sin – Page 5

last days, prophecy, sex week, signs, sin, university of new mexico

University of New Mexico’s ‘sex week; Church teaches Harry Potter

Posted on September 30, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

Jesus told the disciples at the Mount of Olives the signs of His return. They had learned that the establishment of the Kingdom was not going to happen immediately, as they had thought. So they asked Jesus.

“As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3)

The ‘these things’ refers to a statement Jesus had made in verse 2. He said the temple would be destroyed, not one stone left upon another. So there are three questions they asked,

–When will the temple be thrown down?
–What will be the signs of the end of the age?
–What will be the sign of Your coming?

In terms of the signs of the end of the age, and Jesus was speaking of the Tribulation (Mathew 24 is a Tribulation passage, NOT a message to the Church). However there are some general principles we can look at to understand the cycle of depravity in the world.

After the Fall of man in Genesis 3, the first murder occurred in Genesis 4. So did the first case of polygamy and another murder. It didn’t take long, did it? By Genesis 6:5,

The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually

We went from perfection to utter sin in three chapters. God sent the Flood in Genesis 7-8, and when it subsided in Genesis 9, the nations began to spread in Genesis 10 and by Genesis 11, again, sin. Terrible sin. In Genesis 11 we have the world’s first dictator and the founding of Babylon. Here is a rough timeline from Answers in Genesis-

It roughly took only 1600 years for man to be created, fall and be wiped from the earth. It took only 100 years for man to revive from being wiped out to such rebellion that God changed man’s language and scattered them from Babel.

What a depraved creature fallen man is! As Christians with the Spirit in them grow fewer and fewer in the world, (though the church will never be overcome) it seems that the sin rising is beginning to appear to be piling up to heaven!

Ezra 9:6,
and prayed: “I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.

Jeremiah 51:9,
“‘We would have healed Babylon, but she cannot be healed; let us leave her and each go to our own land, for her judgment reaches to the skies, it rises as high as the heavens.’

Revelation 18:5, of Babylon,
for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

They are metaphors, of course, but the weight of sin upon the world is definitely heavy in these days. Witness two examples,

Univ. of New Mexico to host ‘threesome’ sex event for students

The University of New Mexico (UNM) is hosting a “Sex Week,” where students can learn “How to be a Gentleman and get laid,” negotiate threesomes, and [other things]. The event, sponsored by the University of New Mexico Women’s Resource Center and the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA), is offering lectures on “How to be a Gentleman AND Get Laid,” “Reid’s Negotiating Successful Threesomes,” “[and other things]”.
“[F]or example, when you are having sex with more than one person it can be very challenging to make sure that everybody’s needs are being met and that everybody’s boundaries are being respected.”
According to local news station KOB4, “The events are designed to prevent sexual assault, but organizers have taken a new approach…Instead of teaching students how not to get hurt, they’re teaching them how to have safer and better sex.”

Other news articles on the event. Thankfully not all people are happy with this.

Sex Week at UNM has varied reaction among people on campus

Critics concerned about UNM’s first ‘Sex Week’

That is the world’s view of the act of sexual union. Here is God’s view-

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

What is sexual immorality, exactly, that we should be fleeing from?

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. (Hebrews 13:4)

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4)

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. (1 Corinthians 6:15-17)

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28 )

The sexual union between a man and a woman only is for the sanctified marriage bed only. Anything else is adultery, fornication, and sexual immorality. It dishonors God to do these things. Not only is it bad to do them in secret, but worse is that these things are now openly taught and heartily applauded. Adults are supposed to train up the youth in the way that they should go. Is the way that they should go? Into sexual perversity?

Romans 1:32 says, Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

A heavy judgment awaits those who put such dishonorable and perverse things in the way of children.

Here is a second piece of news. The Berean Times on Twitter tweeted,

“An episcopal church here in Tulsa will start teaching Harry Potter cause the leader said the Scriptures were too hard to teach…no joke.”

I investigated and indeed, it is no joke.

“…the children went into a candle-lit darkened room where a witch-like “sorting hat” was placed on their heads, and they were assigned to groups named Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Teachers and helpers dressed in black robes. Crystal balls, owls and jars of magic potions decorated the classrooms. “It was my idea,” said Paula Rule, director of youth ministries who developed the program. “This is one of the things that a lot of our kids have grown up with. They relate to it. They’ve read the books. “We’re exploring the same Christian themes that you find in the Bible — good versus evil, redemption, salvation, love.” The Rev. Kenneth Orsburn, curate at the church, teaches the adult portion of the Harry Potter program. He said Biblical literacy is on the decline, a symptom of a general decline in church attendance across America. “We’re getting folks in here who have been unchurched for 30 years,” he said. “They don’t know these stories. That’s a challenge for us and for the church. The Scripture is very daunting. Harry Potter is easier.

Oh! It’s easier. Well that explains it.

Some people in the congregation have questioned the wisdom of using books filled with witches, magic and sorcery to teach the Bible, she said.

Only ‘some’?

Lexi Medina, 12, who played the part of a mythical creature, also was happy with it. “I love Harry Potter, for real,” she said. “I think it’s pretty cool, as long as I get to act, like, creepy around people.”

As long as the kids like it, then I guess it’s OK. /sarcasm

It is such a shame that the priest/pastor person does not see that a “30-year unchurched person” is a lost person. They need the scriptures, not the culture! But of course that is exactly why they do not understand. Their minds are blinded to the truth. So the church dumbs down the Gospel, or in this case, excludes it completely and puts in its stead the exact things that God said He hates.

Here is what God says about sorcery, divination, and witchhraft-

“A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.” (Leviticus 20:27)

“You shall not permit a sorceress to live.” (Exodus 22:18)

Oh dear, that’s pretty harsh. Surely the ‘Lord of Love’ has softened His stance on the sorcerers, diviners, witches by the New Testament’s arrival. Jesus isn’t that harsh.

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:20-21)

I guess Jesus is that harsh. His love doesn’t exclude His wrath upon the ungodly.

Isolated events like fornication, and wayward behavior in apostate churches have always been present on the earth. What I am seeing is that these behaviors are becoming systemetized by the power structures such as Universities and Churches, and presented as normal. They are codified: “to put (laws or rules) together as a code or system.”

No longer is it the one or two aberrant person, but a system of depravity or sinful behavior that is presented and applauded. Romans 1 says this would happen.

First they deny the truth (a truth God has made plain to them).
Then they refuse to honor Him.
Next, their thinking became darkened and futile.
Then they began to worship creeping things.
Now it goes faster. God gives them over, and their hearts full of impurities act out the perversions in it.
Last they live in a debased mind that not only lives in perversity but also all the other sins blossom, such as malice, envy, insolence, haughtiness, etc.
Finally, they turn to others and applaud their degenerate descent into dishonor. (Romans 1:18-32)

And that is where we are. Verse 32.

Do not be surprised when the world acts like the world. More and more people, cities, organizations, Universities, and churches are adopting sin wholesale and then promoting it heartily. This is very bad for the people individually, and in the cities, organizations, Universities, and churches but it is an opportunity to be the Light we are called to be. We always strengthen ourselves in prayer, staying in the word, and worshiping in spirit and in truth.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

Paul said he learned to be content in whatever situation he finds himself, (and he was in jail at the time) because he knows God will strengthen Him. (Philippians 4:13). It is our Savior’s strength we need in these dark days, and the more we submit and rely on Him, the brighter our light will shine in these dark places. Until the Day…

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

adam, death, encouragement, Eve, resurrection, sin

The First Mourning

Posted on September 12, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

Our earth is beautiful, but for all that, it is still cursed. I wonder what the Garden of Eden looked like! The place was created directly by God, and it was earth as He intended it to look.

