Same-Sex Marriage?

"Let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband."

(1 Corinthians 7: 2, KJV)

 

It is interesting to note that today's Scripture text above does not speak or hint in any way or form of same sex marriage. It does not say, "Let every man have his own husband, and let every woman have her own wife." No, not at all! The Text above specifically says, "Let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband." Why is that? Because same sex marriage is an affront to God. First, it is "that which is against nature" (Rom. 1: 26). Second, it perverts the natural purpose and order of a man and woman coming together in the bonds of marriage. Thirdly, it mocks what marriage represents in relation to Christ and the Church.  

Same sex marriage is unnatural in respect to God's order in the marriage relationship. For in the beginning God created them male and female, not male and male or female and female. God originally created the man and woman for each other (see Gen 1: 26-27; 2: 18-25); for they complimented each other in marriage. (See Gen. 2: 24; Matt. 19: 4-6; 1 Cor. 7: 2). This can never be said of a marriage union between two men or two women.  

The Problems with Same-Sex Marriage. 

However, today many homosexual advocates of same-sex marriage are trying to redefine God's natural and historical order for the marital relationship between a man and a woman. Let us consider three arguments from the pro-gay advocates. The first one is as follows: (1.) Such people will argue that there is nothing wrong with two men or two women who love and care for each other to get married. Since two people love each other the natural result for them should be marriage. They say this as if they know better than God in what should be the order and role for a healthy marital relationship. This of course is the pinnacle of arrogance as well as ignorance. For some problems that same-sex marriage unions pose is as follows: 

(1.) They cannot biologically produce children like a marriage relationship between a man and woman can (Gen. 1: 28; 9: 1, 7). 

(2.) In such a same-sex marriage union who will fulfill the role as the husband and who will fulfill the role as the wife? 

(3.) If a same-sex couple chooses the option of adoption, whether the children be boys or girls, who will they refer to as the father and the mother, when both parents are of the same gender? This would cause confusion. In an interview I had watched a little while ago on the Internet, a brave little 11 year old girl named Grace Evans in response to the legalization of same-sex marriage, asked this pertinent question near the end of her speech: "Which one of my parents do I not need, my mom or my dad?" She asked the question twice to her audience. No one gave an answer. The obvious answer to Grace's question is both parents are needed. For only a man and a woman can properly fulfill the role of marriage (see Gen. 1: 26-27; 2: 18-25).  

(4.) Also, if everyone in the entire world were gay, no progeny would be produced, and all of humanity would be wiped out with that generation.  

(5.) As mentioned earlier, same-sex marriage mocks what marriage stands for in relation to Christ as the groom and the Church as the bride (see Matt. 9: 15; 25: 1-10; John 3: 29; Eph. 5: 24-32; Rev. 19: 7; 21: 9). 

Often, homosexual advocates will argue back and point out the failures of heterosexual marriages, as if somehow that justifies a "loving and caring" homosexual marriage as a better alternative. Of course, they ignore the rampant problems that exist within a homosexual relationship. Anyway that's a topic for another time. 

Another argument posed by homosexuals is that Jesus never mentioned homosexuality nor does the New Testament specifically condemn homosexual relationships. Is this true? Well, let us consider the second point. (2.) Since Jesus said nothing about homosexuality in the Gospels, therefore He did not condemn a loving and caring homosexual relationship. Former homosexual, Joe Dallas addresses this argument superbly in his comment below. 

"First, the argument assumes that the Gospels are more authoritative than the rest of the books in the Bible. The idea of a subject being unimportant just because it was not mentioned by Jesus is foreign to the Gospel writers themselves. At no point did Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John say their books should be elevated above the Torah or, for that matter, any writings yet to come. In other words, the Gospels--and the teachings they contain--are not more important than the rest of the Bible. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16). The same Spirit that inspired the authors of the Gospels also inspired the men who wrote the rest of the Bible. 

Second, the argument assumes that the Gospels are more comprehensive than they really are. Not only are the Gospels no more authoritative than the rest of Scripture, they're not comprehensive either. That is, they do not provide all we need to know by way of doctrine and practical instruction. 

