Set Apart Femininity Part 2

This is part 2 to Set Apart Femininity... If you have read the book, you don't have to read through it unless you want to, since it is a little long. If you haven't read it... You really need to get it and read it right now (if you are a girl =P) =) (**Note: I'm really frustrated because when I put a line brake at some points, it didn't work, and just ran it all together. So, I apologize, and hope it won't be too frustrating to you. =P) We often ask the question, "what is the harm of it?"-about reading certain books, following certain pursuits, taking our recreation in certain ways. Perhaps we have been (working hard) and need a change of thought and rest of brain. What is the harm of the latest novel, even if it happens to be rather unprofitable? And we (who have not the time to read one out of a thousand of the real books that have been written) spend a precious hour by deliberate choice over something not worthwhile. We long to live life to the uttermost, to touch souls to eternal issues. Entire separation to Christ and devotion to Him is required. Is there no other path to reach our goal? There it not. Ours should not be the love that asks, "how little?" but "how much?"; the love that pours out its all and revels in the joy of having anything to pour on the feet of its Beloved. The question "what is the harm?" falls from us and is forgotten when we see Calvary, the Crucified, the risen-again Rabboni of our souls! -Amy Carmichael When we lay everything at the feet of Jesus and find our deepest fulfillment, rest, peace, strength, and joy in His presence alone-not dulling our spiritual life with worldy counterfeits- we are ushered into the supernatural, superhuman existence God designed us to live. That's when the presence of God draws near. That's when our prayers are heard and answered. That's when the life we read about in Scripture actually becomes our reality. (pg. 74-76) Most of constantly battle with the fact that God is distant, intimacy with Christ is difficult to obtain, and our prayers don't seem to be heard. But God says, "You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). Today's young women aren't finding Him because we aren't searching for Him with all our hearts. We are too preoccupied with watching reality shows, too busy downloading the latest songs on iTunes, and too enamored with Hollywood's newest production to let our whole beings be poured forth in constant and unreserved devotion in the service of the Lord who dies to save us. Most of us feel we don't have enough time for prayer and seeking God. But we don't even consider giving up our nightly TV time, our weekend movie fests, or our iTunes fetish in exchange for spending time in His presence. First Timothy 5:6 says, "She who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives." That's a sadly accurate description of today's young Christian women. Christ-professing modern femininity is steeped in selfish pleasure. And, as a result, we are dead inside. We possess nothing but hollow, propped-up beauty and fake hearts. Christ came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10)Building our life around His pattern rather than the world's does not lead to stiff spirituality and legalism. Exchanging counterfeit worldy pleasure for the eternal delights of God's kingdom does not bring misery and death. It brings abundant life. (pg. 76)

Psalm 16:11

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Here is the bottom line. The area of worldy entertainment, for most young Christians, has an unhealthy stranglehold upon us. Most of us, if we were honest, would have to admit that we are unbelievably attached to the world's entertainment. Life would seem empty and bleak if we didn't own a TV. Weekends would be boring and depressing if we didn't frequent the local theater to catch the latest Hollywood flick. Even though we supposedly have everything we could ever want or need in Christ alone, we still look to these other means for the peace, joy, excitement, and refreshment that He Himself desires to give us. All we have is the counterfeit version of peace and joy because we aren't willing to let Him give us the real thing. We are too busy programming our TiVos or buying more tickets online.

And despite the fact that it is currently hip for pastors to show clips from the latest blockbusters as part of their Sunday sermons, the reality is that movies (or TV shows) that actually bring glory to God and lead us closer to Christ are the rare exception, not the rule. When we sit in front of sights, and messages that are the opposite of God's kingdom, we allow our minds to be subtly manipulated by the voice of darkness, whether we realize it or not. (pg. 79)

...I can't help but wonder why we as Christ-professing young women are so willing to submit our minds and emotions to an industry that openly mocks the purity of our heavenly Prince. (pg. 80)

Most of us are far more influenced by the pop culture that we are by the Word of God. We can quote our favorite lines from a hundred different chick flicks, but the only Scripture we know is John 3:16. And we wonder why Christ feels so distant.

But it's not just movies and TV that have us in their controlling vise. It's an overall preoccupation with pop culture. Music artists, professional athletes, and movie stars claim far more of our applause and attention than Jesus Christ does.

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols" are the closing words that sum up the entire book of First John (1 John 5:21). Idols are not just golden statues that people bow down to in ornate temples. An idol is anything that claims our attention and affection above Christ. Most of us verbally declare that Jesus Christ is more important to us than our fetish for music and movies. But what do our lives say? Where do we spend the best hours of our day? What do we turn to for enjoyment and comfort?

A pure heart is one to which all that is not of God is strange and jarring. -John Tavler

Pop culture floods our minds and senses with things that are not of God. But for most of us, the glamorized sin that surrounds us is not strange and jarring. It's normal and accepted. In fact, we go out of our ways to enjoy and participate in it. We even spend a huge amount of our time and money on it. And we allow it to capture our minds, emotions, and attention.

