Thoughts on prostitution.

In 2005 I flew into Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay on the island of Oahu. I was partaking in the Single Marine Program along with approximately 80 other Marines. I had an amazing nine days of relaxation for the low price of $350 for air fare and lodging. The best remembered event of that trip took place on the last night and has given me pause to think and pray on many occasions over the last few years. Mostly, this is because, in the midst of a great amount of confusion, the Lord blessed me with a bright ray of hope.

I was slightly drunk and walking back to my hotel with a Marine buddy of mine and two other people from my church back in Vista, CA who happened to be there celebrating their marriage. I was "pretending" to be slightly belligerent and was dragging my heals on going back to my room. My buddy was trying to make sure I was going to be safe. Right before I crossed the street to enter the hotel, a prostitute approached me with a wide, beaming smile and words of exclamation crossing her lips. She shouted, "I remember you!" then THREW her arms wide and rushed me to embrace me in an enormous hug.

In my happy drunkenness, I shouted out to her on the street and yelled, "GOD BLESS YOU!" It was one of the most amazing hugs I have ever experienced in my life. It is the story of how I got to that hug that matters most, though. I am still learning from it...

I considered it slightly scandalous to have at least two dozen young women prowling around across the street to ensnare foolish men. The girls were easy to spot: They all wore crystal clear, 3-inch stilettos and I decided to try my hand at sharing the good news with them. No, I wasn't heading out to boast about saving hundreds of dollars on my auto insurance by switching over to Geico. I also wasn't heading out to brag about how smart I was simply because I had slept at a Holiday Inn Express!



I was motivated to offer them a semblance of goodness to their lives outside of how they were living. I wanted to let them know about Christ's perfect love that could take them out of a life such as prostitution. Regardless of my intention to do good, my heart was woefully unprepared and unlearned in how to do so. I was approached by a number of the ladies (the only type of woman I don't have to chase after, apparently) and spoke with them out of a sense of sadness for where they were at. Of course, this didn't go over well for them. Lesson: Christ does not save us by feeling sorry for us but by loving us.

One of the ladies of the night did give me an amazing excuse for the way she lived, though. It was an Asian woman who spoke some broken English and she stated to me that prostitution was the earliest form of religious exercise. I don't if she meant "exercise" literally. She continued on to say, "Is it any coincidence that 'whore' sounds like 'holy'?" (To get a better appreciation of how she said "whore" and "holy" try rolling your h's in the back of your throat and holding that guttural sound for a few moments before finishing the word).

I went three nights in a row and all the while I had my fellow Marines hooting and hollering at me from the balconies of the hotel. Even when I explained my actions, I don't think they understood why I would be down there just trying to talk with prostitutes. Still, once they got done with the cat-calling, they were intrigued to say the least. The second to last night, I did get to talk with a lovely young girl. I struck up as normal a conversation as possible with her as she was propositioning me to have a threesome with her partner. Her partner was disgusted when I told her that instead of accepting their offer, I had an offer of my own and that it was eternal life with a clear conscience and perfect love forever; all at no charge! Why are people disgusted by that? It must be the messengers...

Anyway, I was able to talk with the girl who stayed behind, but only for a few moments. It was enough time to find out that she was only going to be on the island for a couple more days and would soon be flying out to Las Vegas to make her living. I forget exactly what that living was but it wasn't prostitution this time. She told me a couple other things that I have regrettably forgotten now, as well. Still, I was able to connect with her and give her the good news of salvation and eternal life. I think she was happy just to have a conversation with a guy who didn't want her for sex. At this point, her partner came in and forcibly extracted her from the conversation. I think now that if I have the opportunity to speak with prostitutes again I will pay them for their time.

That leads to the next night and her remembrance of me. She was my bright ray of hope. That's why the hug was so amazing. Since then, I've had to question my approach to people and how I love them. I have learned that hope and love are a motivation much more worthy and lasting than fear and sorrow. It proved to me that Christ made Himself sin for us and took our death upon Himself simply so that He could hold us in His great embrace! He saved me when I was far more wicked than her. Much better than that; He never removed His gaze from me and will never forget my name or blot me out of His book of life. I will be given the most loving and warm embrace; the love of which will last forever. He smile will be upon me with the words, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

How NOT to preach the Gospel (Part 2).

In my first post of this series (a response to Mark Driscoll's tirade against abusive men), I gave some reasons to why his method is not an effective way to preach Christ's forgiveness. After meditating on how to share the Gospel with Christians who live in unrepentant sin, and arguing with some who believe Driscoll's method to be spot on, I have developed my argument more fully.

Preaching should include law and gospel (sin and grace), but where was the gospel in what Driscoll said? I'm really troubled that there are so many men in his congregation that live the way he says they do. Still, scripture, properly applied, does not simply mean yelling at people from the pulpit whether you are giving law and gospel, or not.

