Sluice Box Adventures
Believing Bible Study in the 21st century
For Women &
Girls
Proverbs 31
King James Bible
Daughters of Faith
An Internet Ministry For Encouragement Of Christian Girls and Ladies Around the World.
Daughters
of Faith
January / February Issue 2006
"O, The Deep Deep Love of Jesus!"
Miss Amanda Sedler, Columnist
Miss Deborah Brauer, Columnist
Miss Hannah Brown, Columnist
Miss Rebekah Wark, Columnist
Miss Gina Allison, Columnist
Mrs. Ruby Wagenschutz, Columnist
Mrs. Kristina Jossund, Columnist
Our Part-Time Staff:
Mrs. Dawn Wagenschutz, Columnist
Mrs. Johanna Spangenberg, Columnist
Ev. Benjamin Jossund, Columnist
You all must be wondering why we have a black background and bright red letters. It looks kind of scary, doesn't it? I have chosen these colors because we will be dealing with some very serious things in this issue. Some things may not be quite appropriate for younger girls, so moms, please use your own discretion!
I am sure you will think, "Why on earth did they do an issue about these topics?" when you see what each is. But let me explain. I know that Daughters of Faith is a Christian paper, with Christian subscribers and Christian columnists, however...Daughters of Faith has human subscribers and human columnists. Each of us that are truly saved do have Jesus Christ within us, but we are not immune to sin; to vices. We are covered by the blood, but we still have to war with our Flesh. The things dealt with in this issue, i.e. abortion, alcoholism, etc., are all issues that face even Christians! Maybe you do not personally struggle with alcoholism, but you may know someone who does. You may have never had an abortion, but you have a friend who has! Each of us comes up against these things at some point in time. Let us see what the Lord has to say about these issues and realize the seriousness of sin.
If you do not agree with the views expressed in this issue, please feel free to write to me and share what you think. Even though we may not agree, we can be civil and talk about our differences and share our different views. However, please...if you write to disagree with something said in this paper, have Scripture ready to back your opinion. I don't want to have an intellectual discussion about something and try to reason it out. I want to be able to simply look to God's Word and see the truth. If we are truely in error and conflict with the Word of God, we will appologize. If not, please be Christian enough to realize that as well and back down. None of us are perfect, there will be disagreements at times, but hopefully we can see past those disagreements and possibly even learn from each other.
Let's get started...
For Him & Him Alone,
Laura Beth Wagenschutz
Editor-in-Chief
Proverb 16:33 & Mark 11:22
Welcome, Girls to our little society! We are so glad to have you with us...
Hopefully we will be able to be a blessing and an encouragment to each of you at some point in time.
Exodus 20:13
By: Miss Deborah Brauer
Murder: The unlawful killing of one human by another, especially with premeditated malice. –dictionary.com
Despite the wide-reaching range of the news media, and the high amount of crime committed in our world today, there are still events taking place that shock the majority of those who hear of them. One such event is the double murder of Michael and Cathryn Borden, who were killed by David Ludwig on the 13th of November, 2005.
I doubt there are many who are reading this article who have not heard of this case. For those who may not have heard, however, I’ll include some of the details. Kara Beth Borden, a fourteen year-old girl, met David Ludwig (who is eighteen years of age) at an activity for homeschoolers. They became friends, and then began to see each other secretly. Kara’s parents did not approve of the relationship, at least partly because of the age difference, and at one time even cut off Kara’s Internet access because of their concern. Kara continued to see David, despite her parents’ disapproval.
To make a long story shorter, the morning of November 13th, Mr. and Mrs. Borden caught Kara sneaking back into her room after sneaking out to spend some time with her boyfriend. They told Kara to tell David to come and talk with them, she did. David came to the house, spoke with the Borden parents for close to an hour, at the close of the conversation, Mr. Borden told David that he was not allowed to see Kara anymore. I’m sure you all know what happened next. David Ludwig pulled out a firearm he’d concealed in his clothing, and shot both parents, fatally. Ludwig then drove away, with Kara. They were stopped the next day, on the 14th, and Ludwig was arrested and taken into custody. By this time, the news had broken, and many in the world were watching anxiously, to see what would happen next.
Not that this case is anything new, there have been others like it, such as the case of Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate. What surprised many about the Borden-Ludwig case, is the appearance of the people involved before the murders took place. Both the Borden and Ludwig families claimed to be Christian, both families homeschooled their children. Both teenagers attended church services and activities on a fairly regular basis. Described as someone who was “outgoing and into music”, David was known to read his Bible during breaks at his workplace. Kara’s (now widely read) website listed her interests as: “ JESUS!! church, my youth group, other youth groups, family, friends, my doggie, KIDS, babysitting, soccer, bball, football, talking on the phone, food, eating, taking pictures, cooking, guitar, the beach, camp, taking walks, riding my bike, just being outside, having partys OH YEAH BABY,going to partys, making new friends, helping out, music, DDR!! CANDY PUSHPOPS. shopping, hugging”
Certainly some of these interests are not listed the way most girls in independent Baptist Churches would list them, but they are hardly listed in a way that would make you think of this girl as part of anything sinister. Kara posted this on her website over five months ago: “Psalm 28… I would type it out..but I think you guys can read it for yourself...when I read it I broke out in tears...God is truely and wonderful amazing..Hey to everyone if you guys could pray for me..That would be very cool!! Thank you all for your prayers already..And Im praying for you all too!! I love you all! I would just like to say thanks for the support yesterday my brothers and sisters in christ! I love you all! AND THANK YOU MY AMAZING LORD!!! I LOVE YOU SOO MUCH!!But really I have to give all the thanks to my Lord!!!!!SO THANK YOU MY LORD!!
Your Sister In Christ
Kara”
Kara herself was described as “bubbly”, and both she and David Ludwig were described as “good kids”.
A question that has been in many minds is, Why did he [Ludwig] do it? Also, What went wrong in the lives of those teenagers? How could two outwardly “good” teenagers end up in such a nightmare? David Ludwig knew what God’s Word teaches regarding murder. Yet, the fact that this young man had been taught what was right and what was wrong did not stop him from committing what we would consider one of the worst crimes a human being can commit.
How did this young man become so warped that he could take the lives of two innocent people, just because he couldn’t have what he wanted? More importantly, what are we doing in our own lives to make sure that we never allow ourselves to become warped in that way. “But wait a minute!” you may be thinking, “I’d never kill someone!” I didn’t say you would, but think about this for a moment, do you honestly think that killers are completely normal people, who one day wake up and suddenly think: “Oh, I think today I’ll go kill someone.”
No, murder does not begin with the act, but begins in the heart. Mark 7:21-23 tells us “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, and evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: Al these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (emphasis added) Although we will probably never murder anyone, we, yes, even as children of God, can have some of the same attitudes in our heart, that, unchecked, have resulted in murder.
What are some attitudes that are important to keep in check regarding this area of sin? Well, the Bible mentions four specific attitudes which we should be very careful to keep in check in our hearts and lives. The first attitude I’d like to look at is very common, but if let go without reserve, it can be deadly. This attitude is anger. Murderers are known to be angry people. The Bible says in Matthew 5:22 “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…” When we allow anger to have free reign in our lives, not only will our company be very unpleasant to those around us, but we may also end up doing things in our anger, which we will sorely regret later. Proverbs 29:22 says: “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.” Anger is such a poisonous attitude, that we are commanded to stay away from those who allow anger to control them. Proverbs 22:24-25 instructs us: “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.”
The second attitude for us to look at here is hatred. The Bible tells us in Leviticus 19:17: “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart…”Hatred is also a very, very dangerous attitude. In fact, the Bible tells us that someone who hates is a murderer inside, whether they have actually killed someone or not. 1 John 3:15 says: “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer…” Have you ever hated someone?
Many times people will allow themselves to be angry, and to let anger go unchecked in their lives. After this happens, the anger grows worse as time goes on and can easily make the transition from anger to hatred. Hatred is an emotion that can control a person. Many murders have been committed because of hatred that was allowed to grow. 1 John 3:15 goes on to say in the second part of the verse: “…and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” If you are allowing yourself to hate, and are unwilling to repent of that sin, maybe you need to take another look at your salvation, and see if you are really saved.
The third attitude I’d like to draw your attention to is the attitude of bitterness. Anger, hatred and bitterness all go together. Anger can harden into hatred, which, over time, will turn into bitterness. Bitterness is a poison, it destroys the life of the one who is bitter, and will hurt many people around that one. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;” Unfortunately, bitterness is an attitude that is common.
It is easy to allow bitterness to creep into our lives. Perhaps a friend said something to us that hurt our feelings, instead of forgiving her, or going to her to talk to her about it, we think about it, allow ourselves to be angry with her, and begin to think negative thoughts about her, her personality, appearance, anything that will make us feel better about ourselves. After this we become extremely sensitive to anything that she says, and begin to distance ourselves from her…sound familiar? That situation could easily become the source of a “root of bitterness” in our lives. We need to keep a right attitude towards others in our world, and to do that, we must read our Bibles and ask God to give us a mind like Christ’s.
I’ve taken up a lot of room already, but there is one more attitude I would like to discuss briefly, the attitude of jealousy. Was not envy the main cause of the first murder ever committed? Cain was jealous of God’s acceptance of Abel’s sacrifice, and that jealousy drove Cain to kill his brother. The Bible tells us that jealousy is even more dangerous than anger is, in Proverbs 27:4 “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?” As with the previous three attitudes, we have a responsibility to ask God to take this attitude away from us when it begins to manifest itself in our lives. Because we have a sin nature, we will be jealous sometimes. The main thing is to be sure that we know the dangers of these attitudes; and when we recognize them in our lives we need to confess them to God and ask Him to help us forsake them.
