The Peak of Perversion

According to a report on Oprah.com, there is a new trend of women leaving their husbands or boyfriends for other women. These women, most married with grown children, aren't necessarily "gay" though. Some of the women interviewed just wanted to see what a same-sex relationship was like. Others stayed with a female partner for awhile and then went back to a male. They call this "sexual fluidity." The days of straight or gay have been replaced with a plethora of sexuality options: transgender, transexual, heteroflexible, intersex, etc.

To put it plainly, America is at the peak of perversion. Women are casually forsaking their husbands & children and entering intimate relationships with other women. Female teachers are preying on young students in schools. And I'm afraid Melissa Huckaby will be but the first in a line of female rapists/child abusers. As Pastor John MacArthur said of cultural decline, "The women are the last to go."

Romans 1:18-32, a passage that speaks of God's wrath toward unrighteousness, says, "God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature." This is the peak of perversion, and America reached it quickly.

Reaching this 'summit' of casual lesbianism has long been the goal of feminist philosophy. For proof, look no further than the article on Oprah.com:

"Feminist theorists were among the first to begin to uncouple sex from gender. In 1949 French philosopher Simone de Beauvoir published her groundbreaking book The Second Sex, with the famous line, "One is not born, but becomes a woman," suggesting that classic female characteristics—passivity, shyness, nurturing—aren't just biological but are embedded by parents and culture. Today, after the women's liberation movement's crusade for equality between the sexes, thinkers are challenging the very definition of gender roles."

The goal of feminism is a woman without a man, and men without masculinity. When we remove all of the God-given gender distinctions, the obvious next step is homosexuality. It is no accident that the churches who accepted female pastors in the 1970-80's are now lining up to accept homosexual pastors. A gender-neutral world is the dream-come-true for feminism.

The saddest line in the entire Oprah article came from a woman who recently 'married' another woman. She said, "We've been through hell, but now we're in heaven." She and her partner are now in 'heaven.' They have fulfilled the 'dream,' reached the 'summit.' It sends chills up my spine to realize that one woman's summit was her family's rock bottom; feminism's dream is our nation's nightmare; that lesbian couple's heaven will usher them to their hell.

Pray that the women in our society would see through the demonic lies of feminism. Pray that God would protect our families against this evil. Pray that the church would be a pure, powerful, compassionate witness in the midst of such perversion. Pray.

A Christian Muslim?

Episcopal minister Ann Holmes Redding claims to be both a Christian and a Muslim. Her 'conversion' happened while attending an inter-faith gathering where a Muslim imam led in prayer. She was struck by his humility and decided that she wanted what he had.

Reddings says that her Muslim faith doesn't conflict with her Christian faith or with her being a minister. In fact, she says that being a Muslim makes her a better Christian. She acknowledges that most people don't see how she can be both religions but says, "It simply hasn't been my experience that I have to make a choice between the two."

A few thoughts on this...

1. Christianity is the only True Religion. Christian, you have the real deal, the best deal, the only deal! Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." God the Father testified to Jesus' authenticity at many points (His baptism -Matt. 3:17, The Transfiguration -Matt. 17:5, and ultimately at the Resurrection -Phil. 2:9-11).

2. Both Christianity and Islam are exclusive religions. Thus, claiming to be both is ridiculous and evidence that Ms. Redding truly believes neither religion. The Bible teaches that there is no other name under heaven by which men can be saved. The Koran teaches that infidels (non-Muslims) should either convert or be killed. Neither religion embraces the other.

3. Liberalism's absurdity is limitless. The Episcopal church is in a mess, and this is just another sign of it. I'm glad that they actually put their foot down by not allowing one of their ministers to adhere to another religion. But judging by their history, I was surprised.

They are a denomination that has completely deconstructed God's Word. God doesn't allow women to serve as pastors; Episcopals do. God calls homosexuality a sin; Episcopals don't.

When you strip the Word of God of its authority, the possibilities of beliefs and practices are endless. Without the Word, we are left to our own imaginations and experiences, which can lead to some crazy stuff... like ministers who are Christian Muslims.

