MInTheGap

Sexual Sin and the Church

She is sleeping with her boyfriend, left the church because they were going to discipline her, should they follow through with the public announcement?

That is the situation a church in Florida found itself in this past week as a woman in the church first confessed to a woman in her Bible Study that she was in an immoral affair, and then (ironically) tried to stop that church from declaring what she did was a sin.

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What Would Jesus Do?

Such a great marketing gimmick, eh?  I mean, for a question with such an easy answer:

But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

…

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.  For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. – John 5:17, 19-20

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4 Ways Christ Speaks to Us Today

All of you that believe that God still speaks to us today, raise your hands.  Hmm…  Perhaps that wasn’t such a good idea since I can’t see if your hands are raised.

I’m not talking about an audible voice or that kind of speaking, but all Christians should believe that God still speaks today (after all, Jesus is called the Word) so here are four ways Christ speaks to us today:

The Bible

The Holy Spirit takes the written Word of God and applies it to our lives.

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Christ is the Head

At Bob Jones University they do not have fraternities or sororities, but they do have societies—and everyone is a part of one.  I joined one that wasn’t Greek, it was named after a great statesmen: William Jennings Bryan.

Our society verse was Colossians 1:18:

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.

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In All Things Christ

There’s a famous dilemma that’s called the Chicken and the Egg dilemma. Perhaps you’ve heard of it. It goes, “Which came first, the Chicken or the Egg?”

For the Christian, the answer is simple—the chicken was created with the fouls on day 5.

Inside this discussion, however, is a very important truth. When it comes to the Christian life, God always comes first—then the believer. Yet often we replace the order and wonder why we don’t have the power of God.

Starting Monday I want to look at this truth—that God came first, and see what the Bible has to tell us about living a life that’s in God’s will.

The Passion Review

Well, I saw the passion this past Friday. Here are some random thoughts:

Is the Devil really a woman?
That was the first time I thought of Jesus being roughed up on the way to trial.
What was up with the kids that turned into evil beings chasing Judas?
and the evil looking child the Devil held while Jesus was being whipped.
Do you really think Jesus was corny enough to build a table for nowadays back then?
Where were Jesus other sibilings in the scene with Mary? Maybe they were out at the market.
Could you come away with a message other than– man, he was really beaten up?
Did Simon of Cyrene carry the cross the entire way behind Jesus (as the
Scripture says) or part of the way with Jesus (as in the movie).
Where was the Roman soldier who said “Truly, this man was the Son of God.”
Did the earthquake break the temple floor as well as rip the curtain?

So, what message did you get out of it?

The Passion Movie

What do you think? Is the movie good or bad?

I guess I am perplexed. For the months leading up to this movie event, I’ve been excited about someone portraying the last few hours before the Crucifixion in detail, someone staying true to the Gospel accounts. Any why shouldn’t I? I mean, in a society where a majority of everything that we are fed is from television and movies, a visual depiction of what happened on the cross might show millions how much He suffered for you and I?

And then I have the questions. The Bible says that people come to Christ through the preaching of the Word, not entertainment. As believers, we are to separate from those in doctrinal error, and yet every church is trying to use this to increase its numbers and get people “saved” according to their own religion. This means that if it has the desired effect, many will be lead astray.

Then there’s the question about whether the crucifixion should be more emphasized than the resurrection. I’ve read where Gibson said that he learned that redemption comes through pain (or something of that nature) and this shows Christ’s pain. And what about Mary’s prominent roll?

Will this make it more difficult for the true message of Christ to get out?

The Passion of the Christ

It’s interesting to read about Mel Gibson’s movie. It coincides with some evidence I have been reading about the Bible and its veracity. I have been thinking a lot about the times of the writings of the Scriptures– what was going on, what they were doing, the structure.

What would have it been like to witness a crucifixion? How about Jesus crucifixion? Is it any wonder that 3,000 men came to Christ when Peter preached? These people would have probably been witnesses to this gruesome sight, and then come to find that He had risen!

I can’t image that there will be a dry eye in the place next Wednesday– if one can stand the horror of what happened. Yet how easily it escapes us as just another fact that Christ paid the ultimate price for us. What should that do to us, to know we caused His death because of our sin?