By: Gen. Jim — 12/6/18
We can save ourselves a lot of trouble if we make it a practice of looking back at our mistakes while we map out a plan for our future. We find this act many times in the Old Testament when the Prophets of God pointed out Israel’s sins that brought judgment/punishment upon them – if they insisted and persisted in the same sins (mainly idolatry) that their future would be no better than Israel’s ancient past.
Take time to reflect on Paul’s warning against idolatry in 1 Corinthians 10. He writes “… But with many of them God was not well pleased, and they were overthrown in the wilderness” (v.6). He points back to the time when Israel “… rose up… offered burnt offerings.. and the people put down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play… people, have corrupted themselves, they have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made… a molded calf, and have worshiped it…” (Exodus 32:6-8). This sensual/sexual seance is what Paul alluded to.
The apostle proceeds to write: “Now these things were our examples to the intent that we should not LUST after EVIL THINGS as they LUSTED. Neither let us commit sexual immorality… neither let us tempt Christ… and (be) destroyed by the destroyer” (v.6-10).
In case the readers of Paul’s epistle could not connect-the-dots, he reminds them the second time, “Now all these things happened to them for an example.” (v.11). He goes on with his unbroken chain of thought, “They are written for as an admonition to us… Therefore let him who thinks he stand TAKE HEED, lest he FALL.” (v.12).
Was Paul out of touch with the culture around him by condemning idolatry/sexual sins? I had an attorney tell me yesterday that the main reason we’re in jail stems back to the 1980’s when we had to deal with a sinning (female) member of our corps. He proceeded to tell me that BECAUSE we were not in time/step with culture of “Political Correctness,” we were hated! Duh!! Grant it, but neither is the Bible, of which I adhere to.
We could be like most churches of today being sin-friendly and P.C. But because we had to wade into a scabrous and saucy subject, adultery, (now “gender fluid,” i.e. transgenderism!) we drew HEAT from both the world and liberal churches.
I told this attorney that God’s Word is timeless – it is relevant for all generations. He agreed but continued to tell me that our culture is anti-Christian. Sure is! But do we zip-the-lip and join the anti-Christ? … Becoming sardonic and recalcitranted – resisting God’s authority? There are those, like Israel who are sagacious in the way of rebellion. Not us!