Molech worship today!

The Alter of Molech today

"And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not:    Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people" - Leviticus 20:4-5

"Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them" - Romans 1:32

To Party or not to Party ...

I recently had to consider whether going on a night out dancing with my wife is okay or not okay.

The issue is tricky even though the answer is CLEAR. It's one thing to follow ones convictions on these things but expressing the decision based on ones conviction is something else entirely.

I realized quickly that the only way to understand this is to have a genuine Biblical understanding and then a strong conviction to carry out that decision . So I had to break it down.

#1- Night clubs and dancing ARE NOT FREE OF SIN.

-What happens in night clubs and what exactly is DANCING?

Night clubs are places where people go out to entertain themselves, free their minds, dance, meet people, get together with friends, ...etc.

On the surface, it doesn't seem like there's inherently anything wrong w/ any of that. but bottom line, this is the MAIN thing WRONG with "clubbing" and dancing.

MY INDIVIDUAL TESTIMONY. What does it say to celebrate in public, dance to lyrics that don't glorify God, and make myself a part of an atmosphere that doesn't glorify God but instead is by and large a haven for people to meet, hook-up and celebrate sensuality and free sex largely with unmarried counterparts? And then you have the serving of alcohol and people getting high and drunk, etc. I can't be a part of that.

It's not exactly like taking public transportation. It doesn't necessarily glorify God either but also not a melting pot of sinful and Godless expression.

#2- My history w/ Clubbing and dancing is TODAY a stumbling block for me. It's probably where I most blasphemed and misrepresented Christ. It's a place where people without knowing it, literally thumb their noses @ God; saying to Him that they don't need Him in their lives b/c they can enjoy their lives w/out Him. Not everyone has to have that type of background or ill intentions BUT I did, people do ... and I'm reflecting on my convictions here.

#3- To me, it's similar to drinking, tattoos and smoking. Once you've become NEW in Christ, how you walk needs to represent Christ. Although you won't find "Clubbing" in the Bible or much about "Dancing", there are so many scriptures in the Bible that describe how holy God is, how much we need to represent Christ, and how we should walk in Him and be sanctified for growth that the true Christian's conscience on these things can ONLY lead one NOT to engage in them. It just can't be ignored.

Some people argue regarding FREEDOMS within our individual conscience while being Christian and I agree to an extent. But you also don't want to take the chance at making anyone stumble in their faith or people who look to you to represent Christ. There is strong language in the Bible regarding Children of God separating from this world and a lot of mistakes have been made when the church has tried to attract new converts by trying to mimic the world. This type of comfort has too many times produced FALSE CONVERTS. The truth is that Christ and His Church will NEVER look like the world so those who try and balance their stand between God and this world, will only end up drifting back towards this world (World system).

And this is because everyone born has a carnal nature not a Godly nature. Only by the Spirit of God are we attracted to God's ways but balancing our worldly nature with a Spirit-nature will always result in drifting back to our original nature. People tend to disagree with this because they have a hard time fully understanding how ungodly we actually are. And they have a problem seeing how ungodly and sinful we are because they don't have the right concept or understanding of exactly how HOLY God is. Most people think they are somewhat "good" people, and that of coarse is wrong; deadly wrong.

"No one is good but God" - Matt. 19:17 (Also Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23)

God deserves to be represented and worshipped appropriately, and He isn't vague about this reality.

(John 4:23; John 14:17; 1 Peter 1:16; Lev. 10:1-8)

The Bible teaches that we're a NEW creation in Christ; His Spirit lives within us, and our bodies are the temple of His Holy Spirit. We are to glorify God with our bodies by being a living sacrifice unto God in holiness.

(1 Corinthians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 2:17)

Worship isn't just going to church. The Bible teaches that OUR BODIES ARE THE CHURCH. If we are the temple of God, then collectively, believers are the church and holiness must be an everything and everywhere thing.

Therefore, we're worshipping in everything we do and everything we say.

This kinda slows down the turn table on the music to a halt doesn't it? ... Well, it is what it is. It's the truth. But when the Bible verse says "All things have become new", this is also referring to change in a person's character.

Where we were once indifferent, we now pursue with passion, and where we pursued in passion, we now lose interest. When we're "born again" (John 3:3), all those things that don't glorify God start to shed away. And if it hasn't,

perhaps you have to ask yourself "Are you born again"? This is considered the fruit that bares witness of true discipleship; a new life and a new character.

Everyone has to follow their personal convictions and although it's not good to be legalistic about many things, a true Biblical conscience will always bust out on the surface within our decisions as we grow in The Lord.

