Feel Good Movies, God, and Me

A young man born into wealthy circumstances has no appreciation for what he has. He wastefully spends money on parties, extravagant trips, and any desire or pleasure he wants. His grandfather decides to teach him some life lessons. At first the young man rejects the effort but over time, often against his own will, he begins to see reality, changes his behavior and his life, and falls in love with the right young girl and all ends well. So ended the “feel good” movie we watched just the other night.

This reminds me of the Bible story of the prodigal (wasteful, reckless) son in Luke 15. He demanded his inheritance, left home and wasted the money on “riotous” living. He reached a point where the money ran out and the “friends” all left. He took a job feeding swine. It got to the point that he was so hungry he was willing to eat the swine’s food. Then the Scriptures tell us starting in verse 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.” When he returned home his father met him on the road, kissed him, welcomed him home and made a feast.

Jesus uses this story to paint a picture of our loving God and His willingness to receive us back after we have travelled down a reckless road. His desire is for us to return home. His desire is to welcome us back. His desire is to provide us a place in His home where there is no more pain, hardship or death.

When I watch these “feel good” movies, I often find myself thinking that this makes for a good movie, but in real life these people usually don’t get back on the right road where everything turns out rosy. Just think of Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Madonna and others. We all know people in our own lives that are ruined by the lure of worldliness.

So while God is waiting on that road for us to return home, we often resist the efforts He provides through the lives of others to teach us, admonish us, and mold us into what the He wants us to be. We prefer to sit in the swine pit and never “come to our senses.” Or, we think that one day the right occasion will come along and we’ll change. We’re waiting on that “movie moment” when everything suddenly and magically turns around for us. Instead, like the prodigal son, it takes determination of our will – a decision – to cease following the world’s ways and finally start walking down the path toward God.

Luke 15:7 “…there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

Are you in the swine pit of life? Do you want a different way? Can we help you come home to God? Let us know how we can help.

FaceBook and Christians

My son laughed at the idea that his mom and dad were on FaceBook. Why, I'm not sure. It isn't like we're backwards from a technology standpoint. I actually feel fairly certain that I'm above average when it comes to the use of technology, both in business and in my personal life.

FaceBook has been an interesting experience. I've enjoyed the way I'm being connected to old friends long forgotten. I have been able to catch up with people last seen over 30 years ago. That has proved fun though it also points out just how many years have gone by. Most of them have raised their children and are even grandparents. I still remember them as they were at 19 and 20 years old.

FaceBook has also been revealing in some other ways. Mostly, this occurs in the status comments where people post how they feel or tell about what they are doing. Some are fun to read. Some are encouraging. Some are innocent. But others are troubling.

Whining. Some Christians, who are supposed to be full of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24) such as love, joy, and peace, post Facebook status messages complaining about life and its troubles. Some seem to never be able to post positive things. "John is having a bad day." "Karen's friends don't want to spend any time with her." Some complain out loud about nearly everything. Where is the joy of being a Christian? When did we lose the concept of thinking on good things? (Philippians 4:8) These complainers will likely not join us in heaven because they likely blame God for their troubles - not on Facebook mind you, but in their inner hearts.

Disappointing. It has always been discouraging to me to hear about Christians who involve themselves in activities that are questionable, if not sinful, for Christians to be involved in. For example, several have posted on Facebook about movies they've seen, talking about how good the movie was, yet it is rated R. Simply from the previews it is obvious Christians have no business seeing the movie. Others will post a status and use language that is inappropriate for Christians to utter or write. Others post pictures of themselves immodestly dressed so not only am I discouraged by knowing they dress immodestly, I see them dressed immodestly.

Poor Selection Of Friends. Paul warns us about the company we keep. In 1 Corinthians 15:33 he said, "Do not be deceived; Evil company corrupts good habits." Looking at the Facebook pages of some Christians I know, it is obvious that they use poor judgement in their selection of friends. The comments their friends make on their page include inappropriate slang, outright cursing, references to drinking and drugs, etc. Paul indicated that we cannot go out of the world in our effort to avoid sin but he also tells us we must select our company carefully, lest we be corrupted by them. It is obvious that some Christians may have been "deceived" and need to rethink who their Facebook "friends" are and delete them...from Facebook and from their personal lives!