Some of the Bible's most important teaching, in fact, does not appear in the Gospels: the doctrine of man's old and new nature, outlined by Paul in Romans 6; the future of Israel and the mystery of the Gentiles, hinted at by Christ but explained more fully in Romans 9 through 11; the explanation and management of spiritual gifts, detailed in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14; the priesthood of Christ as illustrated in Hebrews -- all of these appear after the Gospel accounts of Christ's life, death, and resurrection. (And we're not even mentioning the entire Old Testament!) Would anyone say these doctrines are unimportant simply because they weren't mentioned by Jesus? 

Or, put another way, are we really to believe that Jesus didn't care about wife-beating or incest just because He said nothing about them? Aren't the prohibitions against incest in Leviticus and 1 Corinthians, as well as Paul's admonition to husbands to love their wives, enough to instruct us in these matters, without their being mentioned in the Gospels? There are any number of evil behaviors Jesus did not mention by name; surely we don't condone them for that reason alone! 

Likewise, Christ's silence on homosexuality in no way negates the very specific prohibitions against it which appear elsewhere in both the Old and New Testaments."[1] 

Now as for the third argument: (3.) The New Testament does not specifically condemn homosexuality. Really? That's news to me. For we read in Romans 1: 26 "against nature" which means in this verse women gave up the natural sexual union with men to be with women instead. The same truth is conveyed about men in verse 27. For in the first part of this verse Paul calls it "vile affections," meaning it was degrading desires [morally despicable], against God's original order and plan for the man and woman. For we read in the very beginning that God had created the woman for the distinct purpose to be a "helpmate" for the man, a companion and wife. They also complimented each other sexually and were able to "be fruitful and multiply" (see Genesis 1: 28; 2:18-25). These truths can never apply to a woman with a woman or a man with a man. Why? Because Paul calls it "against nature." Also, homosexuality is mentioned in this chapter as one of the 24 sins listed in verses 20-31. Concerning this truth, Joe Dallas further comments on Romans 1:26: 

"Paul is not speaking nearly so subjectively in Romans 1 as this argument would suggest. There is nothing in his wording to imply he even recognized such a thing as a "true" homosexual verses a "false" one. He simply describes homosexual behavior as unnatural, no matter who it is committed by. 

In fact, his wording is unusually specific. When he refers to "men" and "women" in these verses, he chooses the Greek words that most emphasize physiology: arsenes and theleias. Both words are rarely used in the New Testament; when they do appear, they appear in contexts meant to emphasize the gender of the subject, as in male child (arsenes). Here, Paul is very pointedly saying that the homosexual behavior committed by these people was unnatural to them as males and females (arsenes and theleias); he is not considering any such thing as sexual orientation. He is saying, in other words, that homosexuality is biologically unnatural--not just unnatural to heterosexuals, but unnatural to anyone. 

Additionally, the fact that these men "burned in their lust" for each other makes it highly unlikely that they were heterosexuals experimenting with homosexuality. Their behavior was born of an intense inner desire. Suggesting, as Boswell and Mollenkott do, that these men were heterosexuals indulging in homosexual behavior requires mental gymnastics.  

Besides, if verses 26 and 27 condemn homosexual actions committed by people to whom they did not come naturally, but don't apply to people to whom those actions do come naturally, then doesn't consistency compel us to apply the same logic to all the practices mentioned in this chapter? We would have to say that it's not only homosexuality that is not condemned in these verses--if practiced by someone to whom it comes naturally and in the context of a loving relationship. We would have to say that all of these behaviors--if practiced by someone to whom they come naturally and in the context of a loving relationship--are not condemned in these verses."[2]

Next we have the sin of homosexuality mentioned in two more lists of sin in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and 1 Timothy 1:9-11. The words "effeminate" (Greek: malakos) and "abusers of themselves with mankind" (1 Corinthians; Greek: arsenokoite) and "them that defile themselves with mankind" (1 Timothy; Greek: arsenokoite). The word is further translated "sodomites" in the NKJV; "homosexual offenders" in the NIV. This of course tells us there is no way in denying what the Scripture texts before us are saying without doing violence to what is implied.  

The Parental Role in Marriage. 

