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Hey Sunday School teachers! Keep it up! In fact, go out tomorrow and teach the best lesson you can! Trust God that He’ll bring the harvest, as this video shows is happening all around the country. Sure, we hear all the time about bad people doing bad stuff. It’s about time we hear about someone doing good and upholding truth and honesty in the world.
Yes, I’m pro-abstinence in sex education. No debate about where I stand on that. Recent news events (possible pacts by students to become teen moms, Tyra Banks and her study on teen sexuality, etc.) have increased the abstinence debate in our culture. Here’s the current development: the Twilight books and new movie have created quite a stir, especially among teen girls. What’s the big deal? The books well written teen angst stories that have a romantic edge to them, thereby creating almost a cult following. A key plot angle is that the main characters do not consummate their relationship sexually, which some have praised as being “pro-abstinence.” This supposedly makes the books/movie acceptable entertainment fair for teens, even though the vampire angle is a little troubling in itself.
In Twilight, Edward (the “teen” vampire/heart throb) sets boundaries for the physical relationship between him and Bella (his teen love interest who is willing to give up almost anything for him). Still, there’s a fair amount of sexual tension, attraction, and romance between the two, which is one of the reasons the story is popular with teen girls. Why does he set the boundaries? He loves Bella and doesn’t want to hurt her (trying not to spoil the story too much, for those who haven’t read/seen it yet). Edward also adheres to “old fashioned” values which further guide his decision to remain chaste in his relationship with Bella. That’s very chivalrous, we’re led to think. Should we, should I, support this kind of message and encourage students to take in this story?
What I think is missing from the discussion on this topic — I know, you’re shocked — is the spiritual angle. After all, God in His Word tells His people to abstain from sexual activity (which includes all sorts of activity, not just intercourse) for a specific reason. The main reason is that sexual intimacy was created by God for the benefit of His people within the confines of marriage. That’s the setting that gives sexuality the security, passion, and purpose He intended when he designed it. Many people search for security or passion or purpose apart from a relationship with God. They end up with a blemished version of sexuality. Unfortunately, that’s the version that Twilight ends up promoting. Sure, abstinence is a part of the story, but not out of honor and respect for God and His creation. The abstinence we get from Twilight is a self-centered version, born out of a pragmatic bottom line that if Edward and Bella become intimate their relationship would be changed forever–for the worse. While that is certainly a truth for teens in the real world — sexual activity outside of a committed marriage changes a relationship for the worse — I’m not sure the Twilight story and it’s vampire-laced setting makes an effective parallel to that truth.
So, back to the question. Do I support abstinence, no matter what the reason? No, I do not. I’m for abstinence when it’s based on God’s principles, not the schemes of men (or vampires).
As I sit here and type, the election has in no way been decided yet. So, what is the truth I am referring to? As I watch the pundits on television and the internet spout their mind, seeking to tell the truth as they see it, what are they missing? As I listen to them debate over who will be in control of our government and how large a majority they will have, I have not heard one mention of Who is ultimately in control. Ok, I understand that network news is not religious programming. Fine, I’ll concede that. But what strikes me is how man-centered the nature of our national conversation has been this election year. It’s certainly magnified on this climatic night.
God’s Holy Word says this: “For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Phillipians 3:18-21, NIV)
Sure, I believe that the USA is the greatest place in this world to be a citizen. I love being an American. However, God says that His Kingdom is “home” for those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior. Jesus Christ has the power to “bring everything under his control.” That includes our country, our elections, and our very lives. As I was standing in line to vote today, one woman ahead of me made this statement: “All I know is that God has already figured it out and whoever wins is who He wants to win.” Now I understand that she was trying to calm some tensions around her, but she made a statement that I don’t know is true. Let’s say Barack Obama wins the election. Does that mean that God both knew that outcome in advance and determined that outcome? It seems to be what the lady voter was saying. But is that what God’s Word says? I’m not so sure it is. I have no doubts that God knows the beginning and end of all things. Nothing gets through the filter of His knowledge. However, does that also mean that God determines all things as well? I don’t think so. He gives us free will to choose Him or not (although there is some theological debate regarding that as well). Certainly He also gives us free will to choose our own political leaders. At times we choose wisely and please God; other times we choose poorly and suffer hardships because of it. I won’t say how I see it playing out this year because I can’t see into the future.
The truth of this night is that God is sovereign, God has the power to bring everything under His control, and we deceive ourselves to approach life from any other perspective. Elections tend to magnify humans (politicians), and in the process the God who created these humans gets shoved to the sidelines, or worse, never mentioned at all. Problems in our country and their potential solutions get tossed around, but the God who has the power to bring these situations under control gets left out of the discussion. We’ll wake up tomorrow, if God allows us to, and we’ll continue on with our lives no matter which men or women “rule” the political process. The real question is this: will you and I bow to the ultimate Ruler and His Truth, or will we focus our minds on humans and their failed solutions. God gives us freedom to follow Him or follow earthly things. Although we live among earthly things, we don’t have to bow down to them. Take heart, trust in God, live like the eternal citizen of heaven you are.
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