Time Wasting. Sometimes we talk about how hard it is to take the gospel to others. We comment about how our area is a "hard area" and "people are just not interested in hearing the gospel." Sometimes we talk about "how busy we are." It is apparent that many Christians on Facebook are consumed with Facebook and have no time for finding those to study with because they are spending far too much time on Facebook. They have multiple farms, they send hugs, kisses, and presents of all types to all their friends, they take quiz after quiz and score higher and higher on several Facebook games. Christians are to be "redeeming the time" in reference to those outside the body of Christ. (Colossians 4:5) Could Satan be using Facebook to make you an ineffective Christian while you sit for hours at your computer involved in all Facebook has to offer?

No doubt there are good things about Facebook. But for all its good, it must be kept in perspective. It has revealed some things to me that I wish I didn't know about some Christians. I hope they'll repent. The world has a very strong grip on too many Christians these days and I am afraid they have been overcome while feeling they are "okay" with the Lord. The Bible warns again and again, "Be not deceived."

July 27, 2009 Followup: A blog reader suggested this audio link. I think it is worthwhile.

Public Opinion and a Christian's Work

A recent Gallup poll indicated that for the first time in 15 years a majority of Americans, 51%, considered themselves pro-life. Fearing an anomaly, Gallup conducted two additional polls and came up with the same results. Also, two corresponding FOX News polls revealed that 49% of Americans considered themselves pro-life, while 43% considered themselves pro-choice. So, the facts are in for this year – more Americans object to abortion than are for it.

From a Christian’s perspective that’s good, so far as it goes. It turns out that last year the same Gallup poll revealed that 50% of Americans considered themselves pro-choice, while 44% considered themselves to be pro-life.

I would like to think that the change is due to the fact that large numbers of people have looked into the issue and have come to the conclusion that life begins at conception, and that abortion is murder. Even better would be if large numbers of people began caring what God’s word teaches about abortion. Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” God obviously felt that Jeremiah was “somebody” before he reached the third trimester. (see also Isaiah 49:1) John the Baptist is called a “baby” in Luke 1:44 prior to his birth while Jesus is called the same thing after He was born, Luke 2:16. Obviously, then, the Bible teaches that a fetus, though undeveloped and unborn, is a child – a person. So, to kill an unborn fetus is to kill a person according to the Scriptures, and therefore it is murder (Romans 1:28-32).

But while it would be wonderful to think that those might be the reasons the majority opinion has shifted on this issue, my gut tells me otherwise. Crowds are easily swayed, and often the majority opinion is determined by how big a push certain propaganda (good or bad) gets. When public opinion on an issue like this changes so drastically in just a year, it smacks of people who make up their minds about moral issues the way divas choose clothes – whatever is in style that season is what gets picked.

This fickleness is not new. Some of the same people who worshiped Jesus as he entered Jerusalem to die (Matthew 21:1-11) mocked Him and demanded His execution a week later (Matthew 27:20-25). The difference? They were stirred up by different people, and got caught up in the moment both times. Exodus 23:2 says, “You shall not follow the masses in doing evil.” Doing wrong because it is the majority opinion does not justify the wrong, but in a similar way, rejoicing because the right choice has been picked by a majority does not necessarily mean that righteousness on an issue is prevailing. Truth is sometimes “in season” and sometimes “out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). Fortunately, on this issue, it may be somewhat more “in season” than it has been in the past, but that doesn’t mean it won’t change for the worse in another year’s time.

The main point Christians need to see in this is that we don’t need to take relief in the fact that the majority is now on “our side.” The majority of people were on “Jesus side” too, early in His ministry,” and He lamented that they were like “sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Just because people are following the right way on an issue does not mean they always fully understand why they have made that choice. Our job is to educate them about the true reason to believe killing unborn babies is wrong – because God’s word says it is – and then to bring them knowledge of the rest of God’s truths. As Paul told Timothy (2 Timothy 4:2), we are to continue preaching the word when it is “in season” – not take the opportunity to rest because most people are accepting it (or accepting parts of it).

God’s success does not depend on entire nations believing or disbelieving His word – it depends on individuals believing and doing what is right, sometimes in spite of the nation they live in. We need to fight the good fight now more than ever, and if it is the case that public opinion has partially torn down a barrier to some people accepting the truth, then we need to take full advantage by bringing them the rest of the saving plan of God.

--Joel Holt

Proposition 8: The Musical

Bill O'Reilly showed a clip of a 3 minute video called "Prop 8: The Musical." The video pits a group of anti-Prop 8 actors against a group of actors dressed up like fundamentalist Christians. Of course, those depicting the Christians are made out to be haters and even say "It is time to spread some hate" with Proposition 8.