It is important to recognize the crucial role each parent fulfills in the marital relationship. Though both parents play their part in raising their children. Let's say for example, a boy and a girl. The mother is best equipped to teach her daughter how to become a respectable young woman; while the father is best suited to teach his son how to become a honorable young man in society. Now having said that, a mother's role to her son is to model for him how a lady behaves in a marital relationship; while the father demonstrates to the daughter how a man protects, provides, and leads the family.  

Same-sex marriage undermines and attacks that very order in the marital union. Two fathers or two mothers in a marriage relationship cannot properly teach and model for a son or daughter what it means to be a proper man and woman. For a man can never in a deep sense fulfill the role of the mother in teaching his daughter what it means to be a woman, just as a woman can never fulfill the father's role in teaching her son what it means to be a man. A marital relationship works best when it consists of a man and a woman fulfilling their God ordained roles as husband and wife, and father and mother to their children.

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[1] Joe Dallas, The Gay Gospel? How Pro-Gay Advocates Misread the Bible, (Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon, 2007), pgs. 191-192.

[2] Joe Dallas, The Gay Gospel? How Pro-Gay Advocates Misread the Bible, Ibid, pgs. 204-205.

"The Bully Who Grew A Heart"

"Am I my brother's [sister's] keeper?"

(Genesis 4: 9, NIV)

 



 

Since there has been so much talk of lately about bullying. For example, the suicide death of Amanda Todd which was the result of bullying. Then there is the recent story of Rehtaeh Parsons, who was brutally raped by four of her peers and later died. The saddest part of all was pictures of the assault was emailed and posted on the internet. With all this evidence, you would think the police would of apprehended the perpetrators by now. Such epathy shown by the law is a shame and crime in itself. So I thought I would share my story as a former bully who had a change of heart. I hope my story below encourages people that not all bullies are heartless.

I was a former bully myself. What really changed me was an incident that occurred during my last year in elementary school before I went to Junior High. I will never forget the incident that transpired that day, which contributed to my change of heart. The bullying incident happened one day during lunch break on the outskirts of the school grounds. A large group of us kids, around 20 or 30 of us, gathered around a young 6th grade girl named Amanda [not her real name] who had a mild mentally challenged disability. A part of her disability was that she would do just about anything you ask her to do. Of course, for those of us in the crowd that day, we made sport of that, just another laugh at this poor girl’s expense.

For example, we would pretend to be her friend. When we easily convinced her of that, we got her to do some pretty foolish things. Like when we got her to eat grass; then we got her to smear dirt all over her clean dress, etc. However, the meanest part of the incident was when a boy nearby where I was standing, told her to take her top off! By this time she was laughing along with us, unaware that we were really laughing at her, each time she did some small thing we asked her to do to please us.

But the last straw was when she did the last thing that cruel boy asked her to do. It was the punch-line, the joke at her expense. At first, she was a bit hesitant at the boy’s request. So the crowd of us kids cheered her on to do it. Not one of us protested against the cruel gesture we were encouraging her to do! Anyway, she took off her top. The crowd roared in mocking laughter at her. Again, poor Amanda didn’t understand that we were not laughing with her, but rather were laughing at her. This time when she laughed with us, she laughed in a confused, self conscious and insecure manner, as if something was not quite right.

It was then, another 6th grade girl came into the crowd and stepped out into the clearing in the circle where the confused and topless girl stood. She specifically came in defense of Amanda. She angrily shouted at the crowd of us around her, who were guilty of bullying and making fun of this young girl who just happened to be a little different than the rest of us. The crowd grew silent for a moment, as the new girl plainly told Amanda that we were really not her friends, that we were just poking fun of her at her expense.

I will never forget the look on her face, a look that still haunts me to this day! As the reality of the cruel truth dawned on her, she began to cry loudly as her eyes scanned the silent crowd, and with a look of betrayal she repeated over and over, “I thought you were my friends?” As I looked at the crowd around me, not one eye was dry. As the crowd shamefully dispersed kids were wiping their eyes. I was one of the last to leave. I shamefully looked at the two young girls. I knew the girl who defended Amanda. She was my girlfriend at the time, Carry. She looked at me with a disappointed and disgusted look on her face. For a moment, nothing was said. I quietly walked over to the girls and took off my jean jacket and wrapped it around Amanda. Seeing her tears, I gently wiped some of them away with my fingers. Then I quietly turned around and walked away. In disbelief, Carry cried out, “You jerk! So you are going to leave without even apologizing to her!?”

