For the past many of my posts, I've discussed controversial topics and displayed my opinion on how they interlink with what the Bible has to say. Many Christians today choose not to speak about such subjects, mainly because the opinions on these subjects vary from person to person. These topics are almost guaranteed to cause heated discussion when brought up among different denominational groups. Today, I'm going to talk about the one subject that most Christians (and even some atheists) can agree on as being a largely significant part of our spiritual lives: positive thinking.
Every day, everywhere, at every time, bad things happen. We don't really need to remind ourselves this; it's a pretty obvious factor. People hurt our feelings, people lie, people betray us and disasters happen. What happens, though, when we start to notice these negative situations getting under our skin more and more, and begin to find ourselves reacting more strongly when these bad things impact on our lives? It's only natural for us to grow frustrated with our lives every now and then, but over time, the more we dwell on these bad things, the more they begin to take control over our entire outlook on life. We might not realize it, but these occasional negative thoughts begin to bleed onto our everyday thinking. We'll start to wonder over the smallest things, "What is the point in all this?" "Does God really have a purpose for my life?" "What if God doesn't really care about me at all?"
Although these thoughts are nothing but poison trying to contaminate our relationship with God, these thoughts are not uncommon in Christians. We all stumble in our faith, and we all begin to question our value in God's eyes. But despite these thoughts being very natural, they will only grow stronger and more dominant in our behavior if we don't take the time to re-evaluate ourselves and figure out a way to remove the thoughts from our minds---FAST. Once the negative seeds are planted in our minds, they only continue to grow until the anger and frustration are so big we aren't able to get rid of their influence on our own. Although it might seem obvious, the best way to avoid these negative thoughts at all is to replace them with positive thinking.
While the Bible has much to say about God wanting us to be happy---I'll list a few example verses here in a moment---positive thinking also benefits our bodies in scientific ways. If we allow ourselves to dwell on the negative all of the time, just think about how oppressed we would be, psychologically. We don't realize it, but negative thoughts are a big---and oftentimes unnecessary---burden to carry. Some people, however, have more of a tendency toward negative thinking than others. In fact, many people feel they're better when they engage in negative thoughts. Despite sounding like an oxymoron, it's not so hard to believe: bad things happen all the time, eventually it's natural for us to accustom to feeling numb in response to negative thinking and not realize how harmful it is at all. However, thinking negatively leads to long-time effects and should be taken seriously. This can lead to depression, which is not only a psychological issue but can also become a physical danger as well. Next time when we feel negative, we should ask ourselves just how thinking that way is really benefiting ourselves, or anyone around us: When we think negatively, does it change anything? Does it make things better? The answer to both of these questions is a solid "no." The only thing thinking negatively does is make a bad situation worse by building up poisonous emotions.
What about when we approach a bad situation with positive thoughts? Does it change anything? Does it make things better? Realistically, the answer to both of these questions is also often a "no." Positive thinking doesn't always change bad situations, but then again, neither does negative thinking. From our own points of view, though, positive thoughts make dealing with bad situations easier on on both emotional and spiritual level. Based on this evidence, I would be led to believe that we would be taking an unnecessary weight off our shoulders by approaching things in a positive light rather than in a negative light.
Judging by the following Bible verses, I am led to believe that this logic is correct: "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22); "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11); "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8).
God has a plan for each and every one of us, and each of us were given a different gift to utilize in different ways. Although we may get caught up sometimes in life, with work, and school, and every other problem that weighs us down, we have to remember to take the time to step back, put things in perspective, and thank the Lord for everything He has done for us. He has done great things for me, and I know He has done great things for YOU. It's our job to embrace that and have faith knowing this is the one solid truth in our lives. God wouldn't put us on this world if we didn't have a purpose, and He certainly isn't the one putting negative thoughts in our minds to blind us from seeing this purpose. It's not our job to compare our purpose to that of others; we are all different and are used in different ways. If we need help releasing our negative emotions before they get built-up, the best way is to open up the Bible, spend some time with God, and write down both the things we are grateful for and the things we admire about ourselves. If the emotions have already been built-up, it's OK to talk to someone about it, whether it's a professional or someone you trust and care about.