Jack Black (I've never heard of him) portrays Jesus who miraculously appears on the scene between the Christians and the supporters of the gay and lesbian community. The "preacher" bows down before Jesus and asks, "Jesus, doesn't the Bible say these people are an abomination?" Jesus replies, "Yeah, but it says the exact same thing about this shrimp cocktail." As he holds up a loaded shrimp cocktail the preacher and his followers lick their lips saying, "Yum!" Jesus continues, "The Bible says a lot of interesting things" and he talks about men selling their daughters into slavery. The preacher replies smugly, "Well, we ignore those verses." To which Jesus says, "Well friend, it seems to me you pick and choose. Well please choose love instead of hate."

There are several problems with the logic used in the arguments this video makes. I seriously doubt that Jack Black and his ilk really care, but here are the difficulties.

Picking and Choosing. If Christians are guilty of being inconsistent in the application of God's word, such guilt does not change the word of God. If it is an abomination to eat shellfish and we choose to eat it anyway, the dismissal of God's word regarding shellfish doesn't argue that homosexuality is therefore okay.

Jesus (not the impostor Jack Black) accused the Pharisees of His day of inconsistently applies God's word. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." Matthew 23:23 Jesus didn't excuse the Pharisee's omission of the weightier matters of the law because they ignored them. He said they should have done both. If the Bible teaches that homosexuality is an abomination (admitted in the video) as well as eating shellfish, then both are wrong. Ignoring either teaching does not justify ignoring the other.

The writers of the video are simply encouraging more picking and choosing rather than submitting to the word of God. The real Jesus said, "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day." John 12:48.

Ignorance of Sound Teaching. The video reveals the ignorance of Biblical teaching on the part of the writers and producers. Unfortunately this ignorance is shared by many people who call themselves Christians. Without going into a lot of explanation, there is a fundamental teaching in the Scriptures regarding the Old Testament law. That law, which forbade homosexuality and the eating of shellfish, is no longer God's law for man.

In a lengthy discussion that begins in Hebrews 7, the writer of Hebrews argues that the Old Testament law (referred to as the first) was replaced by the New Testament (referred to as the second). He concludes in Hebrews 10:9 that Jesus "takes away the first that He may establish the second." Paul says in Galatians 3:19 that the Old Testament law "was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made" and tells us that the Seed was Jesus. Once Jesus came the old law ended and the law of Christ was established (Galatians 6:2).

So we must determine what the New Testament teaches about homosexuality and shellfish to know what we as Christians can do today.

Teaching Concerning Homosexuality and Shellfish. Here are the New Testament passages regarding shellfish and homosexuality.

Shellfish.

In a discussion about what is proper to eat Paul says, "For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving." 2 Timothy 4:4. The proper conclusion is that anyone may eat shellfish based on the teachings of the apostle Paul, who said, "If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 14:37).

Homosexuality.

The New Testament teaching regarding homosexuality is also clear and easy to understand. Consider these passages.

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9,10.

"For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." Romans 1: 26-32

"For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly." 2 Peter 2: 4-6

Homosexual and lesbian behavior is said by God to be unrighteous, vile, unnatural, shameful and ungodly. But those involved in such are not alone. Those committing adultery and fornication are in the same condition. So are those who murder and those who steal. As well as those who are disobedient to parents.

Inconsistency. Those who demean Christians with such material as "the musical" are inconsistent. The fake Jesus is clearly a mockery of the real Jesus and is an expression of intolerance toward Him. The fake Jesus accuses Christians of being unloving while the real Jesus says "If you love Me, keep my commandments." John 14:15. There is no expression of love for Jesus to be found in the video.

Legislation. Christians may try to force the Lord's ways on others through legislation but until they win the hearts of those in sin over to Christ, no battle has really been won. The homosexual and lesbian community may eventually and probably will secure the legislation they want. A legal victory may temporarily cause them feel justified in their behavior, but the final verdict is Christ's.

Jesus has spoken. His word is clear. All who are in sin must believe in Him (John 3:16), turn away from their sinful behavior in repentance (Luke 13:3), confess His Lordship over their lives (Romans 10:9,10), and be baptized in water to allow his blood to cleanse them of their sin (Acts 2:38; Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:4). When one follows those teachings and lives faithfully to the Lord, it can be said of them, "...such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:11.