He created Adam and then Eve, and the two were as humans intended to look.

For a while, a probably brief while, everything was perfect and in balance and harmony. Adam loved Eve, Eve loved Adam, they both loved God, the animals were friendly and submitted to man, who cared for them lovingly.

Then sin came,

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— (Romans 5:12)

Eve sinned, then Adam. How did God feel? We know He feels. He takes delight, He is angry, He loves. I wonder if He mourned the eternally changed relationship He’d had with His humans, who no longer glorified Him. They destroyed the very purpose for which they were made. We know He cursed them (Genesis 3:16, 17). Perhaps the LORD mourned.

It wasn’t long after, Cain slew Abel. Cain was the first human to be born. Abel was the first human to die. Brothers, yet sin came between them and Cain killed Abel in a jealous fit. We follow what happened after that. Genesis 4 shows the conversation with Cain and God. The discovery of the murder. The penalty. And then we see Cain go off and our eyes travel down the biblical road to follow the story of sin and redemption as it is laid until its conclusion in Revelation.

But turn your eyes back to Abel for a moment. We do not know how it came about…but at some point Abel’s mother and father of all the living, Eve and Adam, must have discovered their son, laying dead on the ground, blood pooled around his head.

We know both of them were familiar with death. Their spiritual life died the moment they disobeyed (“surely you won’t die” the serpent lied in Genesis 3:4). They were familiar with death because God killed the first animal to make clothing out of its skin (the first sacrifice to cover them in their sin). We know they must have killed an animal themselves because they had to eat. The two humans who had never seen blood before grew to know it intimately once they sinned.

And then…the blood of their son. The bible does not record the discovery of Abel’s body, nor his burial (as far as I know). But perhaps the scene looked like this.

The First Mourning (Adam and Eve mourn the death of Abel); oil on canvas 1888 painting by William-Adolphe Bouguereau.

Oh, the searing pain of losing a son! A pain that would be replicated again and again through history as sin took its toll on a million mothers in epochs to come! A grief that the Father Himself would know soon enough!!

The first death was of a beloved son.

The last death was of a beloved Son.

Praise our Holy Savior for His death, for through Him we have life! Praise our Resurrected Savior for vanquishing sin!

gay marriage, lesbian, sin

90 year old lesbians get married

Posted on September 11, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

90-year-old lesbian couple marries after 72 years of relationship

Imagine the stories they must have after 72 years together. A gay couple has tied the knot after 72 years of relationship and said “it is never too late for people to write new chapters in their lives”, according to a report in the Quad City Times. Vivian Boyack, 91, and Alice ‘Nonie’ Dubes, 90, exchanged their vows at the First Christian Church in Davenport. “This is a celebration of something that should have happened a very long time ago,” the officiating reverend told them.

‘The officiating reverend’ is a woman

“Disciples”
You Keep Using That Word, I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means

There are a lot of people who are taking the lesbian couple’s long-term ‘love’ as a sign that somehow validates its legitimacy. As if the fact that it has lasted so long makes them question whether, homosexuality may be OK after all.

But what it should tell us is how powerful sin is. Sin in general already has all people who are not ‘in Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:22). If one is not in Christ, they are ‘in Adam.’ But for some who have a particular sin they refuse to give up, in this case, lesbianism, if they refuse to repent, God gives them over to it.

because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; (Romans 1:25-26)

That’s all this ‘marriage’ is an example of.

As for the officiating reverend, 1 Timothy 2:11-12 says women are not to lead in the church. Hunsacker’s particular sin is rebellion against male authority, alternately, a failure to submit to the authority of scripture and its male head, Christ. The fact that she has gone so far in it- to bible college, seminary, ordination, and employment, is another example of disobedience where her mind is so seared she does not know right from wrong. Ergo, officiating at a lesbian marriage in a church that has both Christian and Disciples in its name.

beth moore, joel osteen, positive thinking, sin

The Powerlessness of positive thinking

Posted on June 25, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

A photo on Twitter got me going on this. A friend on twitter said of this sign, “Power of positive thinking? [sigh]”

It does make one sigh, because of the futility of such thinking. And the denomination of course is apostate, having just rejected God‘s standards for marriage and having rejected Israel this very week. The denomination of the PC USA is exactly the kind where Jesus stands at the door and knocks to come inside. (Revelation 3:20).

So I began to envision different levels of the School of Positive Thinking. Here is the syllabus.

School of Positive thinking, beginner class. “I am Happy and Content because you tell me I am.”
Taught by Joel Osteen. Joel has taught the power of positive thinking for 15 years, to great success. He now has a mansion on earth, if not one in heaven. He doesn’t seem to mind though, and you won’t either, because after this class is finished you will know how to get a good parking space at the mall. You will learn to be happy and content with that. Requirements: bring a bible and hold it over your head. Opening it and reading it not required.

School of Positive thinking, intermediate class. “I am Happy and Content because I think I am.” Taught by Beth Moore, who though she teaches with great verve and volume, isn’t too sure about, well, anything. We all love her though, that southern cutie-bug! Requirements: ability to cry, hug, and try really, really, really hard in your own power to have faith and do good stuff. Bring Kleenexes. Bible not required.

School of Positive thinking, master class. “I am Happy and Content because I know I am. No really, ‘I AM.” Taught by Joyce Meyer, who has achieved what few women in the positive thinking genre have achieved: unvarnished and unashamed pride in herself and her thinking. In this class, students will learn how to ignore the pricks of their conscience and the conviction of their souls to stride ahead and not be a sinner, as Meyer says of herself that she’s not a sinner. Requirements: Bring money.

Meanwhile, down the street, is a tiny, tiny school. It is open to all, whether you have money or no money. Whether you smile or whether you frown. Whether you cry or whether you have happiness. This school is called:

THE CHURCH. This school’s motto is “Though I have No Right to Be, I am Happy and Content because Jesus died for me.” Taught by persevering unknowns, and occasional guest speakers like Paul Washer, you will learn through study and hard work that Jesus died on the cross to atone for your sins, and pleased with His sacrifice, God raised Jesus on the third day, and brought Him to heaven. You will also learn that Jesus is returning to judge the living and the dead.

You will hear that you are a lost and condemned rebel, needing to rely on the grace of Jesus for everything good in this life and the next. Positive thinking of your own self on your own steam will only condemn you further.

Requirement to enter: Ask Jesus to forgive your sins. Become born again. Prerequisite: sins left at the door, bible eagerly opened and studied, service to fellow man in love and humility. Usually required: ability to withstand slander, rejection, oppression and persecution, in other cases your death will be required.

Enrolling now…

Brady Bunch, entertainment, sin, tv

Movie and TV show reviews: Enlisted, Walking Across Egypt, re-discovering The Brady Bunch

Posted on June 8, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

It’s summer and time for a more relaxing entertainment regime. Many of us have vacations, or slower schedules at work with flex time. Movies, tv, and books can be enjoyed more than they can during a busier time of year. I’m still reading the biography of Charles Spurgeon I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. I also enjoy the summer season of television programs.