My fellow Christian friends, I hope this has helped you see that God has our lives in His hands, and it's up to us to embrace that fact and approach the negative thoughts that come our way with this promise in mind. God bless.
Danielle Forrester
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Animals
What role do animals play in this world? Probably every person who reads this question will have a different answer. Depending on the species, every animal has a varying role here on earth. Some animals---such as dogs and cats---make good pets and provide companionship. Some animals are a source of food. Some animals are hunted for sport or trained to do tricks for our own entertainment. The animal kingdom is undoubtedly an important factor in God's Creation. Without animals, humanity wouldn't thrive quite as well as it has. And if you're a person who enjoys having pets, you likely can imagine life would be boring without them.
Just how important, though, are animals? What is God's view on their existence? The answer seems obvious; they must be awfully significant, if He created them before He created Adam! Plus, He saved them right along with Noah and his family during the Flood. That must mean God considers them pretty innocent, right? There are many people who would even go so far as to say animals are more innocent than people. Animals are loving, after all. Animals don't hurt our feelings or say unkind things. Because of their aura of innocence, people often admit they would choose to save the life of an animal before saving the life of a human. There are countless individuals who form organizations to protect the rights of animals. While I see no problem in this and believe that no living creature should be purposely tortured or abused, I also believe there should be boundaries in how much we exalt animals. For example, there was an acquaintence of mine who said she believed animals were just as important as humans; i.e., she believed that the murder of an animal was just as sinful as the murder of a human being. How can this be true, though? Does God honestly think animals are at the same rate of significance as humans? Taking evidence from the Bible, this is quite simply implausible. While animals do seem innocent, the reason is because they have no sense of morals. No sense of right and wrong. They function solely by instinct, and as much as we might like to think they do, animals don't have souls. They don't choose the path of Christianity or the path of Satan. They don't ask God for forgiveness of their sins or feel remorse when they kill another living creature. This may make them innocent, but it doesn't mean their behavior is always something to admire.
Often when people hear the statement that homosexuality is a sin, they argue that homosexuality is apparent in many species of the animal kingdom, and believe this means homosexual behavior in humans must be natural as well. However, animals can also be seen eating their prey alive and even their own young. Does this mean we should state these actions as being natural in the human kingdom as well? From God's viewpoint, I think not. God says in Genesis 1:26-27: “'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." This proves that during Creation, God intended for humans to rule over animals, and that while it's our job to care for them, it isn't our job to compare our lifestyles to theirs. We were made in God's image---animals weren't. We were not intended to behave like they do.
My fellow Christian friends, I hope this has explained why God considers us to be more important than any animal on earth, and that just because something is natural in an animal's lifestyle, doesn't make it natural in ours as well. Humans have souls and are blessed with a life where we have the option to make either right choices or wrong ones. Animals don't have decisions to make, and while it is unknown for sure whether our beloved pets will be in Heaven after death, it IS known that God will always love us since we were created in His image, and He will always want us to put our lives before the life of any animal. May we remember this for all the days to come. God bless.
Danielle Forrester
Just how important, though, are animals? What is God's view on their existence? The answer seems obvious; they must be awfully significant, if He created them before He created Adam! Plus, He saved them right along with Noah and his family during the Flood. That must mean God considers them pretty innocent, right? There are many people who would even go so far as to say animals are more innocent than people. Animals are loving, after all. Animals don't hurt our feelings or say unkind things. Because of their aura of innocence, people often admit they would choose to save the life of an animal before saving the life of a human. There are countless individuals who form organizations to protect the rights of animals. While I see no problem in this and believe that no living creature should be purposely tortured or abused, I also believe there should be boundaries in how much we exalt animals. For example, there was an acquaintence of mine who said she believed animals were just as important as humans; i.e., she believed that the murder of an animal was just as sinful as the murder of a human being. How can this be true, though? Does God honestly think animals are at the same rate of significance as humans? Taking evidence from the Bible, this is quite simply implausible. While animals do seem innocent, the reason is because they have no sense of morals. No sense of right and wrong. They function solely by instinct, and as much as we might like to think they do, animals don't have souls. They don't choose the path of Christianity or the path of Satan. They don't ask God for forgiveness of their sins or feel remorse when they kill another living creature. This may make them innocent, but it doesn't mean their behavior is always something to admire.