His peace to you, Amen.

"Well you did it"! ....

 

Is usually the bad argument used to speak against teaching "Abstinence" to your children.

Another flawed thinking is "Well, you have to allow your children to make mistakes".  As ridiculous as it might seem, people still say this. 

Imagine allowing your children to make mistakes they could have avoided via your fatherly/motherly instruction.  Mistakes that for them, might end up being a lot more traumatizing and hurtful than it was for you.  Inevitably, we're all going to make mistakes but people always look back on their mistakes and prefer that they would have had something diverting them from them. 

Without question, the problems in our society concerning abortion, broken families, divorce, child abuse, single parent households, child abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, etc.., could be avoided by teaching children to think critically about consequences, how to respect themselves and being accountable for themselves.  

And since the bottom line and foundation is what is taught in the Bible; "Your bodies are not yourselves, but the temple of the living God".   It teaches that when we sin against our bodies, we sin against God.   "Your bodies were bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6:12).  


It takes a lot more self control, strength, courage and knowledge of self, and God to go against the crowd than it does to follow the crowd.  

But today, even in some states what we're seeing is "condom and contraception" vending machines in the high schools, which is the total opposite of teaching discipline, and encouraging empowerment.  Instead the message that it sends is that "We know you're not strong enough or disciplined enough".  Ironically, the public school system expects kids to be disciplined and take their studies seriously, but not their own minds and bodies. 

But as "political" as people have made this argument, it's more of a moral argument, and has absolute ties to your children's relationship with God - which they themselves will need to cultivate.  

Our children's moral decisions, mistakes and outcomes will of coarse, be as personal and individual to them as their own personalities but laying down a Biblical foundation  for them that they see you live out in all major decisions at home, will determine what will shape their identities, and what will be their source of strength as they need it throughout their lives.   

And God is the ONLY source of strength in a world where people are grasping at straws in the dark.  The statistics on the crumbling family within our culture demonstrates this, and it's only getting worst

Not to teach abstinence is not only ignorant, it's disobedience to God, and taking the lives of your children which are the "heritage" God has given you, and disregarding them.     It's also not giving  your children a chance to cultivate discipline of the most precious gift God has given them on earth - their own bodies. 


 Parents who fear God raise children who fear God.

As the world groans ...

Romans 8:22 -   " For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now".

We're created to worship God.  So we can either worship God, worship something else, or worship self. 

Either way, deep within humanity, we seek answers.   We seek to know who we are, and nothing explains that better and more honestly than The Word of God, The Bible. 

Until we find what we're looking for, there is inward conflict, frustration and groaning for truth, fulfillment, answers, and reality. 

The further away a culture drifts away from God, the further away from the Truth they'll be.   But the natural human needs remain the same, and thus, the groaning remains.

Notice how Hollywood always has to come out with dozens of Bible-based movies. 

We recently had "The Bible" series that came out a few months ago, a God movie from the same Bible series; there's a Noah movie coming out with Russel Crowe, I hear a new Moses movie coming out, and now there's even a cable series premier coming out on ABC entitled "Resurrection".    This is coming out right before Easter.  

Hollywood wants to capitalize on the groaning our culture has deep within to satisfy itself in Truth.   But no doubt as usual, the Biblical portrayals of these historical accounts in the Bible, if not presented honestly, historically and Biblically, won't lead people to Truth but instead, "religion", and false holiness without the True God. 

There is a cure for the pains and the groaning, and that cure is Jesus Christ.  

" The secular worldview relativizes morality, and our society has progressively compromised the moral system upon which it depends. A living body that has a compromised immune system will soon fail. A society that subverts its own moral immunities sows the seeds of its own destruction".   - Albert Mohler

" Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls"  - Matthew 11:29

TO JUDGE OR NOT TO JUDGE...

Matthew 7:1-5
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

It sounds really nice to say "don't judge others", "respect people's opinions".  In fact, by saying so, people believe they are quoting the Bible, and they are when they say "Don't judge".  But too many times, they are using the verse out of context and they refuse to see it.

Although it is true that God is the ultimate judge; we should respect other people's opinions and individuality, etc., it is however, WRONG when believers and non-believers alike use that verse to shut down people who speak out against sin, and proclaim the Gospel of Christ.

In this highly political world today, people think one is being political,  judgmental and harsh when someone speaks against sin, and the increasing depravity within our culture. 

However, notice how these are the same people who have NO opinions regarding the most obvious evidences of sin and depravity when it is so evident in our culture.   Every time proof of our culture going down the drain is displayed in our 6 O'clock news, we see the reality of the tide coming in to our own back yards. 

