Today I was thinking on purity. So often today we think of purity as a lack - someone who is pure is someone who hasn't had sex. This is appalling. Firstly, because it is taking our definition of an important term from the world. Secondly, because there are many people who are 'impure' by that definition who are nothing of the sort, and thirdly, because there are many who are 'pure' by that definition who are nothing of the sort.
Finally, and for me a very important aspect, the idea that purity is all over once you've had sex, means that for many there becomes no point to being pure; you're just trying to be something you can't. This was something I found dificult - I was just short of 22 when I became a Christian. I wasn't bad by the world's standards, but then, they're not exactly God's standards.
Purity is more than body. Purity comes across in our words, and it begins from our heart (like pretty much everything else). For those of us who have fallen before (and it's far more than those who are vigins) we need to regain purity.
In Ephesians 4:28 the thief is not only told that he must no longer steal, but that he must give to those in needs. Those who lack purity not only need to refrain from impure behaviour, words and thoughts, but they need to REPLACE those behaviours, words and thoughts with pure and godly ones.
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Psalm 10
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises... He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims. He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength.
He says to himself, "God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees." Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"? But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand.
The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.
verses 2, 8-14.
When I was reading this Psalm this morning on the bus it really hit me on how applicable this psalm is to the modern day abortion situation. The victims of abortion (primarily the babies, but the mothers as well) are caught in a trap, one deliberately laid for them. It comes out every now and then how Planned Parenthood etc actually add to their bottom line by encouraging behaviours that lead to abortions. Many girls are lied to, then make what they are told is "the best decision" only to have their babies killed and their own souls shredded.
The wording "crushed" really hit me. After all, that's what a live-birth (aka late term) abortion does. It crushes the baby, and chops him into bits. Horrific. These children are, for all extents and purposes, fatherless, just as the psalm says, and I have highlighted.
Sometimes it seems that God is not doing anything about this issue, one that I and many others care so deeply about. But we know that this is not true. God cares for every person - he counts the very hair on our heads.
But as the psalm goes on to state: The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. (verse 16). The LORD is doing a work here, one that we cannot even begin to understand. But one 'result' is the nations are perishing - the ungodly are literally killing themselves, whilst the godly embrace the blessing of children. Truly, the meek SHALL inherit the earth.
And no matter what, our God reigns from on high, even over such atrocities as murder of millions.
He says to himself, "God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees." Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"? But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand.
The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.
verses 2, 8-14.
When I was reading this Psalm this morning on the bus it really hit me on how applicable this psalm is to the modern day abortion situation. The victims of abortion (primarily the babies, but the mothers as well) are caught in a trap, one deliberately laid for them. It comes out every now and then how Planned Parenthood etc actually add to their bottom line by encouraging behaviours that lead to abortions. Many girls are lied to, then make what they are told is "the best decision" only to have their babies killed and their own souls shredded.
The wording "crushed" really hit me. After all, that's what a live-birth (aka late term) abortion does. It crushes the baby, and chops him into bits. Horrific. These children are, for all extents and purposes, fatherless, just as the psalm says, and I have highlighted.
Sometimes it seems that God is not doing anything about this issue, one that I and many others care so deeply about. But we know that this is not true. God cares for every person - he counts the very hair on our heads.
But as the psalm goes on to state: The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. (verse 16). The LORD is doing a work here, one that we cannot even begin to understand. But one 'result' is the nations are perishing - the ungodly are literally killing themselves, whilst the godly embrace the blessing of children. Truly, the meek SHALL inherit the earth.
And no matter what, our God reigns from on high, even over such atrocities as murder of millions.
Monday, 30 March 2009
Making Your Home A Haven
This week's challenge is making a bedtime. I need to be up at 6AM, and I do need plenty of sleep, especially as winter is coming that for me that's going to mean meltdown. At the same time I have several things on during the evenings of the week, and there is a need to get bits and pieces done at home once I actually GET home.
Consequentally, my aim is to be in bed (lights out) by 10PM, with a cutoff time of 10:30PM - the only exception being Friday night, as I have Scots which doesn't even finish until 10:30.
