should not provide.
1 Ti 5:8 " If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." This quote from 1 Timothy is not meant to point fingers at anyone, wives/mothers, nor to condemn or to criticize women; but to get people 'Christians' to wake up and stop living as independent islands from each other and especially from family. Today's popular culture is all about individualism and independence = freedom in all forms of self expression: the driving force behind this is none other than the 'serpent' whose desire is to usurp the Lord by encouraging lawlessness in man by having him seek self satisfaction and self preservation at any cost. Americans have developed over the last 40 years the idea that any hindrance of self expression and or opportunity is now a moral wrong which is essentially taking evil and turning it to good; the lie that the serpent told Eve, the self is superior to anyone. Hence, Americans are determined to be disconnected from anyone that does not respect their self absorbed, prioritized schedule of life style experiences. Where could family possibly fit into that kind of society? I beg you to seek the Lord and read His Words. There is the best advice of all. Not only for women, (wives and mothers) but also for husbands and fathers. 1Ti 3:2 "Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?"
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Don't Hurry the Soul: Reflect, Repent and Rest in the Lord
Don't hurry the soul, rest in the Lord.
This is not easy to do as we live a hurried life and especially we feel a sense of hurry to deal with issues on our own and or to change things for the better by our own efforts... given today's job/economic crisis existing in many Christian households; mine included. Ironically, this is what Judas did - he hurried. He hurried his soul. How? He hurried his soul when he thought the only way out of his problems was to betray Jesus for money. He hurried his soul again when he realized his terrible 'sin' mistake and thought the way out was to give back the money; worse yet, and he hurried his soul the most when he ran away and ended his own life at the end of a rope. All he had to do, was to rest in the Lord; firstly- seek the Lord and ask for forgiveness then repent (re-think) and then rest in that. Yes, Judas, the apostle who sold information to the Jewish high priests that enabled the arrest and crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Some might say that Judas did the right thing by hanging himself and he deserves to go to Hell. Jesus knows that this will happen to Judas because He knows that Judas will choose to hurry his soul, free will is our God given ability to choose our end- to live in eternal light or darkness. There could have been a different end for Judas but because he forgot who Jesus was, his Savior, he made the wrong choice. If Judas did not panic about his money problems, if he did not panic in the horror of his betrayal and did not panic in his overwhelming grief over his actions, then even Judas could have been saved. How? All Judas had to do was to seek the Lord, ask for forgiveness from the Lord, repent and rest in Him. Judas would still have been judged as we all will. And like all sinners who seek forgiveness, repent and rest in the Lord, his soul could have been saved. However, he hurried his soul to the point of no return. and he could not be saved. Not because Jesus could not save him, because Judas could not be saved by Him. The one who forgives the most (including oneself), is the most forgiven. If we hurry our soul, there is no time for the soul to reflect (ask for forgiveness) and repent (re-think) and rest in the Lord.
This is not easy to do as we live a hurried life and especially we feel a sense of hurry to deal with issues on our own and or to change things for the better by our own efforts... given today's job/economic crisis existing in many Christian households; mine included. Ironically, this is what Judas did - he hurried. He hurried his soul. How? He hurried his soul when he thought the only way out of his problems was to betray Jesus for money. He hurried his soul again when he realized his terrible 'sin' mistake and thought the way out was to give back the money; worse yet, and he hurried his soul the most when he ran away and ended his own life at the end of a rope. All he had to do, was to rest in the Lord; firstly- seek the Lord and ask for forgiveness then repent (re-think) and then rest in that. Yes, Judas, the apostle who sold information to the Jewish high priests that enabled the arrest and crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Some might say that Judas did the right thing by hanging himself and he deserves to go to Hell. Jesus knows that this will happen to Judas because He knows that Judas will choose to hurry his soul, free will is our God given ability to choose our end- to live in eternal light or darkness. There could have been a different end for Judas but because he forgot who Jesus was, his Savior, he made the wrong choice. If Judas did not panic about his money problems, if he did not panic in the horror of his betrayal and did not panic in his overwhelming grief over his actions, then even Judas could have been saved. How? All Judas had to do was to seek the Lord, ask for forgiveness from the Lord, repent and rest in Him. Judas would still have been judged as we all will. And like all sinners who seek forgiveness, repent and rest in the Lord, his soul could have been saved. However, he hurried his soul to the point of no return. and he could not be saved. Not because Jesus could not save him, because Judas could not be saved by Him. The one who forgives the most (including oneself), is the most forgiven. If we hurry our soul, there is no time for the soul to reflect (ask for forgiveness) and repent (re-think) and rest in the Lord.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Sharing with You - Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas
In Sacred Pathways, Christian writer and pastor Gary Thomas identifies and examines nine different spiritual paths. What exactly does this mean? Each of us has a different approach as to how we relate easiest with God. Each of us grows spiritually in different ways. Gary Thomas leads us through nine major categories, showing us the strengths and weakness of each one. And after each of them, he offers a few questions, to help identify if that particular pathway is one of the reader’s stronger characteristics.
Naturalists: Loving God Out of Doors
The naturalist sounds like exactly what it is: someone who prefers to leave everything behind and head into the great outdoors to connect with God. A walk beside the river or through the woods is more worshipful than reading a book or listening to a sermon. Naturalists are moved by God’s creation. A view from a mountaintop connects them closer to God than a classical cathedral ever will. Naturalists seek God by surrounding themselves with all that he has made.
