Modern Martyrdom?

“It may seem an extreme assertion at first, but I believe that the challengeof living with popular culture may well be as serious for modern Christians as persecution and plaques were for the saints of earlier centuries. Being thrown to the lions or living in the shadow of gruesome death are fairly straightforward if unattractive threats. Enemies that come loudly andvisibly are usually much easier to fight than those that are undetectable.”
-Ken Myers

Co-exisiting with today’s popular culture is certainly a challenge for Christians and Christianity itself.
Amazingly, most modern believers are advocating following popular culture and pursuing the world, using it and its ways as a model!

But the Bible bodly says the exact opposite! Ro 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Believers are to be "in the world, not of the world." The Bible is clear on the subject, and is in fact almost unsettling as it says: 1John 2:15"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

Temptations to follow the world and its ways are certainly strong. Can these really compare with the ones of saints under persecution in the past? Not to the same extent, but I think the point certainly deserves attention and awareness.

Christians, especially those who are parents of young children and teenagers, are being attacked by snipers on all fronts, often ignorant that they are even being fire d upon until they take more than one direct hit. When dealing with active persecution, it is easier to see the enemy. It is when the enemy is concealed that the fighting becomes more difficult.

Never before has culture been so pervasive and even a necessary for communication. Aside from language and politics ( Government), it used to be in America and the world that one was able to raise their family within clearly defined moral exposure. Unless war called people away to foreign ports (and exposure to foreign substances and social mores) a person who did not want to be exposed to certain things, or whodidnot want his children exposed, could control this.

No longer.

Unless one literally lives in a cave (without electricity) they and their children know who Britney Spears, Anna Nicole and Monica Lewisky are and why they are (ahem) "Famous”.

For two years my wife and I did not have a TV and still heard about all these things.
Children suffer the most.

To take a laxidacal attitude is to say “Okay I recant”

Read Foxes book of Martyrs lately?

If you do- it will remind you of your responsibility in such matters even though it deals with fire and Sword, something (or someone) inside us is stirred by such.

Coincidence?............. Or conscience?

Are you being burned? Or are you already assimilated and unaware?

More Myers....

"...popular culture's greatest influence is in the way it shapes how we think and feel (more than what we think and feel) and how we think and feel about thinking and feeling."

"Popular culture is in many ways a very trivial matter...but its triviality , while making it seem innocuous, also enables it to be extremely pervasive, and that is its most toxic quality"

Take Your Medicine

A woman runs into the psychiatrist's office yelling, "Doctor I think I'm a set of curtains!" The doctor said, "pull yourself together!"

A man bursts into a psychiatrist's office, interrupting an important phone call, and screams "Doctor, you've got to help me! I think I'm a deck of cards!" The doctor replied, "I'll deal with you later!"

A kleptomaniac went to see a psychiatrist. He gave her something to take.

(insert your own badum Csh! sound effect and canned laughter)
I think you see the pattern!

These jokes (or feeble attempts at them) are to illustrate how the ridiculous requires the ridiculous. Or as the old saying says, "Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer".

Ok, maybe the last one didn't illustrate that, but I thought it was funny. Anyway…..

As a minister I get this a lot. People mess up their lives and then come to me with questions that have all too painfully obvious answers.

It would be funny, if it wasn't so tragic.

"Preacher my marriage is falling apart!" I feel like answering, "Maybe because you threw it down and stomped on it so many times?"
or
"Preacher I'm at the end of my rope financially" and I fell like answering "Maybe because you have been swinging on it like Tarzan with credit cards and spending sprees?"

You get the idea. I am guilty also, as are all others on Earth.

Maybe , we should go to the Great Physician BEFORE we reach such sad states.

Then we need to take his prescription, no matter how bad the medicine tastes going down.

Gulp!

THE APATHY OF PROFANITY

THE APATHY OF PROFANITY

When you mention to others their foul language, usually the reaction is "whatever".

One day a man was in the hospital and had a stream of visitors from his church. Two men had stopped by, when their quiet conversation was interrupted by another patient's peppery language from behind the curtain. Before leaving, the visitors read some Scripture and prayed. After they left, the roommate loosed another string of expletives and then sheepishly confessed, "If I had known one of those guys was a minister, I'd have watched my #%*@! language." "Oh?" the man replied, "Well actually, theywere the deacons in the church. I'm the minister."

