I came across this article from Tony Miano, a Godly man who does NOT lack discernment. Please take the time to read this, and give the Lord praise for men such as Tony...
Miss California - - Persecution or Consequence?
The pro-homosexual side of the debate sees Miss California as a bigoted homophobe who is receiving the just desserts of her bigotry. The Christian side of the debate sees her as one suffering persecution for her faith. I would like to put forward a third position. She is neither a bigoted homophobe, nor is she being persecuted for her faith.
I believe Miss Prejean is experiencing the consequences of sin--in her case, the sin of immodesty.
But should Miss Prejean have been in that position to begin with? I believe the biblical answer is no.
What seems to be lost in the passionate debate over Miss Prejean's assertion regarding marriage is the issue of modesty and Miss Prejean's utter failure to live up to a God-honoring, faith-validating standard of respectability, modesty, and self-control (1 Timothy 2:8-10).
Miss Prejean, at least for the moment, cannot and will not be a role model for my daughters. The reason is that my wife (the most beautiful and modest woman I know) and I have tried to raise our three beautiful daughters to flee from sin and to pursue righteousness and godliness (1 Timothy 6:11-12).
Read on here...
6 comments:
Lyn,
I read the whole article and couldn't agree with him more. However, I appreciated Tony's humility and admitting he is not taking her to task or asserting she is not saved (although as he says, he does not personally believe that she is).
This is the comment I left on Dani 'El's blog (before I knew about the nude photos):
"First of all, pageants are stupid. Bathing suit competitions are stupid. Child pageants are undoubtedly stupid AND sick, and bikinis are immodest. No "profession Christian" should be participating in them. That said, there's much about contemporary "evangelicalism" and professing Christian-dom that's profoundly stupid (just look at your average Christian book and junk catalogue to see my point). I suspect (although I know very little about her) Miss Prejean is very much a product of that sub-culture - what I call "T-shirt and bumper-sticker Christianity". There is a LARGE element of hypocrisy there, but it's not because of her comment, which I thought was very benign. If I sent my daughter to Christian college and she had such superficial (beauty pageant) values and lack of modesty, I'd feel like I failed as a parent.
But let's cut Prejean some slack here -- the Christian media is, IMO, more to blame for the backlash against her these past 2 weeks than anything she said. As soon as that "No offense...just my opinion" comment came out of her lipsticked mouth, all of a sudden she was being held up as the new heroine of "Christian" values. Come again? As pointed out in the blogosphere, that was a POLITICAL question, not a spiritual one. Notice she never quoted Scripture, alluded to the Bible, or even gave the reason for her "opinion" being her faith. She was simply "politically incorrect", no matter that she was on the right side.
My point is this: she never attempted to portray herself as a Defender of the Faith, a conservative Christian, or a Jesus Freak. All of that was super-imposed on her by the Christian Right; it was not an assumed identity which she sought out. Taking a political stance does not one a Christian make. So the hypocrisy charge is largely unfair if based on the grounds she was standing up for Christianity. I heard nothing "Christian" in her answer.
It's another question that she self-identifies as a Christian in her private life. Yes, the whole pageant nonsense would call the depth of her commitment to Christ into question, but that's not what the controversy is about. At the end of the day, though, God may use it to cause her to think more deeply about purity issues."
Marie- I too was moved by Tony's humility concerning her salvation. I certainly do not know this woman's heart either; based on her fruit, one can say she does not bear the marks of Christ. I have not heard her say she is born again, or that she repented of her sins and received Christ as Lord and Savior.
I also agree that this woman brought this on herself by her sin of immodesty. What aggravates me the most is the LACK of professing Christians to see the need to pray for this woman's soul. Instead, they point fingers and accuse others who have called this what it is, sin; I've heard 'legalistic', 'judgmental', 'holier than thou' as these professing believers lash out at other believers. They see some sort of 'need' to defend this young woman...all because she voiced her opinion on homosexual marriage. And the price she paid!! Oh my!! She was denied the crown [never mind about striving for a crown that lasts!].
Tell that to the families of Christians who've been martyred for their faith in Christ in places like Iran, China, India, Vietnam, etc. You haven't suffered until you've lost out in a pagan pageant[sic].
As brother Paul Washer has said repeatedly, Christianity in America is almost entirely all wrong.
Miss Prejean was seen wearing a 'Jesus' tee-shirt during one interview, so I suppose that seals it for many folks.
