I know that modesty is a difficult issue in modern Christian churches (as a whole- there are some exceptions). Recently, I read a couple of excellent articles on modesty and Christians, and wanted to share them with ya'll. Read them here and here and here.
If you are interested, some other resources I would highly reccomend can be found here and here.
May we all become modest daughters, who reflect the beauty of our Heavenly Father!
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Biblical Daughterhood
One of the messages Mr. Doug Phillips gave at the 2010 Father and Daughter Retreat was A 21st Century Vision of Biblical Daughterhood. This message really made me stop and think about the sad shape our families and churches are in (and that's why our country's in the shape it is in!)
First, Mr. Phillips pointed out that we are the first generation...
... to have MORE mothers in the workforce than in the home.
... to have professing Christians choose not to have children if it is "inconvenient".
... to have conservative Preachers who are advocates of androgyny in Church leadership.
... to see the presumption of Christian parents to prepare daughters for singleness.
... to have Marriage now validated for "Adam & Steve", not 'Adam & Eve'.
What is truly sad is that "our culture is a reflection of the things we love", because "culture is religion externalized". And, unfortunately, because "fish don't know they're wet", we often have humanistic and feministic mentalities, that we didn't even know we had.
"How can we rebuild the Church of God with rebellious families? We must first experience family reformation."
Mr. Phillips then went on to cast a Vision for daughters, by stating that "the Picture of Biblical Daughterhood has never changed"
... we have.
He exhorted us to have a Vision...
... for rebuilding the culture of the Christian family.
... for the expansion of the ministry of our father's house.
... for reinforcing the infrastructure of the local church, so we can be free from slavery.
... for defending the culture of life in the midst of a culture of death.
... for modeling the virtues of femininity and womanhood in a culture of androgyny.
... for perpetuating a multi-generational vision of faithfulness.
... for learning and communicating God's Providential history so the Kingdom work of God will be known and perpetuated.
He also gave the 7 Biblical Missions of the Christian Home:
-Worship
-Industry
-Education
-Evangelism
-Hospitality
-Culture
-Care
God Bless!
First, Mr. Phillips pointed out that we are the first generation...
... to have MORE mothers in the workforce than in the home.
... to have professing Christians choose not to have children if it is "inconvenient".
... to have conservative Preachers who are advocates of androgyny in Church leadership.
... to see the presumption of Christian parents to prepare daughters for singleness.
... to have Marriage now validated for "Adam & Steve", not 'Adam & Eve'.
What is truly sad is that "our culture is a reflection of the things we love", because "culture is religion externalized". And, unfortunately, because "fish don't know they're wet", we often have humanistic and feministic mentalities, that we didn't even know we had.
"How can we rebuild the Church of God with rebellious families? We must first experience family reformation."
Mr. Phillips then went on to cast a Vision for daughters, by stating that "the Picture of Biblical Daughterhood has never changed"
... we have.
He exhorted us to have a Vision...
... for rebuilding the culture of the Christian family.
... for the expansion of the ministry of our father's house.
... for reinforcing the infrastructure of the local church, so we can be free from slavery.
... for defending the culture of life in the midst of a culture of death.
... for modeling the virtues of femininity and womanhood in a culture of androgyny.
... for perpetuating a multi-generational vision of faithfulness.
... for learning and communicating God's Providential history so the Kingdom work of God will be known and perpetuated.
He also gave the 7 Biblical Missions of the Christian Home:
-Worship
-Industry
-Education
-Evangelism
-Hospitality
-Culture
-Care
God Bless!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
What do you Love?
This past Sunday Mr. Bruce Rogers spoke, and it was so good, I wanted to share with everyone a little bit of what he said! His main Scripture passage was Psalm 139-
"O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all...Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me; and lead me in the everlasting way."
I was so convicted because this went along so well with what I have been thinking on since we listened to Mr. Doug Phillips' Identity Theft cd. When we left church, one question Mr. Bruce asked was stuck in my brain, Does God loathe what we love?
This week as I meditated on Psalm 139 and thought back to those messages, I continued to ask myself, What do I delight in? What do I love? Are my priorities in life straight?
Unfortunately, too often I am like the Israelites-- I forget what the Lord has done for me, and I wander back to Egypt, in my words, attitudes, etc.
Something else that pricked my heart was when Mr. Bruce pointed out that nothing we do is hidden from the sight of God. Not even a thought is hidden from God's all-seeing eye. In fact, Scripture says that He is "intimately acquainted" with all our ways! Anytime I slip back to feminist thinking- even just in my heart- God Knows!
"O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all...Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me; and lead me in the everlasting way."
I was so convicted because this went along so well with what I have been thinking on since we listened to Mr. Doug Phillips' Identity Theft cd. When we left church, one question Mr. Bruce asked was stuck in my brain, Does God loathe what we love?
