Not unless they create one where Chris Farley look-a-likes can enter; where wearing Under Armour attire isn't prohibited; and where I can show up in my favorite golf shoes sporting a fine Arturo Fuente Premium Hemingway Short Story, in bermudas.
In all seriousness, I'm not familiar with that world one bit--what they go through, the physical and time demands, the pressures and the politics of it all. For a Christian to be in that arena day in and day out must place many challenging hurdles in their path that I assume they would struggle with in their walk with the Lord.
This brings me to the Miss California media chaos that has been happening for the past three weeks or so. This gal is not only taking dramatic hits from the liberal gay media, but also from some of the hard right Christian conservative community as well. Needless to say, she needs our prayers.
In all seriousness, I'm not familiar with that world one bit--what they go through, the physical and time demands, the pressures and the politics of it all. For a Christian to be in that arena day in and day out must place many challenging hurdles in their path that I assume they would struggle with in their walk with the Lord.
This brings me to the Miss California media chaos that has been happening for the past three weeks or so. This gal is not only taking dramatic hits from the liberal gay media, but also from some of the hard right Christian conservative community as well. Needless to say, she needs our prayers.
A brother in the Lord asked some very good questions on another blog that I answered this morning. The blogging host gave me permission to reprint those questions and my responses here. I hope they will encourage you in how to pray for and have some compassion for the spotlight that Carrie Prejean finds herself in today. My heart goes out to her.
Here are the questions:
Good questions my brother. I would answer them this way:
She models swimsuits - oh the horror of it all. She wore a bikini in a pageant - the unpardonable sin. She had breast augmentation done to enhance her appearance - what fall from grace. Listen, are there any women criticizing her who use make up, color their hair, go to a salon to have their hair styled. been to a tanning bed, ever have their teeth whitened, get regular manicures or pedicures, have their eyebrows plucked, shave their legs or underarms, wear bras, etc. to enhance their appearance? Then may I plead with you to show this young gal a bit of compassion and charity. Pray for her. Pray the Lord sends her way some mature, godly, nonlegalistic women who can love and disciple her in the Word of God. Pray for her pastors that they will come along side, encourage her, minister to her, and disciple her.
Grace saves; grace sanctifies; and one day grace will glorify. In the meantime, none of us are to assume the role of Holy Spirit for another. Fulfill the law of Christ. Bear one another's burdens. Love covers a multitude of sins. It doesn't broadcast them or uses them as blogging fodder.
I humbly come to the Christian media and as a brother in need of grace everyday would kindly ask you to cease the public outcry against this gal. By her own confession of Jesus Christ being her Lord and Savior, she is our sister in the Lord - let's all treat her as such.
His unworthy servant in His unfailing love,
Steve
Here are the questions:
1. Why is the Christian media so quick to proclaim and prop up a poster child as a model of faith? Why does Liberty university have her as a guest?My responses:
2. When the christian sub culture rushes to proclaim the next Christian hero and they are exposed as Miss California was, it just gives more cause to non-believers to believe that Christians are all a bunch of hypocrites. This is an offense to the gospel.
Good questions my brother. I would answer them this way:
1. No one I know is holding Miss California up as a model of faith. People are thankful for her bold and costly convictions in support of traditional marriage.Does Miss California have some things to own in all of this? Of course she does. But not at the hands of other believers who have made her their new media self-righteous punching bag. My goodness, it's as if we are hearing daily from other believers take pride in loudly declaring in the temple, "thank God I'm not like her - a sinner."
2. Liberty University has championed family values for many years - it is easy to understand why they would want her to come and speak to other young people on marriage being defined as between one man and one woman.
3. Again, the Christian sub-culture didn't rush off and proclaim anyone as a new Christian hero - that's just media hyperbole from some Christian conservatives I know. But many in the Christian and conservative communities have appreciated her words on this one issue. That's all.
4. Christians are hypocritical brother - me and you included. The best of men are men at best. Miss California is not an offense to the gospel and does no harm to the gospel. Unless you have a weak gospel, an impotent Savior, and a pragmatic view of faith. Which I don't think you do... do you? (In times like these it really does help to be a Calvinist.)
The gospel is eternal and strong. It is unshakable and can withstand anyone's failings. The gospel endured Peter denying Christ openly with cursings and swearings; the gospel endured young Timothy's cowardess; the gospel endured Thomas's doubtings; the gospel endured Paul's brazen attitude toward John Mark; the gospel endured Luther's vulgarity; the gospel endured David's murderous actions and adultery; the gospel endured Abraham's lying and incest; the gospel endured Adam and Eve's earth-shattering disobedience in the garden; the gospel endured my sin and yours brother. AND the gospel endures Miss California's issues as well. IOW, we are all great sinners beloved, but praise be to God that He is a greater Savior!
5. Lastly, there are Christians who are models. They are faced with many challenges that you and I will never face. They need our prayers, discipleship, encouragement, loving rebukes and grace-based corrections. They don't need us to publicly becry them, label them, and humiliate them. They need us to be truly Christian towards them.
She models swimsuits - oh the horror of it all. She wore a bikini in a pageant - the unpardonable sin. She had breast augmentation done to enhance her appearance - what fall from grace. Listen, are there any women criticizing her who use make up, color their hair, go to a salon to have their hair styled. been to a tanning bed, ever have their teeth whitened, get regular manicures or pedicures, have their eyebrows plucked, shave their legs or underarms, wear bras, etc. to enhance their appearance? Then may I plead with you to show this young gal a bit of compassion and charity. Pray for her. Pray the Lord sends her way some mature, godly, nonlegalistic women who can love and disciple her in the Word of God. Pray for her pastors that they will come along side, encourage her, minister to her, and disciple her.
Grace saves; grace sanctifies; and one day grace will glorify. In the meantime, none of us are to assume the role of Holy Spirit for another. Fulfill the law of Christ. Bear one another's burdens. Love covers a multitude of sins. It doesn't broadcast them or uses them as blogging fodder.
I humbly come to the Christian media and as a brother in need of grace everyday would kindly ask you to cease the public outcry against this gal. By her own confession of Jesus Christ being her Lord and Savior, she is our sister in the Lord - let's all treat her as such.
I'm not trying to be lugubrious, but if people want a punching bag, punch me. I deserve nothing less than to inherit an eternal hell clothed in the rags of my own righteousness; and I am grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ that He saved me from Himself and forgave all my sins, their guilt and penalty; and took the wrath which burned against me and them. So really, if you can't resist - go ahead and punch me. Taking a few shots may just be the very thing I need today to further my own sanctification. But please, I beg you... leave her alone.
His unworthy servant in His unfailing love,
Steve