A few weeks had passed since the incident, and I still couldn’t erase from my memory the betrayed look on Amanda’s tear stained face, nor could I escape her emotionally charged words: “I thought you were my friends?” As I played with my friends on the play ground at recess time, her face and words haunted me. Every now and again, I would look across the play ground and see the girl I hurt. She was laughing and talking with a couple other girls, including Carry who wouldn’t speak to me. I can’t blame her. I did act like such a jerk. I should have stood up for Amanda when she needed it the most. I was so busy being a part of the crowd, when there are times in one’s life when we need to stand out from the crowd in protest against an injustice done to our neighbor in their hour of need.

Finally, one day during recess time I walked on over to Amanda. When she saw me, her smile quickly faded. With her head down, she stared at the ground and shyly moved aside to where Carry was standing. With an annoyed and angry scowl on her face, she sharply asked, “What do you want?” At the force of her words, I took a step back. Staring at the ground, I quietly said, “I am sorry.” I could feel her eyes burrowing through me, as she said, “I can’t hear you. Speak up, what was it you said?” This time, looking up at her, I said firmly, “Look, I am sorry about what happen a few weeks ago, okay?” Studying my face, she shot back, “It’s not me you need to apologize to, it’s to her!” Rolling my eyes, I exclaimed, “How can I, she’s hiding behind you!” Stepping aside, she motioned for Amanda to come forward. Standing now face to face, I could see the hurt in her eyes. Holding back my tears, I said with emotion, “Amanda, I am so sorry for what I had said and asked you do. Will you please forgive me for acting like such a jerk?” The smile that had first faded at my approach, once again appeared on her face. Wrapping her arms around me, she whispered in my ear, “Of course I forgive you.” Clutching onto her back, I buried my face into her shoulder as tears freely flowed from my eyes. After a few moments, I stepped back, embarrassed as I quickly wiped away my tears, as I became painfully aware that a number of students, including my girlfriend at the time were quietly observing me. They too had tears in their eyes. With deep emotion, Carry said, “I think there is hope for you yet.” If my memory serves me correct, I was the only boy from the crowd who actually returned back to apologize to Amanda that day. Later, I heard a few more kids from the crowd I was a part of that day, went and apologized to her. Whether rumour or fact, who knows. I really hope they did.

Carry then hugged me and forgave me. Once again, we were back together as boyfriend and girlfriend. All my friends were once again green with envy as I playfully trotted off with one of the prettiest girls in our elementary school, Haha! As the school year went on, Carry took note that I had stopped bullying other kids for their lunch money. I had no choice in the matter. Either that, or face her wrath; Just kidding, haha. Finally, the last day of school came. Packing my things in my school bag from my locker, I said goodbye to some of my friends and then left for home. It was a warm, sunny and beautiful day as I ventured home. Just as I turned towards the Corner store near my school, a girl called out to me. Looking over my shoulder, I noticed it was Carry and her best friend Jill. They were standing in the middle of the side street, near the path in the woods that lead to their homes. I walked over and said my goodbyes to them as well for the hundredth time! That school year defined a milestone in my life. Though I wasn’t perfect, I still got into trouble from time to time. But I had changed. I became a reformed bully. A bully who grew a heart!

Before we parted ways, I received my first real kiss from Carry. Yeah, we kissed before, just not like the passionate one she left me with. But then, that’s a story for another time. But then again, I don't kiss and tell, haha!

"For Our Viewing Pleasure?"

