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D
What happens if we don't come up with a good reason for God's actions?
Do we seek to rationalize for ourselves what God's purposes are... and if we can't find one, then we do our own thing?
Or, do we trust that God's wisdom is greater than our own? Do we simply obey Him because we trust him and love him?
----
In the last 50 years, we've seen a breakdown of marriage, and an increase in single parent homes and divorce. This stemmed in large part from a view that traditionl marriage was outdated, and that we knew better. We thought our wisdom was greater than God's.
Yet since then, we've had research that shows that married couples have:
-better health
-lower rates of alchoholism
-lower rates of depression
-handle stress better
This is not to mention the effects on children. Children raised within a marriage have:
-better physical health
-better emotional health
-less likelihood of attempting suicide
-less likelihood of experiencing physical or sexual abuse
-more likelihood of going to university
-less likelihood of using drugs
Popular wisdom said that living together and premarital sex built stronger relationships. We've now found the opposite.... people are more likely to divorce if they lived together before. Researchers have actually not found one benefit to cohabitation before marriage.
I am not saying that the above things are the sum total of the benefits of marriage. I am saying that God's wisdom is greater than our own. Our communities, our families and our children are now paying for our rash rebellion against the things that God has told us are 'good'.
...I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me. (Ex 20:5)
I don't see this as so much a curse, as a statement of fact. When we rebel against the Lord who created us, who desires good for us... then there will be natural consequences for our actions.
Communities with fewer married couples have;
-higher crime rates
-more domestic abuse
-more teenage pregnancy
-higher juvenile delinquency
We live in a fallen, broken world. Why do we think we are wiser than God? We can't even live in relationship with one other person without fighting with them and hurting them emotionally. Why do we think we can judge God's commandments from our broken and imperfect reasoning?
For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (1Co 1:19-20)
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. (1Co 1:25)
God is a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity (Jonah 4:2)
While there is a price for rebellion, God will show love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments (Ex 20:6)
'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!' (Ezekiel 17:11) I say this to myself, as much as to anyone else. We all fall short from the glory of God. We all need his help to be more and more in His likeness.
Do we seek to rationalize for ourselves what God's purposes are... and if we can't find one, then we do our own thing?
Or, do we trust that God's wisdom is greater than our own? Do we simply obey Him because we trust him and love him?
----
In the last 50 years, we've seen a breakdown of marriage, and an increase in single parent homes and divorce. This stemmed in large part from a view that traditionl marriage was outdated, and that we knew better. We thought our wisdom was greater than God's.
Yet since then, we've had research that shows that married couples have:
-better health
-lower rates of alchoholism
-lower rates of depression
-handle stress better
This is not to mention the effects on children. Children raised within a marriage have:
-better physical health
-better emotional health
-less likelihood of attempting suicide
-less likelihood of experiencing physical or sexual abuse
-more likelihood of going to university
-less likelihood of using drugs
Popular wisdom said that living together and premarital sex built stronger relationships. We've now found the opposite.... people are more likely to divorce if they lived together before. Researchers have actually not found one benefit to cohabitation before marriage.
I am not saying that the above things are the sum total of the benefits of marriage. I am saying that God's wisdom is greater than our own. Our communities, our families and our children are now paying for our rash rebellion against the things that God has told us are 'good'.
...I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me. (Ex 20:5)
I don't see this as so much a curse, as a statement of fact. When we rebel against the Lord who created us, who desires good for us... then there will be natural consequences for our actions.
Communities with fewer married couples have;
-higher crime rates
-more domestic abuse
-more teenage pregnancy
-higher juvenile delinquency
We live in a fallen, broken world. Why do we think we are wiser than God? We can't even live in relationship with one other person without fighting with them and hurting them emotionally. Why do we think we can judge God's commandments from our broken and imperfect reasoning?
For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (1Co 1:19-20)
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. (1Co 1:25)
God is a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity (Jonah 4:2)
While there is a price for rebellion, God will show love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments (Ex 20:6)
'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!' (Ezekiel 17:11) I say this to myself, as much as to anyone else. We all fall short from the glory of God. We all need his help to be more and more in His likeness.
T
Boy, oh boy, what a can of worms!
The pill, a condom, whatever - it's not okay!! This is really one of my pet hates. They 'educators' are priming our 'children' that if you want to ..... then use this .... have safe sex!! It's not natural, but it is defiinitely accepted in non- Christian situations... it's a recreation! How awful! The most beautiful gift God gave to us - for when we have joined as one - not as an afternoon sporting event! Have you been driving around after dark lately? There are children, pushing children in prams.
We as Christian parents must give the right guidance to our children. This is God's command. Our children shouldn't even be 'dating' unchaperoned, our children shouldn't even be dating! Has anyone ever studied the difference between 'dating' and 'courtship'? It is a beautiful, beautiful concept and I wish I knew then what I know now, I should have known when my daughter was 'dating'.
She wishes she knew then what she knows now...since she has become a committed Christian. She is happily married, with past regrets.
Please, talk to your son and his girlfriend together, if her parents are Christian also, maybe talk to them first and see if you can agree on a set of guidelines for this 'courtship' then talk to the children.
I will be praying for you. Parenting isn't easy, n'est pas?
My nearly 12 year old daughter has been raised entirely differently... oh the wisdom of hindsight!
The pill, a condom, whatever - it's not okay!! This is really one of my pet hates. They 'educators' are priming our 'children' that if you want to ..... then use this .... have safe sex!! It's not natural, but it is defiinitely accepted in non- Christian situations... it's a recreation! How awful! The most beautiful gift God gave to us - for when we have joined as one - not as an afternoon sporting event! Have you been driving around after dark lately? There are children, pushing children in prams.