Many of us have seen pastors or Christian authors rely on movies (rather than God's Word) to illustrate his or her point. Because Hollywood can so poignantly and artistically capture human angst and emotion, it is all too easy to "spiritualize" movies, blending ungodly messages in with our pursuit of godly truth. But God's truth will not be discovered through profane images, no matter how profound Hollywood's messages might seem. (pg. 81)

Remember that cult leader who gave his followers Kool-Aid to drink, and they all died? Kool-Aid itself is harmless enough. It's a sweet, refreshing beverage that can be safely enjoyed even by kids. But when Kool-Aid is mixed with poison, it changes from a harmless beverage into a deadly toxin. In the same way, when truth is mingled with the poisonous ideas of Hollywood, it brings about death, not life.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15

Be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

A Christian young women I know recently told me that she didn't think her obsession with American Idol was wrong, despite the fact that the very title of the show promotes idolatry. She was convinced that she could see God's nature somewhere amidst all the hype, human glory and celebrity worship.

Pretending that God showcases His truth or His nature through ungodly channels is just a clever excuse for participating in worldy allurements. Scripture makes it very clear that our Holy King is not found amidst worldy glitz or man-made fame. He does not share His glory with men or idols.

Isaiah 42:8

I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Romans 1:22-23

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changes the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible men, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (pg. 82)

Christ makes it clear that we cannot love both Him and the things that charm and ravish this world. We cannot be dazzled by the images of pop culture and be captivated by the King of all kings.

1 John 2:15-16

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

James 4:4

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world in the enemy of God.

The set-apart women of history past were not only willing to give up all the pleasures and enticements of the world for His sake, but they poured out everything they held precious upon Him without reserve, like Mary of Bethany. (Sabina Wurmbrand was even willing to sacrifice her beloved husband and son for the glory of Christ.)

A truly set-apart women is marked by this sacred decorum. She hates the things that God hates and loves the things that God loves, and she reflects this attitude in every dimension of her daily life. Does God stand up and cheer over American Idol? Does he smile with delight over the new Harry Potter movie? Does He get excited about the latest Coldplay album? Or does He grieve over our distracted, wandering, divided hearts? If our Lord does not take delight in the things that charm and ravish the world, neither should we. (And if you believe that God actually applauds the distorted messages of pop culture, you need to become better aquainted with the God of the Bible.) Other "Christian" girls may watch the same movies, listen to the same music, wear the same clothes, and have all the same pop-culture addictions as the rest of the world with just slightly higher morals tacked on.But God has called us to a higher standard-the very same standard of Christ. And I believe it's time we become worthy of the calling we have received. (pg. 83)

Okay, so I could go on and on and type the whole book out, but that is all I will write for now. I hope this has inspired you in some way, and that you will want to read this whole book now! I am going to close with a couple songs by Meredith Andrews. I came across them and found them to be so encouraging. They go along with what I have been talking about (surrendering your life to the Lord, and giving Him every part of your life). I hope you have a wonderful weekend! =)

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Only To Be Yours lyrics: Undivided, strip everything else away Burn the idols, the things in my life That have replaced You I lay my life down, here on Your altar Empty my hands of all I’ve been holding back Take everything I have Only to be Yours Lord, Yours Lord Take it from my hands Until I’m holding onto only You Captivated, You’ve stolen my heart away I’ve been liberated the chains of this world forever broken You laid Your life down Now I surrender, lifting my hands I’m holding nothing back Take everything I have Only to be Yours Lord, Yours Lord Take it from my hands Until I’m holding onto only You Everything I want is found in You Every breath in me, a gift from You I have nothing here apart from You I am Yours Lord, Only Yours Take everything I have Only to be Yours Lord, Yours Lord Take it from my hands Until I’m holding onto You. In Your Arms: I’m turning the world off Embracing the silence Walking away from all the voices That are Screaming in my ear I've been too caught up I've been so stressed out All of the noise replaced the whisper That used to be so clear So I close every door Put my face back on the floor And I'm in Your arms Where I belong There's no other place for me Than right where You are Some things just don't change When I call Your name You never hesitate to wrap me in endless grace When I'm in Your arms I’m letting my fears go Giving You control For You are the one who holds me closer In my soul's darkest night Everything I see Is so temporary So help me to run the race before me With eternity in sight Now I close every door Put my face back on the floor And I'm in Your arms Where I belong There's no other place for me Than right where You are Some things just don't change When I call Your name You never hesitate to wrap me in endless grace When I'm in Your arms To sit at Your feet At Your table of mercy To gaze on Your beauty, my Lord To drink from Your well And be changed by Your glory How could I ask for more Jesus, how could I ask for more And I'm in Your arms Where I belong There's no other place for me Than right where You are Some things just don't change When I call Your name You never hesitate to wrap me in endless grace When I'm in Your arms