Will The Real Christians Please Stand Up?
By Sally Bishai
I WOULD say that this week has been a difficult one for the Middle East, the Arab world and the Muslim world. But. That would be a bit redundant, seeing how almost every week is a difficult one for those who can translate the Arabic word “Salaam,” even if they don’t live it. (For the record, it means “peace.”)
Since it’s been “that kind of week,” I’ve come across dozens of articles that have recapped the problems; Afghanistan’s control-freak “you can’t diss Islam!” issues, Egypt’s “you can’t diss Islam in a blog or build a church!” issues, and everyone else’s “you can’t wear anything but a black tent, lassie!” issues.
So. While I’ve read several articles dealing with (and debating on) what Islam actually believes, and whether conversion is or isn’t allowed (some “secular Muslims” would have us believe that one actually CAN leave the religion...and live to tell about it), it got me wondering the same thing about Christianity.
See, I was recently speaking with a young lady I’ll call Marge.
Marge belongs to one of the biggest denominations in America. She’s proud to be a virgin, goes to church every Sunday and is more involved in youth group than anyone I’ve ever met.
Unfortunately, that’s not all she’s involved with.
See, the 19-year-old is fond of going to clubs, drinking the occasional beer, and wearing tight, revealing clothing. She’s kissed a few boys, too.
On the surface, a person (a very snarky one) might wonder why such a stylish and popular girl bothered with church. (I was talking to another lady recently, and she confessed to thinking that, in her mind, anyway, being a devoted Christian equated with being a nerd. All I had to say to that was “Honey, you’d best check yourself before you wreck yourself. Or before someone else does!”)
This goes back to the whole “thing where people feel attracted to those who play hard-to-get,” and the thing that has nice girls attracted to “bad boys.”
Simply put, we always want what we can’t have. Or what we shouldn’t have.
Back to Marge, however, I am sad to report that, as close a relationship as she perceives she has with Jesus—and I obviously am NOT the Grand Arbiter of Jesus-Relationships—she really does live a life that made me very surprised to learn that she was even a Christian, much less a “strong” one.
I know what you’re thinking.
“SALLY, the Bible doesn’t say you can’t drink! Only that you shouldn’t get drunk!” and “I didn’t REALIZE, Grand Bishai, that nightclubs were forbidden in the Scriptures!”
Well, I have two answers for that.
The first is that the Bible does NOT go around naming the actual manifestations of every single thing it discourages, only the sin behind it; meaning that it may not say “Thou shalt not pick up an AK-47 to settle a dispute with your math teacher,” but it DOES warn against anger, several times, and say “A soft answer turns away wrath,” and “Thou shalt not murder.”
It also mentions that we’re to avoid the appearance of evil, and slithering about in a backless top with a micro-skirt that wouldn’t cover my entire hand is the farthest thing from “angelic.” Or, at least, it may inspire a drunken club-goer (male or female!) to force his (her!?) attentions on Aunty Slither. (This refers to the whole “stumbling block” thing.)
Furthermore, we’re told to be modest, avoid immorality, and while the Bible says nothing about wearing a black tent (thanks be to God), Clingwrap clothing doesn’t automatically scream “Christian” to me.
The purpose of today’s article isn’t to outline all the “sin-ettes” that people think they can sneak under the wire.
Rather, I am concerned with the fact that people don’t CONSIDER them to BE sin-ettes!
(For the record, the Bible very clearly states that sins are a matter of black and white—there is no big sin and small sin. There ARE moral absolutes! To God, all sins are the same in beastliness, and all good works are “as filthy rags, lest any man should boast.” Meaning that your financing a church in Swaziland will get you the same number of brownie points as would giving a glass of water to a person you just had a fight with. Or any person, really.)
For example, I recently spoke with a girl who spent 14 hours telling me about how great God was, and how she went to church 3 times a week.
Then, she proceeded to tell me that she lived with her fiancé.
Hello? It’s called “wrong” !
You may be asking “Why?” and I’ll tell you; the Bible considers any sex outside of marriage—whether adulterous or just pre-marital—to be a sin. The very thought (or thoughts, strung together like a movie) of engaging in this “illegal” sex is considered to be just as bad as actually doing it. (The sin of lust and all that..)