These four attitudes, I believe, are responsible for the majority of homicides we hear about. At the beginning of this article I asked the question, how could someone who was raised in a “Christian” home murder someone else? The fact is that we are all sinners. Any one of us is capable of committing terrible crimes. Satan is out there to destroy our lives, and the lives of as many people as he can. Even if we do not actually commit the act of murder, are we murderers in our hearts?
If we are not careful, Satan will use negative attitudes like anger, hatred, bitterness, and envy, to destroy us. I Peter 5: 8 says: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” We should check ourselves for these attitudes daily. If we are sober and vigilant, the Lord will help us to keep these attitudes in check, and we will not have to fear the result of them in our own lives. However, if we fail to check these attitudes as they appear in our lives (and believe me, they will appear) the Bible tells us what the result will be. James 1:15 says: “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
Is Alcoholism a Disease?
1. If it is a disease, it is the only disease that is contracted by an act of will.
2. It is the only disease that requires a license to propagate it.
3. It is the only disease that is bottled and sold.
4. It is the only disease that requires outlets to spread it.
5. It is the only disease that produces a revenue for the government.
6. It is the only disease that provokes crime.
7. It is the only disease that is habit-forming.
8. It is the only disease that is spread by advertising.
9. It is the only disease for which we are fined for contracting.
10. It is the only disease without a germ or virus cause, and for which there is no human corrective medicine.
11. And last, but not least, it is the only disease that bars the patient from Heaven,
for no drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of God (except there is repentance...I Corinthians 6:9,10).
If alcoholism is a disease then it should be illegal to sell the germs by the bottle.
“83% of adults who drink had their first drink of alcohol before age 21.”
In 2003 the nationwide total for fatalities among 15-20 year olds was 6,409. 2, 283 of those were alcohol related. That’s 36%. Alcohol was once a silent killer that took years to slowly destroy the body. Not anymore. The silent killer has reached its wicked claws into the lives of teenagers and now has raised its voice for the entire world to hear.
“More than 10 million current drinkers in the United States are between the ages of 12-20.”
One of the greatest lies of alcoholics is that “I am hurting no one but myself.” Even young people are now using that line to justify their sin. Yet, in the four leading causes of death in young people ages 10 to 24 are car crashes, unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide. Alcohol is more often than not involved in all of them. In 1999, 21% of 15 to 20 year olds who were killed in car accidents were intoxicated when it happened. More than 1,700 college students in the U.S. are killed each year—about 4.65 a day—as a result of alcohol-related injuries. Every day, on average, 11,318 American youth try alcohol for the first time at the average age of 11 years for boys and 13 years for girls. On average American teens begin drinking regularly by the age of 15.
1. Alcohol and Teen Girls
There was a day and age when drinking among women was scarce, especially young women. In the 1960s about 7% of 10 to 14 year old girls used alcohol. But by the early 1990's, that figure had risen to 31%. Girls you have no idea what risks you are taking when you begin drinking. Listen to these statistics.
· Researchers estimate that alcohol use is implicated in one to two-thirds of sexual assault and acquaintance or "date" rape cases among teens and college students.
· One study of girls ages 14-21 with unplanned pregnancies found that one-third of the girls were drinking when they had sex and that nine out of ten hadn't even planned to have sex.
· Nearly 40 percent of high school boys said it is acceptable to force sex if a girl is stoned or drunk.
· Among 8th grade girls who drink heavily, 37 percent report attempting suicide – compared to 11 percent who do not drink.
Maybe you are thinking, “That would never happen to me.” Well, maybe those terrible things wouldn’t, but does that make it okay?
Let’s try this scenario. Let’s say I have a pet Black Mamba, one of the deadliest snakes in the world. I bring his cage to your house and ask you to reach your hand inside and touch the snake, would you do it? What if I told you he had just eaten and there is a chance he would be too full to bite, now would you? I highly doubt it. Why? Because only a fool would take the chance at getting bitten. Exactly! Drinking Alcohol is like reaching your hand into the tank of a poisonous snake. You might get away with it the first, second, and even third time. But one day, the snake may bite.
Girls, you may not even realize that your body does not process alcohol the same way a guy’s does putting you more at risk for an alcohol- induced comma or even death. Small amounts of alcohol are more intoxicating regardless of your size. Here are two physical reasons:
· Females have a smaller percentage of body fluid than males. When people drink, alcohol spreads into the water in their bodies. Because females have less body fluid to dilute the alcohol, they have higher amounts of alcohol in their blood than males have after drinking the same amounts of alcohol.
· An enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase that is important in metabolizing alcohol works differently in females than in males. In females, the enzyme is less active.
2. Alcohol and God
Did you know that God compares alcohol to a serpent? In Proverbs 23: 31-32 it says,
“Look not thou upon the wine when it is red,
when it giveth his color in the cup,
when it moveth itself aright.
At the last it biteth like a serpent,
and stingeth like an adder.”
Wine in the Bible often simply meant grape juice or the fruit of the vine, but at times it also stands for an alcoholic drink. The Hebrew word “tirosh” stands for fresh grape juice and is used about 38 times. The Hebrew word “yayin” is used 140 times in the Bible and is the general term for all grape beverages alcoholic or not. This was always diluted with water. The Hebrew word “shekar” occurs 23 times and it is the term for strong drink or unmixed wine. In the New Testament there were three words, “gleukos” “oinos”, “sikera,” which correspond directly to the Hebrew words according to Dr. Paul Dixon.
The statement “Moveth itself aright” refers to fermentation. This fermented grape juice becomes what the Bible calls strong drink or alcohol. Wine or grape juice is mentioned many times in the Bible and some try to use that to justify drinking today. Strong drink or alcohol is never spoken of in a positive light. In Proverbs 20: 1, God says, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Also in Proverbs 23: 29-30 God says, “Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babblings? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.” The mixed wine here refers to a potent mixture (strong drink) of wine and spices.
In Bible times, strong drink (the unmixed wine) was from 3% to 11% alcohol. Anyone who drank 9% to 11% was considered a barbarian. To get drunk, a person would drink as much as they could, allow the alcohol to seep into their blood, and then they would throw it all up, and then start all over again. It was a disgusting process. The diluted wine was at the least mixed 3 parts water to 1 part wine. The alcohol content would have been about 2.5% to 2.75%. It was often higher to 20 to 1. It was impossible to get drunk.
Today, wine has 9% to 11% alcohol. Brandy has 15% to 20%. Hard liquor has 40% to 50% (80 to 100 proof). Any thing alcoholic today has a much higher content than even strong drink in Bible times. If God condemned their “strong drink,” what do you think He feels about the alcohol these days? Do you think He changed His mind about this? I don’t think so!
3. Alcohol and Your Body
God says in I Corinthians 3:16-17, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” And also in I Corinthians 6:19-20, “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and are not your own? For ye were bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Alcohol destroys the body, YOUR BODY, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. In the Merck Manual of Medical Information I found list of the physical effects of prolonged alcohol use.
· Low folic acid levels causing Anemia and birth defects.
· Low iron levels causing Anemia as well.
· Low niacin levels causing Pellagra (skin damage diarrhea, depression)
· Esophagitis and cancer of the Esophagus
· Gastritis and ulcers in the stomach
· Inflammation (hepatitis), cirrhosis, and cancer of the liver
· Pancreatitis, low blood sugar levels, and cancer in the Pancreas
· Abnormal heartbeat and heart failure
· High blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and stroke
· Confusion, reduced coordination, poor short-term memory, and psychosis
· Deterioration of nerves in arms and legs that control movements
If you ask me, none of these things seem worth the price! Instead it sounds like high treason on the temple of God. Hopefully, this article has convinced you of the dangers of drinking, but if not I challenge you to speak with someone who was an alcoholic or who has or has had a loved one who is / was an alcoholic. You will find out that drinking is not a bunch of fun and games. It’s a deadly poison. The effects spread to everyone you care about, no one remains unscathed. Remember this quote,
A child who reaches age 21 without smoking, abusing alcohol or using drugs is virtually certain never to do so.
Joseph A. Califano, Jr., Chairman and President, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University
Sources:
http://www.marshall.k12.ky.us/safeschools/MONTHLYARTICLE.htm
http://www.focusas.com/Alcohol.html
http://www.madd.org/stats/1807
www.samhsa.gov.
www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=183 - The Believer and Alcohol by Pastor David L. Brown of the First Baptist Church in Oak Creek, WI
For the past four months I have had the joy and privilege of a little life growing inside of me – a little eternal soul with a beating heart and the desire to suck his thumb!! We have no idea yet as to whether it is a little boy or little girl, but we can hardly wait to know! Last night was the first time I clearly felt the baby move – light fluttering feelings for ten minutes straight before settling down to sleep. As I face the harsh elements of winter in the Northwoods I find myself thankful that this little person is tucked snuggly inside until he’s strong enough to handle it all. He’s wrapped up warmly by God’s protecting hand and close enough to hear my heartbeat and know that mommy loves him.
The wonder of it all – so tiny but so complete! To think that he already has all the information his body will ever need to take him through the developmental course of his life! All he mush have right now is a safe and healthy environment to grow in – and so God Almighty entrusted him to me. What a priceless charge! By God’s grace this baby will not only be a grown adult someday with a family, children, and life of his own – he is already an eternal soul that is known and beloved by his Creator.