I look forward to Masterchef, a reality cooking show that is nicer with less profanity than Hell’s Kitchen, a similar show hosted by the same chef, Gordon Ramsay. I also watch Food Network Star, though I quit watching mid-season last year when the candidate chefs were just terrible on camera and worse cooks. But here I am back again. Maybe this crop can bake a decent souffle. In both Masterchef and FNS they try to keep it family entertainment and there are just a few swears sprinkled here and there, and very few double entendres. Though I noticed last year Masterchef film editors emphasized scheming and conflict between chefs more than they have in the previous 3 seasons. Masterchef Junior, though, was a rare treat and truly inspirational! I can’t wait until it’s back later this summer.

I also enjoy Longmire, a modern cowboy detective series set in Wyoming. With a small change of

clothes and horses instead of trucks, these sheriffs could be from the 1800s. There’s no swearing and only a little blood by cop show standards, but the main objection I have is the heavy emphasis in some episodes to Native American spirituality and its ritual practices, shamanism, and animal totems.

I also enjoy Motive, a Canadian detective show that is structured like Columbo. The audience knows right away who will be killed and who did it. It’s fun to watch the detectives’ thinking process as they gather clues and narrow in on the correct suspect. I like it because they always catch the bad guy. They also show a range of motives for murder, which to me, are true to life in showing how sinful humans are.

I haven’t watched Duck Dynasty for a season or so, it seemed to me to be getting kind of contrived. But I see from the promotional ads that Gov. Jindal is going to make an appearance on the show this summer. And truth be told, I kind of miss Uncle Si. Maybe I’ll tune in again.

That’s pretty much it for me with broadcast tv. I have been getting back into The Brady Bunch. LOL. I know, I know. I watched it when I was a kid, mocked it when I was a younger adult, and now I’ve renewed my interest since the woman who placed the character of Alice, Ann B. Davis, died last week. She was a born again Christian, you know. One thing that Hulu and Netflix and Youtube has brought us is the ability to see the pilot episodes. I love that. Usually when a new show comes on I don’t notice. Then by the time I do notice, because it is getting good reviews, or it seems that it has developed a pattern of good entertainment with no profanity or sexual innuendos (harder to find these days) several years have gone by and I never see the “beginning” or the pilot episode.

Bradys in 1969, season 1

The other day I watched the first episode of The Brady Bunch, aired in 1969. The episode features the marriage of Carol to Mike Brady. It’s really cute. As a bonus, I enjoy seeing the styles of clothes and home decorations as well. I used to hate the furniture on the show but now I’m loving seeing the chairs, couches, etc. Maybe not so much the paneling in the den or the orange countertop in the kitchen, though, lol.

As a person who lived through the time period in which the show first aired, it’s like a homecoming for me, yet also from this adult perspective, I enjoy seeing a culture that is long gone. What culture? A stable, loving family with a working dad and a stay-at-home mom, kids who like each other, and no swearing or sexual innuendo. It’s a perfectly safe show. So far. Unless Carol dabbles with feminism later, we’ll see.

Bradys in season 5, 1974

For example, the third episode was about the smallest girl, Cindy. She was thrilled she had won the lead in the school play. Her entire family was happy for her. The mom and dad encouraged her, and the siblings were excited to attend and applaud her on. However a set of circumstances arose where the venue was going to be too small to allow all the children’s entire families to attend, and each play participant had to choose one.

This genuinely crushed Cindy, who became sick over having to choose. Overwrought with the weight of having to choose one parent over another, she dropped out of the play. I thought about today’s sitcoms, where if the same thing happened, the child would be pitting mom against dad in order to grab every privilege and toy they could wring out of the situation. Rather than love being warm and genuine, today’s show would present a greedy, manipulative child- and the show would be applauding their cunning. At the very least, it would not be presented as such a weighty matter but simply a personal dilemma to solve to the child’s best advantage.

I finished watching the 2006 show “Ugly Betty“. I’d heard it was a sweet, sensitive story of a plain looking girl trying to make it in the fashion magazine editing business. I watched the first 8 or 10 shows of the first season. Then I quit. The first three episodes were good, as advertised. A loving and supportive family of a Latina gal gets a job in Manhattan in an unusual way. Her sweet spirit and integrity were the hallmarks of the episodes.

But then the show revealed a number of dark storylines. And by episode 10 I was overcome with darkness. Sure the sets were bright with pops of color and the wardrobes were brightly colored, but the show was dark, dark. Manipulation, scheming, homosexuality, lies, sadism, transgender, serial bed-hopping…Oy get me out of here. Sigh.

One television show I watched on Hulu was excellent. It’s called Enlisted. Wikipedia’s synopsis reports,

“Three very different brothers, each soldiers in the U.S. Army, find themselves all assigned to the same unit: the fictional A Company, 2nd Battalion, 618th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 18th Infantry Division (Mechanized), at the fictional Fort McGee, located in Florida. While the majority of the base is deployed overseas, the two younger brothers (Derrick and Randy) are assigned to rear detachment – the soldiers left behind to take care of the base. The oldest brother, Staff Sergeant Pete Hill, returns stateside from Afghanistan after punching a superior officer. He is assigned to supervise a platoon of misfits that includes his brothers. While working together, the brothers are able to renew and strengthen their childhood bonds.”

The show has a small but hardy band of supporters, needed because the show was canceled. Boo. A show like Ugly Betty goes on for years but a show honoring enlisted soldiers is canceled right away. If you watch the only ten episodes that exist, you’re watching the beginning and the end of the show. The vocal group of the show’s supporters was not enough to revive it, and it seems that the show will remain canceled for good.

I enjoyed the program because though some of it is silly, it never slides into mocking or hilarity at the expense of the soldiers. Overall the one thing that seems universally praised is that at root, the writers never make fun of soldiers, in fact, they portray serving our country as an honorable profession. The episodes I thought were the most affecting were 7 & 8, “Parade Duty” and “Vets”. As far as culturally, some episodes show some cleavage, soldiers off duty drinking, and a few mild swears. Overall the bulk of the show is fairly clean, I thought.

A very bright spot was a movie that had been recommended to me called “Walking Across Egypt.” It is a Christian movie involving a juvenile delinquent and a lonely older woman. The ever solid Ellen Burstyn is the woman who eventually takes in the troubled teen. Also starring is Judge Reinhold, Pat Corley as Sheriff Tillman Edward Hermann and Mark Hamill. The conclusion to the Wikipedia synopsis states, “Wesley (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), currently serving time in juvenile detention for a recent car theft. Mattie finds that this young man is just missing direction and believes that with a little insight on Christianity he can straighten up and fly right.“

Themes are also Christian love, applying the bible to life, and hypocrisy. There are a few mild swears, included to show that the boy is a delinquent, lol. But that’s it, nothing else objectionable. Watch, it’s a sweet movie. It gives me hope that there still exist good movies to unearth and be nicely surprised by.

Here is a review of a current movie, Maleficent, from Good Fight Ministries. Your mind may at first balk at the lead sentence, but if you think it through you will see it is correct. Our pastor mentioned this last week. The themes in the Lion King for example, are anti-Christianity. Consider this overview of Disney movies in general before reading below specifically about Maleficent. It’s from Berit Kjos in an article titled “The Spirit Behind the Lion King:“

“Betrayed, rejected, running from responsibility, growing strong through adversity… Disney’s latest box-office hit, The Lion King, is full of Biblical parallels, colorful characters and personal struggles that help us identify with a lovable lion made in the image of man. But watch out! Behind the spectacular scenery and noble sentiments hides the timeless earth-centered view of reality that has always lured God’s people from truth to myths. In other words, The Lion King – like Aladdin – demonstrates an alarming shift in values. While the old fairy-tale cartoons like Snow White linked sorcery to the evil characters, The Lion King uses tribal magic for “good.”