ARRRGH! Less than 3 hours before bed!
Consequentally, my aim is to be in bed (lights out) by 10PM, with a cutoff time of 10:30PM - the only exception being Friday night, as I have Scots which doesn't even finish until 10:30.
ARRRGH! Less than 3 hours before bed!
Sunday, 29 March 2009
2 Chronicles 20:35-37:
"Later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who did evil.They agreed to make large seagoing merchant ships; they built the ships in Ezion Geber.Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, “Because you made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will shatter what you have made.” The ships were wrecked and unable to go to sea."
This short passage really spoke to me when I read it last night. This was a mostly good king, who loved God and who cared for his people. But he made an alliance with a person who was known to be unrighteous, and as a result he suffered.
Today many people do the same thing as King Jehoshaphat. They make business alliances with people who are known to be ungodly. They spend their money at places that send a portion of that money for causes that are diametrically opposed to Biblical Principles. They see movies that use the name of our precious Lord as a swear word. And what's more, we PAY for the priviledge.
The thing is, we don't need to. There are alternatives. We can choose to shop at places that are run by Christians, and we can choose not to shop at places that support things like abortion or redefinitions of marriage, etc. We can choose NOT to see that movie that uses the name of Jesus as a swear word, or movies that promote ungodly behaviours like selfishness, lustfulness, and rebelliousness.
The thing is, most of us, to some extent, already do that. I deliberately avoid a lot of movies because I know they're a bit 'dodgy'. I get hot chocolates at Gloria Jeans over Starbucks because the owner of Gloria Jeans is a Christian who gives a large proportion of his money to Mercy Ministries, a crisis pregnancy organisation. Starbucks, on the other hand, has been known to support homosexual behaviours, etc.
Choosing where to shop is easy. It's important, but in the West we by and large have a choice and making that choice is easy. I mean, the ungodly do it! There is a reason that fair trade coffee and chocolate sells so well, and it isn't that it tastes good!
We need to TELL people the reasons we are shopping where we are. Fellow Christians, yes, of course. But the shop owners, the movie producers. Let THEM know why you are choosing not to frequent their stores or to see their movies. And just as importantly, let those that are doing good know that you appreciate what they are doing.
This short passage really spoke to me when I read it last night. This was a mostly good king, who loved God and who cared for his people. But he made an alliance with a person who was known to be unrighteous, and as a result he suffered.
Today many people do the same thing as King Jehoshaphat. They make business alliances with people who are known to be ungodly. They spend their money at places that send a portion of that money for causes that are diametrically opposed to Biblical Principles. They see movies that use the name of our precious Lord as a swear word. And what's more, we PAY for the priviledge.
The thing is, we don't need to. There are alternatives. We can choose to shop at places that are run by Christians, and we can choose not to shop at places that support things like abortion or redefinitions of marriage, etc. We can choose NOT to see that movie that uses the name of Jesus as a swear word, or movies that promote ungodly behaviours like selfishness, lustfulness, and rebelliousness.
The thing is, most of us, to some extent, already do that. I deliberately avoid a lot of movies because I know they're a bit 'dodgy'. I get hot chocolates at Gloria Jeans over Starbucks because the owner of Gloria Jeans is a Christian who gives a large proportion of his money to Mercy Ministries, a crisis pregnancy organisation. Starbucks, on the other hand, has been known to support homosexual behaviours, etc.
Choosing where to shop is easy. It's important, but in the West we by and large have a choice and making that choice is easy. I mean, the ungodly do it! There is a reason that fair trade coffee and chocolate sells so well, and it isn't that it tastes good!
We need to TELL people the reasons we are shopping where we are. Fellow Christians, yes, of course. But the shop owners, the movie producers. Let THEM know why you are choosing not to frequent their stores or to see their movies. And just as importantly, let those that are doing good know that you appreciate what they are doing.
Friday, 27 March 2009
Women's Work
I am a 'working woman', someone who has to work outside of the home for my daily bread. I'm single, so no husband, and it wouldn't be suitable for me to live at home at this point. I very much long to be at home, and married, and having children. But at the same time, I need to make sure that I'm not wasting the time I have now.