In Psalm 139:13-17 we find a beautiful discourse by David on the preciousness of God’s thoughts towards mankind. He makes an interesting and profound point – that God already knew him and had written every single on of his body parts in His book before David was even conceived “…when as yet there was none of them.” David also paints the picture of the Creator covering him in his mother’s womb! What an incredibly beautiful portrait of the priority God places on the unborn baby. What wonder that before I was ever conceived my Lord knew absolutely everything about me – and He not only made me and my soul, but then stood watch over me when the time came for me to be conceived, developed, and then brought into the world. He already had a purpose and a plan for my individual life, and there has not been one moment that I have been out from under His watchful eye. We often find it amazing that when the angels announced the soon-to-be conception of Samson, John the Baptist, and Jesus, that they proceeded to lay out the course and purpose of their life – but why do we suppose it is to be different for any of the rest of us? God is well acquainted with the little details from the beginning – and each soul conceived has a special place in His heart and will.
There are those who would argue that it is their right to decide whether or not that little soul will ever see the light of day. On the plea of “personal rights” they would snuff out that young life and lay its dismembered body on the altar of “convenience.” In our society we would recoil at the idea of parents throwing a laughing, six month cherub into a burning mouth of some hideous idol or laying that baby on an altar to first stab it to death and then burn it. The story is told of a woman that went to her doctor, toting a healthy toddler in her arms, and asked him to abort her present pregnancy. Her reasoning was that she already had a beautiful child and a busy life, and had no desire for a second baby at this point in the game. The doctor pointed out that it would be far less risk to her and far more convenient for him to simply kill the child in her lap, then the one in the womb. The mother recoiled in horror at the idea, but wasn’t that exactly what she was asking him to do? In our society we call it barbaric to kill in cold blood a child that has lived outside the womb for any length of time. It is a crime. No, we are far more “civilized” then that – we have other methods. We start off by distancing ourselves further from the child we cannot see by calling it a fetus. Then we tell a mother that her body is her own and that this lump of tissue (that just happens to have a beating heart etc…) is invading her personal space and she has “the right” on whatever ground she chooses – birth defect, divorce, rape, unplanned pregnancy, dislike of children, career goals… - to violate the trust given her and rip that little one out of the safety of the womb by some hideous form of torture. That baby (for baby is what it is) can feel the burning acid that burns it alive or the severing of its perfectly formed limbs as it is sucked out. The most appalling part of it is that the very one on earth which was designed to protect, guard, and nurture that helpless, dependent life is the very one who signs such a cruel death sentence. How utterly un-natural – how barbaric!!! Where have we come to in our society that the defenseless no longer have a right or protector? Why is the result of a mother’s foolish choice to have sex when she ought not to, deny the right of life for one who has done nothing wrong? Why should the decision of parents to forsake their vows give them a right to kill the only lasting fruit of a love now in shambles? Why should the innocent victim of a rape be justified in turning around and committing the murder of the just-as-innocent result – how do two crimes make a right???? Why should proud, busy parents have the right to decide whether or not their child should live a special-needs life? God did not mess up – He has a purpose and beauty for the life of each soul formed. We suffer from the ugliness of sin and its affects – but how is this the baby’s fault? How can we, with our limited sight and understanding decide whether or not a baby is better off alive or dead? God is the Creator, if He gave life and sustains it then whoa be it to me judge otherwise. I’m glad He put a value on my life – can I expect Him to do any less for another?
I believe a mother has a choice – but it is before conception. For the unmarried the option is obvious and fool-proof – abstinence !! For the married she can choose some method of birth-control. If a woman makes a mistake and finds herself pregnant and unfit to be a mother (or the victim of a rape) she can always place that baby with loving people that have longed for a child but can’t have one of their own – it may be God’s answer to their prayer. If parents find themselves to be expecting a special needs baby they can experience what the love of Christ is all about by laying aside their own pride or ambitions, and loving that little one and knowing the joy that comes from the simple love of one who will always be dependent on them. There are always choices that protect life – so I am not anti-choice - I am anti-murder.
For those that are too selfish or “liberated” to consider anything other than what they want – right or wrong – God has His own way of dealing with them. Is it any surprise that as they destroy the life of another they eventually find their own life destroyed as well? There are women who have had one or multiple abortions before deciding they wanted to “keep one.” Their terminology magically changes from “fetus” to “baby” – they want a “baby” now and are distraught to find out that they may never be able to. Perhaps their uterus is too damaged to conceive. Perhaps they are high risk and end up going into premature labor. Before they would have chosen to “terminate an unwanted fetus” at this point in gestation, now they have medical staff working around the clock to “save their baby’s life.” Perhaps this isn’t the area they will feel the repercussions of their sin – perhaps it will be the emotional trauma and depression that haunts their sleep and quiet places the rest of their life. Perhaps it will be a major infection that leads to multiple health problems. Perhaps it will be the increased risk of breast cancer that will make them susceptible to the deadly disease and finish them off. I don’t know – I just know that God is the avenger and there is no escaping Him in this life or the next.
I am so grateful for the miracle of life and birth – what joy and blessing there is to be embraced. I can hardly wait to meet our little one in June. To cuddle him and kiss him and marvel at how fearfully and wonderfully he is made. Thank you Father for the preciousness of Your gift – may I be a faithful steward of the wonderful treasure You’ve given me!
My shining feet will never run
On early morning lawn:
My feet were crushed before they had
A chance to greet the dawn.
My fingers now will never stretch
To touch the winning tape;
My race was done before I learned
The smallest steps to take.
My growing height will never be
Recorded on the wall;
My growth was stopped when I was still
Unseen, and very small.
My lips and tongue will never taste
The good fruits of the earth;
For I myself was judged to be
A fruit of little worth.
My eyes will never scan the sky
For my high-flying kite;
For when still blind, destroyed were they
In the black womb of night.
I’ll never stand upon a hill
Spring’s winds in my hair,
Aborted winds of thought closed in
On motherhood’s despair.
I’ll never walk the shores of life
Or know the tides of time;
For I was coming but unloved,
And that my only crime.
Nameless am I, a grain of sand
One of the countless dead,
But the deed that made me ashen grey
Floats on seas of red.
No one can deny that we are living in perilous times. In these last days, born-again believers eagerly wait for Christ to return. To be effective servants while we wait, we should be aware of what goes on in the world, while making sure we are firmly grounded in the Word of God.
While I am willing, as requested, to endeavor to discuss divorce in this issue, I remind you that our authority in all things is God's Word. If we have need of explanations or answers, we should seek the counsel of a wise Man of God we know will "rightly divide the word of truth."
Statistics
I found a staggering amount of statistics concerning divorce, most of which I found to be heartbreaking. Below are just a few.
* Between 1970 and 1996, the number of divorced people quadrupled. Approximately 40% of all marriages ended in divorce. - U.S. Census Bureau Report
* One of every 5 adults has been divorced at least once. - 2001 Census Report, published in February 2005.
* Since 1970, the number of marriages has decreased nearly 30%, but the divorce rate has increased about 40%.
* Nearly 1.2 million American marriages ended in divorce by the courts in 1994, triple the 1960 figure.
* Approximately 75% of all divorced people have remarried - half of them within 3 years after a divorce.
* Couples are most susceptible to divorce in the early years of marriage; 1 of every 12 couples are likely to divorce after only 24 months.
* Those married at a very young age are more likely to divorce than those who wait until they are older to marry.
* Co-habitation before marriage does not improve chances for a stable marriage, but on to the contrary, co-habitation leads to a higher rate of divorce - 40% to 85% higher for those who lived together before marriage than those who waited until after marriage to have a physical relationship.
* Although some believe divorce is better for children than living with strife and dissension, a 1988 study by the National Center for Health showed that children in single-parent homes are more likely to drop out of school, become pregnant as teenagers, abuse drugs and get into trouble with the law.
* Nicholas Zill, a social scientist, as reported in the 5/27/96 edition of the Los Angeles Times, said that children of divorced parents, regardless of economic circumstances, are twice as likely as others to have behavioral and personality problems and need psychological help.
* Interfaith marriages lead to more divorces.
* The 2001 Barna Research Poll indicated born-again Christians end their marriages with about the same frequency as others.
* Baptists have higher rates of divorce than other groups and are far more likely to divorce than atheists or agnostics. The Barna Poll states that 29% of adult Baptists have been divorced.
* Some so-called Baptist leaders say that Christian expectations of marriage may be too high. (I reject this) They also blame the fact that Baptists encourage young people to marry rather than just live together. Some fundamental Baptist leaders say, rather, that the "born-again" label may be meaningless since many of those identified as such do not even believe that Jesus was totally sinless. This is heresy to those with true biblical faith.
* A 1980 report indicated at that time couples who attended church together regularly, prayed together regularly, and read the Bible together regularly had only a 1% rate of divorce.
* Pollster George Barna, in explaining that the large percentage of divorces may have changed young people, said: "One of the most striking findings in our recent survey among teenagers is that when we asked them to name their top goals for the future, one of the highest-rated goals was to get married and have the same spouse for their entire life."
I realize that all these statistics are mind-boggling, and may be skewed, depending on the questions, how they are worded, the people asked, and even the position and/or purose of the pollster; however, I included all the above to give a clear picture of how vast the divorce problem is.