Often when people hear the statement that homosexuality is a sin, they argue that homosexuality is apparent in many species of the animal kingdom, and believe this means homosexual behavior in humans must be natural as well. However, animals can also be seen eating their prey alive and even their own young. Does this mean we should state these actions as being natural in the human kingdom as well? From God's viewpoint, I think not. God says in Genesis 1:26-27: “'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." This proves that during Creation, God intended for humans to rule over animals, and that while it's our job to care for them, it isn't our job to compare our lifestyles to theirs. We were made in God's image---animals weren't. We were not intended to behave like they do.
My fellow Christian friends, I hope this has explained why God considers us to be more important than any animal on earth, and that just because something is natural in an animal's lifestyle, doesn't make it natural in ours as well. Humans have souls and are blessed with a life where we have the option to make either right choices or wrong ones. Animals don't have decisions to make, and while it is unknown for sure whether our beloved pets will be in Heaven after death, it IS known that God will always love us since we were created in His image, and He will always want us to put our lives before the life of any animal. May we remember this for all the days to come. God bless.
Danielle Forrester
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Believing in Yourself
In a desperate attempt to uplift society’s self-confidence, how many times a day do you hear TV shows or songs on the radio say: "Believe in yourself!" "Follow your heart!" "You are perfect in God's eyes!"? These words can seem like holy inspiration in the midst of a world filled with darkness, though in reality this philosophy is almost as evil as all the other misleading messages being spewed by the media. Today, I’m going to give some reasons why Christians shouldn’t be fooled by this unhealthy dose of humanism.
When music and television tells us to "believe in ourselves," just what are they saying? While it’s important to have confidence in the choices we make, we are failing to realize that there needs to be boundaries when it comes to this philosophy. For example, many Christians are being led to believe that "believing in ourselves" includes embracing all our sins and believing there’s no reason to ever change our sinful ways---we are being encouraged to believe that we are more powerful than God, simply because we're the ones who make decisions in our lives. In reality, we should remember that we should still look to the Lord for wisdom when making such decisions.
"Following your heart" is also a very unwise doctrine to abide by. Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" In Matthew 15:19 Jesus states, "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies. . ." Why should we want to follow our hearts—which are always changing—when we could be following God’s Word, which always remains the same? If every Christian went by what they believed their hearts wanted them to do, we’d be making excuses for sin all the time. Worst of all, we’d be deceiving ourselves. Remember: it’s not ourselves that need more faith. It’s God we need to believe in. Our hearts will lead us astray. The Bible won’t.
As for "being perfect in God's eyes," this has to be one of the most ridiculous mottos I’ve heard in a long time. Just because we’re Christians and have confessed our sins doesn’t mean God is tricked into thinking we’re perfect. He knows we still make mistakes, and although we’re always going to sin simply because it comes naturally, we shouldn’t take pride in our wrongdoing. Be willing to ask for forgiveness when you sin; don’t try to make excuses for it. We’re not perfect in anyone’s eyes nor will we ever be. Claiming oursleves or anyone else to be perfect is a great sign of lax humility.
When a friend needs an uplifting phrase or a word of encouragement to help them get through low self-esteem or a time of oppression, it would be much more meaningful to say God will help them through than to make them believe following their heart and believing in themself is all that matters. My fellow Christian friends, I hope that this reminder will assist you in learning to think twice about the seemingly-harmless philosophies that are coming from both the media and even many Christians today. God bless.
Danielle Forrester
When music and television tells us to "believe in ourselves," just what are they saying? While it’s important to have confidence in the choices we make, we are failing to realize that there needs to be boundaries when it comes to this philosophy. For example, many Christians are being led to believe that "believing in ourselves" includes embracing all our sins and believing there’s no reason to ever change our sinful ways---we are being encouraged to believe that we are more powerful than God, simply because we're the ones who make decisions in our lives. In reality, we should remember that we should still look to the Lord for wisdom when making such decisions.