For me, the most important thing regarding work was to always do something that will help me become a better helpmeet and mother. I paid my way through a lot of uni by cleaning for friends who needed extra help around the house. I was always a good cleaner, but that helped me improve. I can even clean just as well with a toddler following on 'helping' me. The skills I learnt there will be of immense use when I have a family of my own to take care of.
I studied education at uni. Not so much so that I could teach other children, or even so that I could teach my own children, but so that when the government ups the restrictions on homeschooling (which they attempt to do every ten or so years here in Victoria) I'm not likely to have any problems.
I currently work in childcare. And that is actually very useful for me. I can feed thirty hungry 3-4 year olds at once (which is highly unlikely to ever happen in a family situation). I can read stories brilliantly. I can take the temperatures of children by hand and tell if they have a fever. I can change nappies with a kid standing, lying on a change table (which I hate) or lying on the floor. I know how to be consistent even with kids who I can't apply most forms of discipline to (as I hope to go into foster care, this will be important) and who have no boundaries at home.
In current times many women do need to work. Far, far less than who claim they do (most married women do not need to), but there are single women, single mothers, and other women who need to earn a living themselves for various reasons. But even for them, they can do things that help them become better helpmeets to their husbands (future or current), better mothers to their children, and more homecentred people.
For me, the most important thing regarding work was to always do something that will help me become a better helpmeet and mother. I paid my way through a lot of uni by cleaning for friends who needed extra help around the house. I was always a good cleaner, but that helped me improve. I can even clean just as well with a toddler following on 'helping' me. The skills I learnt there will be of immense use when I have a family of my own to take care of.
I studied education at uni. Not so much so that I could teach other children, or even so that I could teach my own children, but so that when the government ups the restrictions on homeschooling (which they attempt to do every ten or so years here in Victoria) I'm not likely to have any problems.
I currently work in childcare. And that is actually very useful for me. I can feed thirty hungry 3-4 year olds at once (which is highly unlikely to ever happen in a family situation). I can read stories brilliantly. I can take the temperatures of children by hand and tell if they have a fever. I can change nappies with a kid standing, lying on a change table (which I hate) or lying on the floor. I know how to be consistent even with kids who I can't apply most forms of discipline to (as I hope to go into foster care, this will be important) and who have no boundaries at home.
In current times many women do need to work. Far, far less than who claim they do (most married women do not need to), but there are single women, single mothers, and other women who need to earn a living themselves for various reasons. But even for them, they can do things that help them become better helpmeets to their husbands (future or current), better mothers to their children, and more homecentred people.
Making Your Home A Haven
Okay, I'm a little late with this one. But I have been meaning to do this, and here it is!
This week's task for making our home a haven is to come up with a morning routine of the same things that need to be done every day. Now, I used to have a great morning routine, but since getting sick again that's kind of disappeared.
So, my morning routine.
1. Exercise DVD (15 minutes)
2. Drink juice
3. Piano practise (10 minutes)
4. Harp practise (10 minutes)
5. Put away dry washing up
6. Check email (IF TIME)
Looking forwards to the next challenge for Making Your Home A Haven from Tammy's Recipes.
This week's task for making our home a haven is to come up with a morning routine of the same things that need to be done every day. Now, I used to have a great morning routine, but since getting sick again that's kind of disappeared.
So, my morning routine.
1. Exercise DVD (15 minutes)
2. Drink juice
3. Piano practise (10 minutes)
4. Harp practise (10 minutes)
5. Put away dry washing up
6. Check email (IF TIME)
Looking forwards to the next challenge for Making Your Home A Haven from Tammy's Recipes.
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Teaching and Training
Nowdays we neither teach nor train our children. Most people like it that way. We off-load the teaching onto someone else (school teachers, the media, even at a pinch teh church - though we don't like those 'religious' people having too much influence) and we ignore training altogether.
Teaching is important. It is vital that our children know truth, specifically the Truth. We need to teach our children that God's Word is the key to ALL of life, not just for two hours on Sunday. We need to teach them the Truths of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation.
