Category: theology

Posted in theology, word of the week

Word of the Week- Fruit of the Spirit, Self-Control

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23).

In past essays, I explored the previous characteristics in the verse, from the first, joy, to gentleness, the second to last. Now we look at self-control.

In a previous essay it was noted that the 9 characteristics Paul outlines in the verse can be grouped by three threes.

Warren Wiersbe notes the triple triad within the verse. The first three characteristics of the fruit are love, joy, and peace. Those reflect the Godward aspect of Christian life.

The next three are patience, kindness, goodness; characteristics reflecting the manward aspect of Christian life.

Faithfulness, gentleness, self-control are aspects reflecting the selfward part of the Christian life.

Self-control…what does that mean, exactly? As with everything in the Bible, it’s both simple and clear on the surface, but if you dig deeper, valuable truths come out that prick the conscience and grow the believer.

In Barnes’ Notes we learn

The word used here, (ἐγκράτεια egkrateia), means properly “self-control, continence.” It is derived from ἐν en and κράτος kratos, “strength,” and has reference to the power or ascendancy which we have over exciting and evil passions of all kinds. It denotes the self-rule which a man has over the evil propensities of his nature. … It includes the dominion over all evil propensities, and may denote continence, chastity, self-government, moderation in regard to all indulgences as well as abstinence from intoxicating drinks. See the word explained in the notes at Acts 24:25.

The sense here is, that the influences of the Holy Spirit on the heart make a man moderate in all indulgences; teach him to restrain his passions, and to govern himself; to control his evil propensities, and to subdue all inordinate affection.

A Christian must be a temperate man; and if the effect of his religion is not to produce this, it is false and vain.

We see this is so in the 1Timothy 3:2-3 regarding elder qualifications

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

The man has self-control in demonstrating he won’t drink to excess, thus losing control. He isn’t violent because he controls his anger, and this is an important one because angry situations are full of pressure. Can he control himself when the circumstances become chaotic emotionally or physically? If he is growing in the fruit of the Spirit he will be.

We see self-control again in 2 Timothy 2:24 where again he controls his anger,

And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.

In 2 Timothy 1:7 Paul again remarks about self-control

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

And more, the following verses remark about having self-control, and it’s not exhaustive,

2 Peter 1:6, Acts 24:25, Proverbs 25:28, Proverbs 16:32, 1 Corinthians 9:25, 1 Timothy 2:15, 1 Timothy 2:9, Titus 1:8…

Possessing self-control means you are growing in the fruit of the Spirit as the Galatians verses shows. It means one’s sanctification is progressing. It’s proof that we are relying on the Spirit to resist our depraved and evil impulses. Christ died for us so that we may die, to our sins. Having self-control demonstrates Spirit-led mastery over them.

self-control

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Further Resources

Focus on the Family: Got Self-Control?

GotQuestions: What does the Bible say about self-discipline?

Ligonier Devotional: Self-Control

Head Heart Hands blog: Pumping up the Self-Control in the Age of Temptations

Posted in book review, theology

Book Review: “You Who?: Why You Matter & How To Deal With It” by Rachel Jankovic

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

“Feelings are a bunch of monkeys. Our feelings are not bulletins from the Holy of Holies.”

And just like that, Rachel Jankovic’s new book “You Who?: Why You Matter & How To Deal With It” is off and running. Oh and by the way, she first mentions sin on page TWO. Take that, every other feelings-laden, soft-sell, ‘messy lives’ snowflake books.

Because, Rachel’s new book isn’t for the easily melted. Then again, it is. It’s for every woman who claims Christ. It’s a straight shot across the bow to all the carefully contrived me-oriented schemas, constructs, and operating theories women in Christendom have been presented with, (I’m talking to you, Lifeway & Ladies Ministry) and a good deal more. But I get ahead of myself.

Here is the official blurb of this upcoming book*, slated for publication on January 15. Canon Press is the publisher and you can also buy from Amazon.

If “Who am I?” is the question you’re asking, Rachel Jankovic doesn’t want you to “find yourself” or “follow your heart.”

Those lies are nothing to the confidence, freedom, and clarity of course that come with knowing what is actually essential about you. And the answer to that question is at once less and more than what you are hoping for.

Christians love the idea that self-expression is the essence of a beautiful person, but that’s a lie, too. With trademark humor and no nonsense practicality, Rachel Jankovic explains the fake story of the Self, starting with the inventions of a supremely ugly man named Sartre (rhymes with “blart”). And we–men and women, young and old–have bought his lie of the Best Self, with terrible results.

Thankfully, that’s not the end of our story, You Who: Why You Matter and How to Deal with It takes the identity question into the nitty gritty details of everyday life. Here’s the first clue: Stop looking inside, and start planting flags of everyday faithfulness. In Christianity, the self is always a tool and never a destination.

When do we start being us? The existentialist will say we become who we are when we start knitting together our actions that create the story of our identity. Our identity is all about ‘our story.’ The Christian woman should say, as Jankovic explains, that “our valuations are built in a completely different foundation. Who you believe does the creating makes all the difference. Which creator do we honor?”

In asking the question ‘Who am I?’ we are really asking the question ‘Who is my God?’ Knowing, understanding, and living the answer to that question correctly gives the Christian woman relief and joy. Jankovic expertly outlines how to achieve that relief, and it’s not in what we do, but knowing who we are.

Rachel’s contention is that we have no practical idea of what makes us who we are, because we have absorbed too much of the world and its philosophies. As we grow up we adopt titles of identities that have either been thrust on us or that we take on ourselves. “Carefree grrrrl”, or “The Fashionista” or “The Nerd” might satisfy for the moment, but they are a lie. Why? Because they are only temporary. We outgrow the youthful grrrl and become a mom, or an employee, or a boss. But God never changes. When we find our identity in Him, we rest satisfied because we know and are known, unchangeable, no matter the temporary worldly title our family or the world might put on us.