Sensates: Loving God With The Senses
Sensates love to be lost in the awe and wonder of God. Sights, sounds, and scents add to the worship experience. A sensate desires to connect with God through the senses, and the more overwhelming, the better. Experiencing God though the five senses is a most effective inroad into the heart of the sensate.
Traditionalists: Loving God Through Ritual And Symbol
Traditionalists are fed by the classic and historic dimensions of the faith: ritual, liturgy, sacraments, and symbols. The traditionalist has a desire for worship to have a ritual and structure; without these, he feels disconnected from God. Traditionalists tend to be very disciplined and organized in their faith.
Ascetics: Loving God in Solitude And Simplicity
The ascetic would love nothing more than to spend every waking hour alone in prayer. The ascetic needs none of the symbols and structure of faith; anything along those lines would simply be a distraction. Ascetics tend to isolate themselves from others and any organized structure. Frequently seen as introspective, leaving everything behind in his quest for God is no trouble for the ascetic.
Activist: Loving God Through Confrontation
Activists love to set things right, even if that means confronting someone or something head on. The activist is quick to jump into a cause, or several of them, if it helps wage the war against injustice. The activist feels closest to God when she is standing against evil and calling sinners to repentance.
Caregivers: Loving God By Loving Others
The caregiver is a servant. Serving another is the quickest way for this person to connect to God. The caregiver sees Christ in those who are needy, poor and downtrodden. The caregiver’s faith is built by serving others. Caregivers often display the deepest compassion, seeing the needs of others and identifying practical ways to meet those needs.
Enthusiasts: Loving God With Mystery And Celebration
The enthusiast loves the excitement and mystery of worship. Joyful celebration is crucial to the growing faith of this type of person. God moves by moving their hearts. If they don’t feel moved during their worship, they wonder if they’ve experienced God at all. With some similarities to the sensate, the enthusiast doesn’t want to just know concepts; he wants to experience them to the fullest.
Contemplatives: Loving God Through Adoration
A contemplative would refer to God as their lover. The idea of a loving Father or Bridegroom depicts their relationship with God very accurately. The person who is a contemplative seeks to love God with his entire being: his heart, soul, mind and strength. The contemplative is a very humble person, seeking nothing else than to sit at the feet of the Savior.
Intellectuals: Loving God With The Mind
Intellectuals live in the world of concepts. Studying and learning are a prime way that this type of person experiences God to the fullest. Understanding doctrine and other key points about Christianity and the faith is the best type of connection for this person. The intellectual gets fed when they learn or grasp something new about God or their faith.
Gary Thomas is an American Christian author and speaker who specializes in marriage, parenting, dating, and spiritual formation. In 2010, he started serving as a Writer in Residence at Second Baptist Church Houston where he currently writes, preaches, and pastors
Monday, April 21, 2014
God made you alive in Christ
On
this Monday after Easter, we should remind ourselves of Freedom from Human Regulations
Through Life with Christ Col 2:6 "So, then, just as you received Christ
Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him,
strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with
thankfulness." Most of all... "See to it that no one takes you captive
through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which
depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world
rather than on Christ." Col 2:8 ... and, know that "God make you alive
with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written
code with its regulation that was against us and that stood opposed to
us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross and having disarmed the
powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them triumphing
over them by the cross...Therefore do no let anyone judge you by what
you eat or drink or with regard to a religious festival a New Moon
celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were
to come; the reality; however is found in Christ." Col 2:13-18
What troubles me is that many women today forget the power of the tongue. "The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the bod. it corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire and its itself set on fire by hell" James 3: 5-6
How are women (wives) losing their tongues, in the sense of losing control of what they speak? It is not easy in this 21st century society 'culture' we live in. We seek the world, the flesh and worry about what will be. Will my children have a future, will my husband love me when I am old and wrinkled, will I get sick, will I have a nice home to entertain my friends and impress my neighbors with. The list goes on and on. This is the life of a carnal christian. They worry about the flesh and not the spirit. In doing so, what they speak is of the flesh and not of the spirit. This effects people around them and it effects them, their flesh. I know, I've been there, done that. Is there a way to stop being of the flesh? Yes... Remember God made you alive in Christ, rest in Him, give Him all your worries. By doing so, you as Godly women (wives) will seek the spirit and not the flesh.
What troubles me is that many women today forget the power of the tongue. "The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the bod. it corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire and its itself set on fire by hell" James 3: 5-6
How are women (wives) losing their tongues, in the sense of losing control of what they speak? It is not easy in this 21st century society 'culture' we live in. We seek the world, the flesh and worry about what will be. Will my children have a future, will my husband love me when I am old and wrinkled, will I get sick, will I have a nice home to entertain my friends and impress my neighbors with. The list goes on and on. This is the life of a carnal christian. They worry about the flesh and not the spirit. In doing so, what they speak is of the flesh and not of the spirit. This effects people around them and it effects them, their flesh. I know, I've been there, done that. Is there a way to stop being of the flesh? Yes... Remember God made you alive in Christ, rest in Him, give Him all your worries. By doing so, you as Godly women (wives) will seek the spirit and not the flesh.
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