Category: Special Topics

December 24, 2012

candles2

Kwanzaa and Christianity – Unequally Yoked!

by Carlotta Morrow — Categories: Kwanzaa, Special Topics — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — 3 Comments

December 26 marks the beginning of the seven day celebration of Kwanzaa every year. What is Kwanzaa? It’s a celebration designed to bring together families to share their African-American culture.  At least that’s the general opinion of most who celebrate it.  For many it’s also a way of life complete with its own set of seven principles called in Swahili the Nguzo Saba.

Kwanzaa is celebrated by countless numbers of people in differing religions, ethnicities and what have you, but the number of Christians who celebrate Kwanzaa becomes a bit more on the disturbing side. Why is that? For the most part, Kwanzaa’s creation by Maulana Karenga, a college professor and leader of a black activist organization,was primarily because of his intense hatred of religions, especially of the Christian and Jewish religions.

Jesus Psychotic?

So Christians celebrate a holiday that not only is created by a man who hates religions, but mocked our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ publicly when he was quoted from the following in his book, The Quotable Karenga, 1967:

“Jesus was psychotic. He said if you didn’t believe what he did you would burn forever.” (pg 25)
“If you realized how human Jesus was, you’d see he was no God.” (pg 26)

To think I bought Karenga’s book off of Ebay a few years ago for less than 5 dollars, after giving my copy of the book to a Los Angeles pastor in the 1980′s who did nothing about it.  You can’t find that book anywhere I don’t think for less than $35, and I’ve seen it as a collector’s item in the $200 dollar range! Yes, that invaluable book reveals Karenga’s true beliefs at that time on Christians, Jesus Christ, religions in general and of himself and other humans when he said:

“We are God ourselves, therefore it is not good to be atheistic or agnostic.  To be an atheist is to deny our existence and to be an agnostic is to doubt it.” (pg 26)

This book was printed in 1967, a year AFTER Kwanzaa’s creation.  Churches that bring Kwanzaa within their walls have just offered an invitation to the wiles of Satan himself!

Kwanzaa resembling a mixture of different religions

Now many will say that that was then and now is now and how they celebrate it is the difference. Many will claim not to believe the way Karenga believes but should Christians participate in it? What is the Kwanzaa celebration about? Here a few of the elements of the Kwanzaa ceremony:

  • Chanting of Libations (see Karenga’s example of one here)
  • Drinking of a Unity Cup
  • 7 candles – one for each day of the 7 principles
  • Roll calling of dead ancestors names
  • Celebration of 7 principles to make each man, woman and child a better human being
  • Kinara – (Candle holder, very similar to the Jewish candle holder, the Menorah)

Although not considered a religious event, the entire Kwanzaa ceremony is reminiscent of Ancient African religions with the roll calling of dead ancestors, the 7 principles similar to having 10 commandments in the Judeo-Christian religions, lighting the candles in a candle holder similar to the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah. Yet it is stressed that this is not a religious celebration.

Godly vs Satanic

It’s important that as Christian’s we recognized what belongs to Satan and what belongs to God. Karenga is not to be condemned himself, but his teachings and anything associated with it we should steer clear of as we are reminded in the scriptures to do so:

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?

For youare the temple of the living God.

As God has said:

“ I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “ Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “ I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6: 14-18

Kwanzaa is a celebration like Halloween that I’ve separated myself from. Many today do not celebrate Halloween like it was intended, but it’s the purpose of Halloween and it’s satanic pagan roots that is bothersome and to be avoided like Kwanzaa. Sure, people will say that Christmas is pagan too but the early roots of Christmas aren’t satanic and still had the purpose of honoring God. (See “Is Christmas Pagan, by Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason).

Holidays are just a small sampling of what we as Christians need to be discerning.  Unequally yoked not only means our practices, but who we associate with, date and marry, business partners and etc. God didn’t mean we couldn’t have unsaved friends or be a part of pagan ceremonies, but when it comes to relationships and practices that could compromise our faith in God, THEN it’s time to become unyoked!