Rachel punctures every misnomer, every misapplication, every fad (like the Christian fad telling us women “You’re a princess”) attempting to be the terminus identity. Defining ourselves by man-made categories simply gets between us and Christ.

Here is an example of her explosive language drilling down to the main point of our Christian identity as women:

Jesus Christ did not come into the world and die so that you might live. That is only the partial truth, the truth that skips all the action. Jesus Christ came to this earth, struggled, suffered, and died so that you might die.

I have to say, as a matter of personal preference and bias, I don’t enjoy podcasts, from men or women. I don’t enjoy interviews and very few Q&A’s. I’m not a fan of banter, filler, giggling, or circuitous points. I participated in Rachel’s DVD seminars, which is comprised of hours of her talking and us listening/watching via a flat screen. The Valley Girl accent that so many millennials have these days, the rabbit trail points, and verbal tics are very distracting. Like?…like?…like… you know what I mean, like?

I am of the opinion that if one wants to have a speaking career, one should speak clearly and concisely. This skill is directly taught to pastors in Homiletics classes. But it seems that anyone with an internet connection who decides to launch a podcast (as Rachel has) or embarks on a speaking career does so without a minimum benchmark most people learn in high school speech classes. There IS such a thing as adhering to a minimum standard of craftsmanship. I’ll expand on this point in another blog essay but for now let me admit that when I was handed Rachel’s book, though obviously highly intelligent, based on her speaking persona I wasn’t expecting much.

I’m thrilled to say that not only were my expectations on her writing craftsmanship exceeded, but I’m actually blown away by the book’s brilliance.

Pros:

I appreciated Rachel’s continual turning to Jesus as the answer. She urges total submission and makes a clear point about just what that answer is (and it’s more than being a “Princess”). There is not a hint of eisegesis, narcissism, or me-centered, self-esteem, pop psychology so often present in the glut of books flooding the Christian publishing market today.

Sin was stated as sin, not ‘brokenness’ or ‘messiness’ or ‘mistakes’. Rachel never whitewashes who we are as sinners but continually points to Christ. She offers practical, optimistic responses that slay the philosophies we have been pummeled with in the Christian publishing industry for the last 20-odd years. Rachel is skilled at mounting up responses and excuses to women use to rebut her points but then blowing them all away like the milkweed they are. When the title says ‘how to deal with it’, it means it.

Rachel spends a good deal of the book focusing on giving God glory. What glory is and how to express it. And that expression is never more glorious and God-honoring than when we obey. We are never more our true selves than when we obey God’s word.

Rachel shows restraint in using personal anecdotes and momisms. As any good preacher knows, illustrations are a double edged sword. Once you start making an illustration on which to revolve your sermon, you’ve lost any demographic that doesn’t identify with it. Rachel uses few, but they are sprinkled in to the chapters at just the right moments.

Now, don’t run away when I say this, but Rachel begins with an examination of various philosophies, such as nihilism, cognitive psychology, and in a lengthy treatment, existentialism. I’ve always had a hard time wrapping my mind around these philosophies, but Rachel does a brilliant job of making a practical analysis of how they compare to Christianity, specifically, Christian identity. Yet for all its weighty themes, it is a highly readable book. I read it in just a few days.

“You Who? Why You Matter & How To Deal With It” is an important addition to the  Christian woman’s bookshelf, and one I believe is a “must read.”

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*Oganizers of the Jankovic DVD seminars were offered a pre-publication advanced reader copy of this book, with a request if so accepting, to also write a review of the book. No expectation was given as to the type of review nor its content. This review was completed without influence of any kind.

Posted in christmas, theology

Solstice thoughts on Christmas Eve

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I was saved by Grace of God late in life, at age 42. But that doesn’t mean I spent the first four decades ignorant of God. His creation spoke to me, my conscience pricked me, and my soul longed to be filled even as I mused as to why it was curiously empty. Romans 2:15, Ecc 3:11).

I’d asked the big questions: Why are we here? What is life good for if it is so short and the earth so old? It seems pointless. Why did nothing satisfy me for very long? Money or travel or accolades work or marriage or accomplishments? What was the point of it all? If there was a God, why would he care about us? We’re so puny.

I finally acknowledged there was a God, because creation existed. I was a living example of Romans 1:19.

I could not, however, figure out who went to heaven and why, what the benchmark was that allowed some people in and others not. This was because I rejected the notion of my sin and Jesus’s blood in atonement for it. I was a living example of Romans 1:18.

During the time just prior to my salvation, while I was seeking actively, I fell in with a group of pagans and witches. I was invited to a solstice night gathering. This was in Maine and on December 21, it’s cold. The average low for that night is 17 degrees, with the average high just hovering above freezing, with an average of a foot of snow on the ground. That particular year there was a lot of snow.

I’d been familiar with Roman Catholic ceremonies, my husband was Catholic. There, the gravitas of the situation was impressed upon you by long-held shiny rituals and reverberating chants in another language. Mysterious. I didn’t understand it but it was obvious that other people did. One can see the attraction to this sort of thing.

The ritual or ceremony for the Solstice event was to simply go outside and stand around in the yard in shin-deep snow, looking at the pine trees. As the sun sank, we were told to think of something or say something that came to mind.

Like what? It’s cold outside? When can we go in and have the hot chocolate that was promised? Am I supposed to worship a tree? Where was the meaning in that?

Where was the framework to put this into perspective? What were we supposed to think? Or say? Or do? I just shifted feet and pushed my hands further into my pockets. Is this where eternal meaning was? If so, it felt so empty.