Sin and a moral cultural breakdown happens gradually, and it is obvious that non believers in Christ will be outspoken to allow it to continue growing, we also need to have people of Christian values speak out against it. 

Inevitably, having an opinion about moral issues will either place a person "FOR" or "AGAINST" the issue and there's no other way around it.    If you're against those things that we see affecting our culture negatively, you're inevitably JUDGING and discerning RIGHT FROM WRONG based on some standard or morality whether we want to admit it or not.

Now the issue remains whether we are to OPENLY express our opinions AGAINST something.  Well, know this ... There are plenty of people fighting for, and openly approving things that we deem to be immoral.   So while many people who consider themselves Christian think we can only THINK against those things but not SPEAK OUT openly about these things, the only voices being heard are the voices for the opponents of morality and gaining strength in their pursuits.  


But even more significant is the commission that is set before us to "Go" and make disciples of all nations".. "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you".   And  the command to tell people to repent ( Matt. 28:19-20, Acts 17:30) :

"The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, .. "  -   Acts 17:30

This is extremely important because there's no way to spread the Gospel of Christ without communicating the need for us all to repent.      The call to repent is suggesting that we've ALL fallen short of the kingdom of heaven, and not one of us is acceptable outside of reconciliation with God, and reconciliation doesn't come without repentance of sins.

" for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,..." -  Romans 3:23

" Surely I was sinful at birth,

sinful from the time my mother conceived me". -  Psalm 51:5

" All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” -  Romans 3:12

" No one is good except God alone" - Mark 10:18

So we see that any proclamation of the Gospel of Christ is going to herald not only the good news of salvation (from the judgment to come) but also a call to repent for that reconciliation with God.


And that's where the problem lies today.   No one wants to hear their need of repentance.   In fact, some people who consider themselves Christian, don't want to hear that they have to repent either!   Because the life of a Christian isn't just making a profession of faith (at some time in their life), it's continued repentance for sanctification and growth in the Spirit of God.  So when people hear "REPENT", all people feel convicted.    This is not only normal but GOOD.   We should welcome this conviction because it's a call to continued cleansing and purification in The Lord.    It is what is known as bearing fruit explained in John Chapt. 15. 



So not only should all Christians continue to grow in Christ, they should spread the Gospel of Christ in any way they can.   In so doing, we're not going to make a lot of friends in "the world", but we'll also be avoided by some "friends" and family who consider themselves Christian but won't be obedient to The Word of God.   You'll know this because instead of comradery you'll get a lot more silence and rebukes than actual "Amens".    



And by not being obedient to The Word, they're being ashamed of Christ and the gospel. Therefore, when we say REPENT, we're also including those who are ashamed of Christ; and since they know that this is sin, they don't like the rebuke of sin, since it includes THEM.



So when Matthew 7:1-5 is used out of context to silence even the heralding of the Gospel of Christ,
people are using it as ammunition to ease their own personal convictions of sin in their own lives just like Romans 1:32 details : 

" Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them."

                                                               - Romans 1:32



Because you can't preach repentance without making a statement against sin, and you can't be obedient to the great commission of spreading The Gospel without including God's coming judgment against sin on earth ...


An explanation of Matthew 7:1-5:


Matt. 7:1-5 describes an ungodly person in the act of making final judgments on people knowing fully well that they themselves are not justified by God because they are themselves in sin. 

And although we are ALL sinners whether we're Christians or not, there is such thing is being fully justified by Christ, and having Christ's righteousness within us.  (Galatians 2:16, Romans 3:24, Romans 5:1, 1 Corinthians 6:11, etc.).  

Just imagine if all of the prophets throughout the OT and John "The Baptist" should have stopped preaching and spreading God's message to the earth because they had to consider the "beam" in their eyes!   No,  quite the contrary,  we never preach our OWN righteousness but God's righteousness, especially in the face of UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. 


In conclusion, The Word of God is filled with scripture that guides us to use discernment of good/evil, to discriminate for ourselves using a Godly standard, "righteous judgment", and to choose Godly from evil, etc. (1 John 4:1, Matt. 7:24, Joshua 24:15, etc.).   It's all over the Bible.


How could we then decide who we want near our children, what schools to pick, who to vote for based on their track record, etc.   We have to use "righteous judgment" and "discrimination", and "discernment" EVERY DAY of our lives. 

The LEAST we can do is call EVIL what it is, and especially when it threatens to shape the culture our children will be living in.  


Pray for boldness, pray for Truth, and most of all, read The Word!