"Following your heart" is also a very unwise doctrine to abide by. Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" In Matthew 15:19 Jesus states, "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies. . ." Why should we want to follow our hearts—which are always changing—when we could be following God’s Word, which always remains the same? If every Christian went by what they believed their hearts wanted them to do, we’d be making excuses for sin all the time. Worst of all, we’d be deceiving ourselves. Remember: it’s not ourselves that need more faith. It’s God we need to believe in. Our hearts will lead us astray. The Bible won’t.
As for "being perfect in God's eyes," this has to be one of the most ridiculous mottos I’ve heard in a long time. Just because we’re Christians and have confessed our sins doesn’t mean God is tricked into thinking we’re perfect. He knows we still make mistakes, and although we’re always going to sin simply because it comes naturally, we shouldn’t take pride in our wrongdoing. Be willing to ask for forgiveness when you sin; don’t try to make excuses for it. We’re not perfect in anyone’s eyes nor will we ever be. Claiming oursleves or anyone else to be perfect is a great sign of lax humility.
When a friend needs an uplifting phrase or a word of encouragement to help them get through low self-esteem or a time of oppression, it would be much more meaningful to say God will help them through than to make them believe following their heart and believing in themself is all that matters. My fellow Christian friends, I hope that this reminder will assist you in learning to think twice about the seemingly-harmless philosophies that are coming from both the media and even many Christians today. God bless.
Danielle Forrester
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Homosexuality
Any Christian who observes mainstream television and music nowadays has probably noticed that homosexuality is becoming very accepted by both non-believers and Christians alike. Many people might ask, "What’s wrong with that?" Well, for all you Bible-believing individuals out there, allow me to elaborate.
First of all, in the very beginning of Genesis, when God created Adam and Eve, He declared that marriage was strictly between male and female (Genesis 2:24) and humanity was ordered to "go forth and multiply." If God had intended for a man to marry another man or a woman to marry another woman, He would have made it physically possible for them to reproduce together. This alone is proof that only heterosexual marriage is true marriage, and any homosexual relationship is indeed a form of adultery.
A common argument regarding the above statement would be, "God isn’t that narrow-minded! Homosexuals can’t help it; they were born that way!" Many Christians are forgetting that homosexuality isn’t induced via genetics; although humans are born with sinful tendencies and will always be imperfect, we were given free will to either choose or reject sin. Therefore, when we make mistakes, the only person left to blame is our own selves. God never makes people be homosexuals, just like He doesn’t make people kill or lie or steal. Even the devil cannot make you commit evil. Sin is a conscious decision every person must make. (James 1:13-15)
For definite proof that homosexuality is a sin, read the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:1-13. God destroyed these two cities because their wicked inhabitants partook in homosexual practices. Also, in Leviticus 18:22 God explains to the Israelites that non-heterosexual relations are simply detestable. Even the New Testament explains that God granted humans free will, and through their own choice have decided to become homosexuals. (Romans 1:26-32)
Many Christians defensively respond to such teaching by saying, "Jesus said we aren’t supposed to judge." Of course we aren’t supposed to judge; the only one within rights to condemn others is God Himself. However, we aren’t judging homosexuals by acknowledging their act is a sin—we are merely distinguishing right from wrong. Without learning what God considers good and what He considers evil, how will we mature in our faith? Indeed, we Christians should love homosexuals because we’re sinners too, but does that mean we should approve of their sin? Absolutely not! Loving others doesn’t mean loving their wrongdoing as well. Even the Bible says multiple times that those who love the Lord should hate evil. (Psalm 97:10) In order to become strong Christians of God, we should never hesitate to receive as much wisdom as we can from the Bible; its instructions are reliable for every time and generation. Simply because the world is exchanging Biblical teachings for newer, humanistic ones does not mean we should conform ourselves and do the same. God bless.