To borrow from the previous link I shared on Halloween, we as Christians are to be reminded of what this world is about.  We are to remember not to get sucked into deceptive “feel good and look good” false spiritual events like Kwanzaa when the scriptures say:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:12-13

 

(Reposted from 12/2010)

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More about Kwanzaa in my $3.95 ebooklet, “Kwanzaa, Cultural or Cultic?”

Download PDF sample pages including Forward, Preface, Table of Contents and one chapter titled “Is Kwanzaa A Religion?” Sample eBooklet – 10 pages

Full eBooklet – 44 pages

November 2, 2011

abstinence

Abstinence wins out: What part parents can play in their child’s purity before marriage.

by Carlotta Morrow — Categories: abstinence, Sexuality, Special Topics — Tags: , , , , , — 4 Comments

My 26 year old daughter recently celebrated her two month anniversary of marriage and I remembered something very valuable that I could share with my blog readers: my daughter waited until marriage before having sex! That is her picture that I’m sharing with everyone along with the story of how she was able to preserve herself until marriage – from her mother’s point of view.  One day when she has the time, I’m sure we will hear from her about her journey from sex-free singleness to marriage.

Yes, I’ve had something to do with it but my daughter and her siblings really had everything going against them.  They are products of a divorce, a mother who went on welfare for a time and who never remarried with no consistent father image in the home and with two older brothers who were nothing close to being father images but could be considered very menacing to their sister’s prospective boyfriends.  Poor to most of their lives and just having the bare minimum to get by with in life but survived with great help from their grandparents, other relatives and the grace of God.  So how did my daughter manage to make it to marriage as a virgin?

As a parent, have you ever taught your child something and they took that information and ran with it? For example, I taught my children the basics of computers.  They took that information and ran with it doing things with the computer that I can only imagine!

Well, the same with my children and their spirituality.  I introduced my children to Jesus Christ. I shared how they can become saved and on their own they made a commitment to Christ.  My children took that information and ran with it! They developed a faith in God far surpassing anything I could imagine and with their own resolve they were determined to remain obedient to Christ until marriage. One so far has succeeded!

My daughter confirmed a study that was recently done by the CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (pdf file) that said the primary reason for anyone abstaining from sex was for religious or moral reasons (see page 18 on link and graph on page 33).  It was her own faith and moral convictions combined with her own choice of spiritual counselors and a future mate who shared her convictions that led her to decide to wait.

But how do we get a child to that point? What is a parent’s responsibility in their children living morally upright lives? I want to share a few things that I’ve done that was a jump-start for my children. There’s no guarantee but a promise by God if we:

“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

I have two girls and three sons.  All five of them know Christ and yes, they all have quite differing lives and levels of faith in Christ.  But they ALL know HIM!  I wasn’t a mother who had a daily regiment of bible studies, regular church or prayers. Heck, I don’t even like praying aloud so my children have never even heard me pray before! They just know I PRAY and believe God hears me!  Our lives were very chaotic being a single-parent family.  But teaching them about Christ and how to become saved, applying biblical principles into everyday life situations, and then finding a strong bible-believing-teaching church that the kids liked was the key.

So here are my tips in raising a child that will take their faith and run with it! (Borrowed from my post No Condoms No Pills! Part 2)

  1. As a parent and leader of your children, you yourself must have a strong spiritual foundation and that foundation must be in Jesus Christ:

    For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11

    As a parent, we must first be an example to our children. It starts with us being born-again and then being guided strongly by the word of God, the Bible. (Please check the link on my blog where Pastor Miles McPherson has an excellent page and video on becoming a Christian -  Know God) If our children see that we aren’t following God, then why should they? Children are going to do what we do and not as we say!

  2. Lead your children to Christ! The children need Christ in their lives to have the power and conviction to live a life after God.
     