I now know that in addition to being a silly ceremony, if that’s what it was, it was empty because we were trying to find meaning in the creation when we were part of the creation itself. It went no higher than that.

The joy of Christmas is that the transcendent was made manifest, and on our behalf too. The problem with a solstice ceremony was that they “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” (Romans 1:23). Honoring the creation but not the Creator who created it is foolish. And it felt so.

The Lord in His grace saved me a short while later. He opened my eyes to His glory and caused my heart to incline to worship of the Ancient of Days. He is living, His glory was shown in the image of His Son, (Hebrews 1:3) who was born that day in the city of David. (Luke 2:11).

By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

The Christian world rejoices tonight in the mystery of the incarnation, the babe, who lived as a lamb but will return as a lion. Praise God that “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5).

 

Posted in discernment, theology

Discernment Resources for you: Bookmark this!

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Is this teacher good? Is this Bible study credible? Is this book safe with good doctrine? I’m frequently asked these are normal and good questions, and I know that other ministries that offer discernment teachings are asked also.

We all should be practicing discernment, all the time. (Philippians 1:9). Hebrews 5:14 says discernment comes with training and maturity-

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Sometimes ladies don’t have time to pre-read a study to determine if it’s acceptable, they barely have time between the kids, husband, church, and home to read the study itself. Other times sisters just need a second opinion before setting up the appointment with the Ladies Minister or the Pastor. Other times a person just needs a jog or a jig into a direction, a framework that sparks their own thoughts.

So we’re asked. I’m grateful when I am asked, because I know there are women out there who care about good doctrine and only want to study with credible materials or people. Discernment as a tool or a skill (or in some cases, the gift) isn’t just for calling out false teachers or spotting poor doctrine melded with the true. It’s a book or a movie review. It’s oftentimes a lesson in itself teaching how to compare materials with scripture. It’s honing of the mind as it conforms to Christ. It’s all that and more.

error and truth discernment

Here are some resources I use for my own reasons, which include all of the above. I offer these resources to you as an additional tool in your discernment toolbox.

Phil Johnson. Phil is Executive Director of Grace To You, the online ministry of Grace Community Church. (GCC). He is also editor of John MacArthur’s books, and a pastor in the GraceLife Pulpit, Sunday School Ministry of GCC. He has the gift of discernment, and often speaks on topics such as current fads and their impact in Christendom, false teachers, and other discernment issues. You can find his sermons at the GraceLife Pulpit. Phil also speaks at various conferences, including the well-known Strange Fire conference, which examined and evaluated the doctrines, claims, and practices of the modern charismatic movement. As a matter of fact,t he entire conference itself is a lesson in discernment and well worth your while. Phil also ran a blog for many years that dealt with discernment issues, Pyromaniacs, which has recently been revived with other writers contributing. You can search its archives. He also has a wealth of material here. He’s been online for over 20 years.

Justin Peters. Justin is an itinerant pastor with several specialties. He preaches expositionally, and also has an interest in teaching discernment matters via his series Clouds Without Water. Justin has written a book called Do Not Hinder Them, about evangelizing children, and has spoken out about the fad of ‘heaven tourism‘, examining the claims of those who allege they have traveled to heaven and back. He preaches and teaches extensively at conferences, for example, the Judge Not Conference, the Strange Fire conference here, and here, and here in an extensive interview about Lying Signs and Wonders, as well as many other places that can be found on Youtube.

Bob DeWaay. Critical Issues Commentary is a treasure trove of discernment works and other topics, led by Pastor Bob DeWaay. Critical Issues Commentary was founded to help people find their way out of unbiblical teachings that confused their understanding of the faith. There is so much at the site, you can take an entire course for free on Hermeneutics, or Systematic Theology, watch the video, How to Discern a True Work of the Spirit, learn from a five-video series on How Do We Really Hear From God, read articles reviewing Jesus Calling, Bill Johnson’s book, or Ann Voskamp’s book, and so on. His About page says in part, “Critical Issues Commentary is… a series of carefully researched essays on important theological issues. Since 1992 more than 80 articles covering more than 60 specific “critical issues” have been published. Each article contains Biblical exegesis as well as interaction with famous teachers and teachings. Our prayer is that God uses this effort to help readers grow in their faith and be strong in their witness.”

Michelle Lesley. Michelle runs a discipleship ministry, online here, and has written articles on various false teachers. She also travels and will speak at your church or organization. If you go to her site, there is a link at the top called Popular False teachers. You can also search her archives for specifically what you’re looking for. Michelle graduated from LSU with a degree in child and adolescent psychology, and earned her master’s family counseling.  She is a married mother of six. She loves being a stay at home, home schooling mom and enjoys reading, staying active at church and in women’s ministry…

Sharon Lareau. Mrs. Lareau at Chapter 3 Ministries is another treasure trove of biblical information, reviews, women’s issues, marriage, apologetics, and more. She is a 30-plus years married mom who homeschooled for 18 years. She says, “It is my prayer that Chapter 3 Ministries is a blessing to other women. It is my desire to encourage greater understanding about the biblical role of the Christian wife and to offer support for living it. It is also my desire to support my sisters in Christ in their efforts to be ready in the defense of our great hope. This defense can be given through our testimony and through the work of apologetics.” She has recently written a review of Tim Keller’s book “Prayer” as well as reviewed several of Beth Moore’s Living Proof Conferences. There’s a lot at the site, check it out.