Danielle Forrester
First of all, in the very beginning of Genesis, when God created Adam and Eve, He declared that marriage was strictly between male and female (Genesis 2:24) and humanity was ordered to "go forth and multiply." If God had intended for a man to marry another man or a woman to marry another woman, He would have made it physically possible for them to reproduce together. This alone is proof that only heterosexual marriage is true marriage, and any homosexual relationship is indeed a form of adultery.
A common argument regarding the above statement would be, "God isn’t that narrow-minded! Homosexuals can’t help it; they were born that way!" Many Christians are forgetting that homosexuality isn’t induced via genetics; although humans are born with sinful tendencies and will always be imperfect, we were given free will to either choose or reject sin. Therefore, when we make mistakes, the only person left to blame is our own selves. God never makes people be homosexuals, just like He doesn’t make people kill or lie or steal. Even the devil cannot make you commit evil. Sin is a conscious decision every person must make. (James 1:13-15)
For definite proof that homosexuality is a sin, read the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:1-13. God destroyed these two cities because their wicked inhabitants partook in homosexual practices. Also, in Leviticus 18:22 God explains to the Israelites that non-heterosexual relations are simply detestable. Even the New Testament explains that God granted humans free will, and through their own choice have decided to become homosexuals. (Romans 1:26-32)
Many Christians defensively respond to such teaching by saying, "Jesus said we aren’t supposed to judge." Of course we aren’t supposed to judge; the only one within rights to condemn others is God Himself. However, we aren’t judging homosexuals by acknowledging their act is a sin—we are merely distinguishing right from wrong. Without learning what God considers good and what He considers evil, how will we mature in our faith? Indeed, we Christians should love homosexuals because we’re sinners too, but does that mean we should approve of their sin? Absolutely not! Loving others doesn’t mean loving their wrongdoing as well. Even the Bible says multiple times that those who love the Lord should hate evil. (Psalm 97:10) In order to become strong Christians of God, we should never hesitate to receive as much wisdom as we can from the Bible; its instructions are reliable for every time and generation. Simply because the world is exchanging Biblical teachings for newer, humanistic ones does not mean we should conform ourselves and do the same. God bless.
Danielle Forrester
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Holding Grudges
When many of us hear the word "memories," we normally think of good events that occured in our past, such as get-togethers with family or kind words from old friends. We usually think of times that still bring us happiness even once the occasion has passed, merely because it still continues to live on in our hearts. This act of rememberance is referred to as reminiscing.
Reminiscing mostly means gazing at memories that make you feel wistful—memories that are positive and happy. Sadly, not all pastimes were this wonderful; if they were, we would have lived a perfect life. Believe me, there is a such thing as bad memories, whether they be memories of something hurtful that was said or done to you, or even something hurtful you did or said to someone else. These negative times are hard to look back on, and they often bring us deep sorrow or regret. Now, feeling pain from the past is perfectly normal for a Christian or any other human being, but the inability to forgive the person who caused these less fortunate times is simply holding a grudge.
I myself will admit, it is very easy to hold a grudge. Judging others for a mistake they made long ago is hard to move away from, especially if we know what they did was morally wrong. It’s easy to hold grudges against ourselves, too, if a past flaw we caused in our lives was accompanied by a shadow of lingering guilt. Of course, we mustn’t forget that guilt can be a good thing—when we make a mistake, it’s only natural that we feel bad for what we did wrong until we ask God for forgiveness, and then He takes that guilt away. If it weren’t for the Holy Spirit, which provides this remorse, we’d have a pretty hard time figuring out what's wrong or what's right! However, if even after repentance we still feel overwhelming shame, consider what Jesus commanded in Mark 11:25: "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in Heaven forgive your trespasses." Also observe what He says in Matthew 5:7: "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." We shouldn't allow resentment from the past to build inside us, and if our grudges are against someone besides ourselves, we must give them a chance to repent and learn from their wrongdoings. After all, God recognizes every sin we’ve ever made, yet He still has the love to forgive and bring us to Heaven. If He can share such a great oppurtunity after all our errors, I believe we as well are inclined to do the same.