But how much more important is training?! Teaching refers to the mind, but training to the character. And the mind is important for living life as God intended it, but how much more so character! It has been said that if you teach a child to be the best accountant in existence, but neglect to give him morals, all you have done is create an embezzler who can never be caught.
And today no one bothers to train children. Obedience is not learnt, manners are not learnt, and above all, morals are not learnt.
And yet it is easier to feed the mind than to retrain character. I should know. I was nearly 22 when I became a Christian. And I can honestly say that overcoming the opinions of evolutionists, feminists, and other 'experts' was easy. Memorising Scripture is easy. But applying it - using it to shape my character, which had gone largely untended - THAT was hard.
How much easier it is to train a child! Proverbs 22:6 states: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." How accurate! Children are wayward from their youth, but it is so much easier to root out the sins before they become ingrained habits. None of us are going to be perfect this side of paradise, but we make things easier or harder for ourselves and for our children.
Perhaps this is one of the most significant things about the homeschool movement. Not in the improved academics (though there certainly is that, and that is wonderful too) but in the abilitiy for the consistent work of parents towards a strong Christ-like character to be developed in our children.
Teaching is important. It is vital that our children know truth, specifically the Truth. We need to teach our children that God's Word is the key to ALL of life, not just for two hours on Sunday. We need to teach them the Truths of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation.
But how much more important is training?! Teaching refers to the mind, but training to the character. And the mind is important for living life as God intended it, but how much more so character! It has been said that if you teach a child to be the best accountant in existence, but neglect to give him morals, all you have done is create an embezzler who can never be caught.
And today no one bothers to train children. Obedience is not learnt, manners are not learnt, and above all, morals are not learnt.
And yet it is easier to feed the mind than to retrain character. I should know. I was nearly 22 when I became a Christian. And I can honestly say that overcoming the opinions of evolutionists, feminists, and other 'experts' was easy. Memorising Scripture is easy. But applying it - using it to shape my character, which had gone largely untended - THAT was hard.
How much easier it is to train a child! Proverbs 22:6 states: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." How accurate! Children are wayward from their youth, but it is so much easier to root out the sins before they become ingrained habits. None of us are going to be perfect this side of paradise, but we make things easier or harder for ourselves and for our children.
Perhaps this is one of the most significant things about the homeschool movement. Not in the improved academics (though there certainly is that, and that is wonderful too) but in the abilitiy for the consistent work of parents towards a strong Christ-like character to be developed in our children.
Saturday, 14 March 2009
Bubonic Plague
I'm currently reading 1st Samuel. And in the 6th chapter I noticed the plague that visits the Philistines when they have captured the Ark of the Covenant seems remarkably like the plague. (I'm not the only person to think so.) There are the tumours and rats - the two big symptoms of the bubonic plague.
Which got me thinking about the plague. Now, I love history, and I always thought the plague was interesting. (Okay, I'm a little weird.) The main recorded outbreaks are the Black Death in Europe in the 1340s, and the outbreak in 1665-1666 in London, which ended with the Great Fire of London in 1666. In the Black Death between 30 and 60 percent of Europe's population died of the disease - and considering the high general mortality rate of the time, famine caused by lack of labourers, etc, it lead to massive social changes (including things like the death of Feudalism).
When did the Plague occur, and what else was happening at the time? Well, as I said, the biggest outbreak was in Europe in the 1340s. At that time the Roman Catholic Church was the only official church of Europe, with all churches and people that we would nowdays consider Protestant (though it wasn't a phrase in existence) were usually condemned as heretics and treated as such. The Great Schism had occured, seperating the Eastern church from the Western church, and the battle was primarily over Papal power (with Eastern churches seeing the Pope as a kind of first among equals and the Western Catholic churches seeing the Pope as essentially infallible) though other issues such as Iconoclasm (with the East worshipping icons, while the Catholics left that for a few centuries) and the marriages of parish priests (East allowed it, West didn't). The Crusades had begun, and had in the 4th Crusade resulted in Catholic Crusades sacking Constantinople, the centre of the Eastern Orthadox Church. The Popes were in battle with everyone (including each other - there was more than one) in a power-mad bid.