We as Christian parents must give the right guidance to our children. This is God's command. Our children shouldn't even be 'dating' unchaperoned, our children shouldn't even be dating! Has anyone ever studied the difference between 'dating' and 'courtship'? It is a beautiful, beautiful concept and I wish I knew then what I know now, I should have known when my daughter was 'dating'.
She wishes she knew then what she knows now...since she has become a committed Christian. She is happily married, with past regrets.
Please, talk to your son and his girlfriend together, if her parents are Christian also, maybe talk to them first and see if you can agree on a set of guidelines for this 'courtship' then talk to the children.
I will be praying for you. Parenting isn't easy, n'est pas?
My nearly 12 year old daughter has been raised entirely differently... oh the wisdom of hindsight!
A
i didn't have time to read all of these, so if im just repeating what somebody else said then i apologize.
but those who said abstinence is unrealistic to expect, thats hogwash! God DEMANDS abstinence until marraige therefore its not only realistic but very much achievable through God.
Im about to be 20 and im still a virgin and have never done anything physical past a KISS with ANY boy. and its not bc im some awkward kid who didn't have the opportunity.
and also, im not patting myself on the back, i would have no self control or will without my Lord and Savior. But He makes it easy
So please don't lose help. Don't let our increasingly worldly society decrease your hope that kids can be abstinent today. we can be. its not radical, its biblical.
good luck love.
but those who said abstinence is unrealistic to expect, thats hogwash! God DEMANDS abstinence until marraige therefore its not only realistic but very much achievable through God.
Im about to be 20 and im still a virgin and have never done anything physical past a KISS with ANY boy. and its not bc im some awkward kid who didn't have the opportunity.
and also, im not patting myself on the back, i would have no self control or will without my Lord and Savior. But He makes it easy
So please don't lose help. Don't let our increasingly worldly society decrease your hope that kids can be abstinent today. we can be. its not radical, its biblical.
good luck love.
C
Hm. Well, I'm not a Christian, so this post is liable to be disagreed with. I can just feel it now. Sooner or later I'm going to get yelled at.
Anyways, I'm the same age as your son & I know the last thing I would want to hear is a scared (even if calm...) mother telling me about my own sexual desires. So my advice to you is to try again without ... any signs of fear. You know how a dog can sniff out fear? Teens can too, and we/they don't like it.
He made it up because you were scared, when he said they aren't his. So go to him, maybe come in saying a joke, and talk to him and tell him that you're not mad at him and remind him that you love him.
Anyways, I'm the same age as your son & I know the last thing I would want to hear is a scared (even if calm...) mother telling me about my own sexual desires. So my advice to you is to try again without ... any signs of fear. You know how a dog can sniff out fear? Teens can too, and we/they don't like it.
He made it up because you were scared, when he said they aren't his. So go to him, maybe come in saying a joke, and talk to him and tell him that you're not mad at him and remind him that you love him.
C
Guhross.
Want to know a secret?
I hate the optimism of some people because it's almost like they're not looking at the world around them. Polluted air, murder, people getting breast increases when they're natural features are perfectly adorable...
I MEAN COME ON. x.x!
I actually do say guhross a lot. Come on the chatroom and talk to me sometime. I'm on more than the forums.
AND DO YOU HAVE RED HAIR?!?! OMGOSH. THAT'D BE SOOOOOOO PRETTY.
Yes, I just called a goth "pretty." Don't hurt me. :'( !
Want to know a secret?
I hate the optimism of some people because it's almost like they're not looking at the world around them. Polluted air, murder, people getting breast increases when they're natural features are perfectly adorable...
I MEAN COME ON. x.x!
I actually do say guhross a lot. Come on the chatroom and talk to me sometime. I'm on more than the forums.
AND DO YOU HAVE RED HAIR?!?! OMGOSH. THAT'D BE SOOOOOOO PRETTY.
Yes, I just called a goth "pretty." Don't hurt me. :'( !
M
I'm fine with my kilt
Goths don't do cheerleading. It messes up our eye-makeup.
Nothing wrong with being joyful, but a lot of Christians seem to think that 'joyful' has to be a perpetual smile and super cheerfulness. People that always are smiley/happy actually worry me...
Goths don't do cheerleading. It messes up our eye-makeup.
Nothing wrong with being joyful, but a lot of Christians seem to think that 'joyful' has to be a perpetual smile and super cheerfulness. People that always are smiley/happy actually worry me...
D
Child,
I think it depends on the source of that optimism. You're right, for some people it is a hiding from any unpleasant fact. But there is an optimism based on reality.
My wife accuses me of being the optimistic pessimist. I am VERY aware of the world's pain, and it causes me intense sadness and sometimes anger. Yet I have intense optimism as well. It's not because the world is good... it's because I believe 100% that there is a good God in charge, and that all things have a purpose in His plan.
Is that 'reality'? I believe it is. I believe enough so to turn my entire life over to God.... and I don't accept authority easily lol
---
Hi Missy,
You're not plastic-smile cheerful... you're just naturally fun
I think it depends on the source of that optimism. You're right, for some people it is a hiding from any unpleasant fact. But there is an optimism based on reality.
My wife accuses me of being the optimistic pessimist. I am VERY aware of the world's pain, and it causes me intense sadness and sometimes anger. Yet I have intense optimism as well. It's not because the world is good... it's because I believe 100% that there is a good God in charge, and that all things have a purpose in His plan.
Is that 'reality'? I believe it is. I believe enough so to turn my entire life over to God.... and I don't accept authority easily lol
---
Hi Missy,
You're not plastic-smile cheerful... you're just naturally fun