Here are the first sentences of the Maleficent review. They echo the same sentiment, evil is now good. Though the words may seem jarring, they are correct. The drift from Disney’s early days as reported in the above review of Lion King and reference to Aladdin is now ever darker as seen in Maleficent, as sin is wont to be.

Disney’s Maleficent Makes Satan the Savior
It is hard to overestimate Disney’s role in the moral decline of America, with its constant glorification of occult themes and its endless parade of train wrecks of child role models for millions of children (e.g., Lindsey Lohan, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, etc).
…
The movie Maleficent is yet another example of how Disney influences millions of adults and children with darkness, by taking evil characters and making them into heroes and heroines. In Maleficent, Disney takes a notoriously wicked witch and turns her into a beloved character and even into the savior of the world. Maleficent is a movie that unfolds as though Lucifer were trying to tell his side of the story.

I don’t watch much TV at all during the school year. The ads bother me, and there isn’t much on that I like. Even PBS and The History Channel have a liberal agenda that ruins even the most vaunted of documentaries. By the time I get home from school in the afternoon, do my bible study, prayers, cook and eat dinner, and write a blog, it’s time for bed. My remote control broke a few months ago and I haven’t replaced it. There’s no point.

I say this not to tout myself, but to set up the next comment. During the summer, especially the first week of summer vacation from school, I have a tendency to make up for it. I binge watch on my laptop. Because of the release from any schedule at all, it is actually easier to let bible study slide, and to tune in and mindlessly watch a show that I can view for its entire run. That’s what happened with Ugly Betty. I watched a bunch of the episodes in a row.

In 1977 Jerry Mander, an advertising executive in San Francisco, published his book, “Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television.” Before we had the internet, men like Jerry Mander were the internet. They presented material that bucked the status quo and the only places you could find such material were dark and dusty book shops with towering aisles of precariously placed books. I loved it. These books and magazines in obscure independent bookstores provided to the marketplace of ideas concepts that were untouched from the pollution of societal norms. In 1977 the idea of eliminating television was intriguing to me. I read his book.

The argument I often gravitate to, though it is no less incriminating that the other three arguments, is the biological argument.

The biological argument against television is summed up here:
Argument 3 – TV physically conditions us for authoritative rule Here are some phrases commonly used to describe watching TV. It ’s a hypnotizing, energy- sucking, brain-washing, vegetative, concentration-killing, addictive, zombie-like, mind- destroying, mind-numbing dream-state that is a stupefying, cognition-killing, mesmerizing, colonizing, isolating, meditative, and yet somehow relaxing activity. And so we like it. NIH did a 3-year $5 million study on the effects of TV. TV was found addictive and hypnotic. It stops thought similar to brain-washing; the study also noted other physical effects. The President suppressed the study and commissioned another group to re-do it. In 1977, Marie Winn wrote a book with anecdotal evidence of TV’s effects call ed “The Plug-In Drug.” It asserted that TV viewing by children was addictive, turning them into passive, incommunicative “zombies” who couldn’t play, couldn’t create, and couldn’t think clearly; they couldn’t solve problems and couldn’t fill their free time. It broke down family communication, and filtered even direct affection through the TV, to everyone’s harm. It is an instrument of “fixation technology,” and it aids in implanting imagery in the viewer.

After so many episodes of Ugly Betty I felt terrible. It was like when you diet and don’t eat sugar or fat for a long time, and then you do, your body rebels in the instant overload. Absorbing so much sinfulness at once, albeit unwittingly, I ended up jumpy, nervous, at sixes and sevens, couldn’t concentrate, and was very unhappy. Add to the likelihood that any television show will contain at least some elements of sin, and the spiritual layer of jumpiness and unhappiness increases exponentially.

None of this is news to any Christian. I did decide to quit watching the Betty show and to quit binge watching and to structure my day more formally so that I could accomplish good things for the kingdom and not devolve into a mind-numbed, unproductive puddle by the time school rolls around again.

Of course, the irony is in relating all this, it’s still a blog post about movies and TV. Movies and TV are here to stay. Back in 1977 when Mander made his arguments, cable TV hadn’t become the monolith it is now. Unlike the old days when all one had to do is unplug the TV and throw it onto the sidewalk and that was that, we now not only have television but laptops, iphones, and google glass. I know I’m going to watch something this week. It’s the same for most people. After the yard work is done, and the kids are put to bed, and the bills are made out and the phone calls are finished, my eyes are tired and reading isn’t an option all the time. It’s easy to click on the remote and settle back into watching the tube. So if I’m going to watch something, I can decide to limit the amount of time I do, carefully decide what I watch, and scrupulously review beforehand what I choose to put in front of my eyes. My mistake with Betty was that I didn’t do that. And I paid the price.

I hope my review of these few shows, Enlisted, Walking Across Egypt, Brady Bunch etc would spark your interest and perhaps you might find them suitable for your own entertainment fare. My goal of course is to reduce my TV watching to zero. By the grace of the Holy Spirit these days I am listening to more sermons and good music than I am watching TV or movies, a dramatic shift from even three years ago. Sanctification in progress, an eternity to get it right.

repent, salvation, sin

Never forget what sinners we are

Posted on June 5, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

“The actual wickedness of men’s lives bears a very small proportion to what is in their hearts. But when lust is inwardly cherished, it will break forth into outward sin. Those who tempt others to drunkenness never can be their real friends, and often design their ruin. Thus men execute the Divine vengeance on each other. Those are not only heated with sin, but hardened in sin, who continue to live without prayer, even when in trouble and distress.”
~Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Hosea 7:1-7

Gustav Kaser said of icebergs,

Think of an iceberg! Only about 1/7th rises above the surface of the water. The remaining 6/7ths are under water and not visible to the human eye. A human being is comparable to an iceberg.

The wickedness we see above the surface is only a small proportion to what is in our hearts…

Therefore, praise God that He sent His Son! Jesus lived a sinless life. He died shedding His blood for those appointed to salvation, and pleased with His Son, God raised Him to life on the third day. Now instead of staggering under the weight of all my sin, that which is seen and that which is unseen below the surface, Jesus sees it all, and He saved me anyway. Now I have His righteousness declared upon me by God. As long as I am in this sinful body breathing air on earth, I have been released from the power of sin via the Holy Spirit indwelling me. I have the glorification to look forward to, when I’m no longer even in the presence of sin.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

allah, grace, Obama, salvation, sin

UPDATE from Todd Friel. Bowe Bergdahl’s Father Invokes Allah In Arabic- Obama smiles triumphantly

Posted on June 5, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

I have not followed the Bowe Bergdahl issue. I know little about it. Bowe Bergdahl is America’s only known prisoner of war. Apparently Obama secured this detained and ailing soldier’s release by swapping five Taliban detainees — and leaving most of Congress in the dark. As Congress has become more upset at the President’s sudden and unilateral action, it appears as the story unravels, that the soldier may or may not actually be a deserter- not a hero.