    “. . . ‘You must be born again.’” John 3:7

    Every parent’s primary goal should be that of leading their child to Christ. It is our responsibility to share the gospel, but if the child should reject God, at least a parent can stand before God and say, “I tried.”

  3. Find a strong bible teaching church that has a very vibrant youth department where your children will be comfortable in.

    “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, . . .” Hebrews 10:25

    With the myriad of great churches here in San Diego to choose from, I asked around and the church I attend now is the one church that I heard people talk about the most for the youth. Sure enough, my children enjoy it immensely and love their youth pastors. These pastors have come to our aid when the children needed strong counseling. (And incidentally, I enjoy this church too!)

  4. Make a “NO SEX” rule like you make other rules in the home. Whether your kids believe in Christ or not, you make this the rule in your home.
     

    Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.  1 Corinthians 6:18

    I told my children that sex is for marriage, and if any of them break that rule and I find out about it, then they will suffer consequences. I told them I better not see any condoms or pills as those are things they want to save for their marriage if they need to use them.  Yes, many parents give up teaching abstinence because in their minds it is IMPOSSIBLE to abstain from sex. It isn’t if we don’t give up the hope in teaching them!

  5. Teach them “what says the Lord!” They must know that it’s God’s rule first above yours. And that a sign of their love for God is by their obedience.
     

    “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15

  6. Seek “Purity” conferences – I don’t remember the name of the one I sent my children to here in San Diego, but it was a one day, all day event. The parents drop the kids off and they along with other children hear Christian leaders and they get to join in pretty fun events. This one day event I took my children to seemed to have the greatest impact on them regarding sex.
     

    “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;” 1 Thessalonians 4:3

  7. And if your child should have sex, do share with them God’s forgiveness of their sin as well as your forgiveness of them.

    “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

    Do let them know that they still have to experience the consequences of their disobedience to you since that is a house rule. Their consequence of breaking God’s rule, He’ll handle His way with your child. But show them love and acceptance as God shows us love and acceptance when we have sinned and ask forgiveness of Him. (I’d settle any day for a parents consequence than God’s!)

    If a child is not a virgin, teaching them abstinence is still a worthwhile goal. Just as Christ who came to the aid of an adulteress who was being condemned by people and said to her:

    “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” see John 8:1-12 for whole story.

Raising children in our society is tough enough but now it’s getting even tougher on raising godly children.  Our society is growing daily in tremendous animosity towards the bible and God’s biblical commandments for His creation.  It’s to the point where many are even trying to disguise themselves as “Christian” while encouraging ungodly lifestyles.  The clue to these false Christians is that God’s word is rarely found in their lives or coming from their mouths.  They preach and teach their from their own wisdom while looking down upon God’s wisdom found in the bible.

So parents, just gird yourselves up and teach your children the way of our Lord and not the world’s!  You won’t produce perfect children, but faithful children you will have!

“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” 1 John 2:16

See my entire series on ‘No Condoms No Pills: Parts 1, 2 and 3.

This post was updated and title changed on 11/4/2011 – was titled “Abstinence = No sex tapes, no babies, no STDs, no welfare!”

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Resources (This list will continue to grow as more resources are added)

Wired for Love -  6 part series by Pastor Miles McPherson on dating

Take the Purity Pledge! – Pastor Miles McPherson

Sexual Immorality and your Sanctification by John MacArthur

Abstinence Works – Jim Burns and Homeward Center for Youth and Family

October 28, 2011

Transgender craziness: Boy who wants to be a Girl Scout!

by Carlotta Morrow — Categories: Homosexuality, Special Topics — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — 17 Comments

A story broke out recently (See story on ABC on a seven year old boy named Bobby Montoya, who likes to play with dolls, dress like little girls and wanted to be in the Girl Scouts.  The Girl Scouts initially rejected him because he has “boy parts,” but according to some sources the Girl Scouts have backpedaled and now are saying that they are inclusionary and transgendered children are allowed.

