A computerized tele-surveyor just called. It asked, "In your opinion, what is the most important issue in this election? Press 1 for taxes, 2 for the economy, 3 for foreign policy or 4 for ObamaCare."
I yelled, "ABORTION!" thinking that the louder I yelled, the easier it would be for the computer on the other end to hear me.... It hung up on me.
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Male headship is hotly contested today. The consensus of our culture is that we ought to take a flat iron to every realm of life to flatten out every wrinkle of gender-oriented authority. Yet you cannot escape the fact of it in Scripture, particularly in the opening chapters of Genesis. Genesis 2:2 recounts the creation of man and woman and gives us some insight into the structure of authority as God originally designed it. That God created man first says something. Wayne Grudem sums it up well when he says, "The fact that God first created Adam then after a period of time created Eve suggests that God saw Adam as having a leadership role in his family. No such two-stage procedure is mentioned for any of the animals God made, but here it seems to have a special purpose." Grudem goes on to recount the OT pattern of "primogeniture," which is the idea that the firstborn son of the family is given a leadership role. Even a quick reading of the OT will reveal the importance of one's birthright as it pertains to privileges and responsibilities in the household. Eve was not only created second, she was created to serve a distinct role. She was the "helper." We do not doubt the importance of a helper. The helper enables one to achieve the end he desires. But a helper is never the one in charge. Their role is be subservient to the one they help. To put it another way, a helper isn't the one who is supposed to call the shots. We must not think that this is something that faded away with the coming of the New Testament period either. The Apostle Paul picks up on this in 1 Corinthians 11. He reinforces this notion of hierarchy when he says, "Neither was man created for woman, but woman for the man." Paul unabashedly affirms the created order. The story of the fall also chimes in on the idea of male headship. The story ends with Adam's eating of the apple, and rightfully so. It would have been incomplete without it. Adam, as the federal representative of the race, was the one who plunged the world into sin; not Eve. Commentators are also quick to point out that the whole story of chapter three is a reversal of the created order. We might picture the original design like this: Adam Eve Animals Adam was over Eve, and they were both to have dominion over the animals. But in the story of the fall the snake takes an authoritative role and influences Eve. Adam then submits to Eve when she prods him to eat. The sum of the narrative recounts a complete reversal of the divine order.
Certainly more Scripture could be sited. However, it suffices for now to say that God has knit into the fabric of society a certain authority structure. God did not create a democracy or egalitarian society. He designed men to be leaders. They are to fill their authoritative role in society by executing their duties with honor. Treason is a crime punishable by death. As it currently stands, we are all guilty of it. The only way to escape it is to turn from your rebellion and seek the King's mercy. So begins Mark's gospel. The first half of the opening chapter makes it clear that Jesus Christ is the Sovereign King. His kingship is noted in three ways. The very first line is one evidence of Christ's royalty. In ancient times the kings and emperors would send out announcements when a child was born to their house. It would say that there was good news: a son of god has been born. Mark's initial word is, "The beginning of the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." This declaration was a confession that Christ was the incarnate King. Mark immediately follows this with the narrative of John the Baptist and his role as one who would "prepare the way of the Lord" and "make straight his paths." In ancient times, before a king would travel to a certain place, servants would be sent ahead to fill in potholes and fix the roads so the king's journey wouldn't be too rough. There is even a legend that a whole mountain was leveled for one particular king. John was the King's path maker. His duty, of course, was that of a spiritual paving. He called people to repentance. It was their lives that needed to be made straight. Their pride needed to be leveled. Their crooked ways needed to be made straight through their repentance. Thirdly, Christ is designated as king by virtue of His royal anointing from on high. Jewish kings were always anointed with oil. It was a way of saying, "God's Spirit has equipped you to reign." Mark doesn't dwell long on it, but he notes that the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus after He was baptized. Everyone standing there would have recognized this royal symbol. The story then takes a ironic turn. The people who were living in rebellion to the King ought to have been rounded up and executed. But instead Jesus extends the offer of