2024-09-05
Psalm 101:3 NKJV
Pornography is sweeping across the world, leaving families torn apart in its wake. Many churchgoers who are struggling to break free feel isolated and helpless. One study revealed that 68 percent of churchgoing men view porn on a regular basis. When you watch it, powerful neurotransmitters such as dopamine are released, which bond you to the images you’re looking at. According to neuropsychologist Dr. Tim Jennings, “Any type of repetitive behavior will create trails [neural pathways] in our brain that are going to fire on an automatic sequence.” Some churches treat this issue as strictly a moral one, failing to realize it’s also a brain problem. We advise men to try more, pray more, and love the Lord more. And that’s important. But when you fight the flesh in the power of the flesh, you end up fighting yourself. What’s the answer?
Your mind has to be renewed, and that’s a process. When your brain has been trained the wrong way, it must be retrained the right way. This calls for radical commitment, such as removing pornography from your life and sometimes walking in accountability with a mature Christian friend you can turn to in times of testing. Above all, it involves reprogramming your mind with God’s Word.
Paul writes: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV). You don’t have to live in bondage to pornography. Christ can set you free.
Soul food: Josh 11-13; Luke 19:41-48; Ps 111; Prov 23:4-6
Psalm 101:3 AFR53
Pornografie is besig om die wêreld oor te neem en laat gebroke families in sy pad agter. Baie kerkgangers wat probeer om daarvan weg te breek voel geïsoleer en hulpeloos. Een studie het bevind dat 68 persent van manlike kerkgangers pornografie op ‘n gereelde basis kyk. Wanneer jy daarna kyk, word kragtige neurotransmitters soos dopamien vrygestel wat jou aan die beelde waarna jy kyk, bind. Sommige kerke hanteer hierdie kwessie as ‘n streng morele een, sonder om te besef dat dit ook ‘n breinprobleem is. Ons raai mans aan om harder te probeer, meer te bid en die Here liewer te hê. Dit is belangrik. Maar wanneer jy egter die vlees met die krag van die vlees beveg, veg jy op die ou einde teen jouself. Wat is dan die antwoord?
Jou denkpatrone moet vernuwe word, wat ‘n proses is. Wanneer jou brein op die verkeerde manier opgelei is, moet dit op die regte manier opgelei word. Dit verg ‘n radikale toewyding daaraan, soos om pornografie uit jou lewe te verwyder en jouself soms aan ‘n geestelik volwasse vriend aanspreeklik te hou, na wie jy in tye waarin jy getoets word kan draai. Bo alles, verg dit om jou gedagtes met God se Woord te herprogrammeer.
Paulus skryf: ‘Nou wil ek julle baie ernstig vra…: As julle dink aan alles wat God in sy groot ontferming vir julle gedoen het, gee dan julleself aan Hom as ‘n lewende en heilige offer. Dit is dié soort offer waarvan Hy hou, en wat julle diens aan God werklik sinvol maak. Moenie julle leefstyl aanpas by die gedragspatrone van hierdie wêreld nie, maar laat God julle omvorm deurdat Hy julle denkpatrone vernuwe….’ (Romeine 12:1-2 NLV). Jy hoef nie in slawerny aan pornografie te leef nie. Christus kan jou vry maak.
Sielskos: Jos 11-13; Luk 19:41-48; Ps 111; Spr 23:4-6
2024-09-04
Matthew 16:18 NIV
Gates are defensive devices, and storming those gates requires offensive measures. Think of the church as a battering ram. Instead of complaining about the culture, we need to present better options. We must produce higher-caliber movies and compose more extraordinary music, write more notable books, and start superior schools and form better businesses. The old aphorism indicates we should stop cursing the darkness and start lighting some candles.
In Roaring Lambs, Robert Briner writes: “Why not believe that one day the most critically acclaimed director in Hollywood could be an active Christian layman in his church? Why not hope that the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting could go to a Christian journalist on staff at a major daily newspaper? Is it really too much of a stretch to think that a major exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art could feature the works of an artist on staff at one of our fine Christian colleges? Am I out of my mind to suggest that your son or daughter could be the principle dancer for the Joffrey Ballet Company, leading a weekly Bible study for other dancers in what was once considered a profession that was morally bankrupt?”
