If You Have an Itch....Well?

In writing for Christian singles one would think that this topic has been misplaced. Not so, especially during this age when many men have decided to be alone no matter (Genesis 2:18 AMP) what.  Because of the age and man's decision to be single, it affects the other half of the population whether it is her desire or not. Dating then becomes secondary but maturation in Christ holds the priority. People still have to function and maintain Kingdom Living (Romans 14:17 KJV). How can this be when these two factors are out of place - remaining single and being mature in Christ?

While pondering that question, here is a link to one of the most popular entries in the Christian Single blog, Making It Plain. It is entitled, The Lower Nature where I have written about this topic before; however, recently a question was posed in a Christian group on Facebook. The topic of masturbation was simplified as being something that has become a necessity. The statement (paraphrasing): if one has an itch, one scratches it. If one is hungry, one eats. If one is thirsty, one drinks and so forth implying that masturbation would also be well fitted into that reasoning. Personally, it sounds plausible yet this would also make sense to a sinner. That by itself  was a cause for me to find a definitive verse in the Word that would unequivocally satiate the believer but disturb the sinner. Why? The believer and sinner will never think alike (2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV). There is no commonality in the two other then what once was but has since passed away. The sinner will pacify himself with wrong doing, wrong thinking, and will try to influence others to make the act socially acceptable disregarding absolute truth.

With the media having a powerful impact on how people construct their lives, I refer to a movie There's Something About Mary, which was released as a romantic comedy, starring Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz. In it, Ben Stiller's character was given advice about how to control his sexual urges so that the conversation could be normal and he not ruin the date by directing the conversation toward the two of them having sex. The advice given was for him to masturbate just before his date so that he would not have sex on his mind. Presumably, before agreeing to do what was advised, he thought how he felt afterwards in the past and therefore decided that the advice was sound. Unfortunately, his timing was off and so what some might have guffawed, I winced and kept my stomach from being upset by changing the channel. Nevertheless, I recognized the same antics from this advice in other skits and spoofs different from the aforementioned movie. Its purpose was to get the viewer use to what has once been considered taboo.

Let's try to make some sense as to why something so exclusive and private would have ever be thought of as taboo. Honestly, if Jerry Seinfeld would have never made fun of the sexual act in his sitcom, would we be as cavalier with the use of it now? Commercials for products designed to enhance the performance are being produced without protest. Boutiques carry battery operated devices that sell well in an industry that is booming. With so much social acceptance and has been labeled as something that everyone is doing or has done before, why should Christians be concerned? Would it keep a believer out of heaven?

The next day after the young woman asked the question in the Christian group on Facebook, Joyce Meyer, Dr. Creflo Dollar, and Bishop T. D. Jakes also delved into it all on the same day. It was amazing! Well, they used the term self control while I answered the question using the word, discipline. It is not something too many Christians rally to know anything about. Discipline and self control has as much edge of the seat, riveting, genuine interest as a believer asking God for more long suffering and patience; yet all 4 of these traits with 5 more are necessary for Jehovah's harvest to be what He expects (Galatians 5:22-23 AMP).

Shall we continue even further or do you have an understanding where this is going?

While I understand why the question was asked, the only way any believer reading that question can truly be set free is through the Word of God. When hearing other sermons on the matter (too few to get into depth), the scriptures used were on fornication and lust. The speaker would group those two subjects in with masturbation and leave the listener not quite content with having the actual question answered. Would God be so specific about those two subjects and not be specific about something by which He knew would be an issue in these last days? With Him being a Good Father and the supplier of all of our needs, He also would be specific in this matter as well.

As a disciple of Christ, this means one is disciplined. Can you see how the two words are similar? In the discipleship, one accepts the responsibility of being consecrated in Him. He/she allows for the Holy Spirit to have full control of the will. In so doing, one's purpose in life becomes clear or is confirmed. Jehovah-Jireh has sought and supplied our needs. We have a healer, deliverer, a comforter, a supplier, a peace giver it is all good all of the time. If our hearts and minds are stayed on Him, why would there be a need for anything else? If urges arise and we are not married, wouldn't that be a clue that there is something we have fed our hearts and minds that is not of Him? It would have to be, don't you see? He has supplied EVERYTHING!!! Why would there be a need to gratify self (Galatians 5:16-25 AMP)?

Nutty Fluffer

Sunday, I listened to a message on television from a very well known pastor. As I listened to his always inspiring sermon, I noticed the verse he used to solidify the message was misquoted. Though it substantiated what he was saying, it wasn't at all the truth that the verse was supposed to be holding for those that read it. I wondered what would this do to those who believed what they heard and about to use in their everyday lives. Would they fare well and if the minister cared if anything happens to them based on what was preached and they spiritually consumed.