Abandoned to Christ. Sunny Shell of Abandoned to Christ also ministers to women via her website and of course in real life as all of the above people do. She writes “about living abandoned to Christ in marriage, biblical submission, parenting, friendships, evangelism, and my often debilitating and very painful health issues for the past 13 years—all with the eternal, rich, and hope-filled perspective of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” She is a married mother of two adult children who also volunteers at church, blogs, is writing her first book, and disciples younger women. She has a list of recommended books, resources to follow and stay away from,  and reviews, such as The Shack, the movie Son of God, Ann Voskamp/Beth Moore/Sarah Young, and much more.

Wretched. Todd Friel of Wretched Radio & TV also delves into apologetics and discernment issues. He has a wonderful series called Drive By, thus called because you can listen to the short lectures as you drive to work. They are generally between 7-15 minutes each. The series includes Drive By Discernment– 70 short lectures on the topic of discernment. There is also a DVD called Judge Not, about true biblical judging, or discernment. There is a wealth of short clips on Youtube under the Wretched Channel also. Don’ miss Too Wretched for Radio, short interviews with Phil Johnson on various fads, discernment topics and apologetics in current time.

Challies. Tim Challies has been blogging, reviewing books, and offering up discernment resources for ten years.  His website is a treasure trove of archived book reviews, to the good and the bad, plus lots of other resources.

Chapel Library: a Ministry of Mt. Zion Bible Church. This resource is not specifically aimed at discernment or apologetics but it is just too good not to include here. It’s often overlooked or amazingly, fairly unknown widely. It is another rich, full site of lots to choose for free. The Bunyan Archive, courses for free, studies in scripture, 850 books, tracts, and pamphlets to read online or download for free, including Adoniram Judson and the Missionary Call by Erroll Hulse, Advice for Seekers by Charles H. Spurgeon, Am I Really a Christian? by Thomas Boston, Anxiety by Arthur W. Pink, and so MUCH more. The whole site offers over 1100 resources for free.

I hope these resources suit you, there are many men and women out there, who labor for Christ and the common good.

discernment1

 

Posted in movie review, theology

Movie Review: Netflix’s Dumplin’

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Dumplin’ is a Netflix Original (PG-13) based on the 2015 young-adult novel by Julie Murphy, starring Danielle MacDonald, Jennifer Aniston, Odeya Rush, Kathy Najimy, and produced by Jennifer Aniston.

dumplin

The official blurb goes:

Willowdean (‘Dumplin’), the plus-size teenage daughter of a former beauty queen, signs up for her mom’s Miss Teen Bluebonnet pageant as a protest that escalates when other contestants follow her footsteps, revolutionizing the pageant and their small Texas town.

The reviews are uniformly good. The movie is called sweet, heartwarming, engaging, feel-good, a treasure, and wonderful.

I was initially hesitant to watch but the reviews being good and I wanted to watch something uplifting, so I decided to take a chance. The movie was more three-dimensional that I thought it would be, and the relationships among the characters to each other and to their own selves was more nuanced than I’d expected.

Jennifer Aniston as the skinny, driven pageant queen director was not mean through and through and had more love and compassion for her daughter than one would suspect, given the trailers. Millie the giggling overweight girl was not clueless but had a streak of steel magnolia in her, and the main character, Willowdean, was shown as more complex in exploring her motives for competing in the pageant than many similarly-themed movies (I’m talking to you, Hallmark).

The Dolly Parton soundtrack provided the backdrop and unifying theme, and reportedly Parton was so smitten with the YA book and movie that she wrote some new songs specifically for the film. I like Dolly Parton so this was a good thing to me.

It’s a true chick flick, in that very few men are featured in the movie with the exception of Bo, in a few scenes as Willowdean’s love interest. A few fat-shaming male bullies drift in and out.

If I was a secular person I’d give two thumbs up. But as a Christian I’ll offer a warning.

Willowdean’s journey through this movie was essentially a search for authenticity and self-acceptance. Given her mother’s past success as a pageant winner and now in her career as an adult directing pageants, Will wonders- Is authenticity to be sought on the basis of external beauty and appearances only? Is there a place for a heavy girl in the skinny world of her mother? Will a person be appreciated for their character qualities? Given her size, is there anyone who will take the time to find out before dismissing Will on the basis of her weight? Can one be accepted for who they are, just as they are?

These are all good questions. However, the answers come from a place of total inauthenticity: drag queens.

As Willowdean sorts through her recently deceased aunt and life-mentor’s things, she stumbles across a poster for Dolly Parton Night at a local establishment. What Willowdean does not know is that it’s a road house/biker bar and the Dollys are drag queens.

drag

Will is given admittance when it’s learned that she is the niece of the deceased aunt, who was beloved and well-known for her accepting and encouraging ways among the ‘ladies’. Apparently Aunt Lucy hung out there a lot.

There, Will and her two friends who had also signed up to compete in the pageant, learned to accept themselves, learned stage moves including flounce and strut, and learned to be accepting of others, including men who dress as garish parodies of women. We in the audience are meant to learn and accept this, too.

With the transsexual movement, the homosexual agenda, and the insistence from the secular world that we accept “gender fluidity,” we are seeing increasing emphasis in mainstream movies on issues like this. There will be more and more drag queens in movies, I am sure. Move over RuPaul and Lady Gaga.

Ultimately, it wasn’t the mother who helped her daughter gain confidence and understanding about societal expectations and her own true self, it was a bunch of men who play-act at being women who performed this service. They were the ones in the movie being worldy warm and wise, taking these three girls under their wing and helping them along in life, not the mother, not the school teacher, not another family member, not any other authority figure in the girls’ lives. It was the drag queens offering haven, acceptance, and help.

It was men dressing as women, proving a woman’s authenticity. They, not Willowdean, ended up as the main vehicle pushing the boundaries of what society expects and will tolerate.

Of course, this is twisted.

What does the Bible have to say about drag queens? It does speak to the issue.