And dressing in clothes made for the Keebler Elves can stoke the flames of desire, which will either lead to Sins A or B, if not both.
“But what if I dress that way for my husband, Sally? Did you ever think of that? HMMMM?”
Well, I did, actually.
If you’re in your house, that’s fine. But. It’s when you go out that you could entice others to sin, even if it’s just “their” sin, and “just” the sin of lust.
Thinking “Oh, I don’t care about the sins of the man on the street!” isn’t the best, either, since we are SUPPOSED to care about our brethren, Christian or not. Furthermore, even though THEY sinned, the inciter of said sin is not off-the-hook!
So dressing like a hoochie mama is, for the most part, a bad idea all around. If you feel like claiming that you’re a Christian, anyway.
You may be wondering if my focusing on the skimpy clothes bit has to do with the fact that I’m Egyptian, but the truth is that 1- I’m also ‘American,’ and 2- the new breed of Egyptian girls—whether here or there—isn’t as scandalized by short/tight/revealing togs as I would like them to be.
You know, in light of the fact that all good deeds are nothing, and all bad deeds weigh the same, I can understand how some might think that they can get some drinking and clubbing in on the sly, without incurring the fires of hell.
And, while I can’t comment on whether it WILL be ok to pull these stunts, in the final analysis, I CAN say that, based on my reading of the Bible, God is not mocked, AND He won’t be so quick to forgive you of a sin you’re planning to do, whether it’s killing your roommate or sneaking an extra cookie (or six) after dinner (the whole gluttony thing...and that IS a sin!).
Anyway, time for me to go; I have a date with the garbage collector to throw out the stash of Doritos and Oreos that are hiding under the sink!
(PS- Just in case you’re interested in what the Bible considers “sinful,” have a quick glance over this laundry list:
Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortion, sexually immoral, malicious, envious, murderers, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful lewd, unclean, contentious, jealous, selfish, dissentious, revelrous, angry, foolish, disobedient, deceived, hateful, lawless, offensive, insubordinate, unholy, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, lovers of themselves, lovers of money, blasphemers, unthankful, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure, cowards, unbelieving, sorcerers, those who practice witchcraft, soothsayers, whoever interprets omens, conjures spells, a medium, a spiritist, one who calls up the dead, diviners, one who practices magic, whoever loves and practices a lie.
(For more info, check out: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Romans 1:28-31, Proverbs 22:24-25; 29:22, Revelation 21:8, Galatians 5:19-21, Matthew 13:41-42, 1 Timothy 1:9-10, Titus 3:3 ,
2 Timothy 3:2-4, Deuteronomy 18:10-14, Ezekiel 13:18-20, Revelation 22:15, Acts 19:19, 1 Samuel 15:23...)
I WOULD say that this week has been a difficult one for the Middle East, the Arab world and the Muslim world. But. That would be a bit redundant, seeing how almost every week is a difficult one for those who can translate the Arabic word “Salaam,” even if they don’t live it. (For the record, it means “peace.”)
Since it’s been “that kind of week,” I’ve come across dozens of articles that have recapped the problems; Afghanistan’s control-freak “you can’t diss Islam!” issues, Egypt’s “you can’t diss Islam in a blog or build a church!” issues, and everyone else’s “you can’t wear anything but a black tent, lassie!” issues.
So. While I’ve read several articles dealing with (and debating on) what Islam actually believes, and whether conversion is or isn’t allowed (some “secular Muslims” would have us believe that one actually CAN leave the religion...and live to tell about it), it got me wondering the same thing about Christianity.
See, I was recently speaking with a young lady I’ll call Marge.
Marge belongs to one of the biggest denominations in America. She’s proud to be a virgin, goes to church every Sunday and is more involved in youth group than anyone I’ve ever met.
Unfortunately, that’s not all she’s involved with.
See, the 19-year-old is fond of going to clubs, drinking the occasional beer, and wearing tight, revealing clothing. She’s kissed a few boys, too.