The Word of God
Read Matthew 19:3-11 -- God's original purpose for marriage did not include divorce. When asked why Moses allowed a writing of divorcement, Jesus said because of the hardness of their hearts at that time. Verse 9 permits - does not command - divorce for fornication only, but says further that whoever marries the one put away commits adultery. Read Matthew 5:31-32
Read Deuteronomy 24:1-4 -- Moses' law of divorcement.
Read Mark 10:2-12 -- This is sometimes called Jesus' Law of Divorcement. "Putting away" is another term for "divorce." Jesus said if you put away a spouse then remarry, you commit adultery, and if one put away marries again, he or she commits adultery.
Luke 16:18 -- "Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery."
Read I Corinthians 1:1-16 -- Paul wrote in verses 10 and 11, "And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, let not the wife depart from her husband; But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband; and let not the husband put away his wife."
Conclusions
* God's original plan for marriage did not include divorce.
* God's plan for marriage today is the same as it was in the beginning.
* God hates divorce. (Malachi 2:16)
* Divorce is a big problem today.
* God has, in times past, permitted things which He did not command nor approve.
* Few divorced people ever consider remaining unmarried.
* Children always suffer in a divorse, regardless of how it is rationalized.
Christian young people need to seek God's will for their life concerning marriage, be willing to follow scriptural teachings concerning marriage, and to practice self-denial to remain pure and godly. Those who are already married must follow God's plan to make and keep their marriage pure and holy.
Bruce Lackey, in "Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible and Christianity," suggests that we should apply I Peter 4:7,8 to our attitude about divorce and those who have experienced it. The scripture says, "But the end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer, And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves; for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."
"Be sober." Think properly based on scripture, not on our feelings or sentiments, nor on public opinion, nor on the situations of our family and friends.
"Watch unto prayer." Pray regularly, seeking God's wisdom.
"Have fervent charity." Don't be judgemental of others. Be honest, but not self-righteous. Mr. Lackey says, "It is a mistake to form any kind of scriptural opinion which causes us to hate or snub people, to look down on them, or fail to love them."
This is not a sin which God cannot or will not forgive. People who have been divorced and remarried can still be used of God, although not in every capacity.
AGAIN, I REMIND YOU THAT GOD'S WORD IS OUR FINAL AUTHORITY. IF YOU NEED HELP, EXPLANATIONS OR ANSWERS, SEEK THE COUNSEL OF A WISE MAN OF GOD YOU KNOW WHO WILL RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF TRUTH!
Have you ever thought of this?
By what insane logic have men concluded that the death penalty for criminals is wrong,
but murder of the unborn child by abortion is right?
By Evangelist Ben Jossund
Witchcraft is defined by Webster’s as, “The practices of witches; sorcery; enchantments; intercourse with the devil.” If we were to rate evils in the world, witchcraft would be near the top of everyone’s list. It is a complete evil, never claiming to be in any way good. It revels in darkness and debauchery, and glories in the miseries of others. Witchcraft is anti-God. When God calls man to repent, witchcraft celebrates damnation. What God calls good, witchcraft curses, and what God curses, witchcraft promotes.
Notwithstanding this fact, there is a great infatuation with witchcraft in today’s young people. Some say it is nothing, just some spooky stories. Others dismiss it as a passing fad. Others scoff at the very notion of a real Devil. You must understand though, witchcraft is not just the creation of Hollywood. It is not just scary stories, and it is in no way a passing fad. Witchcraft is a real evil. It is dangerous and controlling. It is nothing with which to be toyed. Society has made it look fun and harmless through Harry Potter and other films and books. Do not be deceived, just as there is a dark side to every bright and happy alcohol commercial, so the dark side lurks just outside of view as Hollywood paints witchcraft as a harmless happy pastime.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
1Samuel 15:23
If we boiled this verse down to a formula, we could say, “Rebellion is to witchcraft what stubbornness is to idolatry.” Let’s think about that just for a moment. The comparisons run both parallel and perpendicular.
Rebellion –
Bold insistence on my way
Idolatry –
Subtle rejection of God
Witchcraft –
Bold rejection of God
Stubbornness –
Subtle insistence on my way
Rebellion –
Bold insistence on my way
Idolatry –
Subtle rejection of God
Witchcraft –
Bold rejection of God
Stubbornness –
Subtle insistence on my way
Rebellion –
Bold insistence on my way
Idolatry –
Subtle rejection of God
Witchcraft –
Bold rejection of God
Stubbornness –
Subtle insistence on my way
Rebellion –
Bold insistence on my way Witchcraft –
Bold rejection of God
Stubbornness –
Subtle insistence on my way Idolatry –
Subtle rejection of God
Rebellion –
Bold insistence on my way
Idolatry –
Subtle rejection of God
Witchcraft –
Bold rejection of God
Stubbornness –
Subtle insistence on my way
The only real difference between stubbornness and rebellion is in its expression. Both have the same objective, only different approaches. A rebel will make a stink and leave the church because he doesn’t want to follow the Bible. He gets his way. A stubborn church member will sit in the pew for decades and refuse to be taught. He gets his way. One is bold, the other is quiet. They both accomplish the same thing. They both have rejected the Lord and followed their own desires.
The difference between witchcraft and idolatry is equally similar. The witch has sworn allegiance to the Devil, and seeks to glorify him. The idolater worships an idol and glorifies yet a different created image. While witchcraft is a bold declaration of loyalty to the Devil, idolatry accomplishes the same thing. The Devil is as happy with people worshipping a pebble, as he is with them declaring him to be their god. In either situation Satan steals glory from God, and counts another soul for Hell. Both idolatry and witchcraft reject God, and worship the creature rather than the Creator.
The parallel between rebellion and witchcraft is easily seen in the objective of both. Rebellion boldly rejects all external authority. Rebellion is a refusal to surrender my will to that of God’s. Witchcraft is a worshiping of the Devil. It may seem a stretch to say these are really one until we see Christ’s statement in John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” We foolishly try to draw a distinction between our obedience and our devotion. You cannot claim to worship God and maintain your rebellion. These are contrary and cannot co-exist. To worship God one must bring himself into subjection to God. The worship of Satan is then the opposite of the worship of God --- it is rebellion toward God and His way. Witchcraft and rebellion are bold statements of rejection toward God’s authority.
The remaining parallel is clearly seen in that idolatry and stubbornness are a quieter, more subtle form of rebellion against God. The idolater forms a god from a stone, while the stubborn man forms a god from is own ideas. They both maintain a form of worship, but equally meaningless. These are essentially the same operations. Today in our “enlightened” state, we chuckle a bit at the idea of the heathen bowing to a stone statue. It seems foolish! Yet God is clear that our stubbornness is simply idolatry with a new label. It doesn’t matter if we make an idol of stone or form one of the abstract concepts of our mind; we have rejected God’s authority in our life.
The reality is that rebellion is the craft of the Devil. A craft is a skill or vocation. Satan’s economy is based on the craft of rebellion. The more you rebel, the more you please him. Rebellion has many forms ranging from witchcraft to stubbornness. The Devil will accept any form you choose. He is happy if you will reject God’s authority in any way. This craft comes naturally and unless it is overcome, we find ourselves engaging in one form or another.
The converse is true as well. If Satan’s craft is rebellion, then God’s is submission. In God’s economy, it is our submission to His will that pleases Him. This craft is a learned craft, as our nature will tend to rebel.
I believe there is as much evil in a stubborn church member who refuses to be a witness, as there is in a witch’s caldron. Most people measure evil by how it looks. I believe we should measure evil by the outcome. I believe there will be more people in Hell because of stubborn church members, than because of blatant witchcraft. Pastors face far more opposition from disgruntled and rebellious church members than they do from witches and warlocks. Evil is evil, and it is not just those who wear a big pointy hat and have warts on their nose.
In which craft are you skilled? Do you have a problem with authority? Are you a rebel? Maybe you have the outside looking good, but your heart is stubborn. It is easy for us to judge other rebels as wicked, but if we are not actively surrendering our wills, and conscientiously submitting to God’s authority, we are just as wicked. Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Submission is the craft of the Spirit-filled Christian. In which craft are you engaged in today?
My name is Sarah, I am but three,
My eyes are swollen, I cannot see,
I must be stupid, I must be bad,
What else could have made my daddy so mad?
I wish I were better, I wish I weren't ugly,
Then maybe my Mommy would still want to hug me.
I can't speak at all, I can't do a wrong
Or else I'm locked up all the day long.
When I awake I'm all alone
The house is dark, my folks aren't home.
When my Mommy does come I'll try and be nice,
So maybe I'll get just one whipping tonight.
Don't make a sound! I just heard a car
My daddy is back from Charlie's Bar.
I hear him curse my name he calls
I press myself against the wall.
I try and hide from his evil eyes
I'm so afraid now, I'm starting to cry.
He finds me weeping he shouts ugly words,
He says its my fault that he suffers at work.
He slaps me and hits me and yells at me more,
I finally get free and I run for the door.
He's already locked it and I start to bawl,
He takes me and throws me against the hard wall.
I fall to the floor with my bones nearly broken,
And my daddy continues, with more bad words spoken.
"I'm sorry!", I scream but its now much too late
His face has been twisted into unimaginable hate.
The hurt and the pain again and again
Oh please God, have mercy! Oh please let it end!
And he finally stops and heads for the door,
While I lay there motionless, sprawled on the floor.
My name is Sarah and I am but three,
Tonight my daddy murdered me.
We are an Independent, Fundamental, KJV only, Bible-Believing Baptist Publication.
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"O, The Deep Deep Love of Jesus!"