I don’t follow the ins and outs of politics anymore. I have limited time and limited emotional capacity, so I try not to fill it with incidental things of life. I stay focused on work, my local church, the people I interact with, and studying the bible, prayer, and writing, etc.

I have to admit also that my distaste for our current occupant of the Oval Office aids me in keeping me from looking too closely at our American machinations at home and abroad.

However, something on Allen West’s website came to my attention. When Obama held a press conference with the soldier’s father, Bob, and the father was speaking, the father spoke in Arabic. They were just a few words, but there you go. Allah was one of the words. Here is former Congressman and Lt. Colonel Allen West’s report of the incident.

First words of Bergdahl’s father at White House were Arabic
Clare Lopez is a former CIA operations officer, a strategic policy and intelligence expert with a focus on Middle East, national defense, WMD, and counterterrorism issues, and a friend of mine. She emailed me this morning a very poignant analysis that only someone knowing language and Islam could ascertain. She wrote:

“What none of these media is reporting is that the father’s (SGT Bowe Bergdahl’s father Bob) first words at the WH were in Arabic – those words were “bism allah alrahman alraheem” – which means “in the name of Allah the most gracious and most merciful” – these are the opening words of every chapter of the Qur’an except one (the chapter of the sword – the 9th) – by uttering these words on the grounds of the WH, Bergdahl (the father) sanctified the WH and claimed it for Islam. There is no question but POTUS knows this.”

Folks, there is a lot to this whole episode — like Benghazi — that we may never know. And this is not conspiracy theory, it is truth based upon Arabic and Islamic dogma and tradition. And here’s the video if you have any questions.

UPDATE, Todd Friel. 56 seconds, another good word from Todd to ponder:

We Americans have been blessed. For the most part we have had leaders who have willing hearts, attitudes of service, and a desire to do the best for our nation and their fellow citizens. Oh, sure, we’ve had bumblers (Jimmy Carter) some bad ones (James Buchanan), some whose personality did not fit the demands of the job (Ricard Nixon), but overall we never had an inkling that the man whom fellow citizens had elected to office was actually an enemy working against them and did not care at all about their best interests.

Until Obama.

In my opinion, he is a traitor, working actively with satan to dismantle our nation. And that makes me sad, because I love this nation. I mourn for the soldiers who must perform under such a Commander in Chief. I feel empathy for the impoverished ones, the fatherless and the widows in this climate of coldness and rising crime and chaos.

I have felt this way for 7 years. But so what? In looking at nations since the first nations formed in Genesis, 7 years of living under a man who isn’t working for Jesus and isn’t even working for the best interests of the citizens is a tiny, microscopic mite in the historical scheme of things. What about Pharaoh, who let his own people die out of pride? What about invading armies into Israel, killing children? What about Herod and the Massacre of the Innocents? Nero?

What about Germany’s historical shame of Hitler, someone they elected? What about every dictator who ever lived; Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Manuel Noriega, Genghis Khan… Actually, monarchies and dictatorships have been the historical norm for governments. And given man’s depraved state, it is only natural that sinful men do sinful things, and even ‘good’ dictators turn bad.

So who are we to have pity parties over one man for a few years, even while our nation is still one of the wealthiest on the planet? Here is THE question I asked myself: am I more willing to pray for Obama, an obviously lost and hell-bound man, than I am willing to complain about his motives? Am I more willing to complain about Obama than I am to praise Jesus?

I have to admit that I don’t pray for him as much as I should. Well I hardly ever pray for him, if I’m honest. And this is despite the fact that the bible says we must pray for our leaders. It is despite the fact that for 42 years I was a sinner like Obama, and only now I am released from the power of sin by Jesus’ grace. As it is written in 1 Timothy 2:1-4,

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

We should not get all tangled up and angry when sinful people do what they normally do: sin. This goes for even our leaders, whom sometimes we set apart as somehow higher, more noble, less sinful. But the lost are just that, lost. A lost man smiles when another prays to a false god. A lost man smiles when his plans for evil seem to be coming true. But God means all evil for good to those who love Him. (Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28). It is by God’s grace that we even know that He means it for good, having the Holy Spirit in us to illuminate the bible’s meaning to us in the verses which declare it so.

As for Obama, all our leaders, any leader, or every sinful person, “Their foot shall slide in due time.” (Deuteronomy 32:35). Obama can smile triumphantly all he wants, but the only triumphant smile I will give is the one if in the Lord’s purpose and plan, He calls Obama to salvation. I once was a sinner like the president, smiling when false gods were mentioned. If he is saved, we will be brothers in grace. THAT calls for a smile of triumph.

apocalypse, God, jesus, movies, sin, threads, tribulation

(Updated) The most unrelentingly horrific and unsettling apocalyptic movie you will ever watch that comes the closest to what the Tribulation will be like: "Threads"

Posted on May 5, 2014March 12, 2022 by elizabethprata

Update: Russia’s Putin oversees Russian nuclear forces exercise

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Photo by Waiting for the Word, labeled for reuse

A couple of years ago in Sunday School, I was explaining the importance of understanding eschatology (last things). I was showing from scripture that pre-Tribulation rapture is biblical and is the only stance supported clearly by scripture. It makes a difference, I said, because firstly, it gives us hope and a goal to look forward to the return of Jesus for His bride without the fear of going through the Tribulation, and secondly, it gives us urgency to witness to unbelievers because the Tribulation is going to be horrific.

And yet, people still say that “I can make it through, after all I love Jesus.” Or, “It won’t be so bad if Jesus is on your side”, or other foolish comments like that. People have no clue as to how bad the Tribulation will be. Gaining a clear understanding of it is essential as is knowing where the Bride fits in the prophetic timeline.

After I got done explaining, one man who is of the ‘go along to get along, if you love Jesus then that’s all that counts, doctrine doesn’t matter” kind of guy said, “I’m a pan-tribber. It will all work out in the end.” Everyone in class laughed, and the five minutes I’d spent urging caution and due diligence to these matters evaporated.

I thought his was a craven rejection of the importance of Eschatology, something JESUS feels is important or He wouldn’t have spent the longest discourse in the entire bible speaking about it (Matthew 24). I thought that was a terribly laid back attitude and a failure to study of all the scriptures, prophecy included, because ALL SCRIPTURE is profitable, says 2 Timothy 3:16.

I’ve read Revelation many times and the horrors of God’s wrath can’t be overestimated. It gives me

shivers even to think about His unleashing of His wrath upon the unbelieving and rebellious world. The best book I’ve read on Revelation is John MacArthur’s “Because the Time Is Near“, which made me love God and fear Him all at once, even more. My breath was taken away at the verses and the explanation of His wrath and what lay ahead for people who delay too long in repenting and believing on Jesus.

Sometimes I get interested in a movie or a documentary that visually depicts a post-apocalyptic scenario. Not the Hollywood movies, but docu-dramas like BBC’s End Day. So, this week I was reading a headline that reminded me of one of the most chillingly accurate depictions of the rise of and aftermath of a global pandemic. Except I couldn’t remember the name of the documentary.

The docudrama was about the beginning of a flu epidemic that gained traction to become a near-extinction event. A Los Angeles family led by a doctor dad, are shown dealing with their growing understanding of how much of an extinction event it was, while the action was interspersed with interviews with actual doctors, sociologists, and the like describing the likely scenarios that will occur along the way as the pandemic grew. The film started with a cough and ended a full generation after society had collapsed.

