He also gifted some people with strong sexual drives, as well.
So, in conclusion:
You and me baby ain't nothin' but mammals
So let''s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Do it again now
You and me baby ain't nothin' but mammals
So let's do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Seriously, God DID give us natural gifts and talents. That's obvious. Its all over scripture. Ephesians 4, 1 Corinthians 13 - 14, Romans 12...I'm certain there are more.
Every single one of those passages, however, requires us to use our gifts within the boundaries of the Holy Spirit. What does that mean? It means, use your holy gifts within the context of scripture.
God gave some of us very strong sexual desires. And he created sex to be a good thing. However, he put boundaries on us that were for our own good AND the well-being of others. "Thou Shalt Not commit adultery." He had good reason for it. Some of us know what those good reasons are because we've indulged in it and have experienced first hand what those consequences are. Some indulge in it and have yet to experience any bad effects. That doesn't make it right, does it?
God gave many women the natural ability to lead. But he placed boundaries on that leadership within the Bible. Exercising those skills with in the context of scripture blesses God, others, and yourself. Exercising them outside of scripture hurts more people than you might know, even if it doesn't hurt yourself.
When claiming that God created you in some way, always remember that you are a fallen creature. You are not without sin. Your natural desires, talents, and skills must be harnessed to God's will, not allowed to reign freely. Yes, he gave you skills, talents, and desires that he wants you to use and have fulfilled. But he wants you to submit those to his will and keep them under his hand.
All this born out of my devotion this morning. I read the New Living Translation Bible and I'm in Genesis 3. It translates Eve's curse as "Your desire will be to control your husband, but he will rule over you."
2 comments:
Christina, is it? I linked here from your post on the Boundlessline blog, the article about "I just haven't found the right one"...
Just wanted to say that I *loved* your response to "Sara" there. I think it was your first post in that long line of them that there is now. I agree with the theology Motte has, but have honestly struggled slightly with the idea that "oh, well I was *just* a choice from among a few different options" even though I've done the same thing, made a choice from among a few different options. Your explanation that yes indeed, YOU were CHOSEN, not just destined without choice was beautifully written. I've copied it over to my personal files and will re-read it whenever I'm tempted to doubt. Thank you for sharing! :)
Nice post, Christina.
I'm in a discussion with someone on this matter, and will probably be blogging on it in a few days. The issue is whether the commands in Ephesians 5 call for "mutual submission"--what many contemporary preachers are saying now.
My opinion is that it does not, but rather that each has specific responsibilities that are not dependent on the other mate fulfilling his end of the bargain. By that I mean that the husband's command to love his wife as Christ loved the Church is not contingent on her submitting to him as to the Lord. Nor is her command to submit to her husband contingent on his loving her with perfect abandon.
The commands are what they are and we are called to follow them, even though we will do that better at some times than others, and never perfectly.
Did that make any sense.
BTW: I liked your backhand of Andrew on Boundless.
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