A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 22:5).

“This command was not as much about clothing as it was about guarding the sanctity of what it means to be a man or a woman.” (GotQuestions)

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, (1 Corinthians 6:9).

Is it wrong for men to be effeminate or for women to be masculine?

When God designed male and female (Genesis 5:2), He created more than mere physical differences. Men and women were created to fulfill differing roles in creation and in our relationship with the Lord. Rejecting those God-assigned roles is a symptom of rebellion against our Creator. … Perversion escalates when women and men abandon their God-ordained identities and try to adopt the characteristics of the opposite gender. Men become like women, and women become like men. The sin lies in our choices, not our natural differences.

The acting was superb and the message an important one. I was just sad that it had to be learned through a twisted version of womanliness.

The PG-13 was earned due to one f-word and two sh-words. There were two scenes of teenagers kissing.

On Netflix.

Posted in theology

Overheard in the Coffee Shop

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Picture the scene. It’s a festive coffee shop at your favorite spot. You’re there sitting and sipping and savoring being alone for a few minutes before heading home. You have your hand curled around a warm cup of coffee and you’re enjoying the hum and din of the throng, the twinkling lights, and the strong beverage warming its way down to the bottom of your toes.

As you settle and your body relaxes and your mind clears, you begin to pick up snippets of conversation around you. The guys over there mention the Super Bowl. The teen at the table by the window is on her phone. And next to you there’s a table of four women, laughing and talking rapidly, as women do. They have scarves artfully arranged on their necks, slim fingers play with their mugs, dancing along the rim, and a couple of them twiddle their shiny new wedding rings. They laugh full body, open mouth, showing all their teeth. They are relaxed with each other, friends for a long time, even if some of them are newly married. They’re young.

They’re talking about boyfriends and husbands. As you smile to yourself and glance away, you hear one of the young women with a new looking ring on her finger say this:

“I always do what pleases him.”

The other women still, and look at her mouths agape. You don’t know what preceded this half sentence, but clearly the other three women are startled. One of them furrows her brow, and suddenly the entire room seems to quiet, the table in the middle of the coffee shop becomes and island, though the rest of the customers don’t seem to notice. You do, though.

“Laura!” exclaims one of the women loudly. “You can’t mean that!” The lady by her side chimes in, “You’ve never been a doormat!”

Blushing and looking down, ‘Laura’ says, “Well…I do nothing on my own authority, but only what I’ve heard from him. He is the authority in our home.”

The conversation now twists on a dime, pivoting on her words, and suddenly there is a gang of three against a lone woman of one. They argue and fuss and exclaim, insisting that marriage is 50-50, that she is her own woman, that women’s liberation has come a long way, baby, and all that. The relaxed atmosphere at that table is gone, and an adversarial one has swept in. The tide is against the woman they called Laura.

You decide it’s time to go, sadly and creakily arising from the table. You leave the din behind as the door swings shut behind you, shaking your head, pondering the lives of the young, which to you was so long ago.

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What the imaginary woman in the hypothetical scene was talking about was submission. It’s a dirty word these days, and by these days I mean since about 1966 when the second wave of women’s liberation, or the feminist movement, came to the fore. The S-word. Today it’s a synonym for doormat, mouse, enslavement, even.

But submission is simply a yielding to a higher authority. Men and women do it every day in other spheres. We yield to the Boss, the Lieutenant, the President of the Company. We yield to the Officer, to the Judge, to the Guard. We yield to the velvet rope, to the law, to the policy. We para-professionals yield to the teacher, the teacher to the assistant principal, the assistant principal to the principal, the principal to the superintendent, and the superintendent to the school board. Hierarchy exists, and women submit to their place within it every day.

It’s the notion of female submission in the home that galls. It galls the unsaved to the degree that they are willing to march, yell, overthrow in aggressive and passive-aggressive ways. It even galls the new Christian, perhaps raised in a storm tossed bowl of feminism, waves upon waves nearly choking and drowning them but the struggle to stay afloat in it remains after conversion, hopefully for only a short while.

It is IN us to rebel. Genesis 3:1-7 shows it and Genesis 3:15 declares it:

To the woman he said, I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.

John MacArthur explains it this way

Just as the woman and her seed will engage in a war with the serpent, i.e. Satan and his seed, (v 15), because of sin and the curse, the man and the woman will face struggles in their own relationship. Sin has turned the harmonious system of God-ordained roles into  distasteful struggles of self-will. Lifelong companions, husbands and wives, will need God’s help in getting along as a result. ~MacArthur Study Bible, Gen 3:15

Our marriages are patterned after the relationship Jesus had with His Father. Jesus emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men, as Philippians 2:7 says.

We submit every day to everyone else, except when it comes to the husband. Then, we rebel against the thought of submitting to him. Yet the Bible says,

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. (Ephesians 5:22-24).

That’s the pattern. Oh, and the woman in the hypothetical coffee shop that said the provoking words…’for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him’? That was from John 8:29b, and it’s what Jesus said that HE does.

And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.

It seems OK when we read that same phrase in the Bible, that Jesus only does what pleases the Father. If we put those words into a woman’s mouth, though, it seems incendiary. But that’s only because we might have lost the awe that Jesus chose to remain submissive to His Father.

He as God-the-Son in the Trinity emptied Himself and was submissive to His Father in all things. God in the form of Jesus is submissive! Jesus was not a doormat. Of course Jesus while in His incarnation on earth had his own thoughts, ideas, opinions. For example, in the Garden He shared those in prayer with God, ‘please take this cup from me’ but followed that plea with ‘thy will be done’. So in all things He submitted his own will by placing the Father’s first.