My Christians friends, I hope after reading this you are willing to have mercy on those who have went against you, and that you are able to release the resentment you have held in your grasp for so long. Let us look to the future with anticipance to create better memories---ones that we will desire to remember years after they have passed. God bless.
Danielle Forrester
Reminiscing mostly means gazing at memories that make you feel wistful—memories that are positive and happy. Sadly, not all pastimes were this wonderful; if they were, we would have lived a perfect life. Believe me, there is a such thing as bad memories, whether they be memories of something hurtful that was said or done to you, or even something hurtful you did or said to someone else. These negative times are hard to look back on, and they often bring us deep sorrow or regret. Now, feeling pain from the past is perfectly normal for a Christian or any other human being, but the inability to forgive the person who caused these less fortunate times is simply holding a grudge.
I myself will admit, it is very easy to hold a grudge. Judging others for a mistake they made long ago is hard to move away from, especially if we know what they did was morally wrong. It’s easy to hold grudges against ourselves, too, if a past flaw we caused in our lives was accompanied by a shadow of lingering guilt. Of course, we mustn’t forget that guilt can be a good thing—when we make a mistake, it’s only natural that we feel bad for what we did wrong until we ask God for forgiveness, and then He takes that guilt away. If it weren’t for the Holy Spirit, which provides this remorse, we’d have a pretty hard time figuring out what's wrong or what's right! However, if even after repentance we still feel overwhelming shame, consider what Jesus commanded in Mark 11:25: "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in Heaven forgive your trespasses." Also observe what He says in Matthew 5:7: "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." We shouldn't allow resentment from the past to build inside us, and if our grudges are against someone besides ourselves, we must give them a chance to repent and learn from their wrongdoings. After all, God recognizes every sin we’ve ever made, yet He still has the love to forgive and bring us to Heaven. If He can share such a great oppurtunity after all our errors, I believe we as well are inclined to do the same.
My Christians friends, I hope after reading this you are willing to have mercy on those who have went against you, and that you are able to release the resentment you have held in your grasp for so long. Let us look to the future with anticipance to create better memories---ones that we will desire to remember years after they have passed. God bless.
Danielle Forrester
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Modesty
What is the proper way for a Godly woman to dress? This is a question that causes much debate among Christian people everywhere; some say we should be plain and always wear long dresses, some say it’s okay for us to wear pants. Some say we should never adorn ourselves with ornaments such as necklaces or earrings, others believe it doesn’t matter. Ask anyone, and you are bound to get many different thoughts and musings on the topic.
In my opinion, the clothing we wear are not of great significance, for in the end they will not determine whether we go to Heaven or go to Hell, but there is one particular fashion factor the Bible considers most important of all: modesty. The world nowadays is full of women and girls who are falsely led to believe that immodest ways of dressing are attractive and that beauty is the only thing that matters. They will wear whatever is considered fashionable, no matter how revealing it may be. In fact, it's becoming more and more common to find women who wear such vain clothing even to their church's worship services.
If you're wondering where the Bible mentions anything about clothing, consider this verse: "And they that use this world, as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away." (I Corinthians 7:31) To state the obvious, this means that since the world's standards for beauty are always changing, we shouldn't be dressing to please man, but rather, God. We Christian girls are to wear clothing that covers our bodies properly, protecting the men and boys who surround us from unnecessary, sinful thoughts. We should never expose our bodies in innappropriate manners, especially not in God’s House. 1 Timothy 2:9 states, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shame-facedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, nor gold, nor pearls, nor costly array."
Alas, pride plays a great role in the sin of wearing vain clothing to church. Many women take much pleasure in their apparel and fail to see that church is not a fashion show; it is a place of worship! We go there to praise Him; not strut around with undesirable pride! Fashion is just one of the many things that will be worthless once we're in Heaven. Why allow ourselves to become so hypnotized by its uselessness when we have Him? I admit, this can be a difficult thing to remember—even I often struggle with my love for worldly things, whether it be clothes or jewelry that likely isn't what would be called "modest." It's only natural for any girl. However, like anything else, I believe that through prayer it can be overcome. Try asking yourself next time you wear your favorite outfit: "Why am I wearing this? Am I trying to impress someone? Who am I trying to please by wearing this? God, or man?" The answers to these questions will surely assist you in making the right choice.
