Homophobia, Islamophobia, and Hamartophobia

Fear is sometimes appropriate

If a homophobe is a person who is opposed to the practices of homosexuality, then I am a homophobe. The same is true for being an Islamophobe. In fact, all faithful Christians fit those categories, if we define the term in the common vernacular. In our current culture, the words above are used in order to intimidate people. Many do not want to be seen as intolerant, so they back off and refuse to lovingly tell the truth.

Let’s look at the definition of phobia. Phobia actually means a dread or fear. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words says it is something that causes one to flee in fear. It is a strong word. In that sense, I am not a homophobe or an Islamaphobe. They concern me, but I am not ready to run in terror over them.

What I am trying to train myself to be is an hamartophobe though. That simply means one who is terrified of SIN. How easily we feel comfortable being near it even though its very presence should cause us to flee in fear. The dread should exist because of its ability to influence us. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Even more than that, we should fear because of the justice and wrath of God!

If we stop to think of the end result of participation in sin, we will want to run in terror from it. Do not be fooled by it. Satan can entice you with it: make you see it as something that will benefit you, make you wise, and even make you closer to God. In the end you will be removed from the blessings of God’s favor. Let us not fear (phobia) what men do (Matthew 10:26), but rather let us fear their influence and God’s reaction to sin—even if it means we will be called names as a result.

Benefits of Boredom

There is great value in time spent alone.

As a boy just about to enter the turbulent teen years, we lived on a small section of wooded land in Northeast Texas. Our 3.5 acres abutted land that stretched uninterrupted for several miles. In my innocence I would wander those woods for what seemed like miles (but was probably more like 300 yards of a spiraled course). It was a time of fascination with the wonders of God's creation.

I treasure those days. They were the days of innocence and discovery. I spent time learning, thinking, playing, and all the while developing. Sometimes it included my two brothers. But it was always time to myself, to do what I wanted, and to enjoy my childhood.

Do you have memories that you treasure like this?

If you have children, are you allowing them to have similar experiences?

Today's world is busy and demanding. Children get caught up in activities and responsibilities in school, sports, and even electronic media like Facebook and blogs. They are so busy working on so many things! This work is important. They need to learn how to play with others. They need to learn the value of teams, hard work, and sacrifice. But they also need something more.

They need to be alone.

You might think your child spends too much time alone already. Maybe he is always playing video games or she is always texting. They seem like they are alone, but even playing computer games is not the alone time I am talking about. Those games set the agenda. They have goals to accomplish, tasks to perform. Their minds are led by the people who manufactured the games. No, that is not alone time.

Alone time is time to yourself with no distractions. Your boy or girl might have toys, but during this time children should have nothing that leads their minds. This alone time forces them to think. It forces them to find something to fill the time. It forces their personalities to develop and grow. It shows them what they like and dislike. It helps them make decisions about priorities. And it gives them that very important time to daydream.

Even little children need this time. One of the best things you can do is to enforce a "quiet time" in your home. Sometime during each day require your children to unplug from the Internet and TV, go to a place where they are alone, and grow. Set a regular time and stick to it.

Boredom is not a villain. If you provide opportunity in a safe environment, boredom can be a fantastic motivator and teacher.

Regularly allow your child to be bored in a safe and structured environment. And let them figure out how to pass the time. When they are old and reflect on life, they will be happy for those wonderful times of innocence and discovery.

Dig It Deep

A Cistern holds as much as its size allows

God wants your marriage to be joyful. He wants it to succeed. When Jesus came He faced a society much like our own in how they treated marriage. Jesus took the time to correct the common thinking of the day and reinstate God’s original design. Read Matthew 19:1-9 and pay attention to the simplicity of what God intended.

Since God wants you to have a successful marriage (if you have chosen or will choose to marry), we can expect the Bible to say something about how to have a happy marriage. That’s exactly what we see. In fact, there is so much that we will just look at one idea.

Proverbs 5:15-19 is a great passage to look at for marital advice. The passage begins with “Drink water from your own cistern” and ends with, “always be enraptured with her love.” Love in a marriage is like an underground reservoir made to hold rainwater. It holds as much as its size allows, so build a large one by building a solid marriage.

The symbolism of the passage represents the happiness that a spouse can bring. The advice is to cherish what you have. If we will appreciate our spouses and the love of our spouses, then we will help bring happiness to the home. For a reference, look at a little more detail in a post about husbands appreciating our wives.

Like all other parts of love, the decision to treasure your spouse is first a decision. You must make the decision to find the good in your spouse and treasure it. It’s not going to cure every problem you have, but it will serve as a great foundation upon which to build.

Chances are great that you were not forced into marriage. If you have difficulties, remember the things that attracted you to begin with. Choose to become enraptured again. Find the things about your spouse that are good and lovely. Your marriage is the cistern that can hold vast quantities of love for you. Drink from it.