Our Full-Time Staff:
Laura Beth Wagenschutz, Editor-in-ChiefMiss Amanda Sedler, Columnist
Miss Deborah Brauer, Columnist
Miss Hannah Brown, Columnist
Miss Rebekah Wark, Columnist
Miss Gina Allison, Columnist
Mrs. Ruby Wagenschutz, Columnist
Mrs. Kristina Jossund, Columnist
Our Part-Time Staff:
Mrs. Dawn Wagenschutz, Columnist
Mrs. Johanna Spangenberg, Columnist
Ev. Benjamin Jossund, Columnist
Editor's Explanation...
You all must be wondering why we have a black background and bright red letters. It looks kind of scary, doesn't it? I have chosen these colors because we will be dealing with some very serious things in this issue. Some things may not be quite appropriate for younger girls, so moms, please use your own discretion!
I am sure you will think, "Why on earth did they do an issue about these topics?" when you see what each is. But let me explain. I know that Daughters of Faith is a Christian paper, with Christian subscribers and Christian columnists, however...Daughters of Faith has human subscribers and human columnists. Each of us that are truly saved do have Jesus Christ within us, but we are not immune to sin; to vices. We are covered by the blood, but we still have to war with our Flesh. The things dealt with in this issue, i.e. abortion, alcoholism, etc., are all issues that face even Christians! Maybe you do not personally struggle with alcoholism, but you may know someone who does. You may have never had an abortion, but you have a friend who has! Each of us comes up against these things at some point in time. Let us see what the Lord has to say about these issues and realize the seriousness of sin.
If you do not agree with the views expressed in this issue, please feel free to write to me and share what you think. Even though we may not agree, we can be civil and talk about our differences and share our different views. However, please...if you write to disagree with something said in this paper, have Scripture ready to back your opinion. I don't want to have an intellectual discussion about something and try to reason it out. I want to be able to simply look to God's Word and see the truth. If we are truely in error and conflict with the Word of God, we will appologize. If not, please be Christian enough to realize that as well and back down. None of us are perfect, there will be disagreements at times, but hopefully we can see past those disagreements and possibly even learn from each other.
Let's get started...
For Him & Him Alone,
Laura Beth Wagenschutz
Editor-in-Chief
Proverb 16:33 & Mark 11:22
Welcome to New Subscribers...
Miss Maddie, Miss Regina Marie, and Miss Amy Brown.Welcome, Girls to our little society! We are so glad to have you with us...
Hopefully we will be able to be a blessing and an encouragment to each of you at some point in time.
Thou Shalt Not Kill
Exodus 20:13
By: Miss Deborah Brauer
Murder: The unlawful killing of one human by another, especially with premeditated malice. –dictionary.com
Despite the wide-reaching range of the news media, and the high amount of crime committed in our world today, there are still events taking place that shock the majority of those who hear of them. One such event is the double murder of Michael and Cathryn Borden, who were killed by David Ludwig on the 13th of November, 2005.
I doubt there are many who are reading this article who have not heard of this case. For those who may not have heard, however, I’ll include some of the details. Kara Beth Borden, a fourteen year-old girl, met David Ludwig (who is eighteen years of age) at an activity for homeschoolers. They became friends, and then began to see each other secretly. Kara’s parents did not approve of the relationship, at least partly because of the age difference, and at one time even cut off Kara’s Internet access because of their concern. Kara continued to see David, despite her parents’ disapproval.
To make a long story shorter, the morning of November 13th, Mr. and Mrs. Borden caught Kara sneaking back into her room after sneaking out to spend some time with her boyfriend. They told Kara to tell David to come and talk with them, she did. David came to the house, spoke with the Borden parents for close to an hour, at the close of the conversation, Mr. Borden told David that he was not allowed to see Kara anymore. I’m sure you all know what happened next. David Ludwig pulled out a firearm he’d concealed in his clothing, and shot both parents, fatally. Ludwig then drove away, with Kara. They were stopped the next day, on the 14th, and Ludwig was arrested and taken into custody. By this time, the news had broken, and many in the world were watching anxiously, to see what would happen next.
Not that this case is anything new, there have been others like it, such as the case of Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate. What surprised many about the Borden-Ludwig case, is the appearance of the people involved before the murders took place. Both the Borden and Ludwig families claimed to be Christian, both families homeschooled their children. Both teenagers attended church services and activities on a fairly regular basis. Described as someone who was “outgoing and into music”, David was known to read his Bible during breaks at his workplace. Kara’s (now widely read) website listed her interests as: “ JESUS!! church, my youth group, other youth groups, family, friends, my doggie, KIDS, babysitting, soccer, bball, football, talking on the phone, food, eating, taking pictures, cooking, guitar, the beach, camp, taking walks, riding my bike, just being outside, having partys OH YEAH BABY,going to partys, making new friends, helping out, music, DDR!! CANDY PUSHPOPS. shopping, hugging”
Certainly some of these interests are not listed the way most girls in independent Baptist Churches would list them, but they are hardly listed in a way that would make you think of this girl as part of anything sinister. Kara posted this on her website over five months ago: “Psalm 28… I would type it out..but I think you guys can read it for yourself...when I read it I broke out in tears...God is truely and wonderful amazing..Hey to everyone if you guys could pray for me..That would be very cool!! Thank you all for your prayers already..And Im praying for you all too!! I love you all! I would just like to say thanks for the support yesterday my brothers and sisters in christ! I love you all! AND THANK YOU MY AMAZING LORD!!! I LOVE YOU SOO MUCH!!But really I have to give all the thanks to my Lord!!!!!SO THANK YOU MY LORD!!
Your Sister In Christ
Kara”
Kara herself was described as “bubbly”, and both she and David Ludwig were described as “good kids”.
A question that has been in many minds is, Why did he [Ludwig] do it? Also, What went wrong in the lives of those teenagers? How could two outwardly “good” teenagers end up in such a nightmare? David Ludwig knew what God’s Word teaches regarding murder. Yet, the fact that this young man had been taught what was right and what was wrong did not stop him from committing what we would consider one of the worst crimes a human being can commit.
How did this young man become so warped that he could take the lives of two innocent people, just because he couldn’t have what he wanted? More importantly, what are we doing in our own lives to make sure that we never allow ourselves to become warped in that way. “But wait a minute!” you may be thinking, “I’d never kill someone!” I didn’t say you would, but think about this for a moment, do you honestly think that killers are completely normal people, who one day wake up and suddenly think: “Oh, I think today I’ll go kill someone.”
No, murder does not begin with the act, but begins in the heart. Mark 7:21-23 tells us “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, and evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: Al these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (emphasis added) Although we will probably never murder anyone, we, yes, even as children of God, can have some of the same attitudes in our heart, that, unchecked, have resulted in murder.
What are some attitudes that are important to keep in check regarding this area of sin? Well, the Bible mentions four specific attitudes which we should be very careful to keep in check in our hearts and lives. The first attitude I’d like to look at is very common, but if let go without reserve, it can be deadly. This attitude is anger. Murderers are known to be angry people. The Bible says in Matthew 5:22 “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…” When we allow anger to have free reign in our lives, not only will our company be very unpleasant to those around us, but we may also end up doing things in our anger, which we will sorely regret later. Proverbs 29:22 says: “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.” Anger is such a poisonous attitude, that we are commanded to stay away from those who allow anger to control them. Proverbs 22:24-25 instructs us: “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.”
The second attitude for us to look at here is hatred. The Bible tells us in Leviticus 19:17: “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart…”Hatred is also a very, very dangerous attitude. In fact, the Bible tells us that someone who hates is a murderer inside, whether they have actually killed someone or not. 1 John 3:15 says: “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer…” Have you ever hated someone?
Many times people will allow themselves to be angry, and to let anger go unchecked in their lives. After this happens, the anger grows worse as time goes on and can easily make the transition from anger to hatred. Hatred is an emotion that can control a person. Many murders have been committed because of hatred that was allowed to grow. 1 John 3:15 goes on to say in the second part of the verse: “…and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” If you are allowing yourself to hate, and are unwilling to repent of that sin, maybe you need to take another look at your salvation, and see if you are really saved.
The third attitude I’d like to draw your attention to is the attitude of bitterness. Anger, hatred and bitterness all go together. Anger can harden into hatred, which, over time, will turn into bitterness. Bitterness is a poison, it destroys the life of the one who is bitter, and will hurt many people around that one. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;” Unfortunately, bitterness is an attitude that is common.
It is easy to allow bitterness to creep into our lives. Perhaps a friend said something to us that hurt our feelings, instead of forgiving her, or going to her to talk to her about it, we think about it, allow ourselves to be angry with her, and begin to think negative thoughts about her, her personality, appearance, anything that will make us feel better about ourselves. After this we become extremely sensitive to anything that she says, and begin to distance ourselves from her…sound familiar? That situation could easily become the source of a “root of bitterness” in our lives. We need to keep a right attitude towards others in our world, and to do that, we must read our Bibles and ask God to give us a mind like Christ’s.
I’ve taken up a lot of room already, but there is one more attitude I would like to discuss briefly, the attitude of jealousy. Was not envy the main cause of the first murder ever committed? Cain was jealous of God’s acceptance of Abel’s sacrifice, and that jealousy drove Cain to kill his brother. The Bible tells us that jealousy is even more dangerous than anger is, in Proverbs 27:4 “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?” As with the previous three attitudes, we have a responsibility to ask God to take this attitude away from us when it begins to manifest itself in our lives. Because we have a sin nature, we will be jealous sometimes. The main thing is to be sure that we know the dangers of these attitudes; and when we recognize them in our lives we need to confess them to God and ask Him to help us forsake them.
