Drinking and Laughing

I have seen and heard a lot of Christians talking about alcohol, crude movies (even some that non-christians have avoided for crudeness), and talking coarsely about sex and drinking. I know for myself I often laugh, and or enjoy something, that if I later think more about I realize I probably should not have indulged. As a Christian I don't want to lead a brother or sister into sin, nor do I want to sin. My goal should be to glorify God and to lead others to him through my example.

Let me start by saying, I have an occasional drink and enjoy movies. The scripture tells us that Jesus turned water into wine, and of course the last supper has him drinking the cup and passing it to the disciples. The culture of his time would also dictate that one would just drink wine at a meal. so, if wine is unholy, then there is no way Jesus could have had it to drink, he is perfectly holy, so a drink in this case would mean he sinned against himself and his father's commands to be holy.

Now, take food for example. I like food, I need food. Jesus ate food. Food however, can be (key word, can) sinful if it is abused. In this example, over eating food to the point of excess, gluttony, is a sin. 

Paul tells us that all things are permissible, but not all things are good for us. Food, wine, beer, movies, all permissible, but not all good for us (1 Corinthians 10:23).  The point of the entire chapter of 1 Cor 10 is to do all things to the glory of God, whether that is eating or drinking, the reason you do those things ought to be so that God may be glorified.

Paul begins the chapter with some stern warnings to the people of Corinth (1 Cor 10:5). He is warning them that if they depart from God, God in his perfect justice and holiness will punish them with death. He reminds them that this is no new thing, but that God has always throughout history punished those who do evil, and especially those who do evil while claiming to be God's people. See the Old Testament if you need more convincing.

Is a movie bad? In and of itself, not necessarily (although many are). But what is the movie leading you to do? Maybe you are a strong person and not easily influenced. While that is good, the scripture is clear that bad company corrupts good morals. So if we go regularly to the company of immoral movies, whether at home or the theatre, we will in one way or another be influenced and brought into the things that are portrayed. If that is drunkenness, harlotry,  gambling, murder, etc and we enjoy the movie, we are in some way partaking of the sin.

Here is what the Bible says regarding drinking wine or in this case watching a movie or talking coarsely:

Ephesians 5:1-21

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

 3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be partners with them.

 8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

   "Wake up, O sleeper,

      rise from the dead,

   and Christ will shine on you."

 15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

from <http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5&version=NIV>  emphasis is mine.

As Christians we are commanded to be as holy as God. That doesn't mean we always will be, but that is why Jesus died for us. That said, the command still stands and we must obey it. If we willfully disobey, then we deserve nothing but God's wrath. He is merciful, and gives freely to all who hear his voice and turn from their sins. But as Jesus said to many of those he healed. Go and sin no more.

Please prayerfully consider what is being said by the apostle in this passage. Ask God to show you the motives of your heart. Ask him to drive out any sinful desires, and to give you a heart of flesh that beats for him.  There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it is death. Be filled with the spirit.

With prayers, and concern for your soul, your friend,

Rocky

Do Christians Have Feelings?

Think back my Christian friend to the last time you felt close to God. What did it feel like, can you even remember? No doubt there was joy, peace, clarity of mind, commitment to service. Where are those feelings now? Was it just youthful Christian zeal that has now given way to learned stoic faith? How do you feel about God? He has feelings about you.

These brief thoughts flow from the book I am going through with the high school class. The book is titled, Feelings and Faith, and it was written by Brian S. Borgman. I recommend it. http://feelingsandfaith.com/

Michael Jackson's Death

Let me start by sending condolences to his family. At only 50 years old it appears this was very unexpected.

It always makes me sad when I hear of people like Michael Jackson passing from this world. Only God truly knows Michael's heart, but from outward appearances it seems he did not know God. And this is what troubles me. Michael Jackson had a lot of things in this life. He traveled the world with fame and fortune, lacking no finery at any point along the way. The sadness though is that these things often keep us from obtaining the one thing we really need, Jesus Christ.

The Bible warns us that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Riches cloud our ability to see ourselves as needy. There is nothing wrong with being rich, but often the riches are loved above all else, and this makes them wrong.

Jesus warns the rich young ruler that his riches were keeping him from heaven. The young man was a good and righteous man on the outside. He worked hard, was faithful to his family and church, but his true worship fell on accumulating wealth. When Christ asks him to sell all that he has and to give it to the poor the man cannot bring himself to do it, and goes away saddened because he is not a follower of God.

The man had a very good reason for being sad, but it seems his sadness came not from being outside of God's family, but rather from being unable to take what he thought would be a prestigious and gainful place next to Christ. It seems his sadness was more from a heart of self pity, instead of a heart of repentance for the greatness of his sin and the strength with which it held him.

Let us check ourselves as we hear of this sad news. Remember the God who gives you all things, and remember that he has given the one thing you need, forgiveness from your sins if you come and accept Jesus Christ. John 3:16-18

Happy Easter!

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. - 1 Peter 2:24

Happy Easter. In yesterdays post I talked about sin and focused on what Jesus bore on the cross. Today however let's look at what this means for us.

If we are guilty of breaking God's law and are going to be damned to Hell for eternity, we need help. Hell we are told is a horrible place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, a place where we will forever reap the payment for our sins.

But, God in his mercy has made a way for us to be freed from this punishment. Instead of eternity in Hell he offers eternity in Heaven. Heaven is described as the new city of Jerusalem, a wonderful and awesome place beyond our comprehension.

How then do we get this mercy and enter into Heaven? Jesus bore our sins on the cross and there he died paying once for all the penalty for our sins. His death payed the debt we owed.
Jesus came to earth with the purpose of freeing us from our sins. He knew from the beginning that his life on earth would end in his taking our place on the cross, shedding his blood to free us from Hell. He willingly laid down his life so that we could live.

Imagine for a moment that you owed 200 million dollars to someone. The money was theirs and you took it by some illegal means. Your punishment was to pay them back while in jail, and you would not be released until it was paid in full. It would be impossible for you to pay that debt back. Your hope of ever seeing another free day would be gone.

That is exactly how we stand before God. The Bible tells us that if we break just one of God's laws it is as if we broke all of them. In this state then we are hopelessly condemned and deserving of Hell. We have no ground upon which to argue our case. The law states that we are guilty and only mercy can set us free.

Now imagine that your 200 million dollar debt was paid by someone. The guards come and release you from prison. You ask them how this can be since you have only paid a few dollars back and they tell you that John Smith paid your debt.

This is what Jesus has done for us. God's law clearly condemned us to death. But Jesus came to earth perfectly kept God's laws and then died in our place to pay the debt we owed. Best of all, he not only died, but rose again from the dead conquering sin so that we may live in righteousness.

Our debt is paid. Our sins forgiven. All we have to do is repent and believe. Do you believe? Come to Jesus this Easter day and celebrate, truly celebrate what he has done for you.