All this month we will be studying from the book of Genesis on Wednesday evening at 7 P.M.

All this month we will be studying from the book of Hebrews on Sunday morning at 10 A.M.

This concept is so simple even a child could understand it. Yet today it seems everywhere one turns in our country there are those who are intent on destroying not only the roles God has established for each gender, but the very concept of gender itself. Anyone who peruses the news will find many stories that demonstrate this problem. Some celebrated Chastity Bono’s decision to become “Chaz” and were lauding her appearance on “Dancing With The Stars.” A story earlier this year reported a lesbian couple in California giving their eleven year old son hormone blockers to delay puberty because they say he wants to become a girl (Chiaramonte, Park). This is one of many articles one could find where parents in this country and others are engaged in what could only be called a “social” experiment with their children in regard to their gender.

There is no place for such according to the scriptures. One is born into this world either male or female. It is not a choice one gets to make. For a male to decide to become or to behave as female or vice versa is wrong. God has always distinguished between the sexes (Deu. 22:5; 1 Cor. 11:3-5; Eph. 5:22-23). Those who are male and would become female or vice-versa not only in their attire and manner but especially in their sexuality are practicing homosexuality which is condemned (Gen. 19; Rom. 1:24-27; 1 Cor. 6:9). Those who have fallen prey to these desires are precious souls who are being deceived by the world and its lusts (1 Cor. 4:4)! The gospel cries out for them to wake up, listen, and turn back before it is too late.

Recently a report on NPR cited a new study published in the American Sociological Review that found that “working mothers spend significantly more time multitasking at home than working dads. And those mothers aren’t happy about it“(Neighmond). In fact the study found that “mothers spend 10 more hours a week multitasking compared to fathers and that these additional hours are mainly related to time spent on housework and childcare” (Offer, Schneider). Some of the working mothers in the study were so overwhelmed they described the hours when they arrived home from work, between 5 and 8 P.M. as the “arsenic hours” (Neighmond). Who among us is not touched by the plight of these working mothers and their families as more and more Americans have decided to have both mother and father working outside the home? What is the solution to this? According to the one of the researchers, Barabara Sneider, “employers could be more creative in scheduling, giving men more flexible hours and more time at home so that child care and household chores can be more equitably divided” (Neighmond).

This is just one of many examples where our culture seems to be blurring the distinction in gender; in effect, feminizing the male and masculinizing the female. How should we handle the stresses of our modern lives with its daily pressures? Don’t misunderstand, there is certainly nothing wrong with a man helping out around the house but is that what we are seeing? Is that what the world is suggesting? No, the world says that now we should have the males to “guide the house” and be “keepers at home.” What does God say about this? We can easily open the Bible and see it doesn’t explicitly forbid a women to work outside the home, but includes examples of that very thing (Acts 16:14; 18:3). Many offer the woman in Proverbs 31 as having some business that involved work outside of the home (Prov. 31:16, 24). Thus it can be demonstrated that women have in both the Old and New Testaments had work that was outside of the home. However, one would be wrong to conclude from this that a woman’s chief sphere is a career outside the home similar to the man’s role. This was never her primary role. Paul instructed Timothy to exhort young widows to, “marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully” (1 Tim. 5:14). Paul told Titus to exhort the older women to, “teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Tit. 2:4-5). Even when one considers the virtuous example of the worthy woman in Proverbs 31, she was one who “looketh well to the ways of her household” (Prov. 31:27).

These aren’t the opinions of a misogynist, but they are what God called, “sound doctrine” (Tit. 2:1). There is a difference between the role of a male and a female. We all understand this. For example, biologically, in regard to human reproduction, men cannot conceive and bear children, only women can. Nor are women fitted to take the male role in that process either. Likewise, men are not told to be “keepers at home” or to “guide the house” but instead they are to be the head of the house (Eph. 5:22-33)! Again, those who have fallen prey to the wisdom of this world and its desires are precious souls who are being deceived by the world and its lusts (1 Cor. 4:4)! Do not be deceived. While a woman may choose to and sometimes may even be forced to work outside the home that doesn’t authorize her to neglect her role as a female. This is likewise true for the male. When one chooses to do something that causes the male or the female to neglect their God given roles such is wrong regardless of what the world might think or say!

God said it wasn’t good for man to be alone (Gen. 2:18). He knows better than you or me. He made a helper to complement man and that was woman. God intended for males to be male and for females to be female. Let us trust God and not man. Let us respect God’s design and purpose and glorify God in our bodies and perform our respective duties as men and women, boys and girls. Paul told the Colossians, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Col. 2:8). Let us look to God to guide us and not the wisdom of this world. – Phillip Stuckey

References:

• Chiaramonte, Perry. “Controversial Therapy for Pre-Teen Transgender Patient Raises Questions.” FoxNews. FoxNews, 17 10 2011. Web. 2 Dec 2011.
• Neighmond, Patti. “Working Moms Multitask, And Stress, More Than Dads.” NPR.ORG. National Public Radio, 01 Dec 2011. Web. 13 Jan 2012.
• Offer, Shira, and Barbara Schneider. “Revisiting the Gender Gap in Time-Use Patterns: Multitasking and Well-Being among Mothers and Fathers in Dual-Earner Families.” American Sociological Review. 76.6 (2011): n. page. Web. 13 Jan. 2012. .
• Park, Madison. “Transgender kids: Painful quest to be who they are.” CNN. FoxNews, 27 09 2011. Web. 2 Dec 2011.