I was thinking of that movie because I’d read a headline that antibiotic resistance has grown to be a present danger. It is no longer a future threat. I’ve been worried lately about antibiotic resistance and how that will impact the prophesied plagues set to overtake mankind during the Tribulation. So I read the article, still searching for that elusive documentary title about the pandemic. The report is from World Health Organization: (WHO)

A new report by WHO–its first to look at antimicrobial resistance, including antibiotic resistance, globally–reveals that this serious threat is no longer a prediction for the future, it is happening right now in every region of the world and has the potential to affect anyone, of any age, in any country. Antibiotic resistance–when bacteria change so antibiotics no longer work in people who need them to treat infections–is now a major threat to public health.

I had seemingly forever forgotten the name of that pandemic docudrama about that Los Angeles family, and I kept searching for the title for a long time. During my search I came across the well-remembered US armageddon films, The Day After and Testament. The Day After was touted as a program likely to cause nightmares and counselors were standing by. In truth, even then, I thought it was pretty sanitized. Testament affected me greatly because it never showed a bomb but showed a family suffering anyway from nuclear fallout hundreds of miles from where the bombs actually fell. Normal life just sort of ended, slowly and agonizingly.

The main character, acted by the magnificent Jane Alexander, was part of the reason for the movie’s impact on me. She did a wonderful job as a mother watching her children and her way of life die in front of her eyes. Yet even that film was pretty sanitized also as to the effects of nuclear war. Nuclear winter in either film was never shown, and people appeared kind of grubby but were still pretty clean looking. Desperation was prevalent but despair was absent.

My search for the title of the pandemic movie set in Los Angeles finally yielded paydirt. It is called “After Armageddon” and it was on The History Channel in 2010. I recommend it. The link brings you to the full movie at youtube.

I came across two other documentary type films illustrating a societal collapse, this time, from nuclear war. They were “The War Game” (1965) ( link to The War Game here) which won an Oscar for Best Documentary, though the film is fiction. The summary of the film at Internet Movie Database (IMDB.com) says “It was intended as an hour-long program to air on BBC 1, but it was deemed too intense and violent to broadcast. It went to theatrical distribution as a feature film instead. Low-budget and shot on location, it strives for and achieves convincing and unflinching realism.” The War Game was never shown on the BBC until a full 20 years after it was made, and a year after Threads was shown first. Threads is the movie I watched.

Threads was shown on the BBC in 1984 and is considered the ninth best UK television show of BBC history. The imdb.com summary states, “Documentary style account of a nuclear holocaust and its effect on the working class city of Sheffield, England; and the eventual long term effects of nuclear war on civilization.”

I was a young adult in the 1980s and I vividly remember the nuclear fears. The aggressive USSR, President Reagan, the Iron Curtain, Strategic Defense Initiative (the space defense program dubbed ‘star wars’ by the populace). I thought positively that nuclear war was going to break out with the USSR and that was how I was going to die. It’s why the movies The Day After and Testament were so powerful. They fed exactly into the national psychosis about nukes. It was all the talk then.

When the Soviet Union collapsed and the Iron Curtain fell, the world drew a collective sigh of relief throughout the 1990s. Nuclear fears receded and after a short while seemed so distant and even silly. The stockpiles of nukes were forgotten as new fears arose: suitcase bombs and terrorists, and dirty bombs and pandemics.

I watched Threads last night. Before I watch any movie, I usually read up on the reviews. The reviews I could find were uniformly of the same opinion: it is the most accurate depiction of a nuclear war there has ever been put to screen. The external reviews and the internal user reviews (all 21 pages of them) uniformly said that the images stick with you and will give you nightmares. That the graphic nature of the life during and after nukes fall on Sheffield, Britain, are images that will stay with you forever. I thought I’d watch it anyway. Testament and The Day After had been manageable after all, and I was 30 years older than that now, to boot.

The film was done on a low budget but that just gives it a real feel. A young couple become engaged. She’s pregnant, and they buy a flat and begin planning their life together. Amid the backdrop of families meeting and wedding planning, pub visiting and family discussions ensuing, are newspaper, radio and television reports of a confrontation between the US and the USSR over Iran. The city is Sheffield, a target due to heavy industry located there at the time and a nearby military base.

The buildup to the moment the bombs drop was intense. In one scene, a low flying bomber almost buzzes the young man and his father who is outside gardening.

I needed a break and I decided to pause for a moment and see what the headlines were on Drudge. Imagine my shock when I saw this:

RUSSIAN BOMBERS, FIGHTER JETS ‘SEEN OVER CRIMEA’
From the May 04, 2014 edition of the Drudge Report.

Russia then. Russia now. We had a brief respite in the 90s, but Russia is back and the headlines we are reading about Russia and the Ukraine, the Jews evacuating, and the Crimea, are eerily similar to the ramp-up in Threads the days before the bombs fell. Both were about tensions in the Middle East and/or the Baltics, Iran v. Ukraine. Thirty years apart and nothing has changed- just as prophesied, Gog will instill in Rosh an evil thought and the Bear will rise to begin a holocaust war (Ezekiel 38-39).

In the movie, as each tv talking head, radio announcer, or print headline is shown, one action leads to a reaction, eventually the bombs fly one fine spring day and the world is never the same. Devastation occurs and millions die in the first salvos. The film starts a month before the bombs fly and ends 13 years later with the first after-nuclear war generation coming into their teenage years.

Here is the TV Tropes’ summary of the cycle that led to the all-out nuclear war:

“The escalation scenario that leads to Armageddon in the first place. After a coup in Iran, the Soviet Union invades to gain a toehold in the Middle East. The Americans send in paratroopers and set a deadline for withdrawal, and when the Soviets don’t back down they send bombers after their main staging base in Iran. The Soviets destroy most of the aircraft with a nuclear-tipped air defense missile. The Americans then destroy the base with a single battlefield nuke. In return the Soviets nuke the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, the Americans blockade Cuba, and after that it gets kind of hazy…”

Threads is without a doubt the most relentlessly hopeless, harrowing, ghastly movie of the genre. It spared no scene, it was accurate and unrelenting. As the website TV Tropes says, “To any would-be viewers: if you’re looking for a story with a happy or hopeful ending this movie is not the way to go, and a strong stomach is pretty much mandatory. There are no jump scares, the Body Horror is tame by the standards of modern SFX, and there is little Gore despite the ample opportunities the setting presents. And yet it is one of the scariest films of the 20th century…”

Death on an incomprehensible scale, and dark hopelessness was prevalent. Think: TRIBULATION. In the movie, millions upon millions were killed outright and in the first few months, millions more died of radiation sickness. Millions more after that of starvation and/or disease. Just like the Tribulation.

I could not help but think of the verses in the bible saying that they will be building and marrying eating and drinking when sudden wrath comes upon them. How one day people are at the pedestrian mall pushing babies in strollers and window shopping or ordering ale at the pub, and the next, the world turns upside down.

Though there are humans in the movie after the bombs fall there is no humanity. After, any vestige of cooperation, community or even love becomes a hindrance to the simple act of survival. The movie showed this as a realistic reaction to the loss of food, shelter, clothing, and normal life. By a decade later, even language had been reduced to grunts and monosyllabic words, because of the energy it takes simply to talk. And, what is there to say? It is a world devoid of love. As Lamentations reminds us, the ones who die right away are the lucky ones.

Happier were the victims of the sword

than the victims of hunger,

who wasted away, pierced

by lack of the fruits of the field.

