Renewing our Minds about Sex

This has been troubling me for awhile now. I see so many parents who feel it is hypocritical to teach their children what the Bible says about sex because they chose to cross some lines they shouldn't have when they were young.

Of course, it was wrong to cross those lines, and we need to repent of any sins in our pasts, but it is NOT hypocritical to teach what is right to our children. It would be hypocritical to condemn them and disown them because of their choices, whether we made the same mistakes in our youth or not. God has forgiven each of us for so much, we do not have the right to respond in anger and fierce judgment at others' sins.

However, teaching the truth and what is right is our responsibility as parents.

Also, forgiving ourselves once God has forgiven us is also our responsibility. I've seen too many parents hang on to guilt and feelings of failure for their pasts. In Christ, we are new creations. I believe that doesn't just apply to the moment of salvation, but to the continuing work of salvation in our lives. We are consistently becoming new creations as we grow and continue our Christian walks.

Society is certainly teaching our children what it thinks, and most of the time, that isn't the same as what the Bible teaches. Children are being "sexualized" from a very early age in our culture today, and it is not good. So, are we going to sit back and let the world teach and shape our children because we're uncomfortable or guilt-ridden? Or worse yet, because the biblical point of view is not politically correct? I hope not.

1. Ask God for forgiveness, if you haven't already, for choices you've made in your past or are making in your present that do not honor Him and follow His ways. Truly repent and turn away from your sins.

2. Forgive yourself and accept His forgiveness.

3. If possible, confess your struggles to someone trustworthy if you are still struggling with sexual purity.

4. Teach your children the ways of God in everything including sexuality.

5. Cherish sex as the gift it is and the intimacy it is meant to bring to your marriage. 

6. Guard your heart and mind from temptation. Flee from it!

God is good, and His gifts are good. The world has tried to warp and change God's gifts. Through teaching God's truth, we can help redeem His gifts for future generations to know how to honor God with their bodies, their relationships, and their sexuality.

Here is an excellent resource for information and for sharing with your older children regarding pornography: https://fightthenewdrug.org/

A sermon from Greg Laurie: https://www.harvest.org/watch-and-listen/webcast/watch/gods-plan-for-sex-and-marriage

One of the best sermons I ever heard about sexuality from Willie George from Church on the Move: https://s3.amazonaws.com/cotm-podcast/201205/InTheZonePART6.mp3?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJGCC7FXYO4AQTV6Q&Expires=1532409000&Signature=AGsQCCFoMpU5rIgIst%2FhL04H6rI%3D

Our Only Secret Mission

When we talk about vision and purpose, what we're really talking about is obedience. Even when it doesn't make sense to us or seems to be the opposite of what we think we need to do. Of course, these situations never contradict Scripture, but follow it possibly in a way we never thought of before.

One time, years ago, the Lord led me to make bread. I desperately needed a job, but as I prayed, He really impressed on my heart to make bread and to write a little note of encouragement to the person for whom I was making the bread. I would pray for that person while I made the bread, write the note, and take it to them anonymously. I kept thinking I didn’t need to be spending extra money on bread-making supplies when I couldn’t find a job, but I had no doubt this was what God was telling me to do. So, that’s what I did. I felt kind of like God had given me a secret mission. 

The Bible tells us in Matthew 6:1-4, AMP, “Be [very] careful not to do your good deeds publicly, to be seen by men; otherwise you will have no reward [prepared and awaiting you] with your Father who is in heaven. “So whenever you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not blow a trumpet before you [to advertise it], as the hypocrites do [like actors acting out a role] in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored and recognized and praised by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing [give in complete secrecy], so that your charitable acts will be done in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.

Little did I know that He was using these simple acts of kindness and encouragement to compel others to do the same. Pretty soon, a small spirit of revival and renewal was breaking out in our congregation as we focused on praying for one another and encouraging one another. It was truly “A God Thing.”

In living our Christian life, we are exhorted, even commanded, to live our faith out in front of others. We cannot deny God before people. We must step up and take a stand in our faith. However, when it comes to being kind and doing acts of kindness, these are to be done for an audience of One, our Heavenly Father. Doing our good works to receive praise from others is not true kindness; it is “like actors acting out a role.” We begin performing rather than caring. We are focusing on ourselves rather than others. We are focusing on pleasing people rather than God. True, godly kindness is part of the fruit of the Spirit, and therefore, should exemplify the Spirit at work in our hearts and lives.

But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites. If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. (Galatians 5:22-24, AMP)

Godly kindness acts out of the motivation of love, finds joy in serving and blessing others, and promotes peace in the lives of those we bless. We are patient in acting kindly. Sometimes results of our actions take a long time to bear fruit. Sometimes we are merely planting tiny seeds or helping water what others have planted. What we do in acting kindly is good. It is not always easy or simple, but it is good for the situation and what God is wanting to accomplish. It is often actually quite difficult and uncomfortable, but it is always good. And we must be faithful to do exactly what God is telling us to do. Because we are sometimes called to do what is difficult, we must be sure to be gentle in how we approach people to help them. Often, they don’t trust our motives. We cannot be pushy or impatient, but gentle. In all of this, we must demonstrate self-control. We are not acting on our own desires and plans, but on God’s. We must show discipline and putting God first in our thoughts and actions.

Have you ever battled your own heart when helping others realizing you craved the praise and approval of people?

How do you feel when you do something to bless someone anonymously and never receive any acknowledgement?

Have you ever felt led to do something that seemed illogical or even absurd, but you knew God was telling you to act?