"I will set no worthless thing before my eyes"

(Psalm 101: 3, NASB)

For the past while now, I have been thinking a bit on how I use my time, especially in the area of entertainment such as the amount of time I spend watching TV and listening to music. It is to the point that I find the amount of time I spend doing these things has affected my time in getting things that matter done. I waste far too much time on such entertainments as TV and music, when I could be using my time doing more productive things. My old acquaintance, Sakurah had written a very interesting article that deals with TV entertainment. What's even more interesting is the fact that she is not even a Christian and yet she has come to the realization of how TV wastes precious time that could be spent doing better things. She wrote the following:

“Lately I've been associating TV with laziness and just general negativity. I feel like it creates temporary fake happiness and even feelings of accomplishment to viewers because they are living through the characters they are watching. It draws you in and enables you to forget everything in your life and in reality. Finally you 'come to' and realize you just spent hours of your of your life sitting/lying on the couch doing nothing but looking straight ahead. This is not living life, is it? All of the experiences you felt you had by watching that TV screen aren't yours. You watched some one else fall in love, your watched someone else go on an amazing adventure, you watched someone else's facial expression when a bright orange fall leaf brushed past their cheek. Look at all the amazing experiences we could've had in only a couple hours in our lives that would be truly ours. Our own memories to look back on and enjoy. You could've had an enlightening conversation with some interesting person at your local coffee shop. You could've felt a rain drop fall slowly down over your face, while walking down your favorite street in town. Lay in the grass with the sun on your skin, felt a breeze in your hair, and imagined shapes in the clouds. You could feel the scrunch of snow under your feet and become amazed by how beautiful it looks on the trees, notice the little footprints left behind by all the animals we scarcely see. Life is really happening around us all the time. Go out and take notice!”[1]

The above comment written by Sakurah is quite revealing. For it was a known truth taught in many evangelical Churches a number of years ago. Many  Christians at one time even refused to have TVs in their homes, because they well understood how distracting entertainment can be, and how much time it wastes in their lives. They also knew the danger it posed to their spiritual lives as well. They knew all too well how the TV and Movie Theatre would fill their minds with the worldly entertainments and filth that would stifle their fellowship with the Lord. However, many Christians today, myself included have top of the line flat screen TV's where we watch our favourite shows and waste precious time that could be better spent doing more productive things as my friend Sakurah articulates  so well in her above article. Author Craig Cabaniss in a chapter entitled, "God, My Heart, and Media" taken from the book "Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World" made this insightful, but lengthy comment, which is well worth repeating here:

"Think about the power of video entertainment, for instance. Whether viewed on computer, a portable player, or traditional TV set, television and film are without peer in their cultural influence. Ken Myers, an astute Christian observer of popular culture, notes that television is not only "the dominant medium of popular culture" but also "the single most significant shared reality in our entire society." He compares television's impact to that of Christianity centuries ago, when "Christendom" defined the Western world:

Not all citizens of Christendom were Christian, but all understood it, all were influenced by its teaching...I can think of no entity today capable of such a culturally unifying role except television. In television, we live and move and have our being.

Similarly, pastor Kent Hughes offers this alarming appraisal:

Today the all-pervasive glow of the television set is the single most potent influence and control in Western culture. Television has greater power over the lives of most Americans than any educational system, government, or church.

But it's not enough to acknowledge the dominant, nearly godlike authority exercised over our culture by TV, the Internet, and the rest of the media. We must evaluate the content of media messages and the consequences of their influence....

Watching Unwatchingly

Many of us don't think about actively filtering our viewing. As long as we avoid the obvious traps such as pornography, we don't consider deliberate evaluation necessary. Though we may faithfully apply the Scriptures in other areas of life, we may not consciously think about how God's Word applies to our entertainment choices.

All too often, we think about neither what we watch nor how much. Our watching is just inevitable. We watch by habit. We watch because we're bored. We unwatchingly watch as the TV stays on for background noise.

We watch alone or with others. We gathers with friends on Friday night and rent a DVD because there's nothing else to do. 

We watch because others watch. Everyone at school or at work is talking about a popular movie. It's a must see-- so we must see it. Without researching its content, without thinking about its effect on our hearts, without comparing an evening at the movies with other options, we go, and we watch.