Paul didn’t criticize the philosophers on Mars Hill and tell them they were going to hell. Pointing to their altar to the unknown God, he indicated, “I’ve come to tell you who He is, and His name is Jesus.” What was the result? “Some mocked, while others said, ‘We will hear you again on this matter'” (Acts 17:32 NKJV). Go ahead; take a faith-based risk and see what happens.
Soul food: Josh 8:30-10:43; Luke 19:28-40; Ps 103:13-22; Prov 23:1-3
Matteus 16:18 NLV
Hekke is verdedigingstoestelle en om hierdie hekke te bestorm, verg aanvallende maatreëls. Dink aan die kerk as ‘n stormram. In plaas daarvan om oor die kultuur te kla, moet ons beter opsies aanbied. Ons moet hoë kaliber rolprente produseer en buitengewone musiek komponeer, meer noemenswaardige boeke skryf en beter skole en besighede begin. Die ou spreuk dui aan dat ons moet ophou om die duisternis te vervloek en begin om ‘n paar kerse aan te steek.
Robert Briner skryf in Roaring Lambs: ‘Waarom kan ons nie glo dat die mees bekroonde regisseur in Hollywood eendag ‘n aktiewe Christelike lidmaat in sy kerk gaan wees nie? Hoekom nie hoop dat die Pulitzer-prys vir ondersoekende beriggewing aan ‘n Christelike joernalis by ‘n groot dagblad toegeken gaan word nie? Is dit regtig te vergesog om te dink dat ‘n groot uitstalling by die Museum van Moderne Kuns die werke van ‘n kunstenaar by een van ons goeie Christelike kolleges kan vertoon? Is ek mal om voor te stel dat jou seun of dogter die hoofdanser vir die Joffrey Ballet Company kan wees en ‘n weeklikse Bybelstudie vir ander dansers lei in wat eens as ‘n beroep wat moreel bankrot is, beskou is?’
Paulus het nie die filosowe in die Areopagusraad gekritiseer en vir hulle gesê dat hulle hel toe gaan nie. Hy het na hulle altaar aan ‘n onbekende god gewys en gesê: ‘Ek het gekom om vir julle te vertel wie hierdie onbekende God is en sy naam is Jesus.’ Wat was die resultaat? “…party het hom uitgelag, maar ander het gesê: ‘Ons wil graag later meer hieroor van jou hoor'” (Handelinge 17:32 NLV). Neem dus ‘n geloofsgebaseerde risiko en kyk wat gebeur.
Sielskos: Jos 8:30-10:43; Luk 19:28-40; Ps 103:13-22; Spr 23:1-3
2024-09-03
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
When making important decisions, especially when they can affect the lives of others, the Bible says you should do two things: First, count the cost (See Luke 14:28). That means you should evaluate and investigate, and you should seek guidance and counsel. “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice” (Proverbs 12:15 NIV).
How certain should you be before you move forward? In his book, The Next Generation Leader, Pastor Andy Stanley writes: “Generally speaking, you are probably never going to be more than 80 percent certain. Waiting for greater certainty may cause you to miss an opportunity.” What are you waiting for? A guarantee that you won’t make mistakes? That you won’t be criticized or experience embarrassment? If so, you will get nowhere. When you have done all that wisdom demands, you must trust God and take a faith-based risk. If you don’t, you will end up living with regret.
In a research study done by two Cornell University psychologists, they learned that time is a major factor in what we regret. We typically regret our actions over the short term. But over the long term, we are inclined to regret our inactions. The study found that in an average week, action regrets were somewhat higher than inaction regrets – 53 percent to 47 percent. But when people think about their lives as a whole, inaction regrets exceed action regrets 84 percent to 16 percent. In other words, you won’t regret the errors you made as much as you will the God-ordained opportunities you missed. So, go ahead and take a faith-based risk.
Soul food: Josh 5:1-8:29; Luke 19:11-27; Ps 103:1-12; Prov 22:27-29