If it is good enough for our King/Savior/God-the-Son, it is good enough for us in our relationship with our husbands. We have thoughts, ideas, opinions, and our husbands are our partner, and in safety we shae them. But ultimately he is our authority in the home and out goal should be to do all things that are pleasing to him. In the end, this pleases Him.

Posted in theology

How does seeking direct revelation destroy your current obedience?

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Do you believe that the Lord still speaks? That He has a fresh word? That you can receive individual directions for specific circumstances in your life? Get career advice, parenting advice, life advice, by becoming still and waiting for impressions, thoughts, impulses, and urges?

A lot of people believe these things. There’s an entire cottage industry within Christian publishing telling us how to hear the whispers, voices, and mental impressions that you, too, can receive from God. There are additional books and guides telling you how to interpret them. Why wouldn’t you believe this, if entire publishing houses are promoting it? Why dismiss this idea if local pastors are teaching from these studies or telling you to listen for God? Or telling you they have heard from God themselves, as many claim?

Whoa. Hold on. Take a breath.

If God is still speaking then what He says is authoritative. It’s applicable to all of us. We would need to add blank pages to the end of our Bibles to write down these additional words.

It would render Hebrews 1:1-2 moot. It would render Revelation 22:18-19 void.

People try to refute this truth by saying, “Don’t put God in a box! He spoke to the prophets and the apostles and He can speak to us!” He can, but that is not how He promised to operate. I refer again to Hebrews 1:1-2 and Revelation 22.

They say, ‘But…but…God is always speaking! He never stops because He is the same yesterday and today and forever!” In one way, that’s true. He always speaks through His general revelation in creation (Romans 1:19-20) and that never stops. But as for specific revelation, as in speaking to the Prophets and Apostles, that did stop. Overall, through the 4000 years it took the Bible canon to be completed, it’s unusual. In fact, it was the exception and not the norm.

Lastly, for 400 years God did not speak audibly, to anyone. He said not a word between the close of His message to Malachi and the advent of Jesus through His forerunner prophet, John the Baptist. Silence. There was no angel, no prophet, no voice, no fire, no smoke. Nothing but silence.

So, God obviously operates in different ways. He always has. We know the Bible is sufficient for all our needs. (2 Peter 1:3; 2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible must be sufficient.

But I’m writing about a different reason to cling to the already-delivered word and not to seek a fresh word through an impression, impulse, or whisper.

Obedience.

Expecting or desiring future revelation destroys current obedience.

People who sit around waiting for personal directions or individually crafted guidance are actually planning to be disobedient.

These people do not believe the Bible is authoritative, because it is not final.

For example, if one accepts additional revelation, then one can more easily think, ‘I won’t follow THIS command, because there could be another command later (that I like better).’

If one is not obedient to study the word as it is now, including submitting to the verses which show the canon is closed, then why would one be obedient to a personally delivered word? Because it satisfies the flesh.

When you read of whispers and direct revelations, it’s usually along the lines of ‘You’re great.’ ‘You’re cherished’. ‘I have a great career in store for you.’ Did you ever hear of someone saying they received a direct revelation that announced ‘You wretch, mortify your depraved flesh immediately!’ Or, ‘Your sin of adultery must end!’ No.

Imagine receiving the word Isaiah received when he got his call from God in chapter 6. After Isaiah listened to the direct revelation, he asked of God how long this ministry will go on? Yahweh replied:

Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, Houses are without people, And the land is utterly desolate, (Isaiah 6:11).

Wow, quite the downer. This is quite a different revelation than, for example, Joanna Gaines’ supposed revelation, who said she “heard God say very clearly, ‘Joanna, if you trust me with your dreams I will take Magnolia further than you can ever dream.'”

In fact, what was happening was that Joanna was unwilling to obey the already given biblical precepts for motherhood (staying at home raising kids) until she received a ‘direct revelation’ affirming that her inner desire to be a career woman would eventually be fulfilled. ‘God’ assured her that this will happen, so then she obeyed. This is a prime example of which I speak.

Jonathan Edwards said of personal visions and revelations: [emphasis mine]

XI. It is no sign that affections are right, or that they are wrong, that they make persons that have them exceeding confident that what they experience is divine, and that they are in a good estate.

Those that have had visions and impulses about other things, it has generally been to reveal such things as they are desirous and fond of... Neither is it any wonder, that when they have such a supposed revelation of their good estate, it raises in them the highest degree of confidence of it.

It is found by abundant experience, that those who are led away by impulses and imagined revelations, are extremely confident: they suppose that the great Jehovah has declared these and those things to them; and having his immediate testimony, a strong confidence is the highest virtue. Hence they are bold to say, I know this or that–I know certainly–I am as sure as that I have a being, and the like; and they despise all argument and inquiry in the case.

And above all things else, it is easy to be accounted for, that impressions and impulses about that which is so pleasing, so suiting their self-love and pride, as their being the dear children of God, distinguished from most in the world in his favor, should make them strongly confident; especially when with their impulses and revelations they have high affections, which they take to be the most eminent exercises of grace. Jonathan Edwards Religious Affections, part 2

Obey the word as it is given. Isn’t it enough? Won’t it take a lifetime and an eternity to plumb its depths? Ladies please don’t seek further words. His word is sufficient, authoritative, and final.

obedience

Posted in theology

Is Temptation a Sin?

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Yesterday at my personal blog I’d posted an essay explaining Why I Will Never Watch ABC’s ‘The Good Doctor’ Again.

In the November 26th episode called “Empathy” a character who had constant thoughts and sexual desires for children was featured. He hated his own desires and sought to rid himself of them, via medicines, mutilations, and therapies. He prided himself on never having acted on his desires, because he knew they were depraved. The build-up in the show, apparently, was to develop empathy for the ‘in thoughts only’ pedophile because of the extreme lengths he went to in order for him to make sure his desires remained unfulfilled.

