This week's news headlines read like Baby Mama Mania. Story after story detailed the complexities of the modern day relationship. First, there was the story of that woman famous for her families reality television show who broke off with her baby daddy amid claims that he just slept with her sister's best friend. This unfaithful basketball star had actually done a similar thing before. A previous girlfriend was pregnant with his first child when he began hooking up with the aforementioned reality television star!
Or, what about the New York headlines concerning a country music star's marriage to a local police officer. Apparently, at one point he was engaged to a professional soccer player but got another woman pregnant at the same time. Good luck with this guy honey!!
If you think this is just a celebrity problem, think again. A Christian, that I once knew, told me of the complications that the government must go through right here in Westchester County, New York, as it sorts through the fallout from these crazy hook-ups. The claims that "the child is not mine" must be investigated. There are children who must be cared for and raised despite the fact that their parents were irresponsible people who gave no thought to how this would happen.
How did we get to the point where we must face this new societal norm? What can we do to stem the tide of this insanity? The answer lies in spiritual truths that we have allowed to go largely by the wayside. Truths that honor the family and honor those commitments that we make. You need a license to drive a car and Christians ought to know that you need a license to have sex. A marriage license that is!
I was recently surprised to learn of the marriage of a Christian man after he had already got his girlfriend pregnant. I asked the father of this man if he was still attending church (thinking that he had fallen away from Jesus). The response was a photo sent via text of his almost 40 year old son in his car going to church. Smiling and happy, Michel* was well-dressed and from all outward appearances was the picture perfect Christian. How in the world does Michel feel comfortable sitting in church and then go ahead and do this?
Could this reflect upon his church? Is it a church full of people who are Christians in name only? Are they preaching sound doctrine? How do we separate what is the inevitable imperfections that will be present in all churches from the church in need of reform? The answer is in an unrepentant manner and the continuation of sin of those attending that church. Would it be hard to differentiate the moral character of the congregants of such a church from the previously mentioned television stars?
Many Christian parents fail to adequately teach their children the biblical view of sex and the family. This allows the schools and the popular dysfunctional culture to raise them instead. God commands that we must train a child in the way it should go. So, first and foremost we must be aware of this biblical mandate of teaching and must not relegate that to others. We are responsible to God for educating our children. We must also be good role-models of the very things that we are trying to teach them.
Support your Pastor and Elders when they speak about these difficult topics. Don't just read the Word of God, practice it. Consider anew if there is any sexual sin in your own life. Resolve to conquer it. As you contemplate God's design for your sexuality and the ensuing family responsibilities don't forget to ask God to help you attain it. It is impossible without Him.
* the name is changed for privacy.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Monday, February 11, 2019
Christian Wife Reviews- "The Least of These: the Graham Staines Story"
The story of the Australian missionary Graham Staines has just come to the silver screen here in Westchester County, New York. As is usual with a Christian movie, that means only three possible viewing locations. Either, New Rock City at the New Rochelle Shopping and entertainment center, Ridge Hill in Yonkers, or crossing the bridge to enter Rockland County to view it at the Palisades Center Mall. I chose to cross the just completed Mario Cuomo Bridge and pay the toll on an unseasonably warm New York winter day.
Graham Staines dedicated thirty-four years of his life to serving and ministering to lepers in India. Along with his wife he made a difference in the lives of countless people who were rejected by their families and community because of the disease of leprosy. Maddeningly, the disease was no longer incurable during the time of his Ministry, which was between 1965 and 1999.
Still, the disease was considered a curse and people were shunned because of it. In one poignant scene, the film depicts a mock funeral service being held for the family and friends of a leper, even though the man was still alive and watching the proceedings. Other touching moments show a woman being shunned at the village well even though she is cured of the disease or a man who everyone is afraid to touch.
This is not a movie that you will soon forget, it is a gritty and hard-hitting tale of the missionary life. Further, Rev. Staines story highlights some of the current debates surrounding missionary work. Such as, should churches send missionaries to work in countries hostile to the Christian faith. Also, what is an acceptable way to convert people?
The question of conversion methods is a theme in this movie. Some misguided missionaries in India were actually paying people to become Christians. It is sad to think that anyone seemingly equipped to bring the gospel to poor and desperate individuals wouldn't have more biblical insight than that. Graham Staines did not ever resort to such practices although he was accused of it.
This was at a time when a real persecution of the Christian Church had begun in India. Much of this was due to the Hindutva movement. For those of you not familiar with this term, it refers to a type of pro-Hindu movement responsible for instigating a lot of violence against those who are deemed adversaries to the Hindu faith or not of Indian origin. It was a Hindutva activist who was responsible for the death of Mohatma Gandhi.
Graham Staines gets in the crosshairs of this dangerous group which had infiltrated every element of Hindu society (academia, police, press). A journalist character is introduced into the story to help us explore the effects of this and to help move the viewer towards an exploration of the truth.
Another important theme that arises in this movie concerns radical Christian forgiveness. When the unthinkable happens will the Staines family be able to continue to follow the Lord and live out their faith? The answer is yes, and it will challenge each and every one of us to dig deeper and get off the sidelines of the Christian life. If you have a chance, go and see The Least of These: the Graham Staines Story. It premiered February 2019 in the United States and will be in Indian theaters as of March 2019. Elsewhere, a Christian store or online venue in your country may be your best option.
Graham Staines dedicated thirty-four years of his life to serving and ministering to lepers in India. Along with his wife he made a difference in the lives of countless people who were rejected by their families and community because of the disease of leprosy. Maddeningly, the disease was no longer incurable during the time of his Ministry, which was between 1965 and 1999.
Still, the disease was considered a curse and people were shunned because of it. In one poignant scene, the film depicts a mock funeral service being held for the family and friends of a leper, even though the man was still alive and watching the proceedings. Other touching moments show a woman being shunned at the village well even though she is cured of the disease or a man who everyone is afraid to touch.
This is not a movie that you will soon forget, it is a gritty and hard-hitting tale of the missionary life. Further, Rev. Staines story highlights some of the current debates surrounding missionary work. Such as, should churches send missionaries to work in countries hostile to the Christian faith. Also, what is an acceptable way to convert people?
The question of conversion methods is a theme in this movie. Some misguided missionaries in India were actually paying people to become Christians. It is sad to think that anyone seemingly equipped to bring the gospel to poor and desperate individuals wouldn't have more biblical insight than that. Graham Staines did not ever resort to such practices although he was accused of it.
This was at a time when a real persecution of the Christian Church had begun in India. Much of this was due to the Hindutva movement. For those of you not familiar with this term, it refers to a type of pro-Hindu movement responsible for instigating a lot of violence against those who are deemed adversaries to the Hindu faith or not of Indian origin. It was a Hindutva activist who was responsible for the death of Mohatma Gandhi.
Graham Staines gets in the crosshairs of this dangerous group which had infiltrated every element of Hindu society (academia, police, press). A journalist character is introduced into the story to help us explore the effects of this and to help move the viewer towards an exploration of the truth.
Another important theme that arises in this movie concerns radical Christian forgiveness. When the unthinkable happens will the Staines family be able to continue to follow the Lord and live out their faith? The answer is yes, and it will challenge each and every one of us to dig deeper and get off the sidelines of the Christian life. If you have a chance, go and see The Least of These: the Graham Staines Story. It premiered February 2019 in the United States and will be in Indian theaters as of March 2019. Elsewhere, a Christian store or online venue in your country may be your best option.
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