These four attitudes, I believe, are responsible for the majority of homicides we hear about. At the beginning of this article I asked the question, how could someone who was raised in a “Christian” home murder someone else? The fact is that we are all sinners. Any one of us is capable of committing terrible crimes. Satan is out there to destroy our lives, and the lives of as many people as he can. Even if we do not actually commit the act of murder, are we murderers in our hearts?
If we are not careful, Satan will use negative attitudes like anger, hatred, bitterness, and envy, to destroy us. I Peter 5: 8 says: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” We should check ourselves for these attitudes daily. If we are sober and vigilant, the Lord will help us to keep these attitudes in check, and we will not have to fear the result of them in our own lives. However, if we fail to check these attitudes as they appear in our lives (and believe me, they will appear) the Bible tells us what the result will be. James 1:15 says: “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
Is Alcoholism a Disease?
1. If it is a disease, it is the only disease that is contracted by an act of will.
2. It is the only disease that requires a license to propagate it.
3. It is the only disease that is bottled and sold.
4. It is the only disease that requires outlets to spread it.
5. It is the only disease that produces a revenue for the government.
6. It is the only disease that provokes crime.
7. It is the only disease that is habit-forming.
8. It is the only disease that is spread by advertising.
9. It is the only disease for which we are fined for contracting.
10. It is the only disease without a germ or virus cause, and for which there is no human corrective medicine.
11. And last, but not least, it is the only disease that bars the patient from Heaven,
for no drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of God (except there is repentance...I Corinthians 6:9,10).
If alcoholism is a disease then it should be illegal to sell the germs by the bottle.
The Silent Killer Raises It’s Voice
By: Miss Gina Allison“83% of adults who drink had their first drink of alcohol before age 21.”
In 2003 the nationwide total for fatalities among 15-20 year olds was 6,409. 2, 283 of those were alcohol related. That’s 36%. Alcohol was once a silent killer that took years to slowly destroy the body. Not anymore. The silent killer has reached its wicked claws into the lives of teenagers and now has raised its voice for the entire world to hear.
“More than 10 million current drinkers in the United States are between the ages of 12-20.”
One of the greatest lies of alcoholics is that “I am hurting no one but myself.” Even young people are now using that line to justify their sin. Yet, in the four leading causes of death in young people ages 10 to 24 are car crashes, unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide. Alcohol is more often than not involved in all of them. In 1999, 21% of 15 to 20 year olds who were killed in car accidents were intoxicated when it happened. More than 1,700 college students in the U.S. are killed each year—about 4.65 a day—as a result of alcohol-related injuries. Every day, on average, 11,318 American youth try alcohol for the first time at the average age of 11 years for boys and 13 years for girls. On average American teens begin drinking regularly by the age of 15.
1. Alcohol and Teen Girls
There was a day and age when drinking among women was scarce, especially young women. In the 1960s about 7% of 10 to 14 year old girls used alcohol. But by the early 1990's, that figure had risen to 31%. Girls you have no idea what risks you are taking when you begin drinking. Listen to these statistics.
· Researchers estimate that alcohol use is implicated in one to two-thirds of sexual assault and acquaintance or "date" rape cases among teens and college students.
· One study of girls ages 14-21 with unplanned pregnancies found that one-third of the girls were drinking when they had sex and that nine out of ten hadn't even planned to have sex.
· Nearly 40 percent of high school boys said it is acceptable to force sex if a girl is stoned or drunk.
· Among 8th grade girls who drink heavily, 37 percent report attempting suicide – compared to 11 percent who do not drink.
Maybe you are thinking, “That would never happen to me.” Well, maybe those terrible things wouldn’t, but does that make it okay?
Let’s try this scenario. Let’s say I have a pet Black Mamba, one of the deadliest snakes in the world. I bring his cage to your house and ask you to reach your hand inside and touch the snake, would you do it? What if I told you he had just eaten and there is a chance he would be too full to bite, now would you? I highly doubt it. Why? Because only a fool would take the chance at getting bitten. Exactly! Drinking Alcohol is like reaching your hand into the tank of a poisonous snake. You might get away with it the first, second, and even third time. But one day, the snake may bite.
Girls, you may not even realize that your body does not process alcohol the same way a guy’s does putting you more at risk for an alcohol- induced comma or even death. Small amounts of alcohol are more intoxicating regardless of your size. Here are two physical reasons:
· Females have a smaller percentage of body fluid than males. When people drink, alcohol spreads into the water in their bodies. Because females have less body fluid to dilute the alcohol, they have higher amounts of alcohol in their blood than males have after drinking the same amounts of alcohol.
· An enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase that is important in metabolizing alcohol works differently in females than in males. In females, the enzyme is less active.
2. Alcohol and God
Did you know that God compares alcohol to a serpent? In Proverbs 23: 31-32 it says,
“Look not thou upon the wine when it is red,
when it giveth his color in the cup,
when it moveth itself aright.
At the last it biteth like a serpent,
and stingeth like an adder.”
Wine in the Bible often simply meant grape juice or the fruit of the vine, but at times it also stands for an alcoholic drink. The Hebrew word “tirosh” stands for fresh grape juice and is used about 38 times. The Hebrew word “yayin” is used 140 times in the Bible and is the general term for all grape beverages alcoholic or not. This was always diluted with water. The Hebrew word “shekar” occurs 23 times and it is the term for strong drink or unmixed wine. In the New Testament there were three words, “gleukos” “oinos”, “sikera,” which correspond directly to the Hebrew words according to Dr. Paul Dixon.
The statement “Moveth itself aright” refers to fermentation. This fermented grape juice becomes what the Bible calls strong drink or alcohol. Wine or grape juice is mentioned many times in the Bible and some try to use that to justify drinking today. Strong drink or alcohol is never spoken of in a positive light. In Proverbs 20: 1, God says, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Also in Proverbs 23: 29-30 God says, “Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babblings? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.” The mixed wine here refers to a potent mixture (strong drink) of wine and spices.
In Bible times, strong drink (the unmixed wine) was from 3% to 11% alcohol. Anyone who drank 9% to 11% was considered a barbarian. To get drunk, a person would drink as much as they could, allow the alcohol to seep into their blood, and then they would throw it all up, and then start all over again. It was a disgusting process. The diluted wine was at the least mixed 3 parts water to 1 part wine. The alcohol content would have been about 2.5% to 2.75%. It was often higher to 20 to 1. It was impossible to get drunk.
Today, wine has 9% to 11% alcohol. Brandy has 15% to 20%. Hard liquor has 40% to 50% (80 to 100 proof). Any thing alcoholic today has a much higher content than even strong drink in Bible times. If God condemned their “strong drink,” what do you think He feels about the alcohol these days? Do you think He changed His mind about this? I don’t think so!
3. Alcohol and Your Body
God says in I Corinthians 3:16-17, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” And also in I Corinthians 6:19-20, “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and are not your own? For ye were bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Alcohol destroys the body, YOUR BODY, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. In the Merck Manual of Medical Information I found list of the physical effects of prolonged alcohol use.
· Low folic acid levels causing Anemia and birth defects.
· Low iron levels causing Anemia as well.
· Low niacin levels causing Pellagra (skin damage diarrhea, depression)
· Esophagitis and cancer of the Esophagus
· Gastritis and ulcers in the stomach
· Inflammation (hepatitis), cirrhosis, and cancer of the liver
· Pancreatitis, low blood sugar levels, and cancer in the Pancreas
· Abnormal heartbeat and heart failure
· High blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and stroke
· Confusion, reduced coordination, poor short-term memory, and psychosis
· Deterioration of nerves in arms and legs that control movements
If you ask me, none of these things seem worth the price! Instead it sounds like high treason on the temple of God. Hopefully, this article has convinced you of the dangers of drinking, but if not I challenge you to speak with someone who was an alcoholic or who has or has had a loved one who is / was an alcoholic. You will find out that drinking is not a bunch of fun and games. It’s a deadly poison. The effects spread to everyone you care about, no one remains unscathed. Remember this quote,
A child who reaches age 21 without smoking, abusing alcohol or using drugs is virtually certain never to do so.
Joseph A. Califano, Jr., Chairman and President, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University
Sources:
http://www.marshall.k12.ky.us/safeschools/MONTHLYARTICLE.htm
http://www.focusas.com/Alcohol.html
http://www.madd.org/stats/1807
www.samhsa.gov.
www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=183 - The Believer and Alcohol by Pastor David L. Brown of the First Baptist Church in Oak Creek, WI
Who's Choice?
By: Mrs. Kristina JossundFor the past four months I have had the joy and privilege of a little life growing inside of me – a little eternal soul with a beating heart and the desire to suck his thumb!! We have no idea yet as to whether it is a little boy or little girl, but we can hardly wait to know! Last night was the first time I clearly felt the baby move – light fluttering feelings for ten minutes straight before settling down to sleep. As I face the harsh elements of winter in the Northwoods I find myself thankful that this little person is tucked snuggly inside until he’s strong enough to handle it all. He’s wrapped up warmly by God’s protecting hand and close enough to hear my heartbeat and know that mommy loves him.
The wonder of it all – so tiny but so complete! To think that he already has all the information his body will ever need to take him through the developmental course of his life! All he mush have right now is a safe and healthy environment to grow in – and so God Almighty entrusted him to me. What a priceless charge! By God’s grace this baby will not only be a grown adult someday with a family, children, and life of his own – he is already an eternal soul that is known and beloved by his Creator.