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Luke 18:10-14 states, “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Ever been the Pharisee in this story? We look at a homosexual, a rapist or a serial killer and say, “They are just so horrible, so dirty, so guilty of sin—I’m glad I’m not walking in their shoes!” If we haven’t said it, then we’ve thought it. I’m convinced the reason why people believe this kind of thinking is because of humanism. Can you blame them? You go to jail for murder or stealing, but nothing happens when you lie to your parents, are unloving or unforgiving, or (unless caught) commit adultery. Hey, what the spouse doesn’t know won’t hurt, right? I mean let’s be real, if I watch pornography I’m not hurting anyone, no one knows, I’m not breaking any laws, I have rights!

As I was listening to the radio the other day, one woman said, “cheating isn’t a crime”. She would be correct if you only regarded man’s law. It’s because man has “standards” or “laws” in which we are to abide by. And if an action, behavior, or liberty is not included in “man’s law”, then we have the right to do as we please. Or should I say, sin as we please. Yet as Christians, should we accept what society has deemed fit? The government has placed laws that are not to be crossed and when those lines are violated, we are punished with some form of earthly punishment. These boundaries include murderers, rapists, thieves, drug dealers, kidnappers, etc., but if I use profanity or watch rated R movies, I’m untouchable, no jail time for me! Again, “cheating isn’t a crime”. Is this really the kind of sick thinking people have? It’s obvious that it is, and we as Christians aren’t far behind this kind of thinking! It’s because of humanism that we like to judge different sins as the world would judge them. There’s nothing wrong with premarital sex as long as you practice “safe sex”. Right? At least, that’s what my friends have always told me. However the scriptures teach otherwise. The Bible says that not only is premarital sex a sin (Hebrews 13:4; I Corinthians 7:2; I Corinthians 6:9, 18) but that sin is sin. Let me say that again: For all of you who believe that you can lust after someone in your heart and that you haven’t sinned like the guy over there awaiting the death penalty because he raped and killed ten women, SIN is SIN. Period.

“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness”. 1 John 3:4 clearly states that sin is sin. No matter the sin, whether great or small, sin is lawlessness. That means, that when I speed, don’t wear my seatbelt, and text while driving, that I’m breaking man’s law (which is sin) and I’m just as guilty as the adulterer, thief, or murderer as far as God is concerned.

Yet, some Christians have the idea that it is not sin, but a “mistake.” Sin is disobedience of God’s law. It is a transgression (1 John 3:4), it is unrighteousness (1 John 5:17) and sin is an omission of doing what is right (James 4:17). God’s word is very plain about sin. Sin will send a person to hell – even one sin will.

What I want every reader to realize is whether you are a rapist, a serial killer, or maybe you just stole a pack of cheese, lied to your parents, or maybe you simply just gossiped about your sister in Christ, that in God’s eyes, sin is sin. There is no difference. When you get angry and sin, when you have hatred in your heart, when you are jealous of someone or something, or when you are unloving or unforgiving, you are just as guilty as the homosexual, the rapist, and the serial killer . Don’t become just another product of the world and believe otherwise or you will commit every “small” and “little” sin known to God and send yourself straight to hell. – Bryan Garlock

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First, let us suggest repentance is necessary simply because God commands it. He is the creator of all things (Acts 17:24) and as such He has the right to command us. Paul related to the Athenians on Mars Hill that once, God winked at their ignorance but no longer, now God, “commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30). He commands it to be done, which means if we love Him, we will do what is asked (1 Jn. 5:3). No wonder Jesus came to “call … sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). Will you heed God’s call to repent?

Second, we find that repentance is necessary because of sin. As we have noted, salvation isn’t possible without repentance. Jesus said, “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Lk. 13:3). Peter commanded those on Pentecost who wanted to know what they must do, after learning they had killed the Messiah, to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38). Thus without repentance we have no chance for forgiveness of sin. This is true for the alien sinner who is outside of Christ (Acts 2:22-23; 36-38), and likewise it is true for the saint who stumbles in sin (Acts 8:22-23). The consequence of sin demands repentance.
Finally, we find that repentance is necessary because of the final judgment each of us will face (2 Corinthians 5:10). The looming certainty of the final judgment is a warning to all to turn away from sin to God. Each passing day we live on this earth brings eternity ever nearer and with each passing day another opportunity to repent is lost for far too many. The Bible assures us that once we die it is too late (Hebrews 9:27). Repentance will surely make the judgment more tolerable than for those who refuse to repent (Matthew 11:21-22). Judgment is certain and for the one who hasn’t repented and obeyed the gospel it will be severe (2 Peter 3:8-13; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). The impending judgment demands repentance.

Why is repentance necessary? Repentance is necessary because God commands it. It is necessary because of sin; forgiveness requires repentance. It is necessary because the judgment warns every soul to repent. If you haven’t repented you cannot be saved; whether you are an alien sinner outside of Christ or an erring Christian, “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Lk. 13:3). Now is the time for you to repent (2 Cor. 6:2)! – Phillip Stuckey

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Download the complete issue of the Bonaire Exhorter for November 2011 here.

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Download the complete issue of the Bonaire Exhorter for October 2011here.

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