The heart of God

Trying to be a  Godly person can be hard. Being washed in the blood of Jesus, we often times feel far from God because we continue to make mistakes, and to sin. Or we get wrapped up in trying to be perfect, and get too worn out to really see God in it all. But what is God's heart on the matter?

Because we are cleansed from our sin and attributed the righteousness of Jesus, the bible says we can boldy enter into the throne room of God, as sons and daughters of his. Similarly, the bible definitely says to come as you are. God doesn't need you to wash up before you come before him- Jesus already took care of that. We can't make ourselves perfect or holy before him. What God cares about is us seeking him, and us having faith in him. By having faith, that means not only believing that he's there, but believing that we are his beloved children and that he will hear and speak to us, and act when we pray. It also means being obedient to what he tells us, even when we're not entirely sure of it.

Once we seek God, God will respond by meeting us where we are. This is what God wants, a relationship with us. Its not a competition, its not us trying to appease an evil master, its just us and father. In his time, and as we serve him, he will fix the things that are wrong with us. Its not us being self-righteous and self-perfecting for him, its him correcting us and making us in his image.

I would post some verses to go with this, but its 4:26am and i need to sleep. Night all

Lust, pornography, and why it is destructive

As a young christian man, I find myself often questioning the things I am taught, especially when they are just abstractions of what is in the bible. One of the things that is most pounded into people through teaching and prayer, and discipleship, is that pornography and masturbation are morally wrong and "sinful". However, the bible nowhere explicity or implicitly says that masturbation is wrong, despite strong admonitions against other matters of sexuality. Many people take this as a free pass to unlimited sexual self-fufillment. But what is God's heart on the matter, in all actuality?

Jesus said that lusting after a woman in our hearts is committing adultery. But, you say, there is a difference between lusting and being sexually aroused. This is very true. Sexual attraction is a natural part of human life. My take on the matter (and I could be wrong) is that lust is actually the conscious desire to have sex with another person. Sexual attraction is completely different (although related obviously). So, giving yourself the benefit of the doubt, it is quite possible to masturbate without lust.

However, another issue still remains. What effect does masturbation have on your mind? And what effect does pornography have on the way you think about members of the opposite sex?

There is an answer to this. First off, lets address masturbation. Masturbation is, obviously, a form of sexual release. Just as any other form, it is very addictive.  After any period of abstinance, you begin to have very strong and uncontrollable cravings. There may be a level of physical pain. And even if there is not, your mind will, out of habit, desire sexual behavior. Any addiction is bad, even if necessarily sinful by itself.

The problem is, as a Christian waiting until marriage for sex, that the appeal to marriage is sexual fufillment or freedom. Simply put, marriage becomes defined by sex: The reason you get married, is so that you can have sex. This completely destroys the beautiful, spiritual picture of love and unity and self sacrifice... and turns it into something vile. Unity of flesh without unity of spirit, is like baking a cake without stirring up the oil and vinegar and milk, completely vile. This is why a majority (some 56% or so) of marriages, even christian ones, fail. 

However, if one does not have sexuality so strongly ingrained into one's mind, this preconception will never occur. Sure, sex may be one of the benefits of being married, but true love and true appreciation can and will occur. Without the chemical drive of sexual addiction, one will not feel compelled to rush into marriage with someone they may not entirely like, or even know that well. One can take time and wait for a relationship to develop with the man or woman that God has for them, instead of artificially trying to develop a like for someone they think they love.

Lastly, I would like to throw in a word about pornography. Pornography is not only food for the flesh, and a ready avenue for lust, but it is also very perverted. Sure, there may be some natural intercourse portrayed at times, but there is a huge amount of strange and fetish behavior, each with an individual niche of fufillment. You hear it time and time again, but I will say it once more: it is very demeaning to women. Not only that, but it puts desires for strange things, and to do those things which are demeaning. 

I must greive for the impact pornography has had on girls, especially the ones that watch it themselves. The impact it has on girls is worse- they come to believe that they must do these demeaning things to please guys, and this makes them believe that they aren't worth anything. How screwed up is that? Sex is supposed to be pleasing and a form of affection, not of dominance. The effect pornography has had on our nation and our world, is appalling, for that fact alone.

In conclusion, while masturbation is not inherently wrong, its effects are destructive, and therefore it is sin. Its like, pulling the trigger on a gun; its not what kills, but it sends the bullet on its way. Song of Solomon says not to awake love before its time. Masturbation does exactly that.

With that, I say goodnight