In Psalm 139:13-17 we find a beautiful discourse by David on the preciousness of God’s thoughts towards mankind. He makes an interesting and profound point – that God already knew him and had written every single on of his body parts in His book before David was even conceived “…when as yet there was none of them.” David also paints the picture of the Creator covering him in his mother’s womb! What an incredibly beautiful portrait of the priority God places on the unborn baby. What wonder that before I was ever conceived my Lord knew absolutely everything about me – and He not only made me and my soul, but then stood watch over me when the time came for me to be conceived, developed, and then brought into the world. He already had a purpose and a plan for my individual life, and there has not been one moment that I have been out from under His watchful eye. We often find it amazing that when the angels announced the soon-to-be conception of Samson, John the Baptist, and Jesus, that they proceeded to lay out the course and purpose of their life – but why do we suppose it is to be different for any of the rest of us? God is well acquainted with the little details from the beginning – and each soul conceived has a special place in His heart and will.
There are those who would argue that it is their right to decide whether or not that little soul will ever see the light of day. On the plea of “personal rights” they would snuff out that young life and lay its dismembered body on the altar of “convenience.” In our society we would recoil at the idea of parents throwing a laughing, six month cherub into a burning mouth of some hideous idol or laying that baby on an altar to first stab it to death and then burn it. The story is told of a woman that went to her doctor, toting a healthy toddler in her arms, and asked him to abort her present pregnancy. Her reasoning was that she already had a beautiful child and a busy life, and had no desire for a second baby at this point in the game. The doctor pointed out that it would be far less risk to her and far more convenient for him to simply kill the child in her lap, then the one in the womb. The mother recoiled in horror at the idea, but wasn’t that exactly what she was asking him to do? In our society we call it barbaric to kill in cold blood a child that has lived outside the womb for any length of time. It is a crime. No, we are far more “civilized” then that – we have other methods. We start off by distancing ourselves further from the child we cannot see by calling it a fetus. Then we tell a mother that her body is her own and that this lump of tissue (that just happens to have a beating heart etc…) is invading her personal space and she has “the right” on whatever ground she chooses – birth defect, divorce, rape, unplanned pregnancy, dislike of children, career goals… - to violate the trust given her and rip that little one out of the safety of the womb by some hideous form of torture. That baby (for baby is what it is) can feel the burning acid that burns it alive or the severing of its perfectly formed limbs as it is sucked out. The most appalling part of it is that the very one on earth which was designed to protect, guard, and nurture that helpless, dependent life is the very one who signs such a cruel death sentence. How utterly un-natural – how barbaric!!! Where have we come to in our society that the defenseless no longer have a right or protector? Why is the result of a mother’s foolish choice to have sex when she ought not to, deny the right of life for one who has done nothing wrong? Why should the decision of parents to forsake their vows give them a right to kill the only lasting fruit of a love now in shambles? Why should the innocent victim of a rape be justified in turning around and committing the murder of the just-as-innocent result – how do two crimes make a right???? Why should proud, busy parents have the right to decide whether or not their child should live a special-needs life? God did not mess up – He has a purpose and beauty for the life of each soul formed. We suffer from the ugliness of sin and its affects – but how is this the baby’s fault? How can we, with our limited sight and understanding decide whether or not a baby is better off alive or dead? God is the Creator, if He gave life and sustains it then whoa be it to me judge otherwise. I’m glad He put a value on my life – can I expect Him to do any less for another?
I believe a mother has a choice – but it is before conception. For the unmarried the option is obvious and fool-proof – abstinence !! For the married she can choose some method of birth-control. If a woman makes a mistake and finds herself pregnant and unfit to be a mother (or the victim of a rape) she can always place that baby with loving people that have longed for a child but can’t have one of their own – it may be God’s answer to their prayer. If parents find themselves to be expecting a special needs baby they can experience what the love of Christ is all about by laying aside their own pride or ambitions, and loving that little one and knowing the joy that comes from the simple love of one who will always be dependent on them. There are always choices that protect life – so I am not anti-choice - I am anti-murder.
For those that are too selfish or “liberated” to consider anything other than what they want – right or wrong – God has His own way of dealing with them. Is it any surprise that as they destroy the life of another they eventually find their own life destroyed as well? There are women who have had one or multiple abortions before deciding they wanted to “keep one.” Their terminology magically changes from “fetus” to “baby” – they want a “baby” now and are distraught to find out that they may never be able to. Perhaps their uterus is too damaged to conceive. Perhaps they are high risk and end up going into premature labor. Before they would have chosen to “terminate an unwanted fetus” at this point in gestation, now they have medical staff working around the clock to “save their baby’s life.” Perhaps this isn’t the area they will feel the repercussions of their sin – perhaps it will be the emotional trauma and depression that haunts their sleep and quiet places the rest of their life. Perhaps it will be a major infection that leads to multiple health problems. Perhaps it will be the increased risk of breast cancer that will make them susceptible to the deadly disease and finish them off. I don’t know – I just know that God is the avenger and there is no escaping Him in this life or the next.
I am so grateful for the miracle of life and birth – what joy and blessing there is to be embraced. I can hardly wait to meet our little one in June. To cuddle him and kiss him and marvel at how fearfully and wonderfully he is made. Thank you Father for the preciousness of Your gift – may I be a faithful steward of the wonderful treasure You’ve given me!
Ballad of the Unborn
By: Fay ClaytonMy shining feet will never run
On early morning lawn:
My feet were crushed before they had
A chance to greet the dawn.
My fingers now will never stretch
To touch the winning tape;
My race was done before I learned
The smallest steps to take.
My growing height will never be
Recorded on the wall;
My growth was stopped when I was still
Unseen, and very small.
My lips and tongue will never taste
The good fruits of the earth;
For I myself was judged to be
A fruit of little worth.
My eyes will never scan the sky
For my high-flying kite;
For when still blind, destroyed were they
In the black womb of night.
I’ll never stand upon a hill
Spring’s winds in my hair,
Aborted winds of thought closed in
On motherhood’s despair.
I’ll never walk the shores of life
Or know the tides of time;
For I was coming but unloved,
And that my only crime.
Nameless am I, a grain of sand
One of the countless dead,
But the deed that made me ashen grey
Floats on seas of red.
NANA'S NOTEBOOK
by Ruby WagenschutzNo one can deny that we are living in perilous times. In these last days, born-again believers eagerly wait for Christ to return. To be effective servants while we wait, we should be aware of what goes on in the world, while making sure we are firmly grounded in the Word of God.
While I am willing, as requested, to endeavor to discuss divorce in this issue, I remind you that our authority in all things is God's Word. If we have need of explanations or answers, we should seek the counsel of a wise Man of God we know will "rightly divide the word of truth."
Statistics
I found a staggering amount of statistics concerning divorce, most of which I found to be heartbreaking. Below are just a few.
* Between 1970 and 1996, the number of divorced people quadrupled. Approximately 40% of all marriages ended in divorce. - U.S. Census Bureau Report
* One of every 5 adults has been divorced at least once. - 2001 Census Report, published in February 2005.
* Since 1970, the number of marriages has decreased nearly 30%, but the divorce rate has increased about 40%.
* Nearly 1.2 million American marriages ended in divorce by the courts in 1994, triple the 1960 figure.
* Approximately 75% of all divorced people have remarried - half of them within 3 years after a divorce.
* Couples are most susceptible to divorce in the early years of marriage; 1 of every 12 couples are likely to divorce after only 24 months.
* Those married at a very young age are more likely to divorce than those who wait until they are older to marry.
* Co-habitation before marriage does not improve chances for a stable marriage, but on to the contrary, co-habitation leads to a higher rate of divorce - 40% to 85% higher for those who lived together before marriage than those who waited until after marriage to have a physical relationship.
* Although some believe divorce is better for children than living with strife and dissension, a 1988 study by the National Center for Health showed that children in single-parent homes are more likely to drop out of school, become pregnant as teenagers, abuse drugs and get into trouble with the law.
* Nicholas Zill, a social scientist, as reported in the 5/27/96 edition of the Los Angeles Times, said that children of divorced parents, regardless of economic circumstances, are twice as likely as others to have behavioral and personality problems and need psychological help.
* Interfaith marriages lead to more divorces.
* The 2001 Barna Research Poll indicated born-again Christians end their marriages with about the same frequency as others.
* Baptists have higher rates of divorce than other groups and are far more likely to divorce than atheists or agnostics. The Barna Poll states that 29% of adult Baptists have been divorced.
* Some so-called Baptist leaders say that Christian expectations of marriage may be too high. (I reject this) They also blame the fact that Baptists encourage young people to marry rather than just live together. Some fundamental Baptist leaders say, rather, that the "born-again" label may be meaningless since many of those identified as such do not even believe that Jesus was totally sinless. This is heresy to those with true biblical faith.
* A 1980 report indicated at that time couples who attended church together regularly, prayed together regularly, and read the Bible together regularly had only a 1% rate of divorce.
* Pollster George Barna, in explaining that the large percentage of divorces may have changed young people, said: "One of the most striking findings in our recent survey among teenagers is that when we asked them to name their top goals for the future, one of the highest-rated goals was to get married and have the same spouse for their entire life."
I realize that all these statistics are mind-boggling, and may be skewed, depending on the questions, how they are worded, the people asked, and even the position and/or purose of the pollster; however, I included all the above to give a clear picture of how vast the divorce problem is.