The Plague of London in 1666 was shortly after the overthrow of Puritan England (7 years before), a year after an act that prohibited dissenting Christians from meeting (unless all members of one family) and was in the same year of the Five Mile Act which prohibited Non-conformist ministers from going within 5 miles of their former parishes or in any towns, or to teach in any schools. The King of the time, Charles 2nd, was known for his lechery (he had 12 ACKNOWLEDGED illegitimate children) and for the hedonism of his court.
Notice anything about the religious lives here? The two best know examples of the plague took place in times where the true church was marginalised, outlawed, where many Christians lost their livings and their lives, whilst the ruling powers of church and state lived lives of debuchery.
So what does this say for today? The plague is no longer considered a worry - although it does appear, even in the medical Western world. Apparently there are an average of 13 reported cases in the US a year - with a 15% death rate. The plague is treated with antibiotics, but there have been cases of antibiotic-resistant strains. The death rates should those strains reach the Western world would be astromonical. About 30% of people who get the plague died historically. We would be looking at similar percentages. In addition, with the removal of so many diseases from our lives (a GOOD thing, believe me) we have lowered resistance. Very few non-Europeans have any genetic resistance, and so they are at even greater risk.
Are we in the same position as the 13th century and Enlgand in the 1660s? I would say we aren't far off it. The church is marginalised, with the church held up to ridicule and laws being slowly put into place that prohibit the free exercise of religion ('hate speech' laws against Muslims and homosexuals immediately spring to mind). The leaders of church and state are generally in states of appostacy and live lives of unrivalled luxury and licence. Think of all the politicians who are connected with sex scandals in recent times. Shades of Charles the 2nd, anyone?
Like the Philistines, like the people of Europe and of London in the past, we are all guilty of turning away from God, of thinking Him a joke, of something that we can have serve ourselves, to make ourselves more powerful. We, like them, are ripe for judgement.
Which got me thinking about the plague. Now, I love history, and I always thought the plague was interesting. (Okay, I'm a little weird.) The main recorded outbreaks are the Black Death in Europe in the 1340s, and the outbreak in 1665-1666 in London, which ended with the Great Fire of London in 1666. In the Black Death between 30 and 60 percent of Europe's population died of the disease - and considering the high general mortality rate of the time, famine caused by lack of labourers, etc, it lead to massive social changes (including things like the death of Feudalism).
When did the Plague occur, and what else was happening at the time? Well, as I said, the biggest outbreak was in Europe in the 1340s. At that time the Roman Catholic Church was the only official church of Europe, with all churches and people that we would nowdays consider Protestant (though it wasn't a phrase in existence) were usually condemned as heretics and treated as such. The Great Schism had occured, seperating the Eastern church from the Western church, and the battle was primarily over Papal power (with Eastern churches seeing the Pope as a kind of first among equals and the Western Catholic churches seeing the Pope as essentially infallible) though other issues such as Iconoclasm (with the East worshipping icons, while the Catholics left that for a few centuries) and the marriages of parish priests (East allowed it, West didn't). The Crusades had begun, and had in the 4th Crusade resulted in Catholic Crusades sacking Constantinople, the centre of the Eastern Orthadox Church. The Popes were in battle with everyone (including each other - there was more than one) in a power-mad bid.
The Plague of London in 1666 was shortly after the overthrow of Puritan England (7 years before), a year after an act that prohibited dissenting Christians from meeting (unless all members of one family) and was in the same year of the Five Mile Act which prohibited Non-conformist ministers from going within 5 miles of their former parishes or in any towns, or to teach in any schools. The King of the time, Charles 2nd, was known for his lechery (he had 12 ACKNOWLEDGED illegitimate children) and for the hedonism of his court.
Notice anything about the religious lives here? The two best know examples of the plague took place in times where the true church was marginalised, outlawed, where many Christians lost their livings and their lives, whilst the ruling powers of church and state lived lives of debuchery.
So what does this say for today? The plague is no longer considered a worry - although it does appear, even in the medical Western world. Apparently there are an average of 13 reported cases in the US a year - with a 15% death rate. The plague is treated with antibiotics, but there have been cases of antibiotic-resistant strains. The death rates should those strains reach the Western world would be astromonical. About 30% of people who get the plague died historically. We would be looking at similar percentages. In addition, with the removal of so many diseases from our lives (a GOOD thing, believe me) we have lowered resistance. Very few non-Europeans have any genetic resistance, and so they are at even greater risk.