We are living in perilous times; a time when deception and apostasy are at an all-time high. True biblical preaching is just the opposite, it is at an all-time low. The result is tons of false converts who profess Christ with their mouths, yet their hearts are far from Him.
May God have mercy on all who make such a shallow profession
Amen to Tony's take on this issue.
Tony is one of my favorite OA preachers and he's got this one right.
I would be besides myself with joy if we were to hear that Miss Prejean had voluntarily given up her "crown" and that she was leaving that whole world behind.
Then she would gain what we all seek, the praise of our Father.
I'm truly praying that God would make it so, but as she is...?
2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
Since Miss Prejean is in a Christian College, and in a church, under a Pastor, I tend to put the full weight of this on her Pastor who should be guiding her out of that world long before it became an issue.
It is my understanding her pastor is former San Diego Chargers defensive back Miles McPherson, who founded the church. They were instrumental in campaigning to pass a constitutional ban on gay marriage last year. However, apparently this man fails to preach the whole counsel. He obviously doesn't understand discipleship; teaching the biblical importance of modesty in apparel. Here is their website address - www.therocksandiego.org
This is what they say about their
'music and worship style'- 'The worship style of the Rock Church is casual and contemporary. Our bands blend rock, funk, island and pop styles to create a moving experience of celebratory praise and meditative worship {reminds me of Warren's 'saddleback' church!}. Consider visiting the prayer niches through the sanctuary.'
Sounds new age to me.
I was very surprised to read this concerning 'what to wear' -
"Attire: We're a casual congregation. Feel free to wear whatever you would like, as long as it's not immodest!"
I couldn't find anything concerning their statement of beliefs, but I did find Pastor McPherson's 'testimony' very interesting...
'During his second season in the NFL, two of Miles' teammates, Sherman Smith and Ray Preston, told him about God's amazing love and grace. Finally, one early morning in 1984, Miles had his first encounter with the person of Jesus Christ and decided to follow Him.
The moment Miles relinquished control of his life, God's power was evident. Miles was delivered from his drug habit, experienced positive changes in his daily life and actions, and was reunited with his girlfriend, Debbie, who is now his wife.
God soon set Miles' feet on a new path: serving in ministry, learning theology, and preaching the Gospel. Miles had great dreams as a young man, but he never imagined the joy and fulfillment he would experience in sharing God's love with others.'
I will point out Mile's 'DECISION' to follow Christ, that right there sends up a HUGE red flag. It's decisional salvation, which is NOT biblical at all.
Also, 'the moment Miles relinquished control of his life'...again, this is a work done by man, which isn't biblical.
A true born again believer brings NOTHING to the salvation process, 'Salvation is of the Lord'{Jonah 2:9}
IMHO, this is a 'feel good' church, much like that of Osteen. This church preaches love, love, love...BUT I found NOTHING concerning repentance and being born from above. I think this church speaks volumes about the pastor and its members. It is just as Paul Washer biblically states, this is the judgment of God, they want what the McPherson's, the Warren's and the Osteen's want, and it is NOT God.
Yep.
It looks like it's got "Warrenite" all over it.
Makes perfect sense.
All this stuff makes it pretty hard to witness sometimes doesn't it?
It's so easy for the unbeliever to point their fingers and say, "See!? That's what it is to be a Christian!"
It's a terrible form of God's wrath on this country.
I'm going out OA preaching again tomorrow, but I confess, my heart's not in it like it once was.
It's becoming like a chore, and I hate that.
We must pray for perseverance; I know it is discouraging when we see evil and wickedness engulfing every corner of the globe. It has to be this way, remember the days of Noah brother Daniel. Men were exceedingly wicked, which brought the judgment of God swiftly on them. You know what is just around the corner, the wrath of God. The increase in wickedness is a sure sign of the very soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ...He is coming in judgment, all eyes will see Him. At that time, many will truly drop over dead from fear. Their arrogance and sin will be replaced by a fear like they've never known. It is hard to see lost sinners as Christ does because of their increase in the boldness of their wickedness, that is why we must pray for the Lord to help us. I will pray for you, and all my brothers and sisters. Many are being beaten down as the battle intensifies [including myself], but we MUST remember, the battle is the Lord's. He has defeated the enemy, the final scene is just about to be played out. Remember these words spoken to Daniel by Christ Himself, 'And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.' Daniel 10:19
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