Our Humble Example

Tonight (Wednesday) we spent our time together as believers focusing our attention specifically on the work of God the Son, Jesus Christ. There's no better mid-week boost to your faith than that! We looked at Christ's humiliation (birth, life and death) and His exaltation (resurrection, ascension, second coming, etc.).

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There's a spiritual "law" that is visible in Christ's humiliation and exaltation. It's found in 1 Peter 5:6 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you." Christ humbled Himself therefore God has highly exalted Him (Philippians 2:9). Likewise, those who will humble themselves here and now will be highly exalted by God on the Last Day. Following Christ is all about humility.

So how do I need to humble myself? Here's three things for starters:

1. Admit the wickedness of my sin and my desperate need for Christ. And do this daily!

2. Acknowledge that my ideas and opinions are marred by my sin, and turn to God's Word for answers.

3. Serve someone. Begin in your home (do the dishes, surrender the remote!). Then look for ways to serve your church family (visit a widow, keep the nursery). Then look around to those who do not know Christ and serve them (bake them cookies, fix their sink). Look for ways to put other's need before your own... just like Jesus did for you!
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"The meek shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5

"The first shall be last." Matthew 19:30

The humble will be exalted.

Is Jesus God?

We've been studying the Gospel of John, and I hope you're getting the point: Jesus is God!

John 1:1 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

John 1:18 - "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known."

John 5:18 - "This is why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because... he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God."

John 20:28 - "My Lord and my God!"

Plus plenty of other verses...

Now if you were asked, "Is Jesus God?" you'd probably say, "Yea... of course." But if someone looked at your life would they be able to see that Jesus is God? Believing that Jesus is God means that you're living as though He is. For instance, if you believed your house was on fire you would try to get out, right? If you believed you had a terrible disease you would seek treatment, right? What we believe (really believe) changes how we live. And that's precisely the kind of believing spoken of in John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

So let me throw the question at you again: Is Jesus God?

Is He God of your attitude? Is He Lord of your thoughts/opinions? Is He Master of your finances? Is He Boss of your language? Is He Ruler of your relationships?

Despite what you might have been told in the past, this is what it means to be a real Christian. Jesus Christ is the boss of your thoughts, words, and deeds. Anything less than this isn't really believing.

And, by the way, embracing Jesus as Lord is in no way a restrictive kill-joy kind of thing. He is gracious, generous, loving, enjoyable, patient, truthful, powerful, purposeful! Who better to rule my life?! Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Live It!

One of the legendary excuses people give for not coming to church has to do with the number of hypocrites who attend church. A hypocrite (biblically speaking) is someone who claims to have a relationship with God, but does not live like it.

Know anyone like that? Yea... me, too.

That's why I agree with the folks who point out all the hypocrites at church. They're right. Sadly, Southern Baptist churches (I'll just speak for my own denomination) are filled with hypocrites. Men who are cruel to their wives and then teach Sunday School. Women who curse and slander others and then join the prayer chain. Business people who rip others off and then help count the offering. Young couples who party on Friday and 'worship' on Sunday. Preachers who neglect their families and then try to lead God's family. Gag!

Unbelievers hate hypocrites. I hate hypocrisy (especially when I see it in my own life). But that's nothing compared to how Jesus feels about it. He says, "Woe to you hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleaness. (Matt. 23:27)" You look good on the outside... you go through all the outward rituals, but nothing has changed in your heart!

Get it -- Real Christianity is Living Faith! It changes your life. It changes your business practices, changes your marriage, changes your work ethic, changes your attitude. Jesus says real faith/saving faith is a living faith. He won't have it any other way.

So, as a pastor, here's where I hope this blog can help. I cannot live my faith by myself. I need other Christians around encouraging, correcting, & shaping me. That's why Jesus put us together in local churches. And I want this blog, as a part of our local church, to exist in order to:

(1) Wake up "so-called Christians" (i.e. hypocrites) to see they are NOT okay. They need a life-chaning encounter with Jesus Christ.
(2) Encourage true Christians to live it out. Fight the good fight... don't back down... pursue Christ with everything you've got!
(3) Show non-Christians that Jesus is real. Jesus is alive. Jesus is forgiving & changing sinners like me. And He will do it for you, too!

Join me on this journey of Living Faith!