This is called the “virtuous pedophile.” The title is an actual title, based on a growing internet support group of people who acknowledge their depraved desires but do not act on them. Their restraint is supposed to be virtuous.

Someone commented in reply to my essay that “To be tempted to something is not a sin. I have no desire to normalize or justify pedophilia if that is what the show is doing, but if it deals with an individual tempted but resisting that temptation I’m not sure that would be wrong.”

Let’s explore that a bit here on this blog. I appreciated the nuance and grace in the comment. I thought about it for a while. In the end, I’d replied that temptation itself is not a sin, else Jesus, when he was tempted in the desert, would be sinning just for having experienced a temptation. So, I agree temptation is not a sin. What is a sin is how we respond to it. Responding to temptation is not solely the act, but also the entertainment of those thoughts. In His temptation, Jesus resisted sin by refusing even to entertain the thought and refuted satan by immediately referring to His Father’s word.  More here.

That said, the show I’d reviewed was not about temptation. It was about the normalizing pedophilia by calling those who have the desires but who don’t act on them, virtuous. It was about the manipulative forcing of an empathetic reaction to someone who has admitted many desires for children in the sexual sense. The show made a great deal about how much the man was consumed by lust for children. It, apparently did not make much if his efforts to rid himself of the thoughts, only restraining himself from the action.

John MacArthur puts the issue to a concise point when he says (of homosexuality)

No matter how much you desire to be compassionate to the homosexual, your first sympathies belong to the Lord and to the exaltation of His righteousness.

So how should we respond to various desires we have in the flesh? And remember, not all desires are equal. Heterosexual desire is normal, but when it turns to lust for another woman it’s a sin. Yet, homosexual desire is always depraved, because it is expressly forbidden in scripture. As noted in the GotQuestions essay above and as I’d said in my essay,

Lust, for example, is sin even though it may never be acted upon (Matthew 5:28). Covetousness, pride, greed, and envy are all sins of the heart; even though they may not be apparent to anyone else, they are still sin (Romans 1:29; Mark 7:21-22). When we give in to the temptation to entertain such thoughts, they take root in our hearts and defile us (Matthew 15:18–19). emphasis mine

Romans 1:26 calls homosexual desire a “degrading passion.” Ergo pedophilia too. JMac again-

It is a lust that destroys the physical body, ruins relationships, and brings perpetual suffering to the soul—and its ultimate end is death (Romans 7:5).

The Good Doctor did get one thing right. In the end, the character committed suicide. Degrading passions lead to death. The Gospel is the only way to overcome degrading passions, including pedophilia. Striving to live a righteous life, denying our biblically forbidden passions and lusts, this is what is pleasing to God.

————————————————–
Further resources

Is Same-Sex Attraction a Sin? Answers in Genesis

The gospel offers more than sin management; it offers present transformation of our desires and eternal joy (Philippians 2:13). God welcomes strugglers who regard His glory over their own lust, and He arms them to fight joyfully against enslaving temptation inherited from Adam.

Posted in potpourri, theology

Prata Potpourri: Christmas, depicting Jesus in art, music, old Movietone reels

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Time for another edition of Prata Potpourri, the ever popular phrase made famous by the game show Jeopardy! host, wherein I put forth various and sundry links on a variety of topics. I like using the words potpourri and sundry in the same essay.

I’m a public school teacher’s aide and so I live by the school calendar. Hard to believe we are at the mid point, with second quarter report cards to be issued this week. Our school district gives us a two-week break around Christmas, with our return a day or two after New Year’s.

By this time of year we really look forward to an extended time off. No one knows the tired you get with managing hundreds of kids a week before Christmas, never mind keeping track of the Elf on the Shelf, admiring their blinking reindeer antlers and Santa hats, scraping half eaten sticky candy canes off the desks, (or out of their pockets) and trying to teach about adjectives and three digit subtraction amidst it all. There’s no tired like teacher tired, and there’s no teacher tired like a few days out from Christmas Break!

For my break, I’ve got some books lined up to read, upcoming naps to take, Netflix binges on Fellowship of the Ring and Blue Bloods, and friends to spend the holiday with. It’s all good. For your consideration here are a few sites with content you might find interesting. Enjoy!

~~~~~~~Christmas~~~~~~~

Here is Allen Nelson IV with A Christmas Gift for You, a reflection on the promise of Christmas.

Josh Buice on some thoughts regarding the prophecy of Jesus in his essay, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus. We sang the hymn Come Thou Long Expected Jesus in church yesterday. It’s a beautiful song.

Elizabeth Barnes goes on a ‘Holiday House Tour- a Giant Fancy Christmas‘ and if you know Elizabeth Barnes, this will be funny

~~~~~~~Social Media~~~~~~~

Social media can be aggravating but it is also here to stay and a mechanism to get the Gospel and its truths out widely. Ligon Duncan outlines his social media strategy and it’s a helpful list.

Another list offering ways on How to be a smarter Christian with social media

From 2010, a useful look back at when social media came to the fore to aid us in Understanding social media

~~~~~~~Art~~~~~~~

I love art, and one particular piece I enjoy at this time of year is the piece by Gari Melchers, The Nativity. I wrote about it several times in past years, and for me, it is a powerful piece.

Michelle Lesley asks, Is it irreverent or disobedient to depict Jesus in nativity scenes?

For a longer exploration of art, Christianity, and reverence, here are a few links-

Modern Art and the Death of a Culture, by H. R. Rookmaaker and a review of this book by the gang at Discerning Reader

Artist and video animator Christ Powers has goals with his visual media,

Animations and pictures are the primary way we do this. The visual media are an uniquely effective tool the Lord has given us for communication, especially in the 21st century’s image-laden culture. My goal is to use these visual media as a way to pierce the heart and to haunt the mind with scripturally-informed imagery of Christ.

Powers adds this disclaimer to his videos and website fullofeyes.com. He’s thought long and hard about it and decided in the end to continue making the images and add the disclaimer.

Art and the Bible is a classic on the topic by Francis Schaeffer & MichaelCard.

And another good one on the topic, both these books are short, btw-
Art for God’s Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts, by Philip Graham Ryken

~~~~~~~Music~~~~~~~

Dallas Holm, songwriter, on the genesis of his song Lord, I’m Waiting. It’s thoughtful.