As I kept reading story after story on this poor little boy who has a mother who for some reason believed she must teach her boy that it’s ok to want to be a girl.  Why in today’s society is there so much gender confusion? What is wrong with a mother who decides that just because her boy likes dolls she must now dress him up and treat him like a little girl? This mother says that her son knew since he was two years old that he wanted to be a girl. Really? At two years old?

The mother, Felisha Archuleta said:

“I thought Bobby would grow out of it,” she said. “For birthdays, he asked for ponies. He had a princess birthday, and last year when he turned 7, he had a Rapunzel birthday. I have just basically supported him.”

She merely supported him or brainwashed him into believing that he is a girl! Who was responsible for him having a princess party and Rapunzel party? The boy? The mother is sadly just as confused as the Girl Scouts in not being able to tell that his like of girl toys (which is nothing wrong in itself) doesn’t means he has to be a girl!

To me it is child abuse to confuse a child at such a young age, to dress them up into their make believe world and send them to school only to be teased by children who are getting more confused by the day! And we wonder why kids commit suicide?

This family needs counseling. This family needs God in their lives. They need God’s word in their lives that will help them and anyone else confused with this transgender mess.

What saith the Lord about transgenderism? There is a book written by a man, KK Hofeling, who transgendered into a woman, and then went back to being a man. The description of his book on Amazon.com, “Transsexual Transformed by the Power of God” sums it up nicely:

Zechariah 12: 1: ”The Lord which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, AND FORMETH THE SPIRIT OF MAN WITHIN HIM.”

Riddle me this: Why would a man want to be a woman? Are some men really females trapped in male bodies? Do environment and upbringing have any bearing on the subject? Does God make a mistake at birth?

Come near and hear the true story of a post-operative transgendered ”male to female,” a man who turned his back on God and walked away from his calling to fulfill his own passion, lust, and desires in life, only to discover that he, like the prodigal son, was destined to return to his Father in heaven. Read about his controversial, up-close, and personal views on the subject as he relays them to the Word of God: the Holy Bible.

Now I haven’t read this book and nor do I know what has become of KK Hofeling, but now I have learned that not only are there ex-gays, but ex-transgenders too! His book would be a compelling book for any of us to read.  Another ex-transgendered man, Walt Heyer, has a book out called “Trading My Sorrows.”  Here’s an excerpt from his book’s webpage:

“From my earliest childhood I was sure I had been born into the wrong body. I struggled for nearly 35 years to accept and resolve the gender conflict within. I was diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder (GID) and approved for gender reassignment surgery.

Eight years after the surgery I was struggling again with “the wrong body” and regret came. I had to admit to myself that the surgery I so desperately sought years before was not the correct treatment. I changed back to living in my male birth gender.

My thanks to Darrell Evans for his inspiring and powerful song, “Trading My Sorrows.” I have traded my sorrows for a relationship with Jesus Christ; my identity remains in Him. –Walt Heyer

Both of these men are just a couple of examples of people who have changed back to what God originally made them and they both have a common denominator: their love for Jesus Christ! And takes a true relationship with God through Jesus Christ as the first step in complete acceptance of the body that God gave them.

Our country is in the midst of major bombardment from the LGBT community while they load their godless agenda on many clueless or rebellious people while at the same time godly standards are being ridiculed or accused of being hateful.  Even groups disguised as “Christian” are showing their disdain for God’s word by also showing their hatred to bible believing Christians.  The mother of this child has an agenda but I’m not sure if it’s simply to long for a little girl or she does want the world to know that its okay to be confused on whether one should be a boy or a girl.

True wisdom in how to live our lives begin with God because otherwise, nothing else will ever make sense.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” – Proverbs 1:7

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Articles on Transgenderism and the Bible:

Transgendered Girl Scouts – by Chuck Colson (NEW!) (added 11/7/11)

Bible Question Box:  What about being Transgender?