Look at it from a different perspective. A waiter takes the order of those who desires a meal. He/she then takes the order to the cook and waits for the preparation of the food. Once the food is ready, there are those that garnish the plate and then the waiter is told that the order is ready for him/her to take the food to the waiting patrons. If along the way that the server sneezes, cough, drops a plate and scoops the food back on it, or so forth, he/she has the responsibility to take the food back and tell the cook, it is no longer fit to serve or not. The responsibility is on the server and anyone that saw what the server did or not do. If the contaminated food is served anyway, the consumer will undoubtedly become ill.

Add this onto the perspective given: I noticed on a commercial some years ago about yogurt. There was a new style that was being offered with just as much flavor but half the calories. It was called to have a decadent smooth taste. Though it was marketing for the consumer to purchase the product, it is the responsibility of the consumer to find out what made this product better then the one they already had. The company took half of the container of yogurt, used a high powered mixer and whipped air into it. So you are getting half the product you use to get for the same amount of money (if not more). Yes, it is half the calories because you are getting half of the original product. Isn't that evil or just business?

The 23rd Psalm, a very popular passage that some of us had to learn and recite for our Easter Pageant, tells us that the table has been prepared by the Lord. This tells me the food that He has for us, has already been set. When Jesus told Peter to feed My sheep, he was being instructed to serve. Serve what? Serve from what He has already prepared in the 23rd Psalm (Verse 5). Remember this.

Now putting this all together, I have to take offense when a minister, pastor, apostle, evangelist, or teacher takes it upon themselves to make changes when speaking a message under the guise that it came from the Lord (  Hebrews 5:1-12 AMP). The position taken as mentioned previously, is a privilege to serve God's children. That doesn't mean anything that comes to mind. It is a message to be served as it is given. For we all are created at time such as this to be a set aside as a peculiar nation for God's treasure...His harvest. When a message is given from the Lord, isn't it the duty of the minister to study all of the aspects of that message, so when it is delivered (served) not only will the babies enjoy the milk of a nourishing meal, but the children and sons (mature Christians) are also fed from the Word as well (Hebrews 5:12-14 AMP)?

When ministers preach to others messages that they heard from television, a CD, a DVD or from another minister rather then directly from the relationship that he/she has with the Lord, isn't it diluted by the time it is delivered to the people...or lukewarm.... or contaminated with all sorts of fillers? And then the congregation hears it and starts speaking it as well because they trust that this minister has done the right thing...it then becomes a way of life for them. Would it not have been better if that minister studied, prayed on it, and then meditated to live that message as a minister before actually teaching it to God's people (Revelation 3:15-22 AMP)? Bishop T.D. Jakes asked a question in one of his many messages that would seem apropos here: How can you take me to a place where you have never been? I thought about that question and had a few of my own. If you as a minister never ate from that table or lived with that Word you preached to the congregation in your own life, how then can you tell me to do this, that, or the other thing? How can you chastise me for not doing something that you don't do? How can you tell me fornication is wrong, and then be involved in a scandal? How are you

teaching to draw nigh to God but the words you teach are drenched in contempt rather than love? How can you counsel a staff to do what is written and then be found in extortion? Its bothersome to say the least.

A pastor from a very large following was involved in a scandal that lasted for a couple of years. The congregation tried to stay loyal to the pastor but it was too much for them to accept and eventually, they began to leave. One of the nearby ministries in the area noticed that his congregation was getting larger then it has in years and believed that many of the congregants were coming from the church whose pastor was fighting the public scrutiny. The leader of the neighboring ministry told the new congregants to go back to the church where they came from. He said that they had no business leaving their pastor while he was going through this bit of trouble. I understood where the ministry leader was coming from, but what does the Word say about it? Was he being loyal to God or the troubled pastor? It was bothersome as well.

This post is entitled the Nutty Fluffer because the description "nutty" gives reference to the sanity of anyone taking the office to minister God's Word and then deciding to use his/her own words instead. It is written that not one tittle shall be added or subtracted from the Word of God (Deuteronomy 12:32 NIV, Proverbs 30:5-6 NIV, Revelation 22:18-19 AMP). When doing so anyway, in spite of what has been directed from God not to do, is insane. A lesson I heard in a sermon was: to do the same thing and to expect different results is the definition of insanity. I beg to differ when the Word tells us that it is the diligent that will reap the reward (Hebrews 11:6 AMP). Therefore, doing wrong and expecting to be rewarded for it is insane.

A fluffer would be the title of the one that uses the high powered mixer on the yogurt described above. This person takes a food product and whips air into it to make the product look as if it is more then what it actually is. In ministering the Word, which one of you does that? The product has already been prepared. Who is it that dilutes the Word or exaggerates what has already been written (Matthew 5:17-19 AMP)? Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The Father of all lies is the devil. He is also known as the prince of the air (Ephesians 2:2 AMP). Again, who is it that fluffs up what the Lord has already prepared? Do you really think you can do better then the Teacher (Luke 6:39-40 AMP)?