Are we in the same position as the 13th century and Enlgand in the 1660s? I would say we aren't far off it. The church is marginalised, with the church held up to ridicule and laws being slowly put into place that prohibit the free exercise of religion ('hate speech' laws against Muslims and homosexuals immediately spring to mind). The leaders of church and state are generally in states of appostacy and live lives of unrivalled luxury and licence. Think of all the politicians who are connected with sex scandals in recent times. Shades of Charles the 2nd, anyone?
Like the Philistines, like the people of Europe and of London in the past, we are all guilty of turning away from God, of thinking Him a joke, of something that we can have serve ourselves, to make ourselves more powerful. We, like them, are ripe for judgement.
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Domestic Warriors
I'm in the book of Judges at the moment, and one of the things that struck me was how women were instrumental in the defeat of the enemy. Everyone knows about Deborah, but less people are familiar with Jael or with the unnamed woman who dropped a millstone on the head of an attacking warrior.
The thing is, Jael and the unnamed warrior defeated their enemies using domestic implements. Jael used a tent-peg, the unnamed woman a millstone used in the kitchen to grind grain into flour.
It really struck me how the most powerful ways we can take on the enemies of God is with domestic implements - with cooking, cleaning, bringing up our children. It isn't in taking part in the 'mans world' or in having our own careers. It is in being women who work hard, in their own homes, looking after them, and using the tools at hand to defend them if necessary.
LORD, help me to be such a woman!
The thing is, Jael and the unnamed warrior defeated their enemies using domestic implements. Jael used a tent-peg, the unnamed woman a millstone used in the kitchen to grind grain into flour.
It really struck me how the most powerful ways we can take on the enemies of God is with domestic implements - with cooking, cleaning, bringing up our children. It isn't in taking part in the 'mans world' or in having our own careers. It is in being women who work hard, in their own homes, looking after them, and using the tools at hand to defend them if necessary.
LORD, help me to be such a woman!
Monday, 9 March 2009
Dominion
For those of you who don't know me, I fall into an odd theological category. As in I think I'm the only one. Literally.
You see, I'm a Pentacostal Quiverfull. I.e. I believe that the Holy Spirit is active in the world and still gives spiritual gifts such as healing, prophecy, etc, etc, as well as the more traditionally accepted gifts such as joy and evangalism. In addition I believe that it is the duty of all Christians to be fruitful and multiply and exercise dominion all over the earth.
Well, most Pentacostals are not coming on board with the babies bit. I got to a strictly two babies church. (Though I'm working on that with all of my friends, who are only beginning to 'pair off', so maybe that'll change.) But Pentacostals are beginning to realise that while our mission involves the saving of souls, it is not limited to that. We are to go out and change every aspect of society, giving glory to God in every sphere of life. (The recent book Dominion! is an example of the turn-around us Pentacostals are experiencing.)
In all honesty, this is one of the things that has been lacking in much of the church, especially in the Western world. We allowed the God-haters (mostly 'liberals' though certainly not only) to take over everything. Seriously, those people know dominion. And if you want to know how much dominion they've got, just think about the state of politics, education, media, and entertainment in your country. Do you really think God-haters aren't running them all? Have you not seen the media endorsement of various 'green' parties and their ridiculing of all right-wing parties, Christian ones especially? (In Australia, the media portrays the Family First party as a joke.) Have you not heard anything about the advocation of abortion, family planning and all forms of 'birth control' in public (and many private) schools? Did you not notice the Oscar given to Sean Penn for his portrayal of a gay politican in Milk? Seriously, liberals UNDERSTAND dominion. And more than that, they exercise it.
It's time for Christians of all denominations to take dominion back. To take over the arts (as we've all seen can happen through films shown at the SAICFF). To educate our children in a way that teaches them God's ways, and simultaneously shows that us poor, uneducated stay-at-home-mums can do a far better job at academics than the politically correct teachers at the local state school.
