Whether you’re talking about sex or if the bible is outdated….God’s word will never pass away.
Two thoughts for today…Sex and relevancy of the bible:
First of all, I am so grateful for the letters, messages, and texts I’ve received, and conversations I’ve had with others regarding the topic of purity, specifically virginity. A huge THANK YOU!
A couple of months ago God put it on my heart to write about it. Yesterday He guided me to have it ready for the month of December, the “Gift Giving” month. This morning I woke up praying about it even more.
I have no idea the direction that The Holy Spirit is guiding my thoughts and pen (ok, fingers for typing) to finalize this journal entry. Will it be one long entry? Will there be various posting broken down into topics? I’m not sure yet. All I know is however this ends up when I hit the “publish” button, to God be all the glory. I just want y’all to grow more in love with Jesus and desire Him more than anything.
Can I count on you to pray with and for me through this process? I desire to be His instrument. Much thanks!
(So feel free to keep sending me your stories. How about if you were to write a letter to your younger self and send it my way? That would be an interesting piece/ some good advice/ even possibly therapeutic to write. I’d still LOVE to hear more from you men. *hint*hint*)
Secondly, do you think the bible is a “tad bit outdated”?
I recently received a message from someone using those exact words. While I wasn’t judging, nor will I, this person at all, my heart saddened a bit and made me ponder on how our society does perceives God’s word today.
Three verses (yes, from the bible) come to my mind:
Mark 13:31, Hebrews 4:12-13, and Numbers 23:19
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” Mark 13:31
“God is not a man; He will not lie. God is not a human being; His decisions will not change. If He says He will do something, then He will do it. If He makes a promise, then He will do what He promised.” Mark 13:31
The Message translation says: “God means what He says. What He says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what.” Hebrews 4:12-13 MSG
A more prominent translation (NIV) types it this way: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV
I found two websites that wrote about the relevancy of the bible today as well:
GodandScience.org “Is Christianity and the Bible Too Old-Fashioned to be Relevant in Today’s Society?”
gotquestions.org “Is the Bible relevant for today?”
I want to encourage you to dive into God’s word. Don’t look at it as “what’s in it for me?” but “what does God want to reveal to you”. His word is powerful! It is real! It is relevant! I personally see His words come to life every day. No matter how our world changes, and boy does it, God and His word will never change.
I pray many blessings and much JOY for you! Have a wonderful day. – Stephanie
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Stephanie,
Really great post. People have been arguing about whether the Constitution and its ideals are outdated for almost as long. Our founding fathers used scripture and God’s wisdom as He shared it with them to craft that document.
God’s word, the holy Bible, is the ultimate classic. Better than a Dickensian or Tolstoy story. It tells us stories of encouragement, discipline, hope, love, and warns us of the dangers that are out there, TODAY, if we ignore its teaching.
In fiction writing, I’m told there isn’t anything new under the sun. Just new people adding their spin to what’s already there. I wonder, where those enduring ideas first expressed? In the Bible.
For someone to ask or even think the Bible is outdated is to believe the sun, moon, and stars are old and used up.But they aren’t! They are eternal-rising and shining down on us temporary humans every day.
Their existence comes from–God. He spoke the words that created them. His word is alive. It fills our spirit, and takes us through another day. The Bible is steady and true to those willing to open their minds to the lessons and assurances it offers.
But even if someone isn’t willing to read it for its spiritual significance, it reads like a combination of the classics with the beauty of its poetry as shared by David, the love and desire and appreciation of a man for a woman as found in Solomon.
Proverbs–the first fortune cookie style nuggets of wisdom man ever read. And the New Testament–the guidebook of how and what we can expect to face and overcome in the times we’re facing right now or will face. (Think sci-fi).
God is eternal. He was here in the beginning and He will be here in the end. (The alpha and the omega.) His Spirit is eternal. (It inhabits those who believe in Him.) And, His Word is forever. (It is written on our hearts so that It/He will never leave us).
We’re a people of fault-assigning. We don’t like to claim responsibility for anything we’ve done. God’s Holy written Word, in the form of The Bible, is the irrefutable proof or benchmark that reassigned to us our role in the actions we took.
The Ten Commandments were first written in stone for a reason. They are permanent–here to stay for much longer than this passing generation of people or those to come after us.
As Casting Crowns sings, “And His love endures forever.” Everything about God is eternal. Constant. We are the ones who change. (Read about the Israelites. God never changed His mind about what He wanted them to do. They did. And every time they went the wrong way, they faced trouble they couldn’t resolve until they came back to God asking for directions again. His directions were always the same as what they had rejected before. And He was right–every time.)
We, as people, are what is outdated. Our spirits are timeless, but our bodies are not. In a world where our cars start depreciating as we drive away from the dealership, an upgraded version of our phone releases the week after we bought ours, the length of our hair, even the style of our clothes is en vogue for only a season. We desperately need a constant to ground us.
That constant is God and His holy Word, written down so we can take our time studying it and referring back to it when something new (to us, not God) has or will come our way.
Sorry I rambled, Stephanie but as God inspired you to write today’s post, He opened my eyes to the truth and permanence of His Word as I read your blog.
Big hugs and may you have a blessed day.
K
I’m so glad you are going to write on the sex before marriage. It’s not just for the young but us single divorced people need this also. It’s very hard now days and I have done wrong but have asked for forgiveness and plan on obeying God in the future. Good luck and I will be praying for you.