Song of the Drunkards

JESUS FACED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF OPPOSITION FOR HIS HARD WORDS AND UNFLINCHING DEVOTION TO YAHWEH. NO SURPRISE THEN IF WE FIND OUR NAME FESTOONED IN BARROOM BALLADS (CF. PS 69:12).

Sexual Sin

March 1, 2010 in Bible - OT - Proverbs, Ecclesiology, Meditations

Proverbs 7:7 (NKJV)
7 And I saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding,

For a number of weeks we have considered the positive lessons which young men teach us as the people of God. Unfortunately, there are also negative lessons they teach as Solomon remarks today. And one of these is their propensity to sexual sin.

Young men frequently imagine that having sex makes them all grown up. Having sex is the measure of a man. Interestingly enough, however, Solomon teaches us that the young man who falls into sexual sin is not doing the leading, he is being led. Far from being manly, he is being effeminate. Solomon remarks later in the chapter that “he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks.” As Solomon remarks in our verse, a young man who falls into sexual sin is “devoid of understanding.” He is the consummate fool.

So, young men, beware sexual temptation. There was a day in American culture when it was more difficult to convince a woman to have sex outside the confines of marriage. That day is gone. Throughout your life, particularly if you go off to college, you will find that there are plenty of young women not just willing but urging you to come along with them. Understand Solomon’s warning. The offer they are making may look good up front – she’s attractive, your hormones are engaged, sex is a good and great thing – but the end is death, shame, destruction. Don’t be like an ox going off to the slaughter.

But sexual temptation comes in more shapes than the three dimensional one. Pornography is a killer and it is more easily accessible today than ever before in history. The same women who are willing to seduce you in person, are more than willing to sell themselves in magazines and on the internet. Flee from it. Pornography is the way of death – it will destroy your initiative, undermine your marriages, and, most importantly, estrange you from your Maker and Redeemer. If you need help, get help. Do not be a young man lacking sense.

As we consider the particular temptation that young men face, the exhortation comes to all of us. Beware sexual sin. It is the path to destruction and death. Though Satan may make it look attractive up front, be assured its end is in death and destruction.

Reminded of our propensity to take the good gifts of God like sex and turn them into instruments for our own death, let us kneel and seek His forgiveness.

The Sheerest Quixotism

March 1, 2010 in Evangelism, Postmillennialism

“Apart from the power and pormise of God, the preaching of such a religion as Christianity, to such a population as that of paganism, is the sheerest Quixotism. It crosses all the inclinations, and condemns all the pleasures of guilty man. The preaching of the Gospel finds its justification, its wisdom, and its triumph, only in the attitude and relation which the infinite and almighty God sustains to it. It is His religion, and therefore it must ultimately become a universal religion.”

W. G. T. Shedd in David Chilton, Days of Vengeance, p. 497.

Being Passionate

February 22, 2010 in Bible - OT - Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiology, Meditations

Ecclesiastes 11:9 (NKJV)
9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.

For some weeks now we have been considering the lessons which young men as part of the body of Christ teach us. Solomon reminds us today that young men are full of energy, vision, passion, commitment, goals, dreams and aspirations. And so he exhorts young men to thank God for this energy and enthusiasm. “Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth.”

The desires to conquer the world, to chart unknown territory, to discover new things – these are good and noble. The reckless abandon with which young men can press ahead and pursue dreams and visions, is a lesson which young men have to teach us as the people of God. Passion is a good thing. So Solomon urges young men to follow these desires. “Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes.” Take advantage of the passion which God has given you – dream lofty dreams, pursue outrageous goals.

Alongside these encouragements, Solomon delivers one reminder to young men in the midst of your passion: be tenacious in holding on to what is good and right. Too many young men allow their passions to direct them in ways that despise truth, goodness, and beauty. Their passions drive them to seek one more sexual encounter, one more drug enduced euphoria, one more victory at the gaming table. Notice what Solomon says, “But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.” One day you will give an account for the choices you have made. One day you will answer to God for the way in which your passions have driven you. One day you will no longer be young.

In other words, Solomon is counseling you young men, that your passion can be put to either good use or evil use. If your passion drives you to honor the Living God and uphold His law, then rejoice for you are being precisely the type of young man He wants you to be. If, however, your passion is driving you to despise or ignore God and His statues, then you are in the clutches of the Evil One. Far from being a young man, you are nothing more than Satan’s tool. Too many young men have assumed that just because they feel like doing something, because they are passionate about it, therefore it must be right. Solomon teaches you otherwise. Passion is good – but it must be driven to achieving that which is honorable in the sight of God. Therefore your passion must be regulated by the Word of God.

What then do we as the people of God learn from young men today? Two things. First, the glory of passion. I fear that many of us have forgotten what it is to be passionate. John wrote to the church of Ephesus, “But this I have against you, that you have left your first love.” Have you forgotten what it is to be passionate? Then look at a young man and remember again and imitate him. Second, the danger of passion. We too must ask ourselves, “Have our passions driven us to evil?” Then we too must look at the Word of God and remember what it is we are to be truly passionate about.

Reminded that we have failed to learn the lesson of passion from the young men in our midst, let us kneel and confess our sin to God.