And, sorry to say this Pentacostals, but the most effective way of achieving dominion is to do what God said just before He told us to take dominion - to be fruitful and multiply - having and raising children for the glory of God. Children who will go on and go further than we ourselves can, exercising dominon over more and more of society for Christ.
You see, I'm a Pentacostal Quiverfull. I.e. I believe that the Holy Spirit is active in the world and still gives spiritual gifts such as healing, prophecy, etc, etc, as well as the more traditionally accepted gifts such as joy and evangalism. In addition I believe that it is the duty of all Christians to be fruitful and multiply and exercise dominion all over the earth.
Well, most Pentacostals are not coming on board with the babies bit. I got to a strictly two babies church. (Though I'm working on that with all of my friends, who are only beginning to 'pair off', so maybe that'll change.) But Pentacostals are beginning to realise that while our mission involves the saving of souls, it is not limited to that. We are to go out and change every aspect of society, giving glory to God in every sphere of life. (The recent book Dominion! is an example of the turn-around us Pentacostals are experiencing.)
In all honesty, this is one of the things that has been lacking in much of the church, especially in the Western world. We allowed the God-haters (mostly 'liberals' though certainly not only) to take over everything. Seriously, those people know dominion. And if you want to know how much dominion they've got, just think about the state of politics, education, media, and entertainment in your country. Do you really think God-haters aren't running them all? Have you not seen the media endorsement of various 'green' parties and their ridiculing of all right-wing parties, Christian ones especially? (In Australia, the media portrays the Family First party as a joke.) Have you not heard anything about the advocation of abortion, family planning and all forms of 'birth control' in public (and many private) schools? Did you not notice the Oscar given to Sean Penn for his portrayal of a gay politican in Milk? Seriously, liberals UNDERSTAND dominion. And more than that, they exercise it.
It's time for Christians of all denominations to take dominion back. To take over the arts (as we've all seen can happen through films shown at the SAICFF). To educate our children in a way that teaches them God's ways, and simultaneously shows that us poor, uneducated stay-at-home-mums can do a far better job at academics than the politically correct teachers at the local state school.
And, sorry to say this Pentacostals, but the most effective way of achieving dominion is to do what God said just before He told us to take dominion - to be fruitful and multiply - having and raising children for the glory of God. Children who will go on and go further than we ourselves can, exercising dominon over more and more of society for Christ.
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Priorities
I always find it interesting to find out what people do with their spare time. So many people claim to find various things important, yet they give little or no time over to it. I find this a lot, mostly because I read so much. I read around a book a day, though depending on what I'm reading I may read more or less. Most weeks I read between five and ten books.
Whenever people find this out they immediately say, "I wish I could read that much, but I'm just so busy, I don't have time."
Ah ha. Sure you don't.
Everyone has 24 hours in their day. These people have as much time as I do. They choose to do something different.
Interestingly, it's rarely people who I'd say were actually busy who say that. People with several children rarely say things like that. People who work two jobs never say things like that to me.
I find a lot of people who "don't have time" for books have plenty of time for aggressive computer games. They have seen all the most recent movies (including ones with dubious themes) and they see all of the hip TV shows. They'll go out every Friday night and Saturday night.
Now, TV and movies are not usually bad in and of themselves, at least not in small amounts, and there isn't anything wrong with meeting up with friends at any time, Friday night or otherwise. It's the fact that people will fritter their time away on these things. They will throw their time away on things that not only fail to really build themselves up, but frequently tear themselves down.
A wise woman builds her house, but a foolish tears it down with her own hands. (Proverbs 14:1) This applies to men too in many ways, but especially to women who are in command over a home. We all need to be doing things that build us up, that encourage us to grow in faith and knowledge of Christ. That means 'sacrificing' things we may like, such as some movies, TV, and computer games for things that are better for us, such as uplifting books, deep thoughts, and most importantly, the Word of God.
Whenever people find this out they immediately say, "I wish I could read that much, but I'm just so busy, I don't have time."
Ah ha. Sure you don't.
Everyone has 24 hours in their day. These people have as much time as I do. They choose to do something different.
