It's gettin' hot in here...
...so glorify Christ.
Summer is coming, which means the spaghetti straps and short shorts will be coming out. As a brother in Christ, I want to make an appeal to my sisters, and an admonition to my brothers.
1) Women
"I appeal to you therefore, [sisters], by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
If you want to know if you're being conformed to this culture, ask yourself this: Do you believe it is suddenly ok to walk around in a bathing suit that is equivalent in coverage to your underwear because you are in close proximity to water? It is shameful to be seen in your underwear in public or in front of men who aren't your husbands, but apparently if it's made out of different material and you might get wet in it, then it's chaste. That is absurd - bikinis are slutty. There, I said it; sue me.
Excuses like, "Well, I want a good tan" and, "Well, it's normal" are disgusting. For Jesus says this in Matt. 18:6-7:
"…but whomever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!"
Paul also talks a good amount about not causing your brother to stumble in Romans 14:13-23
Girls, if you love your brothers and Jesus, you will not dress according the standards of our sinful culture. Think about what parts of your body you wouldn't want a guy staring at intently, and then cover them. Because when you walk by, their eyes follow. You aren't aware of it, but when a girl walks into the room wearing revealing clothing, every guy in the room knows it. We've already got enough on our plate with all the sexually charged advertisements, music, tv shows, and unbelievers dressing promiscuously. I'm living in Costa Rica with a host family, and last night I went upstairs to get a drink of water only to find my host brothers watching porn. I ran downstairs and started praying and reading scripture. Please don't add to our afflictions. We want to think of you with the mind of Christ.
Please, take down your stupid, provocative pictures off of facebook where the whole world can see you. Any man that you would attract by wearing revealing clothing will respond the same way when another hot body walks by. The man that is attracted to you when you're wearing board shorts and a rash guard at the beach is the guy you want; he's actually interested in you as a person and treasures your modesty. Most importantly, obedience to your husband in heaven (Jesus), who loved you enough to die for you while you still hated him, is better than catching the eye and favor of some hormonally drunk man. I dare you to be creative in your modesty - to be culture makers, not followers. I am exceedingly thankful for the women in my life who already seek to glorify Christ with they way they dress.
If you want to know how a guys mind thinks, or you think I'm the minority in these convictions, check this website out. --->
2) Men
"You have heard it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown in to hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell."
I know my flesh; I know my sinful desires, and for those reasons I fear traveling to the beach or pool. Sometimes, I just won't go if I know who's going with me and what they'll be wearing. Christ is your King; you are his servant. Christ is your Master, and your are his slave. Christ is your Father, and you are his son. Be killing sin or sin will be killing you. Paul says it like this in Colossians this:
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds are things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God…Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away…"
Quit acting like a child and man up. Fight for purity of mind and heart. Fight for your wife and kids - even before you get married.
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I know writing these things will only bring more attacks upon me from Satan. So be it; Christ has already defeated him, and he lives within me. I also know I will most likely be called judgmental and legalistic. So be it; Jesus and the prophets weren't too popular either. I'm just repeating their words and applying them to our culture.
Friends: be strong and courageous. Fight sin in the flesh and rebel against the sinful aspects of our culture, rather build one another up in love. Find your joy in Christ and not in acceptance by this world.
Unashamedly for you,
Bryan