In Christ? (Part 1) Does My Significant Other Truly Draw Me To Christ...?

This is something that's really been burdening my heart...

I've heard a lot of people saying lately that the person they're dating makes them desire to be more godly, and sometimes it's true and I can see it. Other times that's not what I see, so please, I implore you... I want to challenge you to make a close examination of your relationship, whoever you are, based on this.

Let me ask you something. If you are not actively in a walk with God, if you can't remember the last time you spent time in devotion with God or time you spent in prayer for the sake of fellowship with Him, or the last time you actively served God... Then how can you say that any significant person in your life is driving you to live for God more or love Him more greatly? If you can't for yourself remember any of those things, then no matter what everyone around you believes and no matter how much you want it to be true, you have no business saying it or trying to make it true that they are driving you to Christ.

Listen. If your significant other, perhaps the person that you already care for and love deeply, is not actively, sincerely pointing you to God, and you aren't doing the same for them, then this is not someone you should be committing the rest of your life to. Ladies, if he doesn't call you to live godly now, then he will not lead you that way in marriage. Men, if she doesn't call you to live godly now, then she will not support you that way in marriage. The strength of a godly marriage is to love the Lord First! If the person you're dating doesn't commit to God then they won't commit to you. In the end, love for each other, no matter how deep, is not enough. Love is supposed to be a triangle, where you and your partner meet because you both are dependent and focused on God. Only if THE focus of your relationship and both your lives on God is enough, and there will be far more pain when the struggles of life come, and they will come, if you aren't both on the same page in this - not only in words, but in deeds. If you don't depend on God together when things are easy and drive each other to Christ now, what makes you think that either of you will in hardship when life gives you nothing?

These are questions you need to ask. Or I promise - Scripture promises - that you will encounter unnecessary hardship in the later years of your life. So check yourself, please... Do they truly draw you to Christ? Do you draw them?


Post "In Christ?" (Part 2) to come: "Respect Vs. Shame, And What's the Honorable Path?"

Valentines Day: I Shall Not Want

For every single young lady out there who just went through a miserable, lonely Valentines Day...

Stop feeling sorry for yourself right now. Forgive me, I don't mean to sound cold or uncaring, but don't you remember any of the wonderful verses about God's incredible love and care for you, like the 1st verse of Psalm 23?

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."

God is enough for you. Christ's love completes you, not a man's. Until God brings a man into your life in His perfect timing, He will love you and take care of you enough to complete you. He's always enough, always has been, and always will be; as it says... [you] shall not want. For anything. Period. Done. So stop moping that you don't have a man to give you flowers or candy or take you on a fancy date. Spend some time thanking God for all His endless love for you.

By the way, even if you're surrounded by couples and feel like you are the only one who's spent this Valentines Day without a significant other (like me), I'm pretty sure that if you look around a little, you'll find a few others who feel like they're in the same spot as you. So here's an extra challenge for tomorrow: Message your friends with some encouragement to remind them that their not alone either, send some hand-written notes or cards, or set up a group date for some singles' girl time - go out to lunch or bowling or something and fellowship with each other! And most of all, bless them with the love of Christ, which will satisfy them more than anything else.

Happy Valentines Day! Have a wonderful, God-blessed tomorrow.

Opposition To the Sin Of Homosexuality

I'm going to deviate slightly from my normal type of post today and talk about some politics. In Idaho the last few days there has been much debate and controversy over the passing of a bill. This bill is formally called House Bill 2 (HB2), but has become known to the community as the "Add the Words Bill", which asked to add both detrimental and Biblically unsound words to the Human Rights Act: "Sexual Orientation" and "Gender Identity". Small words yes, but very powerful too. I am against the bill, and I praise God that not long ago it was voted down in committee, but the last 3 days I have spent hours in hearing rooms listening to both pro- and opposing sides give their heartfelt beliefs about whether or not this bill should pass and I heard many disturbing things about people's belief in God and about people of faith. I want to take a moment or two to address them.

1. 'The Church and Christians have discriminated against and abused LGBT's as much as or more than everybody else.' 
There are many churches and many denominations. We cannot be all grouped into one unified "Church", or even under the label of "Christian" anymore. My faith is rooted in the Word of God, and it calls me to live exactly as Christ lived, and believe every single word in the Bible, not only parts. The Bible says that LGBT's have made a choice, and a wrong one, and that I cannot support that choice. Therefore, I will not support it. The Bible also says that I am to truly love, respect, and be welcoming to every one, so I choose to love, respect, and welcome them.

"Wherefore receive ye one another, even as Christ also received you, to the glory of God." Romans 15:7 (ASV)

Any true believer that follows the Bible in every way called, may be the only friend an LGBT can find, and will love them, even when they don't agree.

2. 'I was born this way. Christians say we choose to be this way. Look at what happens to us - do you think we would voluntarily choose this life?'

"For affliction cometh not forth from the dust, Neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; But man is born to trouble [sin] as the sparks fly upward." Job 5:6-7

Man was born into sin, and in that way no one, including LGBT's have a choice. The choice we do have and do make is whether to stay in sin or to leave it.

"But as for me, I would seek unto God, And unto God would I commit my cause." Job 5:8

God also says specifically about the homo/hetero-sexual, that they refuse God when they choose that life. 

"And even as they have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting: being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affections, unmerciful: who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they practice such things that are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practice them." Romans 1:28-32

My God is the God of love, and kindness, and peace, but also equally He is the God of righteous judgment and wrath. He loves his people but He cannot allow sin in His presence. He gives us an open door of choice, whether to live under His law giving our lives to him forever, and live under His promises in peace with Him forever; or to be left to our own devices and unconstrained by his law, but outside of His protection, and without peace, and without promise. We do have a choice. God's way or our way. And the folly, and/or difficulties, and/or rewards that follow after either choice are also the ones we choose. The reward is great and mighty if you choose God; are the rewards so great if you choose self? 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 (ASV)

"He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on Him." John 3:36 (ASV)

3. 'God made me this way, and because He did, what I am isn't wrong.'

"And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female He created He them." Genesis 1:27 (ASV)

This is perhaps the most distressing thing I heard... God created Man and Woman, separately and only. That is all. God specifically speaks against homo- and hetero-sexuality in the Bible. He calls it an abomination, and worthy of death. The Bible is God's very own Word, and if it says that something is wrong, then there's no way that God can in favor or support of it. 

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind: It is an abomination." Leviticus 18:22 (ASV)

"for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather that the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which was against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving themselves that recompense of their error which was due... who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they practice such things that are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practice them." Romans 1:24-27, 32

These are by no means all the distressing statements made at or around the hearings, but these are the ones that stuck with me most. May God have mercy on us, His sinful people. I pray for our nation and our souls. I hope with everything in me that those who have chosen their path apart from God will learn His truth and run back to Him. For you of faith, Do not forget that Jesus loved the sinners, and did not force them to follow Him, even when they caused God grief and sorrow. Be like Christ and love these people who desperately need people like you in their lives.