On the surface, a person (a very snarky one) might wonder why such a stylish and popular girl bothered with church. (I was talking to another lady recently, and she confessed to thinking that, in her mind, anyway, being a devoted Christian equated with being a nerd. All I had to say to that was “Honey, you’d best check yourself before you wreck yourself. Or before someone else does!”)
This goes back to the whole “thing where people feel attracted to those who play hard-to-get,” and the thing that has nice girls attracted to “bad boys.”
Simply put, we always want what we can’t have. Or what we shouldn’t have.
Back to Marge, however, I am sad to report that, as close a relationship as she perceives she has with Jesus—and I obviously am NOT the Grand Arbiter of Jesus-Relationships—she really does live a life that made me very surprised to learn that she was even a Christian, much less a “strong” one.
I know what you’re thinking.
“SALLY, the Bible doesn’t say you can’t drink! Only that you shouldn’t get drunk!” and “I didn’t REALIZE, Grand Bishai, that nightclubs were forbidden in the Scriptures!”
Well, I have two answers for that.
The first is that the Bible does NOT go around naming the actual manifestations of every single thing it discourages, only the sin behind it; meaning that it may not say “Thou shalt not pick up an AK-47 to settle a dispute with your math teacher,” but it DOES warn against anger, several times, and say “A soft answer turns away wrath,” and “Thou shalt not murder.”
It also mentions that we’re to avoid the appearance of evil, and slithering about in a backless top with a micro-skirt that wouldn’t cover my entire hand is the farthest thing from “angelic.” Or, at least, it may inspire a drunken club-goer (male or female!) to force his (her!?) attentions on Aunty Slither. (This refers to the whole “stumbling block” thing.)
Furthermore, we’re told to be modest, avoid immorality, and while the Bible says nothing about wearing a black tent (thanks be to God), Clingwrap clothing doesn’t automatically scream “Christian” to me.
The purpose of today’s article isn’t to outline all the “sin-ettes” that people think they can sneak under the wire.
Rather, I am concerned with the fact that people don’t CONSIDER them to BE sin-ettes!
(For the record, the Bible very clearly states that sins are a matter of black and white—there is no big sin and small sin. There ARE moral absolutes! To God, all sins are the same in beastliness, and all good works are “as filthy rags, lest any man should boast.” Meaning that your financing a church in Swaziland will get you the same number of brownie points as would giving a glass of water to a person you just had a fight with. Or any person, really.)
For example, I recently spoke with a girl who spent 14 hours telling me about how great God was, and how she went to church 3 times a week.
Then, she proceeded to tell me that she lived with her fiancé.
Hello? It’s called “wrong” !
You may be asking “Why?” and I’ll tell you; the Bible considers any sex outside of marriage—whether adulterous or just pre-marital—to be a sin. The very thought (or thoughts, strung together like a movie) of engaging in this “illegal” sex is considered to be just as bad as actually doing it. (The sin of lust and all that..)
And dressing in clothes made for the Keebler Elves can stoke the flames of desire, which will either lead to Sins A or B, if not both.
“But what if I dress that way for my husband, Sally? Did you ever think of that? HMMMM?”
Well, I did, actually.
If you’re in your house, that’s fine. But. It’s when you go out that you could entice others to sin, even if it’s just “their” sin, and “just” the sin of lust.
Thinking “Oh, I don’t care about the sins of the man on the street!” isn’t the best, either, since we are SUPPOSED to care about our brethren, Christian or not. Furthermore, even though THEY sinned, the inciter of said sin is not off-the-hook!
So dressing like a hoochie mama is, for the most part, a bad idea all around. If you feel like claiming that you’re a Christian, anyway.
You may be wondering if my focusing on the skimpy clothes bit has to do with the fact that I’m Egyptian, but the truth is that 1- I’m also ‘American,’ and 2- the new breed of Egyptian girls—whether here or there—isn’t as scandalized by short/tight/revealing togs as I would like them to be.
You know, in light of the fact that all good deeds are nothing, and all bad deeds weigh the same, I can understand how some might think that they can get some drinking and clubbing in on the sly, without incurring the fires of hell.
