Here's What "Makes Me So Mad!"...

My friend, Isaiah, has posted two excellent articles in his blog that in my estimation relate to the failure of modern theology and the doctrines derived therefrom. I'm providing links to Isaiah's articles below since I can't say it any better myself and find no need to try to rephrase words already well spoken - thank you, Isaiah!

Isaiah addresses the issues of "prosperity teaching" and "hating sin." But before linking you to his blog and in keeping with the themes of his two articles, I wanted to share one of my own frustrations with a modern day belief that is has been pervasive within most denominations of Christianity and has now been carried over into evangelical Christian sects.In addition to prosperity teaching and the rising tolerance for sin, there is an insidious but rarely mentioned sin that is increasingly taking place beneath the noses of careless shepherds (pastors) that "makes ME so mad!": sexual immorality. Not necessarily their own sexual immorality, but the sexual immorality within their evangelical congregations.

I can tell you from experience that the vast majority of 30-50'something single men and women sitting in Christian congregations have bought into the lies that tout: God is not so cruel as to require people to marry to have sex, single people can't possibly be expected to go without sex for an undetermined period of time, and people shouldn't be expected to get married without knowing if they're sexually compatible. These lies are further upheld by the erroneous application of "none of us are good, we're all sinners saved by grace" so God readily forgives such indulgences. This is where Isaiah's article, Hating Sin, deals spot-on with that lie!

As a 43-year old single woman, I can tell you that I am unable to attend singles groups in good conscience for the lack of teaching about being chaste and doing all to avoid sexual sin. I don't attend singles groups anymore because of the increasing expectation to engage in a sexual relationship when dating the professing "Christian" men I meet there. Leadership doesn't teach its singles about sexual immorality any longer because they don't want to offend or 'make a row hard to hoe,' so-to-speak. Why, if they did, attendance will drop... and we can't have that now, can we?

By not addressing sin for fear of offending, it sometimes appears that leaders have forgotten that God said, “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul.” (Ezekiel 3:20-21.) They have also forgotten that "narrow is the way and few there be that find it" and that God perserves for Himself a remnant who are faithful while the majority of people are left to their vices and their enemies. These types of leaders are more concerned about drawing in the masses for their own personal gain rather than teaching the truth (see Isaiah's article, Ooh, This Just Makes Me So Mad). May God remind them that He has always dealt severely with corrupt or uncaring shepherds and false prophets/teachers.

If God does someday bless me with a godly husband who desires to hold-the-line against sexual sin so as not to sin against God and his own body, I will know God truly blessed me with such a man and brought us together by a miracle. Too many so-called Christian men nowadays are able to enjoy sex without committing to marriage since as many so-called Christian women and/or pornography accommodate their lusts and ungodly fears regarding intimacy and commitment.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves .... unloving .... without self-control .... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Some of you may be thinking "What a prude. What a Polly Anna," but allow me to attest to God's truth: I've walked the path of compromise and I can tell you from experience, "God is not mocked for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption." (Galatians 6:8a.) Too many years spent running from God and living in rebellion yielded nothing but corruption and death in relationships along the way, which left nearly intolerable pain in their wake. The rest of Galatians 6:8b and 9 says, "...But he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." 'Tis the 'truth' I know, I live... and I've lived on both sides of this truth!

There is liberty and joy in loving and obeying God! Even if it mitigates my chance of marrying again, I will no longer compromise and willfully sin against God - I love God more than I love corruption and pain! I am no longer a glutton for self-induced punishment nor for the discipline of God. I know God disciplines those whom He loves, but discipline is DISCIPLINE (been there, done that... I have the t-shirt) so as much as I can help it, I do not want to dissappoint Him and I desire to remain in good standing with my Heavenly Father so as not to incur His discipline.

If you can't relate to what I'm saying and feel like you're getting along just fine in having sex outside of its rightful boundaries of marriage, well... hummm... I'd be very concerned if I were you! God only disciplines those whom He loves, while punishment on Judgment Day awaits those who turned their backs on Him and denied Him the opportunity to love them.