My fellow Christian friends, I hope you know God does not judge us by our outward appearance, and He sees no true value in our clothing. Modesty, on the other hand, IS valuable, whether it be in fashion, speech, or attitudes. These are the first three features non-believers will see when we witness to them, and if immodesty is what they view, we will quickly be labeled as hypocrites. Remember this, and you will be respected by others, by self, and by God. May you be forever blessed.
Danielle Forrester
In my opinion, the clothing we wear are not of great significance, for in the end they will not determine whether we go to Heaven or go to Hell, but there is one particular fashion factor the Bible considers most important of all: modesty. The world nowadays is full of women and girls who are falsely led to believe that immodest ways of dressing are attractive and that beauty is the only thing that matters. They will wear whatever is considered fashionable, no matter how revealing it may be. In fact, it's becoming more and more common to find women who wear such vain clothing even to their church's worship services.
If you're wondering where the Bible mentions anything about clothing, consider this verse: "And they that use this world, as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away." (I Corinthians 7:31) To state the obvious, this means that since the world's standards for beauty are always changing, we shouldn't be dressing to please man, but rather, God. We Christian girls are to wear clothing that covers our bodies properly, protecting the men and boys who surround us from unnecessary, sinful thoughts. We should never expose our bodies in innappropriate manners, especially not in God’s House. 1 Timothy 2:9 states, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shame-facedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, nor gold, nor pearls, nor costly array."
Alas, pride plays a great role in the sin of wearing vain clothing to church. Many women take much pleasure in their apparel and fail to see that church is not a fashion show; it is a place of worship! We go there to praise Him; not strut around with undesirable pride! Fashion is just one of the many things that will be worthless once we're in Heaven. Why allow ourselves to become so hypnotized by its uselessness when we have Him? I admit, this can be a difficult thing to remember—even I often struggle with my love for worldly things, whether it be clothes or jewelry that likely isn't what would be called "modest." It's only natural for any girl. However, like anything else, I believe that through prayer it can be overcome. Try asking yourself next time you wear your favorite outfit: "Why am I wearing this? Am I trying to impress someone? Who am I trying to please by wearing this? God, or man?" The answers to these questions will surely assist you in making the right choice.
My fellow Christian friends, I hope you know God does not judge us by our outward appearance, and He sees no true value in our clothing. Modesty, on the other hand, IS valuable, whether it be in fashion, speech, or attitudes. These are the first three features non-believers will see when we witness to them, and if immodesty is what they view, we will quickly be labeled as hypocrites. Remember this, and you will be respected by others, by self, and by God. May you be forever blessed.
Danielle Forrester
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Unworthiness & Unclean Speech
Ah, Sunday! The holy day which most of us have spent the morning or afternoon at our churches, singing praises to God, and listening to the pastor's sermon. This is probably my favorite day of the week; you get to see all your Christian friends and have fellowship with them, praying to God together with hearts united.
While we all love God, and of course we know that God loves us, there is an increasing number of Christians---mostly teenagers such as myself---who think that's all that matters. They go home and curse and swear and lie and think un-Godly thoughts to the point where it would make others wonder, "Why do they bother attending church if they don't even learn anything about changing their sinful ways?"
The response would probably be, "Don't judge! God still loves me no matter what I do. I've asked for forgiveness of my sins. I'll still go to Heaven. That's all that counts."
