Who is it that understands the value of sex? Is it the man or woman, committed in the bonds of marriage to only each other, or is it the modern sex addict, indulging anywhere with anyone or anything?
In his book, Orthodoxy, G.K. Chesterton explains the simple reason why the murmurs against monogamy from a hundred years ago had no appeal to him, "I could never mix in the common murmur of that rising generation against monogamy, because no restriction on sex seemed so odd and unexpected as sex itself...Keeping to one woman is a small price for so much as seeing one woman. To complain that I could only be married once was like complaining that I had only been born once It was incommensurate with the terrible excitement of which one is talking. It showed, not an exaggerated sensibility to sex, but a curious insensibility to it." (p. 48)
There is no way that Chesterton could have envisioned the wholesale swallowing up of modern culture to sexuality, but his observation that it is the monogamist that truly understands and values sex is all the more true in our culture which so very much devalues it. What value is there in something that is not worth holding on to? How can anyone say that a one night stand has any real meaning or purpose when the very name of the person with whom such intimacy has been shared is quickly forgotten?
There may be some who are reading this who think that I just don't understand the pleasure to be had in having sex with many women. They're right, I don't understand it, nor do I want that type of "knowledge". What I do know is the absolute value of the sexuality expressed between a husband and his wife. I don't need to experience any lesser imitations to know the treasure that I already have in being bound by sacred oath to my wife. I value sex far too highly to ever desecrate this gift by sharing it with another. I only have two parents, they are amazing, what need have I for more? I only have one nation, America is my home, what need have I for another? I only have one faith, Jesus Christ is my salvation, what need have I to be saved by any other? I only have one wife, what could possibly be gained by desiring sex with any other?
All such bargains that promise joy and pleasure beyond that which we have a right are hollow lies. Those who partake of them will only learn, to their regret, when it is too late.
Sex is a Siren's Song in America. It promises a veritable buffet of pleasure, only to dash us upon the rocks of venereal disease, unwanted pregnancies, broken hearts, exploitation, and violence. Men, do yourself a tremendous service, find one woman, marry her, and learn what the real value of sex is.
This blog serves as an outreach for Pastor Randy Powell of the First Baptist Church of Franklin, PA. Feel free to ask questions or send me an e-mail at pastorpowell@hotmail.com
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Sermon Video: "worthy of the gospel of Christ" Philippians 1:27-30
What would your life look like if you lived one that was "worthy of the gospel of Christ"? How can we, as believers, live up to God's expectations? The answer begins simply with an imitation of Christ; be like him.
What will stop us from living as we should? Most people might assume that persecution, like the imprisonment faced by Paul, would be our chief foe, but in reality, it is prosperity that is leading to empty churches in Europe and America. The poor haven't walked away from God, they know they need him, and the rich have never been likely believers, but the middle class were once devoted to God until the lure of becoming like the rich swallowed up our time for God (and our families).
We need to return to full devotion to God, and we need to be prepared for persecution if it comes. Being on fire for God often will result in troubles coming our way, but Paul reminds us that to suffer for the sake of the Gospel is truly a blessing and a sign from God.
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
What will stop us from living as we should? Most people might assume that persecution, like the imprisonment faced by Paul, would be our chief foe, but in reality, it is prosperity that is leading to empty churches in Europe and America. The poor haven't walked away from God, they know they need him, and the rich have never been likely believers, but the middle class were once devoted to God until the lure of becoming like the rich swallowed up our time for God (and our families).
We need to return to full devotion to God, and we need to be prepared for persecution if it comes. Being on fire for God often will result in troubles coming our way, but Paul reminds us that to suffer for the sake of the Gospel is truly a blessing and a sign from God.
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Avoiding a "softening of the brain"
In his book, Orthodoxy, G.K. Chesterton has a quote that I thought worth sharing, "Thinking in isolation and with pride ends in being an idiot. Every man who will not have a softening of the heart must at last have a softening of the brain." (p. 34) At that point he was referring to the willingness of Nietzsche, and countless others like him since, to doubt everything. Yet those who doubt everything in the end doubt themselves. On what basis can you doubt everything? There must be some standard, some truth, that is beyond doubt or all expressions of doubt become meaningless. "By rebelling against everything he has lost his right to rebel against anything." (p. 34) In the same way, those who say that all paths are true are equally stuck in a quagmire. If every path is equally valid, how can any choice be made? If no outcome is more desirable than any other, what is the point of choosing at all? Thus the rebel who rejects everything, and the man of tolerance who accepts everything find themselves sitting at the same crossroad. Chesterton pictured Nietzsche and Tolstoy sitting there together, our world today isn't short of others willing to join them. "They stand at the crossroads, and one hates all the roads and the other likes all the roads. The result is - well, some things are not hard to calculate. They stand at the crossroads." (p. 34-35)
It is amazing that in 1908 Chesterton clearly saw that these two forces in philosophy/morality/government were on a collision course that would leave both without anything meaningful left to say. In the last hundred years his prediction has certainly proven true. Today our world is convulsed by rebels who hate everything and everyone and idealists who profess to love everything and everyone. In the end neither of them is leaving that crossroad.