grace. He says, "Repent and believe the gospel." This King essentially says, "I have good news for you. If you turn from your rebellion and pledge allegiance to me, I will allow you to live." Obviously, refusing this offer will mean that you give the king no other choice but to carry out your execution. However, King Jesus does permit you this present chance to amend your ways. Up to this point, you have not given the king the homage he deserves. You have not known him or acknowledged him to the degree you should have. You have not kept his commands or walked in his ways. What's more, you have actively sought to usurp his throne! You have been involved in a quiet conspiracy. By your silent disavowal of his absolute dominion over your life, you have declared yourself king and Lord. The King finds this betrayal utterly unacceptable. However, He gives you this chance. He extends his mercy to you and allows you the opportunity to renounce the error of your ways. He pledges to grand you full pardon if you would only turn from your present sedition. If you seek his favor and give allegiance to His crown, then you may no more fear having to pay the price owed to you for your disloyalty. "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth." One of the original charges given to man was that he was to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The man and the woman were given the charge to procreate. In our day, even within the church, there is a tendency to limit the size of one's family rather than extend it. The secular mindset reverberates throughout the church regarding having children. You can hear the gasps at the thought of having a third child. At the birth of number two you start to hear the jokes about "being done." If you have any more than 3 children, you are considered a lunatic. Much of this is because of our infatuation with materialistic gain and hedonistic lifestyle. We are more existential than Biblical in our life's orientation. To be sure, the Lord does not mandate how many children we have or say that we must be pumping out babies at an exponential rate. He does requires us to love children and take seriously our duty to multiply. This, of course, brings up the discussion of birth control. What place does it have? Does it have a place? It should be obvious that abortifacients ought not to be used. This includes "the Pill," which is a direct product of Margret Sanger's ambitions. Some say that the the affects of the pill on a fertilized egg are minimal and ought not to be of worry. However, we who take life seriously ought not to play with the chances. Contraception can have a place in family planning though. It should not be used to give reign to the hedonistic spirit. It can, however, be wisely implemented as it is a matter of christian liberty. Wisdom would wish to consider the following:
There may be other situations where it may be wise to use contraception. The issue will no doubt necessitate reflection and prayer. However, you will notice that the above will indicate that the couple does have a vision for a growing family. It simply has to be prevented for a time for various reasons. This week I'll be preaching on Genesis 1:24, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." As the passage deals with sexual intimacy, and because our day needs solid (& tactful) teaching on the topic, I'm posting a lot of sermons & blogs that I've written on the subject over the years. You can check the blogs out here. If you want sermons, the click the following:
One of the columns that I often read in the local paper is the "Ask Amy" advice column. Do know that I do NOT read it because I get my life's counsel from her. I read it because it gives such a clear indication of where our culture is. This recent article was interesting for a variety of reasons. First, for the stated problem: Fear of having sex. We live in a culture that is bold and brazen about sex. Today's culture is so obsessed with sex to the point that a man isn't considered a man until he has lost his virginity. Times have changed for the females too. It used to be that a girl was considered a "slut" if she was promiscuous. But today a girl is considered an old prude if she isn't excessively flirtatious and at least somewhat promiscuous. Though our society tells us that sex is natural and to be embraced fearlessly & feverishly (like those in the animal kingdom), people should know that anxiety over sex is normal--especially among those who choose to wait until marriage. Two people who are not "experienced," but want to serve his/her beloved in their time of intimacy will no doubt have some frets over it. But the girl's worry over having sex was not the real item that I found most noteworthy. As I said, fears of having sex for the first time are normal and it is something that one would naturally seek out advice on (though most people would ask a parent or pastor, not a national columnist). What caught my attention was the fact that the girl said she was 21. From my perspective it seemed that the girl was saying, "I'm allowed to have sex now because I'm old enough." It is almost as if the drinking age is also considered the permissible sex age. One