Please don't misunderstand. I'm not saying it's wrong to watch television, rent a DVD, surf the Internet, or spend an evening at the cinema. The hazard is thoughtless watching. Glorifying God is an intentional pursuit. We don't accidentally drift into holiness; rather, we mature gradually and purposefully, one choice at a time. In the Christian walk, we can't just step onto the right path and figure all is well. Christian discipleship is a lifelong journey consisting of a series of countless steps. Each step matters, and thus our viewing habits matter."[2]

The truth is, as believers in Christ, we should limit the amount of time and be careful in what we select to watch on TV. Try mentioning this to fellow believers in Churches today and they will label you as being legalistic. They will perceive you as being out of touch with the present times. Actually, many Churches today, particularly Seeker  Friendly Churches use entertainment, such as movies to draw people into their congregations. Sadly, many of these so called movies have little to do with exalting Christ and teaching the Word of God to young people. Another form of entertainment the Church uses to draw young people is so called Christian Rock Concerts that does more to appeal to the flesh than to exalt Christ.

Entertainment in Light of the Scriptures.

So what does the Scriptures have to say about such forms of worldly entertainments? Now the Bible doesn't specifically deal with the subject of the television and movies, but it does speak about the content we should guard against. In 1 Thessalonians 5: 21, Paul instructs us to "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (KJV) Again, another well known verse that we need to apply to what we feed our minds with, when it comes to entertainment is Philippians 4: 8, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (KJV). Such Scripture verses should be used to measure the content, morality, and  language of the television shows and movies we watch.  How truly fitting are the words of the psalmist here, "Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity" (Psalm 119: 37). A similar truth is conveyed by the prophet Isaiah, when he said, "and shuts his eyes from looking upon evil" (Isaiah 33: 15b). Again, the psalmist makes this sobering statement, "I will set no worthless thing before my eyes" (Psalm 101: 3). This can certainly apply to the television set, video games, and the movie cinema, and other forms of media entertainment that deadens us to spiritual things that pertains to God.

Effects that Entertainment has on Us.

There are people both inside the Church and outside that will argue that such entertainment as what we watch on TV and the cinema movies do not really effect us. It's only a bit of harmless entertainment. Sure people who just watched a movie that showed a bank robbery or someone who got shot and killed, may never go out and personally rob a bank or kill someone. Many will argue this very point I just made. However, what they fail to realize is that such an avenue of entertainment plays havoc in one's subconscious.  They may not steal or kill for fear they may get caught, but they are usually guilty of less risky behaviours such as foul language, adultery, drunkenness, lying, slandering, and petty violence. All these things the media and entertainment contributes to. It's no wonder Paul commands the Christians at Colosse, "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."  (Col. 3: 8-10, NIV). Why did Paul say this? because he well knew their hearts. On the same note, Jesus said: "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within and defile the man" (Mark 7: 21-23, KJV). So the danger that such entertainment poses to the Christian is that it feeds our sinful flesh, while deadening our spiritual lives with God at the same time. Oh, that we would be wise to guard our hearts in what we entertain ourselves with! (See Prov. 4: 23). Indeed, TV is a false substitute for real life. So let's go out and start living life the way it was meant to be lived -- to the Glory of God!

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[1] Sakurah [Alisha] Horwood, Facebook, (Notes, written Wednesday September 29, 2010; entitled: "TV").

[2] Craig Cabaniss, Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World, (Crossway Books, Wheaton, Illinois, 2008), pgs. 37-40.

What are the Origins of Easter?

 

Question: "What are the origins of Easter?"

Answer: The origins of Easter are rooted in European traditions. The name Easter comes from a pagan figure called Eastre (or Eostre) who was celebrated as the goddess of spring by the Saxons of Northern Europe. A festival called Eastre was held during the spring equinox by these people to honor her. The goddess Eastre’s earthly symbol was the rabbit, which was also known as a symbol of fertility. Originally, there were some very pagan (and sometimes utterly evil) practices that went along with the celebration. Today, Easter is almost a completely commercialized holiday, with all the focus on Easter eggs and the Easter bunny being remnants of the goddess worship.

In the Christian faith, Easter has come to mean the celebration of the resurrection of Christ three days after His crucifixion. It is the oldest Christian holiday and the most important day of the church year because of the significance of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the events upon which Christianity is based. Easter Sunday is preceded by the season of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and repentance culminating in Holy Week and followed by a 50-day Easter season that stretches from Easter to Pentecost.