This week as I meditated on Psalm 139 and thought back to those messages, I continued to ask myself, What do I delight in? What do I love? Are my priorities in life straight?
Unfortunately, too often I am like the Israelites-- I forget what the Lord has done for me, and I wander back to Egypt, in my words, attitudes, etc.
Something else that pricked my heart was when Mr. Bruce pointed out that nothing we do is hidden from the sight of God. Not even a thought is hidden from God's all-seeing eye. In fact, Scripture says that He is "intimately acquainted" with all our ways! Anytime I slip back to feminist thinking- even just in my heart- God Knows!
Monday, February 22, 2010
More on the Tongue
Yesterday at Church my Daddy gave a very interesting talk on the Apostle Paul and his life and work, and Mr. Trent Hendrix gave a wonderful (and very convicting/encouraging) message on how we are supposed to use our Tongues! One of his main Scripture passages was Ezekiel 2:3-8.
"Son of man, I am sending you to...a rebellious people who have transgressed against Me to this very day. I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God.' As for them, whether they listen or not- for they are a rebellious house- they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious. Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house..."
There were things that stood out to me in this passage:
1.- Several times it mentions "speaking" the Words of the Lord. It made me think, Do I know enough of what God's Word says to incorporate it in my speech?
2.- I realized one part of this passage was very necessary to the rest: "listen to what I am speaking to you". I have to heed what Scripture says! I can't make Scripture say what I want it to-- it can only mean what God wants it to mean!! Even when it's difficult.
3.- Fear Costs! Fear is death wish to anything. And look at what God tells us not to fear! "neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles are with you and you sit on scorpions" How often does fear keep me from being a witness to the Lord with my life?
4.- "Speak My Words to them whether they listen or not" How discouraging this can be! It is so hard to apply this, especially with family members you love. For me, it's hard to keep on keeping on when the person your heart wants to help doesn't seem interested AT ALL!!!
5.- Last of all, it is sooo easy (at least for me) to fall back into old ways of thinking, ways of thinking that are worldly and anti-God. And look at what God says here: "Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house..." Rebellion is especially hard for me... I want my way NOW!!! (What a terrible attitude!)
Another Scripture he used was Galatians 4:6- "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."
He asked all of us, "Are you "full of grace" or are you a "salt shaker"?" He pointed out that neither are right if not properly balanced with the other! If you are always kind and full of grace in your speech, but you don't share the Truth of God (which sometimes hurts) it's no more right than being "too salty"-- speaking the Truth of God, but with no love or grace towards others! One thing that I noticed was the ending of this verse: "so that you will know how you should respond to each person". That is so true. When we speak God's Word,with Grace, we can answer in a godly way, that points others to Christ.
I hope this encourages all of you as much as it has me! Do any of you have any tips for keeping our tongues in submission to Christ? If you do, I would love to hear them!!
"Son of man, I am sending you to...a rebellious people who have transgressed against Me to this very day. I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God.' As for them, whether they listen or not- for they are a rebellious house- they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious. Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house..."
There were things that stood out to me in this passage:
1.- Several times it mentions "speaking" the Words of the Lord. It made me think, Do I know enough of what God's Word says to incorporate it in my speech?
2.- I realized one part of this passage was very necessary to the rest: "listen to what I am speaking to you". I have to heed what Scripture says! I can't make Scripture say what I want it to-- it can only mean what God wants it to mean!! Even when it's difficult.
3.- Fear Costs! Fear is death wish to anything. And look at what God tells us not to fear! "neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles are with you and you sit on scorpions" How often does fear keep me from being a witness to the Lord with my life?
4.- "Speak My Words to them whether they listen or not" How discouraging this can be! It is so hard to apply this, especially with family members you love. For me, it's hard to keep on keeping on when the person your heart wants to help doesn't seem interested AT ALL!!!
5.- Last of all, it is sooo easy (at least for me) to fall back into old ways of thinking, ways of thinking that are worldly and anti-God. And look at what God says here: "Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house..." Rebellion is especially hard for me... I want my way NOW!!! (What a terrible attitude!)
Another Scripture he used was Galatians 4:6- "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."
He asked all of us, "Are you "full of grace" or are you a "salt shaker"?" He pointed out that neither are right if not properly balanced with the other! If you are always kind and full of grace in your speech, but you don't share the Truth of God (which sometimes hurts) it's no more right than being "too salty"-- speaking the Truth of God, but with no love or grace towards others! One thing that I noticed was the ending of this verse: "so that you will know how you should respond to each person". That is so true. When we speak God's Word,with Grace, we can answer in a godly way, that points others to Christ.
I hope this encourages all of you as much as it has me! Do any of you have any tips for keeping our tongues in submission to Christ? If you do, I would love to hear them!!
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