It is amazing that in 1908 Chesterton clearly saw that these two forces in philosophy/morality/government were on a collision course that would leave both without anything meaningful left to say. In the last hundred years his prediction has certainly proven true. Today our world is convulsed by rebels who hate everything and everyone and idealists who profess to love everything and everyone. In the end neither of them is leaving that crossroad.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Sermon Video: "to live is Christ, to die is gain" - Philippians 1:19-26
How can anyone live without fearing death? What purpose or meaning to life can make even the worst misfortune bearable? For Paul, the answer he shares with the church of Philippi from his own experience begins with the support his feels from their prayers on his behalf and the Spirit of Jesus. Even while in prison, Paul knows that his life's work is worth the cost and that the outcome of his upcoming trial is in God's hands. What's the secret to fulfillment? Service to God through helping others. What is the secret to confidence in the face of death? Trust in the faithfulness of God.
In the end, Paul was willing to continue striving for the sake of Gospel, if it is God's will. Likewise, Paul was willing to meet his Creator and lay down his burden.
A life lived by faith in Christ, yet cut short for whatever reason, is worth living.
A life lived in vain self-service, no matter how long, is in the end meaningless.
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
In the end, Paul was willing to continue striving for the sake of Gospel, if it is God's will. Likewise, Paul was willing to meet his Creator and lay down his burden.
A life lived by faith in Christ, yet cut short for whatever reason, is worth living.
A life lived in vain self-service, no matter how long, is in the end meaningless.
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Who is this Paul guy anyway?
What do you say about someone whose influence upon Christianity has been felt throughout Church history and continues to this day? What is it about Paul that has elevated him above Peter, James, or John in impact if not in esteem as well?
The thing that separates Paul from others in the Early Church is his zeal. Zeal is a slippery quality, it can lead us to triumph against incredible odds, and it can paint us into a corner before we even know it. Paul as a young man, back when he went by Saul, was full of passion and conviction for the LORD. He was consumed with the idea of purifying the faith of his ancestors in order to save his people. It was a noble cause that the prophets had attempted time and time again, but with Saul it turned ugly. Passion quickly turned to persecution when Saul learned that there were still people preaching in the name of that discredited Galilean rabbi, Jesus. For Saul there was no need to know anything else, these men and women were threatening that which he held most dear. The answer was also simple, persecute them; kill them if necessary.
That Saul didn't end his life a bitter man with blood on his hands that he couldn't wash clean is a testament to the grace of God. There have been plenty of men like Saul in history, those too consumed with their own self-righteousness to understand mercy. Zeal, when is runs out of control, is easily turned to hatred; hatred doesn't need much convincing to become homicide of genocide.
God, in his wisdom and mercy, had another ending in mind for Saul's life. It would take a dramatic change to turn such a passionate man around, but God specializes in those. A face to face meeting with the risen Jesus was just what Saul needed to finally see the Truth; God added in temporary blindness to make sure that Saul got the point. When he emerged from his meeting with Jesus, Saul was no more, Paul had been born again.
From that point forward in his life, Paul retained his zeal, his single-minded passion for God, but now it was tempered with mercy. No longer would he scream for the Law to rule all, Paul would become the champion of Grace. His efforts to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ would take Paul back and forth across Asia Minor, Greece, and Italy. Eventually his efforts would rouse jealousy and suspicion from local Roman officials and begin Paul down the road that led to his trial and execution. In the end, God didn't remove Paul's passion, he simply redirected it.
So why do we find ourselves drawn to Paul's writings 2,000 years later? That same willingness to do anything and everything to save the Lost that drove Paul onward inspires us today. We too want to be on fire for God, we want to feel the Spirit of God burning within us, and we too want to be champions of Grace.
The thing that separates Paul from others in the Early Church is his zeal. Zeal is a slippery quality, it can lead us to triumph against incredible odds, and it can paint us into a corner before we even know it. Paul as a young man, back when he went by Saul, was full of passion and conviction for the LORD. He was consumed with the idea of purifying the faith of his ancestors in order to save his people. It was a noble cause that the prophets had attempted time and time again, but with Saul it turned ugly. Passion quickly turned to persecution when Saul learned that there were still people preaching in the name of that discredited Galilean rabbi, Jesus. For Saul there was no need to know anything else, these men and women were threatening that which he held most dear. The answer was also simple, persecute them; kill them if necessary.
That Saul didn't end his life a bitter man with blood on his hands that he couldn't wash clean is a testament to the grace of God. There have been plenty of men like Saul in history, those too consumed with their own self-righteousness to understand mercy. Zeal, when is runs out of control, is easily turned to hatred; hatred doesn't need much convincing to become homicide of genocide.
God, in his wisdom and mercy, had another ending in mind for Saul's life. It would take a dramatic change to turn such a passionate man around, but God specializes in those. A face to face meeting with the risen Jesus was just what Saul needed to finally see the Truth; God added in temporary blindness to make sure that Saul got the point. When he emerged from his meeting with Jesus, Saul was no more, Paul had been born again.
From that point forward in his life, Paul retained his zeal, his single-minded passion for God, but now it was tempered with mercy. No longer would he scream for the Law to rule all, Paul would become the champion of Grace. His efforts to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ would take Paul back and forth across Asia Minor, Greece, and Italy. Eventually his efforts would rouse jealousy and suspicion from local Roman officials and begin Paul down the road that led to his trial and execution. In the end, God didn't remove Paul's passion, he simply redirected it.
So why do we find ourselves drawn to Paul's writings 2,000 years later? That same willingness to do anything and everything to save the Lost that drove Paul onward inspires us today. We too want to be on fire for God, we want to feel the Spirit of God burning within us, and we too want to be champions of Grace.
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