Because of the commercialization and pagan origins of Easter, many churches prefer to refer to it as “Resurrection Sunday.” The rationale is the more we focus on Christ and the less we focus on the pagan holiday, the better. As previously mentioned, the resurrection of Christ is the central theme of Christianity. Paul says that without this, our faith is futile (1 Corinthians 15:17). What more wonderful reason could we have to celebrate! What is important is the true reason behind our celebration, which is that Christ was resurrected from the dead, making it possible for us to have eternal life (Romans 6:4)!

Should we celebrate Easter or allow our children to go on Easter eggs hunts? This is a question both parents and church leaders struggle with. There is nothing essentially evil about painting and hiding eggs and having children search for them. What is important is our focus. If our focus is on Christ and not the eggs, our children will understand that the eggs are just a game. Children can participate in an Easter egg hunt as long as the true meaning of the day is explained and emphasized, but ultimately this must be left up to the discretion of parents.

Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/easter-origins.html#ixzz2P06vOpxt

My Response to Ten Things I wish the Church Knew About Homosexuality

I will be working on my response to the above "Ten Things I wish the Church Knew About Homosexuality" over the next short while. So stay tuned. I hope to post it here soon.

Who Can Find a Faithful Friend?

"A friend loves at all times."

(Proverbs 17: 17, NIV)

 

In today's world, true friends are in short supply, but in high demand, for there are many lonely people who are crying out for a true friend to walk by their side through life's journey. While other people have many friends, but are quite blessed if even one of them is a true friend. "Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man?" (Prov. 20: 6, NASB). Because of the selfish nature in man, often friendships are formed for the wrong reasons. Unknown to the potential friend, the other person may only want to be a friend because of what's in it for him or her.

 

Then there are friendships that we may make with people that are shallow. Such friends only want you to tell them what they want to hear, instead of what they need to hear. Often, such friends will not say anything to such people in fear they may lose the friendship. The question needs to be asked in such situations: 'Is he or she really my friend if they are not open to receiving from me what they do not want to hear?' What such people don't realize is that such a friend never really was their friend to begin with. In friendships, there is to be expected a certain measure of conflict followed by a resolution. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Prov. 27: 17, NIV). True friendships are based on such principles. It's how we learn and grow. We should expect at times that our real friends are going to challenge us and tell us things about ourselves we don't want to hear. But it is only for our good. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy" (Prov. 27: 6, NASB). Did not Judas pretend to be our Lord's friend, but in the end betrayed him with a "kiss?" (see Matt. 26:47-49; Luke 22:47-48). Beware of such friends who only pretend, and hold on to the ones who are true and precious.



Freedom or Slavery?

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

(Galatians 5: 1, NIV)

 

When we think about such terms as "freedom" or "slavery." What comes to mind?  We usually think freedom means a license to do whatever we  like, while slavery is associated with restrictions, confinement, and bondage.  In a sense, people look at freedom and slavery as either a release or restriction associated with their present responsibilities and circumstances in life. For example: If you are a prisoner awaiting parole; no doubt you are looking forward to the day when you will be released from prison to once again enjoy freedom outside the walls and bars of prison life. If you are a teenager, you are probably looking forward to the time when you graduate from high school and are going to move away from the restraints and influences of your parents to take up residence at some dormitory, and enjoy the experience of freedom living on your own, while attending university. Then there is the restless house wife who is weary in the everyday demands of a mother of a few children. She is looking forward to the time when they grow up and leave home. Though she will miss them, she is looking forward to the freedom she will enjoy in not having to clean up after them. I'm sure many more examples could be given about freedom and slavery as it relates to every day life.  

As you can see from the three examples given above; each carries its sense of enslavement and longing for the time of escape to freedom. The question is "Freedom to what?" For each situation that we seem to think is a form of freedom carries its own set of rules and restrictions we are required to follow. Before we continue in this subject, let's take a look at the definitions to Freedom and Slavery.  

Freedom: "the quality or state of being free; independence; exemption; release; unrestricted use; a political right."

Slavery: "a condition of being a slave; the practice of owning slaves." 

It is interesting to note in Scripture that the Apostle Paul referred to himself as a "bond slave" or "servant" of the Lord Jesus Christ. (To be Continued...)