Interestingly, it's rarely people who I'd say were actually busy who say that. People with several children rarely say things like that. People who work two jobs never say things like that to me.
I find a lot of people who "don't have time" for books have plenty of time for aggressive computer games. They have seen all the most recent movies (including ones with dubious themes) and they see all of the hip TV shows. They'll go out every Friday night and Saturday night.
Now, TV and movies are not usually bad in and of themselves, at least not in small amounts, and there isn't anything wrong with meeting up with friends at any time, Friday night or otherwise. It's the fact that people will fritter their time away on these things. They will throw their time away on things that not only fail to really build themselves up, but frequently tear themselves down.
A wise woman builds her house, but a foolish tears it down with her own hands. (Proverbs 14:1) This applies to men too in many ways, but especially to women who are in command over a home. We all need to be doing things that build us up, that encourage us to grow in faith and knowledge of Christ. That means 'sacrificing' things we may like, such as some movies, TV, and computer games for things that are better for us, such as uplifting books, deep thoughts, and most importantly, the Word of God.
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Be Fruitful And Multiply!
I'm making my way through the Bible, something I hope to do entirely by Easter, and again later this year whilst reading Matthew Henry's commentary. One thing that strikes me is reading my notes from my reading from last year. I thought I'd share this interesting thought with you.
God took the Levites in place of each first-born of Israel (see Numbers 3:12-13, among other references). If you think about it, that means he's taking approximately 1 out of every twelve people to be devoted to serving Him in ministry. Think about it. Does that seem proportionate? Not if you live nowdays. It seems like God is taking far, far less than His due.
The thing is, the Levite males made up only 22,273 people. A number that "seems too small for a population in excess of 2,000,000, and is used as an argument for attempting to find a means of reducing the total number of people" as my study Bible notes. However, it is far more fitting with large families... ones that God had blessed abundantly with children!
God took the Levites in place of each first-born of Israel (see Numbers 3:12-13, among other references). If you think about it, that means he's taking approximately 1 out of every twelve people to be devoted to serving Him in ministry. Think about it. Does that seem proportionate? Not if you live nowdays. It seems like God is taking far, far less than His due.
The thing is, the Levite males made up only 22,273 people. A number that "seems too small for a population in excess of 2,000,000, and is used as an argument for attempting to find a means of reducing the total number of people" as my study Bible notes. However, it is far more fitting with large families... ones that God had blessed abundantly with children!
Mission...
Sacrifices are a big part of worship, all the world round, all the religions of the world.
In classical mythology, the gods demand sacrifices. Indeed, they cannot live without these sacrifices. But the sacrifice itself is interesting... the people eat the meat and the fat, while the 'gods' get the bones, the smoke of the cooking, all covered in skin. In classical sacrifices, the people get the good bits, and the gods get the refuse, the bits that would get thrown out otherwise.
Not our God. Leviticus (particularly Leviticus 3) describes the sacrifices, the burnt offerings, the fellowship offerings, that our LORD demanded from His people of Israel. God gets the kidneys, the tail, and all the fat. He gets the prime steak, He gets the best.
Today we do not literally give sacrifices of animals. For us the ultimate sacrifice has been made through our Lord, Christ Jesus. But should always be our ambition to do the same thing - to offer God the best of what we have, to offer Him the fat, and not the smoke and bones.
In classical mythology, the gods demand sacrifices. Indeed, they cannot live without these sacrifices. But the sacrifice itself is interesting... the people eat the meat and the fat, while the 'gods' get the bones, the smoke of the cooking, all covered in skin. In classical sacrifices, the people get the good bits, and the gods get the refuse, the bits that would get thrown out otherwise.
Not our God. Leviticus (particularly Leviticus 3) describes the sacrifices, the burnt offerings, the fellowship offerings, that our LORD demanded from His people of Israel. God gets the kidneys, the tail, and all the fat. He gets the prime steak, He gets the best.
Today we do not literally give sacrifices of animals. For us the ultimate sacrifice has been made through our Lord, Christ Jesus. But should always be our ambition to do the same thing - to offer God the best of what we have, to offer Him the fat, and not the smoke and bones.
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