Christian Modesty in Today's Culture // Deception in the Church

Notice: This article is not appropriate for children under 15 years of age.

Christian Modesty in Today's Culture

Today's culture is reaching the level of immorality of the ancient Canaanites, who committed many abominable things. School shootings and abortion bring to mind the atrocities of the Canaanites who burned their children in the worship of Moloch. These also bring to mind the Aztecs who regularly conducted human sacrifice rituals on central American pyramids. 

And, in the same way that the ancient Israelites removed much of their clothing when they rebelled against God at the time that Moses went up into Mount Sinai (a.k.a. Mt. Horeb) (See Exodus 32), people in western culture have become more and more immodest in their clothing choices. 

The swimwear that people wear today does not match with what God says in His Word about how men and women ought to dress. The bikini is a clothing choice that reveals more than it conceals. It produces lust in men, and it contradicts what God's Word says about good morals. Women wearing bikinis draw men's attention to their bodies instead of toward their faces. This is a deep problem in our society.

Tight pants; tight shirts; short shorts; short dresses; clothing that reveals cleavage; bikinis; women's swimwear that exposes a woman's thighs, or her belly, or her back; and any clothing that draws men to look at a woman's body are all immodest. (Enough said about that.) 

There is a reason why women wear such immodest clothing, and this is a deep problem. But, this deep problem has a wonderful solution. We will look at that wonderful solution later in this article.

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THE EVIL LURE OF LUST


Jesus Christ said this truth in Matthew 5:27-29:

"[27] Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: [28] But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. [29] And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."

Pornography and Satan’s Trap

Pornography and Satan’s Trap

The pornographic industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that works by bringing both men and women into satanic bondage. Sadly, it is one of the most popular industries in the world. It is a snare of the devil and a deadly trap for those caught up in its web.

(Sin is a pied piper.)

I (the author) am writing this article because God delivered me from this evil trap a few years ago and I want to encourage men (and women) to get out of this snare of the devil. I have learned that this trap will literally bring the souls of men (and women) down to Hell. That is the devil’s plan and sadly, it is working. But, God can reverse it. God only can set a man or woman caught up in this trap free. In this article, we will find out how to get free from the grip of pornography.

Pornography is an addiction that 70% of men from 18 to 34 are caught up in (1). More than 72 million people view adult websites worldwide each month (1). Over 50% of pastors in America say that pornography is a possible temptation (i.e. they are admitting that they have a problem) (2). Fifty percent (50%) of all Christian men surveyed admit that they are addicted to pornography (2) and 20% of all Christian women admit they are addicted (2).

Pornography has its clutches over many, many people around the world. It is an evil and harmful addiction which has destroyed many marriages and destroyed many men’s souls. How is this so?

Jesus Christ said…

Matthew 5:28-29

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 

29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Jesus is saying to get rid of what tempts you to sin (i.e. what offends you). Proverbs 7 talks more about this. Please take the time to read, seek God, and think about this.

Proverbs 7:1-5

1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 

2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. 

3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: 

5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

The strange woman is the harlot, or the prostitute, or the image of a woman that a man is lusting after. This prostitute tells the man “Come, let us take our fill of love….”

Proverbs 7:18-27 (bold / underline added)

18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. 

19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: 

20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. 

21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. 

24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. 

25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. 

26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. 

27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

This is very serious. “He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, […] as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.” And there are eternal consequences for committing fornication, lust, or adultery (including pornography): “Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.”

The New Testament also gives a strong warning.

Lust and the Consequences of Sin (What the Bible Says About Lust) (Internet Dangers)

  

Lust and the Consequences of Sin

Lucifer Becomes Satan

Today, many people have heard in the news about rape, violence, and murder. Often, these go hand in hand. These horrible actions are the results of giving place to sin in various forms.

Sin is an abomination to God and it is really a form of rebellion. It started with God’s highest ranking angel, Lucifer. Lucifer was the director of Heavenly worship (as can be found in Ezekiel 28:13-14). Not content with his high position, he wanted to be worshipped as God.

Isaiah 14:12-15

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Lucifer (meaning “Light Bearer”) was cast out of God’s holy kingdom and his name was changed to Satan (meaning “Deceiver”). Satan wanted to get revenge. How humiliating it was to be defeated by God’s angels. He came to the Earth where God had just created man, named Adam, in God’s image.

Eve, who God created from a rib God had taken from Adam’s side, was in the garden minding her own business when a serpent (possessed by Satan) came her way. At that time, serpents could walk and did not slither (see Genesis 3:14).

Satan’s Deception

Satan, in the serpent, saw the opportunity to deceive Eve and lead her to rebel against God. At this time, there was no sin. Adam and Eve were perfect and sinless, but they still had a free will. Genesis 3 describes man’s downfall.

Genesis 3

1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Adam and Eve knew that God had told them not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When they did, in rebellion against God, they were given the ability to discern good from evil. With knowledge of sin, they felt exposed and vulnerable. They wanted to hide and cover themselves as if doing so could hide their sin. But, God was not fooled. He knew what they had done.

God confronts the rebellious couple and declares what the consequences of their sin will be. Adam will have hard labor to provide for his daily needs. Eve will have difficulty in child-bearing. In addition, they both will not live forever (in their present bodies), but will age and die.

God then tells the serpent that he will crawl on his belly and eat dust. God also tells the serpent (or Satan):

Genesis 3:15 (bold added)

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Jesus Christ (who came in the form of a man to pay for our sins) is the seed of the woman who bruised or crushed the serpent’s head, which is a fatal blow to Satan. Through Jesus Christ, as our Savior and Lord, we are able to conquer and overcome temptation.

Now, Satan was not finished with Adam’s race. He wanted to destroy ever son or daughter of Adam he could and he still does (that includes you and me). Satan is crafty and subtle, like a snake. He tempts us where we are weak. Because of our fallen, sinful nature, Satan (or his minions) can tempt us to lie, cheat, hate, or steal.

Another sin Satan tempts us with is lust, or sexual desire. This is a topic that all people have to face. It is not comfortable to talk about and it is not easy to deal with because sin can be very tempting.

The Bible, God’s Word, is very clear about the results of lust. The book of Proverbs warns about lust throughout it. The author (including the Holy Spirit) knew this is important).

The Strange Woman and Temptation

Proverbs 2:10-16 says that God’s wisdom will deliver a man from wicked men and also from a strange woman (or an adulterous woman).

Proverbs 2:16-19 says:

16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

This strange woman’s house “inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.” What is this death, verse 18 speaks of?