It is appropriate for such men who continue to live in unrepentant sin to be cast out after they have been properly confronted. A little leaven leavens the whole loaf! On the other hand, why is he not yelling at the women who stay in such abusive relationships? They are in sin that is just as revolting. Yet, the bar seems to be set abysmally low so that instead of encouraging women to be healthy and wait for godly men, he simply yells at the men for being ungodly. So how do we properly confront such people (men and women)?

Consider Matthew 18:15-17 and ask yourself if Driscoll applies it properly.

"If your brother [or sister] sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

That passage is directed towards individuals, is it not? The biblical way of pointing a man towards the grace of God is to direct him to see his sin through the lens of God's forgiving grace. This should be done firmly by showing him his fault while allowing him to know that he is still loved and supported. Importantly, loving support means that you do not accept a person living in destructive behavior. That being the case, you should send them from your midst when you gather if they don't repent.

If you preach sin and judgment without a gospel of grace and forgiveness you preach a crushing and unbearable burden upon the shoulders of people. Guilt brings death if it is not used to reveal God's love for sinners and forgiveness for them. I am concerned that many people who believe Driscoll was right in the way he addressed sin are suffering from unresolved and unrighteous anger towards abusive people.

How NOT to preach the Gospel.

The video is Mark Driscoll shouting at the men in his congregation who have failed in their duties as men, husbands, boyfriends, etc. The motivational message he drives home is powered by the engine of guilt and lacking in grace completely. If he is preaching to unbelievers his message derides them because he is not allowed to judge those who do not claim the name of Christ. They live according to their nature. If he is preaching solely to Christians, he does not invoke the love of God that brings us to repentance. He is quick to condemn. Watch it:



I know that some men (and women) who watched this clenched their fist and shouted, "Preach it!" Do you not know that you are that man? What makes you the judge of your brother? Do you not need forgiveness just as desperately? Do not make the love you have for others a love of self-righteousness. There is no checklist that you can complete that proves that you are capable of showing grace and mercy towards others that you have not first obtained from Christ, yourself. The love we know has been taught to us by Christ alone and we boast in His love above anything that we can do.

Romans 8:1-4 states:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

In a worldly sense, men are under a legal obligation to the women they marry. After all, they sign a document stating that they have declared their intention to honor and love their wife. Yet the legal obligation they are under according to the worldly law is dead and their duties are resurrected in the spiritual law as gifts of unmerited love (this law applies to the single man, as well). Is not the best gift one that is given with no desire for something in return? That is love, and it is the gift of God's grace to us. We can offer the Lord nothing of ourselves that is worth His undeserved gift of forgiveness of sins, godliness and eternal life.

We must not teach one another to obey the gospel out of obligation or else our obedience is a self-righteous work. Truthfully, obedience on our part means that we trust in the sacrifice of Christ and His righteous life of obedience. That alone encourages us to count others as better than ourselves. The godliness of a true Christian comes from a broken and contrite heart because Christ was broken for our sakes. It is a heart that is humble and quick to forgive because of the forgiveness we have received. It is one that is quick to ask for forgiveness because we live by God's grace. Take that to heart you sinful man and know that the love of Christ alone will teach you to love a woman properly. Christ loved you, sinner, in order that His mercy and grace would teach you to show mercy and grace to those who don't deserve it.

Now go out and speak the truth in love!

Emmanuel (God with us)

One of the teachers at the school I work at is a Jehovah's Witness and we've talked about the Scriptures and Christ a number of times. She's a fun person and I enjoy her a lot. She seems to enjoy our talks and my presence as well as she has invited me to a number of gatherings of the Witnesses. I have not had much experience with them other than what I have basically read and heard. Apart from everything else they believe (no matter how strange), the important difference between them and Christians is that they have a works-based religion whereas God is grace-based. I don't say this from hearsay but from knowledge I gained from attending their church last Sunday. Their sermon (they would probably call it a lecture) could literally have been labeled "Obey God's law because He commands it." Only lousy parents would give such a reason to their children to obey them. I can see it now:

Mom: "JOHNNY! You go apologize to Carla right this instant!"
Johnny: "But whyyyyyy mom?"
Mom: "Because I said so!"


God does not deal with such frivolous explanations. He focuses on the heart and changing it. He explains to us why we should obey Him. For instance, in many places all over the Bible His reason is basically, "because I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of bondage and slavery." Our motivation to do what is right is not motivated out of fear, guilt or confusion but out of gratitude for our rescue from slavery and death!

I was angry over the words of the lecturer simply because his teachings were so wicked and wrong. For him to teach in the name of Christ who alone was able to obey the law for us and then tell those he was teaching to do the same is like giving them concrete boots and throwing them into the ocean to swim. We live a life of GRACE! Our works are filthy rags and at best we are unprofitable servants! Nothing we can do will gain us favor or right standing before God. That is why it took His perfect life, unjust death and glorious resurrection to purchase our entrance into God's presence. Who wants to trade pearls for sand? Trust in God's grace and not in yourself and you shall find life.