What does the Bible say about transsexualism / transgenderism? Is gender identity disorder/gender dysphoria the result of sin?

What is a Biblical View of Transgendered People and Hermaphrodites?

Personal testimonies from ex-transgenders:

Read about Darrell, another ex-transgender’s story.  *Warning: Adult Material!”

http://www.pfox.org/Former_Transgender_Tells_His_Story.html

More on Walt Heyer with audio from “Americans for Truth About Homosexuality” website

http://americansfortruth.com/2011/07/19/aftah-interview-with-ex-transsexual-walt-heyer-part-one/

 

October 13, 2011

judging

Judging others – yes we can!

by Carlotta Morrow — Categories: Bible Study Topics, Judging, Special Topics — Tags: , , , , , — 4 Comments

It’s amazing how many people don’t understand the Bible’s position on judging one another.  Judging (pun intended) from the remarks made by commenters on this board whether educated or not, clergy or not, many people mistake judging people with intolerance.  Many feel that to be good Christians means to never say nothing negative to or about anyone.

But if we are called to do the work of reproof, correction, instruction, rebuke, exhortation and convincing:  then one would think we would have to do some amount of judging.  It is this same type of judging common throughout my blog and I know many find it to be a bit too uncomfortable at times. My passion is defending the faith by exposing error against the truth of the Bible (Ephesians 5:8-13) and many times I’ve had to resort to some type of judging in order to discern how best to confront an error and to determine what scriptural passage would be best suited for the person I’m directing it to.

So with that, I dedicate this post on judging; what it means to judge, when to judge and whom can make judgements.  I’ll also share what type of judging we shouldn’t be doing at all.

I’ll begin with some scriptures that explain what is involved in judging and why we are commanded to do so:

1) “Why Judge? – Biblical judging results in spiritual growth in a person:

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” 2 Timothy 4:2

“Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.” 1 Timothy 5:20

“This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,” Titus 1:13

“Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.” Titus 2:15

“let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:20


2) What is judging? – “Judge not that ye be not judged!” The most misunderstood Bible verse

Well, where did this idea come from that we not judge one another? It comes from no other than the Bible itself:

“Judge not, that you be not judged” Matthew 7:1

This has to be every non-Christian’s (and Christians who don’t want to be judged) favorite Bible verse to quote to people regarding judging. But most stop at the end of verse one completely ignoring the rest of this very important passage:

“For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:2-5

Christ is stressing the point that we self-examine ourselves before judging anyone or else we will be considered a hypocrite.  Some of us are so quick to point out small faults in others while ignoring our own major faults.  After self-examination it is then that we are given the green light to make judgement of others – judgement done in love!

“… but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—” Ephesians 4:15 (see Ephesians 4:11-16 for full context of passage).


3) How to judge. – Must discipline unrepentant Christians and also “whom” does the judging.

But even in love, sometimes stricter measures but be taken for impenitent Christians. Again, another situation where judging a person’s actions must take place! These next few verses make it clear that we are to admonish Christians or those who claim to be Christian and not the non-believers when persistent breaking of God’s commandments is practiced:

“I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.

For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-13

Those who are “outside” are the non-Christians, and judgement is left to God regarding them. Our sole job with the non-Christian is to introduce them to Christ.  But those on the “inside” are believers and we must judge one another for the perfecting of our faith as the scriptures  proclaim (see scriptures listed above).


4) But what about condemning someone to hell? Isn’t that judging?

Yes.  When it comes to telling someone about hell, explaining hell’s existence and God’s purpose for hell is one thing, but condemning someone to hell is something not even our Lord Himself was about doing.

“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.  He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” John 12:46-48

In other words, the ultimate judging comes in the last days and that’s when Jesus will turn from Savior to Judge.  That type of judgement is reserved for the end times and by God Himself so we should never be speaking ill of anyone in that respect.  Judgement that is acceptable is for the specific purpose of exhortation, correction, biblical instruction and edification and must be done in love!

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