And, while I can’t comment on whether it WILL be ok to pull these stunts, in the final analysis, I CAN say that, based on my reading of the Bible, God is not mocked, AND He won’t be so quick to forgive you of a sin you’re planning to do, whether it’s killing your roommate or sneaking an extra cookie (or six) after dinner (the whole gluttony thing...and that IS a sin!).
Anyway, time for me to go; I have a date with the garbage collector to throw out the stash of Doritos and Oreos that are hiding under the sink!
(PS- Just in case you’re interested in what the Bible considers “sinful,” have a quick glance over this laundry list:
Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortion, sexually immoral, malicious, envious, murderers, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful lewd, unclean, contentious, jealous, selfish, dissentious, revelrous, angry, foolish, disobedient, deceived, hateful, lawless, offensive, insubordinate, unholy, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, lovers of themselves, lovers of money, blasphemers, unthankful, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure, cowards, unbelieving, sorcerers, those who practice witchcraft, soothsayers, whoever interprets omens, conjures spells, a medium, a spiritist, one who calls up the dead, diviners, one who practices magic, whoever loves and practices a lie.
(For more info, check out: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Romans 1:28-31, Proverbs 22:24-25; 29:22, Revelation 21:8, Galatians 5:19-21, Matthew 13:41-42, 1 Timothy 1:9-10, Titus 3:3 ,
2 Timothy 3:2-4, Deuteronomy 18:10-14, Ezekiel 13:18-20, Revelation 22:15, Acts 19:19, 1 Samuel 15:23...)
Comments
i know, everytime i go there, all my friends are like, 'why are you frowning at my outfit?? it's totally ok!" and i'm like 'uh... i didn't realise you could wear 'cut' in the streets? even if it is summer?
and then they throw something at me and tell me i'd be a perfect candidate for el keneesa el ekhwa (belamees or something), and then a very cheeky one says, 'what about joining el EKHWAAAAAN?? you could teach them some things!!"
hehe.
you know, the happiest times in my life were when i was staying in eskendereya. some people think it's the honeymoon phase of culture shock, but you know, i have a bigger problem with modern egypt--how they got too westernised in some things--than the egypt of the 80s, and even the 50s and 60s egypt that, for my family, anyway, was very heavily church influenced, and you aren't even supposed to talk to a boy alone, even if it IS at church. i get so sad when i hear that 'el akhla2 bazet' in egypt..
i mean, i'm sure they had cases of naughtiness all along, but the fact that people can say 'oh, yah, i kissed 3 guys and a girl before,' and think nothing of it..
maybe it's not widespread, but the fact that even a few people can say this made me so sad. anyway. may God help us all.. thanks for your comment! :)
Romans chapter 7,
14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
also 8:35-39,
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.etc.
i know u gave them those verses 2 read but people r either lazy or ignorant so i think it's better to write the nice hopeful verses..
but sally, i really am very proud of ur convictions and thank God 4 your faith and 4 ur funniness :)
I hope you realize that your way of thinking when you say "It [the bible] also mentions that we’re to avoid the appearance of evil" is the same and exact way that conservative mullahs think when they say that women should wear 'a black tent' (aka 'hijab')
However, it is your ideas and you are free to think as want.
What I disagree with you is your title 'Will The Real Christians Please Stand Up?' .. now who exacly are the real christians ? and who to tell ?? you ?!
are you in the habit of denying other people's christianty simply because they don't share the same ideas with you ??
what my article was meant to do is let the people who think they can get away with things that the Bible speaks against--let's say pre-marital sex, homosexuality, witchcraft, lust, gluttony, etc.--it was meant to let these people know that these things ARE spoken against in the Word.
This does not mean i am innocent of any of the sins i wrote--or those i left out--i am the chief of sinners!
but. it is my duty as a person with a platform--my writing--and a person with the knowledge--my reading of the Bible--to try and wake up the many sleeping people in this generation, and even older generations.
The Bible is very clear about sins and the way to live and be Christ-like.