I suppose most ministers could share a similar story. There have been numerous times when someone let profanity slip in my presence and would hasten to say, "Sorry, Preacher." To which, I usually respond soemthing similiar to: "I appreciate your sensitivity, but you need not direct your apology to me, only to God."

The tragedy today is there are many people who have become so habituated to unclean talk that they are unaware they are using it.

A Brief History of *&%@!


Emperor Caligula of ancient Rome responded to his critics by extending his crooked arm in an obscene gesture. That same gesture is still used today nearly 20 centuries later, particularly in Europe.

Scholars have discovered profanity carved in Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Chaucer, medieval poet-author of The Canterbury Tales, peppered his language with obscenities, but not everyone followed suit immediately. Jonathan Swift, whose biting satire was often was often criticized, chose milder language, once objecting to the use of the word "mob" because it was too vulgar.

In the Victorian era of the 19th century, "leg" was considered sexually explicit, the terms "lib" and lower extremity were substituted.

In the 1930's free-speech cases were won on behalf of James Joyce and other authors whose language reached a new level of profanity.

After World War II public swearing increased dramatically as soldiers brought home their barracks vocabulary.

President Truman's freedom in swearing was once a significant campaign issue, and President Kennedy was once criticized for repeating favorite profane phrase of his father.

The Vietnam era brought profanity to an all-time high as anti-war activists used graphic sexual language to emphasize their anger and to draw attention to their message.

Scholars say that swearwords have not changed much over the years. People today are using the same cursed words Benjamin Franklin used in his day.

Nowadays, even some Christian ministers use profanity, usually with the rationalization that it helps make a point.

Where will it end? Or will it just get worse?


WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH PROFANITY

LIGHT HUMOR:
Very carefully and tactfully used, light humor can be employed to criticize the offender. This is most effective with friend and depends on good taste and timing.

THE SILENT TREATMENT:
Since conversations depend on give and take, a sudden refusal to respond will be noticeable. In response to offensive language, total failure to answer, or an awkward pause before answering, will signal that something is wrong. In a quiet, controlled social setting, silence is often the best choice and can be accompanied by a meaningful look.

NONVEBAL RESPONSE:
Folded arms, scowl, looking away, or turning away to speak to someone else are common body language signals to report that offence has been taken at the use of profanity. Visibly wincing at obscenities indicates hurt and displeasure.

ASSERTIVENESS:
A very simple, tactful statement is sometimes used to point out what might have become an unconscious habit of swearing.
Keep your words polite, calm and to the point, something like "Excuse me. I wish you wouldn't use that kind of language. It offends me." When done correctly, such statements are unarguable and answerable. A polite Christian witness can also be used something like, "Since I gave my life to Jesus Christ, that kind of language offends me."


HOW ABOUT YOU?

Are you guilty...or do you even care? (apathy)
...and remember:
"Profanity is the sign of a weak mind trying to express itself forcibly".

Gizzard Getting

Things That Just Rip My Gizzard
by

Ritechus N. Dignation

I have a list of things that really get next to me. I mean these things just chap my hide, rip my gizzard and generally hack me off. Everyone probably has a list like this. Ever' once in a while, it's good to blow off a little steam, so here are some things that are on my hit list.

(1) Church Fundraisers- The Lord's got a plan for financing His church and her ministries. That plan don't include selling donuts, having spaghetti suppers, holding car washes and rafflin' off the family dog. God's plan is called the "open your wallet and give cheerfully" plan. Church members ought to tithe and give above the tithe for special things. If the young'uns want to go on a trip, the church ought to be able to take care of it, instead of sendin' them traipsin' up and down the streets sellin' junk that nobody wants to buy anyway. Why, if ever'body in every church just tithed, the church would have to hold special meetin's just to figure out how to use all the extra money for the Lord's work.

(2) Unfaithful Church Workers- The sorry way in which elected workers treat the Lord's work is a shame. I've seen Sunday School teachers not show up and never tell 'nary a soul they weren't coming. I've seen committees elected to take care of important business (any business for the Lord is important) and never hold the first meetin'. If they performed on their money payin' job the way they work for the church, they would be fired before noon on Monday. The Lord's work is not second rate.

(3) Stingy Church Treasurers- Let me explainify. I'm talkin' about treasurers who treat the church's money as their own private stash. In one church I pastored, the treasurer had a coniption every time the church voted to spend a penny. The church once voted to spend $50.00 on needed supplies. When I went to the money man for a check, he balked, turned red in the face, wrote the check and threw it at me. I considered givin' him a holy slap, but declined. The church voted to spend that money. Well, he later resigned and we commenced with spendin'.