(Lamentations 4:9)

THIS is as close to visualizing the Tribulation as one can come, and even this movie, bleak as it was, doesn’t show it all. The movie depicted “only” one issue, nuclear war and its effects and not the host of items the Tribulation will bring, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, fires, water as blood, etc, but… it shows enough. Nuclear war brings nuclear winter, famine, plague, societal collapse, and agricultural devastation. For two gripping and depressing hours, one can easily see the truth of Jesus’ words, “unless the days were cut short, no flesh would survive.” (Matthew 24:22). This is wrath. This is puny life, snuffed out under the mighty hand of God, who demands that sin be reckoned. As one film reviewer said, it is not a movie to be enjoyed, it is a movie to be endured. However, it is a necessary movie to watch.

I didn’t have nightmares but the movie did keep me up all night. The images and overall atmosphere in my heart kept me tossing and turning. Even today, a day later, I can see that it’s going to take a long time to forget the scenes. The woman at the pedestrian mall seeing the mushroom cloud and peeing herself, the husband in despair because he squandered the last bit of water, the foolishness of people protesting nuclear bombs when the war machine grinds on no matter what the populace says. The middle management local emergency guys with ties and clipboards buried under four stories of rubble, still trying to sort it all out. They died, entombed in their bunker, never having made one whit of difference. Desperation of the nurses at the hospital. The last scene.

Watch Threads, I dare you. It takes courage to stick with it. None of the people reviewing the film exaggerated. I’m not exaggerating. If you want to see what the people left behind will endure, this is as close as we can come cinematically to see the truth of God’s horrific wrath upon humanity’s sin and earth’s devastation as a result.

Sin is a terrible, terrible thing. God’s holiness and justice demands a response to it. We know that God is long-suffering and patient with His creation. One day, however, He will end His patience and determine that it is time to deal with sin on earth. He will rapture His bride first, but then, oh woes upon woes, He will unleash a holocaust that movies like Threads can only truly hint at. And the movie was bad enough. Praise our God for His patience and long-suffering. Praise Him that he brought you into the kingdom. Pray fervently for the lost and witness to them about the terrible effects of sin and the greatness of His forgiveness. Mercy and grace abounds in this present Messianic age. But it is ending, and fast. Please, please, consider these things.

The movie Threads is was on youtube.

Threads full movie

This link brings you to one of 12 parts of the movie Threads.

dignity, sin, weaker vessel, widows, women

Our roles as woman in the faith: We are vulnerable to satan in specific ways. Part 1

Posted on April 22, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

This is a three part series about women in the faith. In this part I’ll show from scripture that women have particular vulnerabilities to satan. We will look at what those are and how to avoid being used by satan to bring shame on the family and slander to the faith.

In the second part I’ll look at where the modern woman is doing her dark work against Jesus: it’s not just inside the church anymore. Mommy bloggers and online amateur theologians have grown to be an enormous network outside the church and thus often operate outside their husband’s watchful eye and usually outside their pastor’s eye. Much mischief happens on mommy blogs and amateur online theologian platforms and satan uses these to filter back to the church, to our detriment. I myself am in the amateur online theologian category so definitely don’t take what I write at face value but test it.

Third, I’ll look at the most famous female false prophet, heretic, and worker of iniquity today: Joyce Meyer. Meyer is representative of the female false teacher doing very much harm to the women of the church. Under her umbrella are women like Beth Moore, Anne Voskamp, Kim Walker Smith, and other newcomers who are spiritual daughters of Meyer and Moore and are being used by satan in exploitation of the particular vulnerabilities I will show in part 1.

Would they target a Christian book to men titled
“Eat the hot dog, buy the tie”? I think not

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the bible there are groups of men listed and also individual men listed by name who were causing dissension or harm to the faith. Of the groups, Paul rebuked the Circumcision group (Galatians 2:11-14) and Jesus rebuked the Nicolaitans. (Revelation 2:6). Paul also names individual men who he rebuked or wrote about in a negative light,

Demas who left the faith, an apostate (2 Timothy 4:10).
Phygelus and Hermogenes who deserted Paul, apostates both. (2 Timothy 1:15).
Alexander the metalworker, he did Paul harm and opposed the message of Christ. (2 Timothy 4:14).
Hymenaeus and Philetus, irreverent babblers, leading people into ungodliness (2 Timothy 2:17, 1 Timothy 1:20).
Alexander made a shipwreck of his faith and handed over with Hymenaeus to satan to be taught not to blaspheme (1 Timothy 1:20). Unsure if this is the same Alexander as above or a different Alexander (a very common name then, as was Mary).
Diotrephes, rebuked by John, a man who “who likes to put himself first,” “speaks wicked nonsense” and “does not recognize our authority” (3 John 1:10).

Not to be outdone, women are named too. Jesus names a group in Revelation 2:20, a false prophetess named ‘Jezebel’ and her followers. She is a false teacher whom Jesus said He will throw into a permanent sickbed in hell if she did not repent.

In 2 John 1:4-11, John gently corrects a specific but unnamed woman who needs to watch herself, to walk in love, and to refuse to receive false teachers into her house.

Albert Edelfelt (1854–1905) Women of Ruokolahti outside the Church

Another general group receiving a warning are Gossiping widows. They are a group named in a negative light. GotQuestions explains,

“Another group who were (and still are today) known for indulging in gossip is widows. Paul cautions widows against entertaining the habit of gossip and of being idle. These women are described as “gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to” (1 Timothy 5:12-13). Because women tend to spend a lot of time in each other’s homes and work closely with other women, they hear and observe situations which can become distorted, especially when repeated over and over. Paul states that widows get into the habit of going from home to home, looking for something to occupy their idleness.

Younger widows also were mentioned in a mild rebuke because of their potential to give the adversary an occasion for slander. These women are loaded with passions and “some have already strayed after Satan.” (1 Corinthians 7:9; 1 Timothy 5:14-15)

Women in general were told to remain silent in the churches, especially regarding tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophesying. This is the section where Paul was rebuking the Corinthians for having disorderly services, and women were a large part of the reason the services had become chaotic. (1 Corinthians 14:34-35)

Women who were specifically named were Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2-3). These women were causing disunity due to their disagreement with each other. Paul asked his loyal yokefellow to help these woman agree in the Lord.

You notice that there is a general difference between the men listed and the women. The men were mostly false believers. They tended not to be in the body of Christ. You notice stern warnings of the men, who were all obvious heretics and shunned or told to be put out. (One exception is that Paul rebuked Peter and of course Peter was a true believer. Alternately Paul rebuked a demon possessed slave girl and of course who was a false professor of the faith).

The women who are mentioned, however, were mostly believers in the church. Their spiritual crime caused disruption, division, and chaos in church circles. Gossip, idleness, and easily being drawn into false teaching were the issues at play here.

“Galicnik Wedding by Marjan Lazarevski” A Macedonian bride. CC

Women are the weaker vessel. (1 Peter 3:7). Some women are weaker than others. (2 Timothy 3:6). Satan attacked the woman, Eve, first, didn’t he? Genesis 3:1 says that satan was the craftiest creature in the garden. That means he didn’t just come up with a spur of the moment plot and threw spaghetti at the wall to see what would happen as he chatted with Eve. Crafty means “clever at achieving one’s aims by indirect or deceitful methods.” Crafty means that Satan had a method in place, he thought about it for a while, watched Adam and Eve, and came up with a plan. Point number one on his plan was “Approach the woman.”