This is, in fact, a bad answer for a Christian to reply with. Yes, if we've asked for God's forgiveness and if we accept Jesus as our Savior we'll have a place in Heaven, but think about it: As a Christian, shouldn't we WANT to do the best we can to stop swearing, cursing, telling dirty jokes, and everything else He considers unholy? Shouldn't this be our greatest desire, to please Him with all we do while we're still here on earth? This doesn't mean we'll never make mistakes; we all will. But I've met some people who think it's worthless to even try to change. Let me tell you, I've been to the Youth Groups here in my town. I'm thirteen years old, and I've never been more disgusted by the language and laziness of the other teenagers who form these organizations. They think it's okay to interrupt our leaders when they're in the middle of speaking. They think it's perfectly fine to blaspheme in the privacy of their own homes, and believe coarse joking is completely harmless. I, by no means, am perfect when it comes to the matter, but consider the following verse: "Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks." (Ephesians 5:4) This states clearly that God wants us to praise Him rather than speak sinfully, no matter how "funny" it may seem.
Many teens these days, Christian or no Christian, dismiss this, however. We don't like to believe that even though God's love is unconditional, He wants us to continually seek Him by striving to improve our sinful behavior. We don't like to believe that consequence accompanies sin, especially when the sin is something as seemingly meager as unclean speech. We have too little respect for God because we think of Him too much as a friend---but He is more than that. His greatness is beyond our minds... No friend has as much power and love as He does. Honestly, out of how many sins and mistakes we make each day, and for Him, the Perfect Lord, to allow US to pray to him and be in His church... It's amazing. We deserve not even a bit of it. He has the choice to let us be with Him, and even after all our sin, He lets us. It makes you think just how unworthy we are, doesn't it?
My Christian friends, I hope we can remember this throughout the week and all the weeks to come; not just Sunday. Let us think about this every time we prepare to disrespect others. Let us think about this every time we deny that we've sinned. Let us think about this every time unclean speech bubbles behind our lips. Think of this always. God bless.
Danielle Forrester
While we all love God, and of course we know that God loves us, there is an increasing number of Christians---mostly teenagers such as myself---who think that's all that matters. They go home and curse and swear and lie and think un-Godly thoughts to the point where it would make others wonder, "Why do they bother attending church if they don't even learn anything about changing their sinful ways?"
The response would probably be, "Don't judge! God still loves me no matter what I do. I've asked for forgiveness of my sins. I'll still go to Heaven. That's all that counts."
This is, in fact, a bad answer for a Christian to reply with. Yes, if we've asked for God's forgiveness and if we accept Jesus as our Savior we'll have a place in Heaven, but think about it: As a Christian, shouldn't we WANT to do the best we can to stop swearing, cursing, telling dirty jokes, and everything else He considers unholy? Shouldn't this be our greatest desire, to please Him with all we do while we're still here on earth? This doesn't mean we'll never make mistakes; we all will. But I've met some people who think it's worthless to even try to change. Let me tell you, I've been to the Youth Groups here in my town. I'm thirteen years old, and I've never been more disgusted by the language and laziness of the other teenagers who form these organizations. They think it's okay to interrupt our leaders when they're in the middle of speaking. They think it's perfectly fine to blaspheme in the privacy of their own homes, and believe coarse joking is completely harmless. I, by no means, am perfect when it comes to the matter, but consider the following verse: "Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks." (Ephesians 5:4) This states clearly that God wants us to praise Him rather than speak sinfully, no matter how "funny" it may seem.
Many teens these days, Christian or no Christian, dismiss this, however. We don't like to believe that even though God's love is unconditional, He wants us to continually seek Him by striving to improve our sinful behavior. We don't like to believe that consequence accompanies sin, especially when the sin is something as seemingly meager as unclean speech. We have too little respect for God because we think of Him too much as a friend---but He is more than that. His greatness is beyond our minds... No friend has as much power and love as He does. Honestly, out of how many sins and mistakes we make each day, and for Him, the Perfect Lord, to allow US to pray to him and be in His church... It's amazing. We deserve not even a bit of it. He has the choice to let us be with Him, and even after all our sin, He lets us. It makes you think just how unworthy we are, doesn't it?
My Christian friends, I hope we can remember this throughout the week and all the weeks to come; not just Sunday. Let us think about this every time we prepare to disrespect others. Let us think about this every time we deny that we've sinned. Let us think about this every time unclean speech bubbles behind our lips. Think of this always. God bless.
Danielle Forrester
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