may even wonder if she thinks she now has a license to love. Now that she has reached this arbitrary legal sex age, can she now have it as often as she wants with whomever she wants? I admire the girl for having the courage and tenacity to hold out so long (most in our time would set the "legal sex age" around the driving age, if not younger). And I'm sure that all who read the column will applaud her abstinence to this point. But I'm afraid she misses the boat completely. The standard for "when one is allowed to have sex" is not determined by age, or any other arbitrary way for that matter. It is determined by one's marriage vows, as the Word of God states. This girl's mistake is one that is made throughout our society. People think they have the personal right to set the limits and guidelines for morality--or as the Bible says "do what is right in their own eyes." But this is not so. The Bible says that there is a time and place for everything, and those parameters are set by God. And when it comes to sex, the way one begins to relieve his/her anxiety over it is to be able to say, "My lover is mine and I am his." Song of Songs 2:16 This week I've been preparing to preach on the first half of 1 Corinthians 7... you know, the "better to marry than to burn with passion" passage! One thing I love about this passage is its frankness. God not only instituted marriage for the satisfaction of our sexual desires, but he commands us to keep the marriage bed hot! And Paul spares none in making sure we realize this. He commands us to "give [our spouse his/her] conjugal rights." Then he reiterates it and goes so far as to say, "Do not deprive one another." One of the greatest things I heard this week was that one church in the Puritan age put a man under church discipline because he was depriving his wife. That's fantastic! That's the kind of thing that should characterize the church: A people who are passionate about being passionate within marriage! Not long ago Christians had a reputation for being prudish and sex was a taboo topic within the church. Gladly, things are changing. Of course, not all for the better. Today a lot of teaching on sex in the church tends to be a crude, focusing on sex techniques, sex therapists, etc. Nevertheless, most change is for the better, and a sex crazed culture needs solid teaching about proper sexual satisfaction. That is actually a stupid thing to say. What I mean is "A sex crazed culture needs solid application of the Bible's teaching about proper sexual satisfaction." The fornication that is so rampant today would not be so prevalent if we had more of the sweetness of the marital bond. That's why I want to encourage those of you who are married to keep the embers burning in the bedroom. Enjoy it, and be, as the Song of Solomon says, "sick with love." Initiate it, indulge in it, plan for it, play in it, serve in it, talk about it, and (above all) strive to excel in it! I don't just want to emphasize the legitimacy of sexual intercourse between a husband and wife either. I want you to focus on the absolute elation of it! The pagan world does not have the corner on the market when it comes to the exhilaration of sex. God created sex, and he created it to be gratifying. Furthermore, when the Bible talks about proper sexual expression it emphasizes the ecstasy and euphoria of it, to the point where you start to blush (or perhaps better, sweat!). I mentioned the Song of Solomon, but think also of Isaac and Rebbecca. In Gen. 26:8 it says that Isaac was sporting with Rebbecca. Now I don't want you to think that they were playing a game of Yahtzee or going bowling. The language is technically one of rousing sexual intimacy. You might say it was foreplay because it has to do with affectionate caressing. (For those of you who may not understand the technical language: they were making out! If you would like to object to this interpretation, you have to find a better way to explain why Abimelech was so incensed with Isaac regarding his treatment of Rebbecca.) I wanted to cite this line from a recent Generations Radio program on the Puritan View of Sex. One puritan they quote says that our spouse is a "playfellow who has come to make our age merry!" Think of that, a playmate! I might add a word to the ladies here too: This passion is also something that is to characterize you too. I like how the Westminster Larger Catechism cites Proverbs 31:11 as applying to the seventh commandment: "The heart of her husband trusts in her and he will have no lack of gain." Their insight into the word of God was great: A husband who is sexually gratified isn't going to be worrying about his wife all the time! What's more is that he is going to thrive in his business affairs because his wife is fulfilling all his desires. Ladies also might want to consider a series like this in your women's discipleship classes, or perhaps regular conversations with those you mentor. Paul did say that the older women were to teach the younger women to "love their husbands." (Titus 2:3-4) We would be downright numb to limit the application of that to fixing meals and keeping the house tiddy. |
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