No, i do not condone the whole wearing a tent thing. i do not believe that showing an inch of flesh will get you into hell (for the record, my opinion does not matter in the least.. it's not my face that you will see when you go to the gates of heaven and get your heart checked out against the Lamb's Book of Life!)
BUT. if i see someone close to the edge of the roof in a 284 story building, isn't it my duty, as someone who can see how close you're getting, to tell you? (ya3ni people, not YOU.)
if i was next to the edge, isn't it YOUR duty? it is. we're supposed to take care of our brothers, and even those who aren't our brothers. "they will know we are christians by our love."
this is not to say that christians have a corner on the market of 'loving people,' only that this is something that we do have to have!
the Bible calls us to be modest. i did not write that. i think you will agree with me that being in a bikini (even if you're in the beach, and not you, since i think you're a guy!) is less than modest. why not wear a one-piece? if you're with men that you aren't married to, there's always the chance that you will entice them, and then where will we be?
there is nothing with a short-sleeved shirt. or long, non-skin-tight shorts. why does a person going to CHURCH--which i've seen ALOT, and i'm even embarrassed to see it!--need to show their entire back? or cleavage adddddddi kedda? this will distract the men who are trying to listen to the wa3za.
everything has its time and place, dear shiro, and i am NOT condoning hegab ever, or being in long sleeves and turtleneck 24/7.. after all, i live in florida, which is 2 inches away from being the climate of hell! :)
to answer your last two comments, again, i am not the grand arbiter of christianity or how closely someone follows it.
in fact, i am in the extreme minority--i am engeleya--and even then, i am in the minority, because i know more people--in america and in masr--who disagree with my ideas of modesty.
but i have also counselled many people with sexual addictions or who looked at 'sowar mesh 7elwa' and all because they weakened because of the girls who are flashing their assets around.
shouldn't these men have been stronger? they should have. God promises to help anyone , and to not give them more temptation than they can bear.
you know.. and i have to say this keda for a reason.. bass fy wa7ed sheikh fel keneesa bta3ti.. keneesa HENNA, fee amrika.. and enta7ar lemma el kenesa aletlo that homa 3erfo bel moshkella bta3to with el sowar wel aflam elli mesh 7elwa. nashar nafso men el sa2f. ana kont 3arfa atfalo.. 7aram. fede7 el 3ela, weba3den hereb.
so it can happen anywhere, and ana kont 3arfa el ragel! not well, bass it was still a shock.
anyway, my original point is that, IF THE BIBLE IS TO BE TRUSTED, then such things as premarital sex (but what if the wedding is next week, sally???) homosexuality (i ain't even gonna touch that one!) and witchcraft (from tarot cards to horoscope to 'wicca') are all things that God will NOT TOLERATE, if we can believe the Holy Scriptures.
and if these verses are NOT what God believes about these things, then we would have to call the whole faith into question.
I AM NOT saying who is christian and who ain't.. it's not my job, and also, i can't! let he who has no sin cast the first stone, and i am buried in boulders.
i CAN, however, say that you CAN NOT violate the word of God and then go around asserting your christianity! it's not fair, and it gives us a bad name. of course, we are all sinners, but 'winking at sin' is wrong yakhoya.
let me ask you--which is worse?
a- sinning (let's say living with your fiance, which is only a sin if you sleep with them) and saying 'yah, i know it's a sin! we're just trying to save money, though... i'm sure God will understand!'
or
b- the same sin and saying 'well, i don't think it IS a sin. i mean, i have the wedding dress, we're getting married in a month.. what could be wrong with that?'
which stance is more errant? just think about it. i don't have the answer, by the way. i can see both points.
and by the way, hearkening back to this example, even IF they did get married, they are still grieving the heart of Jesus--the person they are supposed to love and worship!
anyway... i am a sinner, myself. we all are. we are all in need of Christ's healing mercy, and His cleansing sacrifice.
but again.. if a person has the knowledge and does NOT speak out, then they will make God sadder than all of the people they potentially offended on earth.
(and which of these is the one who has the power and authority to stand up for you in heaven? not a human, that's for sure!)
anyway, may God be with you, and much love in Christ,
sally
two - i've forgotten my second point.