The Word of God
Read Matthew 19:3-11 -- God's original purpose for marriage did not include divorce. When asked why Moses allowed a writing of divorcement, Jesus said because of the hardness of their hearts at that time. Verse 9 permits - does not command - divorce for fornication only, but says further that whoever marries the one put away commits adultery. Read Matthew 5:31-32
Read Deuteronomy 24:1-4 -- Moses' law of divorcement.
Read Mark 10:2-12 -- This is sometimes called Jesus' Law of Divorcement. "Putting away" is another term for "divorce." Jesus said if you put away a spouse then remarry, you commit adultery, and if one put away marries again, he or she commits adultery.
Luke 16:18 -- "Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery."
Read I Corinthians 1:1-16 -- Paul wrote in verses 10 and 11, "And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, let not the wife depart from her husband; But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband; and let not the husband put away his wife."
Conclusions
* God's original plan for marriage did not include divorce.
* God's plan for marriage today is the same as it was in the beginning.
* God hates divorce. (Malachi 2:16)
* Divorce is a big problem today.
* God has, in times past, permitted things which He did not command nor approve.
* Few divorced people ever consider remaining unmarried.
* Children always suffer in a divorse, regardless of how it is rationalized.
Christian young people need to seek God's will for their life concerning marriage, be willing to follow scriptural teachings concerning marriage, and to practice self-denial to remain pure and godly. Those who are already married must follow God's plan to make and keep their marriage pure and holy.
Bruce Lackey, in "Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible and Christianity," suggests that we should apply I Peter 4:7,8 to our attitude about divorce and those who have experienced it. The scripture says, "But the end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer, And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves; for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."
"Be sober." Think properly based on scripture, not on our feelings or sentiments, nor on public opinion, nor on the situations of our family and friends.
"Watch unto prayer." Pray regularly, seeking God's wisdom.
"Have fervent charity." Don't be judgemental of others. Be honest, but not self-righteous. Mr. Lackey says, "It is a mistake to form any kind of scriptural opinion which causes us to hate or snub people, to look down on them, or fail to love them."
This is not a sin which God cannot or will not forgive. People who have been divorced and remarried can still be used of God, although not in every capacity.
AGAIN, I REMIND YOU THAT GOD'S WORD IS OUR FINAL AUTHORITY. IF YOU NEED HELP, EXPLANATIONS OR ANSWERS, SEEK THE COUNSEL OF A WISE MAN OF GOD YOU KNOW WHO WILL RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF TRUTH!
Have you ever thought of this?
By what insane logic have men concluded that the death penalty for criminals is wrong,
but murder of the unborn child by abortion is right?
Which Craft?
Some Thoughts on Witchcraft and IdolatryBy Evangelist Ben Jossund
Witchcraft is defined by Webster’s as, “The practices of witches; sorcery; enchantments; intercourse with the devil.” If we were to rate evils in the world, witchcraft would be near the top of everyone’s list. It is a complete evil, never claiming to be in any way good. It revels in darkness and debauchery, and glories in the miseries of others. Witchcraft is anti-God. When God calls man to repent, witchcraft celebrates damnation. What God calls good, witchcraft curses, and what God curses, witchcraft promotes.
Notwithstanding this fact, there is a great infatuation with witchcraft in today’s young people. Some say it is nothing, just some spooky stories. Others dismiss it as a passing fad. Others scoff at the very notion of a real Devil. You must understand though, witchcraft is not just the creation of Hollywood. It is not just scary stories, and it is in no way a passing fad. Witchcraft is a real evil. It is dangerous and controlling. It is nothing with which to be toyed. Society has made it look fun and harmless through Harry Potter and other films and books. Do not be deceived, just as there is a dark side to every bright and happy alcohol commercial, so the dark side lurks just outside of view as Hollywood paints witchcraft as a harmless happy pastime.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
1Samuel 15:23
If we boiled this verse down to a formula, we could say, “Rebellion is to witchcraft what stubbornness is to idolatry.” Let’s think about that just for a moment. The comparisons run both parallel and perpendicular.
Rebellion –
Bold insistence on my way
Idolatry –
Subtle rejection of God
Witchcraft –
Bold rejection of God
Stubbornness –
Subtle insistence on my way
Rebellion –
Bold insistence on my way
Idolatry –
Subtle rejection of God
Witchcraft –
Bold rejection of God
Stubbornness –
Subtle insistence on my way
Rebellion –
Bold insistence on my way
Idolatry –
Subtle rejection of God
Witchcraft –
Bold rejection of God
Stubbornness –
Subtle insistence on my way
Rebellion –
Bold insistence on my way Witchcraft –
Bold rejection of God
Stubbornness –
Subtle insistence on my way Idolatry –
Subtle rejection of God
Rebellion –
Bold insistence on my way
Idolatry –
Subtle rejection of God
Witchcraft –
Bold rejection of God
Stubbornness –
Subtle insistence on my way
The only real difference between stubbornness and rebellion is in its expression. Both have the same objective, only different approaches. A rebel will make a stink and leave the church because he doesn’t want to follow the Bible. He gets his way. A stubborn church member will sit in the pew for decades and refuse to be taught. He gets his way. One is bold, the other is quiet. They both accomplish the same thing. They both have rejected the Lord and followed their own desires.
The difference between witchcraft and idolatry is equally similar. The witch has sworn allegiance to the Devil, and seeks to glorify him. The idolater worships an idol and glorifies yet a different created image. While witchcraft is a bold declaration of loyalty to the Devil, idolatry accomplishes the same thing. The Devil is as happy with people worshipping a pebble, as he is with them declaring him to be their god. In either situation Satan steals glory from God, and counts another soul for Hell. Both idolatry and witchcraft reject God, and worship the creature rather than the Creator.
The parallel between rebellion and witchcraft is easily seen in the objective of both. Rebellion boldly rejects all external authority. Rebellion is a refusal to surrender my will to that of God’s. Witchcraft is a worshiping of the Devil. It may seem a stretch to say these are really one until we see Christ’s statement in John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” We foolishly try to draw a distinction between our obedience and our devotion. You cannot claim to worship God and maintain your rebellion. These are contrary and cannot co-exist. To worship God one must bring himself into subjection to God. The worship of Satan is then the opposite of the worship of God --- it is rebellion toward God and His way. Witchcraft and rebellion are bold statements of rejection toward God’s authority.
The remaining parallel is clearly seen in that idolatry and stubbornness are a quieter, more subtle form of rebellion against God. The idolater forms a god from a stone, while the stubborn man forms a god from is own ideas. They both maintain a form of worship, but equally meaningless. These are essentially the same operations. Today in our “enlightened” state, we chuckle a bit at the idea of the heathen bowing to a stone statue. It seems foolish! Yet God is clear that our stubbornness is simply idolatry with a new label. It doesn’t matter if we make an idol of stone or form one of the abstract concepts of our mind; we have rejected God’s authority in our life.
The reality is that rebellion is the craft of the Devil. A craft is a skill or vocation. Satan’s economy is based on the craft of rebellion. The more you rebel, the more you please him. Rebellion has many forms ranging from witchcraft to stubbornness. The Devil will accept any form you choose. He is happy if you will reject God’s authority in any way. This craft comes naturally and unless it is overcome, we find ourselves engaging in one form or another.
The converse is true as well. If Satan’s craft is rebellion, then God’s is submission. In God’s economy, it is our submission to His will that pleases Him. This craft is a learned craft, as our nature will tend to rebel.
I believe there is as much evil in a stubborn church member who refuses to be a witness, as there is in a witch’s caldron. Most people measure evil by how it looks. I believe we should measure evil by the outcome. I believe there will be more people in Hell because of stubborn church members, than because of blatant witchcraft. Pastors face far more opposition from disgruntled and rebellious church members than they do from witches and warlocks. Evil is evil, and it is not just those who wear a big pointy hat and have warts on their nose.
In which craft are you skilled? Do you have a problem with authority? Are you a rebel? Maybe you have the outside looking good, but your heart is stubborn. It is easy for us to judge other rebels as wicked, but if we are not actively surrendering our wills, and conscientiously submitting to God’s authority, we are just as wicked. Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Submission is the craft of the Spirit-filled Christian. In which craft are you engaged in today?
Sarah
My name is Sarah, I am but three,
My eyes are swollen, I cannot see,
I must be stupid, I must be bad,
What else could have made my daddy so mad?
I wish I were better, I wish I weren't ugly,
Then maybe my Mommy would still want to hug me.
I can't speak at all, I can't do a wrong
Or else I'm locked up all the day long.
When I awake I'm all alone
The house is dark, my folks aren't home.
When my Mommy does come I'll try and be nice,
So maybe I'll get just one whipping tonight.
Don't make a sound! I just heard a car
My daddy is back from Charlie's Bar.
I hear him curse my name he calls
I press myself against the wall.
I try and hide from his evil eyes
I'm so afraid now, I'm starting to cry.
He finds me weeping he shouts ugly words,
He says its my fault that he suffers at work.
He slaps me and hits me and yells at me more,
I finally get free and I run for the door.
He's already locked it and I start to bawl,
He takes me and throws me against the hard wall.
I fall to the floor with my bones nearly broken,
And my daddy continues, with more bad words spoken.
"I'm sorry!", I scream but its now much too late
His face has been twisted into unimaginable hate.
The hurt and the pain again and again
Oh please God, have mercy! Oh please let it end!
And he finally stops and heads for the door,
While I lay there motionless, sprawled on the floor.
My name is Sarah and I am but three,
Tonight my daddy murdered me.
About Daughters of Faith
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