Daniel Smith writes about Timeless Truth in an Ancient Hymn, “Hail, Gladdening Light.” It’s unclear how old this hymn exactly is, since our earliest references to it in the 4th century refer to its antiquity, but we do know that it was relatively widespread throughout the early church in its first few centuries.

Speaking of Nobody Knows, here is a book with that title, about a forgotten musician, Harry T. Burleigh. Singer and Arranger of Negro Spirituals, Burleigh made an enormous impact to American song, yet few people know of him now. Hopefully this book will bring his name back to light.
Nobody Knows: The Forgotten Story of One of the Most Influential Figures in American Music, by Craig von Buseck

~~~~~~~Women~~~~~~~

Jess Pickowitz writes of Princess Charming, from her series Portraits of Superstition, and says, “As I share these verses, I want you to think on how much stock you are genuinely putting into various types of “lucky charms” or idols in your life. Maybe none. Maybe just a little. Think on what it is in which you are putting your faith and trust.”

Ayanna Thomas bangs the drum reminding us that while devotionals and Bible studies can be worthwhile, You don’t need another Bible study. Study the Bible on your own this year, see how it goes!

Sharon Lareau both reviews Tim Keller’s book Prayer and teaches how to be discerning when choosing a book, which is always helpful. Here is her introduction and here is the stand-alone page with the Keller book review

~~~~~~~Fun~~~~~~~

Our favorite nannies, in fiction and in film, from the always lush UK website The Country Life

Inspired by art, physics, math, light, and technology, the incredible art installations of HYBYCOZO have been an absolute sensation since they first went viral after the 2016 Burning Man Festival. By laser cutting intricate patterns into large polyhedrons, artists Yelena Filipchuk and Serge Beaulieu have created a striking visual identity through their collaboration. Over the past several years, their work has appeared across the globe—in civic installations in Singapore and Dubai to exhibitions at the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery.

 Check out the interview with the artists!

Archive of Motion Pictures has this clip (among many thousands of others) of Chelyuskin crewmen rescus in dramatic scenes. Filmed in 1934. Description

Various scenes from the Soviet expedition rescued in the arctic, including a seaplane landing, shots of the crew, the SS Chelyuskin, sleds and dogs in the snow, sea ice, a man with a movie camera, and of the Russian script. Edited Fox Movietone News story, “First Pictures of Soviet Expedition Rescued in Arctic.” Includes voiceover describing the scenes.

Enjoy your week!

Posted in theology, word of the week

Word of the Week: Fruit of the Spirit, Gentleness

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Warren Wiersbe notes the triple triad within the verse. The first three characteristics of the fruit are love, joy, and peace. Those reflect the Godward aspect of Christian life.

The next three are patience, kindness, goodness; characteristics reflecting the manward aspect of Christian life.

Faithfulness, gentleness, self-control are aspects reflecting the selfward part of the Christian life. Below, Wiersbe’s longer explanation:

When a person lives in the sphere of love, then he experiences joy—that inward peace and sufficiency that is not affected by outward circumstances. (A case in point is Paul’s experience recorded in Phil. 4:10–20.) This “holy optimism” keeps him going in spite of difficulties. Love and joy together produce peace, “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). These first three qualities express the Godward aspect of the Christian life.

The next three express the manward aspect of the Christian life: long-suffering (courageous endurance without quitting), gentleness (kindness), and goodness (love in action). The Christian who is long-suffering will not avenge himself or wish difficulties on those who oppose him. He will be kind and gentle, even with the most offensive, and will sow goodness where others sow evil. Human nature can never do this on its own; only the Holy Spirit can.

The final three qualities are selfward: faith (faithfulness, dependability); meekness (the right use of power and authority, power under control); and temperance (self-control). Meekness is not weakness. Jesus said, “I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29), and Moses was “very meek” (Num. 12:3); yet no one could accuse either of them of being weak. The meek Christian does not throw his weight around or assert himself. Just as wisdom is the right use of knowledge, so meekness is the right use of authority and power. The Bible Exposition Commentary, Warren Wiersbe

The word gentleness as it is used in the verse means ‘derived from the root pra-, emphasizing the divine origin of meekness (“gentle strength”) which expresses power with reserve and gentleness.’

Gentleness, ladies, does not mean doormat, but restrained power combined with kindness, peace, and the other characteristics of the fruit. That’s why the fruit of the Spirit is one fruit displaying many aspects, not many fruits.

Wiersbe again with the reason the Spirit grows the fruit in us:

We must remember that this fruit is produced to be eaten, not to be admired and put on display. People around us are starving for love, joy, peace, and all the other graces of the Spirit. When they find them in our lives, they know that we have something they lack. We do not bear fruit for our own consumption; we bear fruit that others might be fed and helped, and that Christ might be glorified. The flesh may manufacture “results” that bring praise to us, but the flesh cannot bear fruit that brings glory to God. It takes patience, an atmosphere of the Spirit, walking in the light, the seed of the Word of God, and a sincere desire to honor Christ.

gentleness