Knowing this, satan sends false teachers who have the appearance of godliness but denying its power, to seduce women with their false doctrines.

He also uses women in their vulnerability (the younger ones with passion and the elder ones with gossip and slander) to spread discord and gangrenous doctrines.

He targets the women and he uses the women. So, how can women avoid being used by satan who wants to exploit our vulnerability?

First, recognize ourselves as weaker. (1 Peter 3:7).

Labeled for reuse

Second, submit to authority. If married, submit to husbands. Raise your children. If having a question, ask the husband outside of church services. Wives should adorn their husbands as a jewel, busy herself with the home, and remain quiet. (1 Timothy 5:14, Ephesians 5:22, Titus 2:5, 1 Corinthians 14:34). Doing these things will not give satan as much of an opportunity to exploit your vulnerability.

In the same vein, elder widows with children or grandchildren should “show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.” (1 Timothy 5:4)

Elder widows without family should “set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,” (1 Timothy 5:5). Anna did this and was revered for it. (Luke 2:37-38).

Third, be busy. Elder widows should be “having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.” (1 Timothy 5:10). 1 Timothy 5:13 speaks ill of idle women, so keeping one’s self spiritually busy in true service will also stave off satanic attacks and keep us thriving on the narrow path.

A silly woman at Mard Gras, by acedout. CC

Fourth, rein in passions. Younger widows tend to be passionate and flighty. They set their minds on marriage again so Paul said they should marry. (1 Timothy 5:11).

Self-indulgence in women is severely rebuked. Paul said “she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives” (1 Timothy 5:6). Idleness is rebuked because it tends toward disruptiveness (1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:11).

Women loaded with passions have a huge target on their back. Paul wrote, “For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,” (2 Timothy 3:6). So obviously one way to remain spiritually fit and stave off satan’s wiles is to repent frequently when we do sin and resist sin when it presents itself.

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I hope these words help you, whether you’re a young wife or an elder widow. Women are women, and we all have the same vulnerability in our weakness to satan and his attacks. These attacks don’t hurt merely the family, they disrupt the church, as we saw with Euodia and Syntyche, the disorderly prophesiers, and the idle widows. Pettiness, idleness, gossip, slander, division seem to be the unique set of negative characteristics we possess in our sinful state that Jesus revealed to us women. He gracefully shows us through scripture how to combat this. In so doing, we can receive high commendations from our Father, our Lord, our Comforter!

In Proverbs 31:30-31 it says, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.”

Proverbs 3:15-18 “She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.”

Judge Mary Margaret Bartelme,
a most dignified woman. WikiCC

Widow Anna was commended. Mary was called favored by God. (Luke 1:28). Eunice and Lois were commended by Paul as having great faith and raising Timothy well. (2 Timothy 1:5, 2 Timothy 3:14). Dorcas was lauded for all her good works and charities. When Dorcas died, “All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.” (Acts 9:39b). “All” the widows! Dorcas was loved, and when she died, many pleaded with Paul to raise her to life. If you were to die, would all the women in your circle cry and beg for you to be returned to life? Or would they be relieved to see you go? In Dorcas’ busy-ness I am sure that satan had little opportunity to worm his way in and cause her to bring shame to the church.

Please ponder these things. Check the scriptures and test all that I’ve said. We have an important role to play, that much is obvious. Satan wants to use us in disrupting the church and be a carrier of false doctrine in our silliness and rebellion. That can easily become our role if we do not pay attention. Our role should be an important work for Jesus in unifying the church when we repent of our sins, and stay on our God-given path. Let us please Him as His precious women of faith, working and striving and contending and being a helpmeet to the men in our lives, whether they are fathers, husbands, or pastors.

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When the roll is called up yonder, will you be there?

Posted on March 1, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

There are two tracks. There is sin and death, and there is repentance and life. That’s it.

Because we are not God and we cannot see what is in a man, and man hides his sins well, we think there is a middle ground. That middle ground man calls “sort of good.” Or, “pretty good.” Well, we’re not pretty good. We’re not good at all.

Man is totally depraved.

Total Depravity is the doctrine that fallen man is completely touched by sin and that he is completely a sinner. He is not as bad as he could be, but in all areas of his being, body, soul, spirit, mind, emotions, etc., he is touched by sin. In that sense he is totally depraved. (source)

Not all men are as bad as they can be. So do not be surprised when a Hitler comes along, because he was simply a little further along on the spectrum than many. Or a Pol Pot. Or a Jeffrey Dahmer. Or an Idi Amin. Or a Stalin. Or Vlad the Impaler. Hm, I guess there are many more men that are worse than we thought it was possible to be.

There is a reason why not all men on earth are all totally bad. The Spirit restrains men.

And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8)

Wikipedia, USAF, Tech Sgt., restraining an attack dog

The Spirit is restraining the antichrist. The Spirit restrains sin. The Spirit fights sin. (Acts 7:51) The Spirit will not do this forever.

And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. (Genesis 6:3)

Matthew Henry says of that verse,

“But the Lord declared that his Spirit should not thus strive with men always; he would leave them to be hardened in sin, and ripened for destruction.“

That moment will be the one Paul spoke of in Thessalonians, when the Spirit will leave off His restraining ministry and sin will be unleashed. God is about to unleash the attack dog of sin.

You know sometimes it is best to let a fever run its course? It is the same plan God has for sin. It is going to be allowed to run its course, with no intervention or remedy. He will allow sin to burst forth as a rabid dog unleashed on the world. It will not be restrained. At that time men WILL be the worst they can be.

The model for this will be the antichrist. He is called The Man of Sin for a reason. I’d posted the Thessalonians verse above, speaking of the restraining ministry of the Spirit who restrains sin and particularly restrains the antichrist. Back up to verse 3, Paul calls him by a name in which the main qualifier is his sin, not only permeated through every molecule of his body as we all have, but actually active and working in every molecule of his body. Man. of. Sin.

“Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction” (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

At that time, sin will roll over the world like a tsunami. There will be no middle ground, no “pretty good” people. Man will be released to his independence, which in fact is slavery to satan. It will be abundantly clear that except for the Tribulation saints in Christ exhibiting Christ’s goodness, no one is good. Which is the point. Jesus knew what was in a man

“But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people.” (John 2:24)

But during the Tribulation what is in a man will be seen, evidently, clearly and clearly. No middle ground. No hidden evil, no coy sin. Only obvious Good, and total Evil.

1930 census roll, Wikipedia CC

The Good News is that if you repent of your sins, and trust Jesus you will be made a new creature. That’s part two of the two tracks. There are the sinners, waxing worse and worse, and the righteousness ones, made ever more beautifully transformed into His image through sanctification and finally glorification when the resurrection of the saints occurs.The old man of sin in you will be made a slave to righteousness and the Spirit in you will transform you into an image of Christ. You will be raptured into heaven alive or raised from the dead if you die before then, given a glory body and taken to the place Jesus is preparing for us. When the roll is called from the Lamb’s Book of Life, you will be there! Not one spot of sin will ever be in us again! Best of all, we will celebrate the glory of His resurrection! His propitiation! His Sinlessness and righteousness and sacrifice and love!

There’s an old Christian song called “When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.” By God’s grace I’ll be there! Thank you Lord, your mercy is boundless. And for the record, I can’t wait.