(4) Dead Preachin'- Nothing is harder to endure than dead preachin'. Old Brother E. M. Bounds used to say, "Dead men preach dead sermons, and dead sermons kill." I know a preacher who literally puts the congregation to sleep. His people say church is where they get their best nap. Late one night, one of his members couldn't get to sleep, so she called up this preacher and asked him to give her a little devotion on the phone. She was snoozin' in no time.

Now, I know what your thinkin', and No, the preacher don't have to rant, rave, yell, stomp, snort and foam at the mouth to give some good preachin'. Ever'body's different. But every preacher ought to be excited and enthusiastic about his message. And folks can tell if you ain't.

Now I feel better
Brother Ritechus N. Dignation
(This article may be reprinted in whole)

A Whole Lotta Nothing GoingOn

The Wickedness of Nothingness

The English philosopher and politician Edmund Burke once said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." This often used quote from the 18th century is still true today. Look at this spiritual parallel in a parable from Jesus found in Matthew 25:14-30, as I borrow, then expand upon a few thoughts from Harold Leytham and Danny Cresswell.
A master left different numbers of talents with three stewards, with expectations for all. The first two multiplied their talents, but the third steward buried his so he could return it to his master. Upon returning, the master was displeased, because he had expectations and they were not fulfilled. The point of the parable: it is wicked to do nothing when something can be done.
The word "wicked" can mean evil, lewd, malicious, or hurtful. Jesus did not use the word often and used it only three times when referring to individuals. Why was this servant wicked? Not because he lied. He was actually honest and admitted to burying the talent. Did he receive it dishonestly? No, it was given to him in good faith. Was he immoral with the talent, like the prodigal son? No. So why was he wicked? Because he did nothing with the talent. Doing nothing when something can be done is wicked, according to Jesus.
There is a high cost in nothingness. If anyone has gifts or talents and they do not use them, there will be a cost, "for it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful." How could it possibly be costly to do nothing? Consider these examples:

Physically, there is a cost in nothingness. If you sit in a wheelchair or stay in bed for six months and never get up and use your legs, it will cost. Your legs will become useless and you will have to learn to walk again. If you place a patch over one eye and stop using the eye, the eye will get weak and have to be exercised for use again. It will cost to do nothing.

Socially, there is a cost in nothingness. If you ever purpose in your heart to lose friends, there are two options. First, be mean and hurtful, curse and slander them and tell them to get lost. That would probably work. Or you could try option number two. Do nothing. Never visit with them, do not return their calls, ignore them, and eventually they will go away. Simply doing nothing can cost greatly. Many have been lost to nothingness.

In your family, there is a great cost in nothingness. If you as a reprobate wanted to corrupt your children so they would turn out rotten, you could teach them to do wrong, steal, give instruction in lying, etc. or you could do nothing. Just let them go and let depravity run its crooked little course. Never teach them standards, convictions or restraints. Let them do anything they want to do and let them watch anything they desire to watch on TV or video and they will move on from Sesame Street to MTV and graduate on to HBO. Just do nothing and they will corrupt in a natural progression of events.

Agriculturally, there is a cost in nothingness. After planting a garden, you could transplant Johnson grass, clover, briars and weeds, in order to choke out the vegetables and lose your crop. Or if you really want to lose your garden, just do nothing. Never fertilize, never irrigate, never cultivate, and I guarantee you will lose the garden. It will cost to do nothing.

For any church, there is a severe cost in nothingness. The pastor could run ads and pass out flyers advertising the closing of his church, followed by members passing along the closing by word of mouth. Or everyone could just do nothing. Don't win souls, don't tithe, don't attend, etc., and eventually the church will close. Just do nothing.

If you could donate blood to save a life and you did nothing, would you be guilty of a death? If you could call 911 and save a life and you did nothing, would you be guilty? Do you know what you need to do to go to an eternal lake of fire? You could sin like the devil, drink, dope, fornicate, lie, steal, or you could do nothing. Just never repent and accept Jesus as Savior and you will go to an eternal lake of fire of punishment as a member of Adam's fallen race.

Is nothingness wicked? Jesus said it was. Are you doing something or nothing?

by Joseph Harris