Still, I was not surprised to hear the law preached and was trusting that God would provide me the opportunity to minister His truth. One of the students from the school was there and he came to say hi. We chatted a little bit, parted ways and then saw one another again on Monday when he came for class. He asked me what I thought about the church service and I told him that I was "disappointed." I was thankful that he asked why and then actually listened as I registered complaints against the teaching.

I took with him the position from Romans 7 that in living through Christ we are now dead to the law:

⁴So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. ⁵For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. ⁶But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

We bear fruit through the law keeping of Christ and the grace He showed to us when He gave Himself as a ransom for us. As children who put their hand in the cookie jar after being told not to do so, so are we before the law when it tells us how to live. In Christ, we are bound to righteousness through the power of His blood and no longer to sin that, through the law, made us unrighteous.

⁷What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet." ⁸But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. ⁹Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. ¹⁰I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.

The law was necessary to teach us of our own incapacity to be righteous before God. It was meant to drive us to the mercy which Christ provides. Without a code to tell us the proper path to walk, we would have no reason handed down by God to live a certain way and could not be judged as sinners. Paul, as Saul, found his righteousness through the keeping of the law and thus did not consider himself judged by it.

¹¹For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. ¹²So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. ¹³Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

Sin had deceived Paul into believing himself blameless before the law and ultimately blinded him to his own spiritual death before Christ gave him sight to see. So the law is good because it reveals the heart of sin that is withing us. the punishment for sin is death and if we don't realize that we deserve such punishment then we cannot understand our need for Christ to supply our redemption. Either justice will find you, or you will find your shelter from justice in Christ who took your punishment. Either way, justice must be carried out. The law will be upheld by the sword and no one who is outside of Christ will be spared.

The next attribute of God I explained was that Christ is God incarnate. Anyone who knows a little bit of Spanish knows that "carne" is meat. Carne is a Spanish word derived from the Latin word incarnare which means "make flesh" and caro which means "flesh." Thus, Christ is the enfleshment of God. I said to Him that if you do not believe that Christ is God then you cannot be saved. In other words, if you don't believe God in the flesh who is with us then how can you believe God in the Spirit who is transcendent?

Praise God that we were able to speak again on Wednesday. He wanted me to bring Scripture detailing how Christ is God. I brought a lot. If you would like to read some of what I showed him then you can find it on this site: http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/jesusgd2.htm. We'll see where God takes it from here.

From the heart.

Beauty that flows from the heart makes the entire person beautiful inside and out. Beauty is not defined by the outward appearance of a person but rather a mixture of qualities that bless other people. Asymmetry of features, beautiful hair, shiny nails, glossy lips, soft skin and the like mixed with contention and hatred do not a beautiful combination make. A countenance that shines with the light of peace, humility, compassion, joy and love is much more to be desired. Yet, these qualities that pour forth from the heart are not to be obtained by the natural man. We do not have the ability to quell the dissensions within our souls. It is not within our power to end the lusts, jealousies, hatreds and disgusts we have for such things as the wicked desire for another person, the aggravating success of a neighbor, the wounds of a friend who became an enemy, or the quirks of a parent or sibling who drives us crazy.

The video I show gives a good description of what must take place within us. We must be given the capability to reveal true beauty from a heart that has so often been lost in self-doubt and pity. Whereas the video shows the beautification of a the outward appearance, the need for a reformation of our heart is much more difficult and necessary. Who among you can point to your heart and successfully say, "Heart, I don't like the way you've been acting so you will change this instant"? We cannot remake the heart that so often strives against what is right. The truth is that it must be remade for us by One who is able to transform the soul.



WARNING (FOR MEN): The video is meant primarily for women who happen to read this post. Most guys don't care about their outward appearance so much since they fart, scratch and belch in public. For a man to be told that "there could never be a more beautiful you" would be far too sappy to acknowledge. I would encourage any man who thinks of watching this to have a daughter or a close relationship with a beloved female! Only then will you have the wisdom necessary for understanding!

Regardless of gender, the Gospel is this: God made us His children and cared for us from the womb. He fed and clothed us and protected us and yet we turned our hearts from Him (Deut. 32:1-18). Being holy, He turned His face from us and pronounced a curse upon mankind that we would bear the wounds of our sins and face judgment (Deut. 32:19-26). Yet, He did not deal with us according to our iniquities. He called us His inheritance and His portion and, according to His everlasting kindness, claimed Himself as the atonement for our sins so that He could have the glory in leading us away from our captivity to wickedness and death (Deut. 32:43). All of this He did by coming in the form of a man and living the only perfect life of any person on earth, in accordance with the law. He gave Himself up to suffer an unjust death to take our sins upon Himself so that the Scripture would be proven in Revelation 5 where it is written:

¹Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. ²And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" ³But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. ⁴I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. ⁵Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

⁶Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. ⁸And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
¹⁰You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."

¹¹Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. ¹²In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"

¹³Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!" ¹⁴The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.