Participants: Joshua Nelson (Host), Brittany Hill, Jeanne Mogusu, John Coaxum, Korey P. Douglas
Series Code: PC
Program Code: PC000063
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00:01 The following program discusses sensitive issues.
00:03 Parents are cautioned that some material 00:05 may be too candid for younger children. 00:41 Hello, and welcome to Pure Choices. 00:43 I'm your host Pastor Joshua Nelson 00:44 and you are in a good for one today. 00:47 We are talking about Pure Enhancements. 00:49 Yes, we're talking about 00:50 should we adorn ourselves with jewelry? 00:52 Should we have tattoos? 00:54 Should we wear makeup? 00:55 All these things that we, you know, often questioning. 00:57 And we wanna answer these questions today 00:59 and really discover what does God feel about these things. 01:02 So, we have a great panel today, 01:03 but before we get into this hot discussion, 01:05 let's just pause for a moment to say a word of prayer. 01:09 Heavenly Father, 01:10 we thank you so much for being with us today, 01:12 we ask that you would lead and guide this discussion, 01:15 sing your spirit right now in Jesus' name we pray. 01:18 Amen. Amen. 01:19 All right, let's introduce our panel. 01:21 To my left I have Pastor K. P. Douglas, 01:25 from Southeast Missouri, 01:27 a pastor out there, couple of churches. 01:29 Over here across on the couch we have Brittany Hill, 01:32 who is a recent graduate of the seminary 01:34 and she's about to get married. 01:36 So we're excited about that. 01:37 Next we have Pastor John Coaxum, 01:40 who is the associate pastor 01:41 at the Glenville Seventh-day Adventist church 01:43 there in Cleveland, Ohio. 01:45 And then, we have our recent doctor, 01:47 Dr. Jeanne Mogusu, who is from the seminary, 01:51 she graduated at the seminary there 01:52 and so we're excited to have her here as well. 01:55 So we have a great panel, great discussion, 01:58 and we wanna get right into it today 02:00 with just discussing, 02:01 and often, we've often ask these questions 02:03 around the dinner table 02:05 or different discussion we've been having with friends, 02:07 you know, and I've often asked myself 02:10 if I should get one, a tattoo. 02:14 Should I get a tattoo or not, you know, I mean, 02:16 all my friends got a tattoo 02:19 I have, you know, some preachers 02:21 who have tattoos, you know. 02:22 So, you know, why do people, let's just start with this, 02:25 why do Christians feel that is wrong, 02:28 in the general sense, 02:29 that it's wrong to get a tattoo? 02:31 I mean, well, to start, it's basically traditional 02:34 but it obviously stems from the Bible. 02:36 And Leviticus tells us, 02:37 Chapter 19 I believe says clearly, 02:40 "Don't make any markings in your flesh for the dead." 02:42 You know, I believe it was a form of worship back then, 02:44 you know, people used to try to memorialize their loved ones, 02:48 and their loved ones would live on through them 02:49 or whatever the case was. 02:51 But, you know, we've come down to the ages 02:53 and we've pretty much upheld that standard 02:54 that we should not mark our flesh, you know. 02:57 That's pretty much the basic, 02:58 you know, why we don't rub with tattoos. 03:01 Okay, so is it just that that one text, 03:03 that we kind of, going off of? 03:04 Yeah, and I also think that tattoos have become 03:06 a symbol of worldliness in our world today, 03:08 especially for Christians. 03:10 The only time we really see, you know, 03:11 a plethora of tattoos is on rappers, 03:13 the "Those in society", those wealthy people 03:16 who, you know, probably don't adhere 03:18 to Christian standards. 03:19 So when we think of a tattoo 03:21 we automatically associate it with worldliness 03:23 and those things that are not of God. 03:25 Okay, all right. 03:27 So we often just associate negative things 03:29 because we see people 03:31 who are "negative" wearing them, 03:32 so we say, "Well, now it's bad". 03:33 Yeah. 03:35 All right, so should that be how we think? 03:37 I mean, should that be where it stops? 03:38 Should we say, well, because someone bad is wearing, 03:40 because the devil got it first, you know, 03:42 then, you know, we can't involve ourselves in it? 03:45 Brittany, what do you think? 03:47 Personally, I'm not sure 03:48 that we should keep on getting tattoos. 03:50 I think we need to be focused on 03:52 how we actually look at people that already have tattoos. 03:55 We can't turn down our noses on them 03:58 or say bad things 04:00 just because they already have the tattoos 04:01 when they come to our churches, we should embrace them 04:04 and probably move forward from there, 04:05 and go based on, okay, based on this principle, 04:08 you probably should not get any more tattoos 04:10 'cause should not mark up your skin. 04:11 We should focus more on principles 04:13 than focusing on the fact they already have the tattoos. 04:16 Okay, and I like that answer. 04:17 And I wanna discuss, also, what are the principles 04:19 that we're gonna use to, 04:21 you know, decide what we should wear 04:23 and what we should put on our bodies. 04:24 And I think that there's a clear difference now, 04:27 kind of, shaping here between 04:28 some of us who agree with tattoos 04:30 and those of us who maybe don't. 04:32 But before I go into that, 04:33 it kind of gets you all to get each other. 04:35 Dr. Jeanne, what do you feel about the whole matter 04:38 with tattoos? 04:39 I think that because of the association 04:42 that we've had, like John said, 04:45 that it's easy for us to look at someone with tattoos 04:47 and form our own judgments of them. 04:49 It's like we, 04:51 it becomes something that marks our vision. 04:55 We can see beyond the tattoos to the person that is. 04:58 And I think the whole basis of a Christian life 05:01 is to see beyond the outward. 05:04 You know, should we go out and have tattoos? 05:10 I don't think so, 05:11 but that's just my, my personal, you know, 05:14 and it does have some biblical standing. 05:17 However, I have seen 05:19 where people have used tattoos for some beautiful expressions. 05:23 I just recently saw this video about a woman 05:26 who'd had a double mastectomy. 05:27 You know, she had both of us, because of cancer 05:30 and the possibility of recurring cancer. 05:34 So she decided to have tattoos where her breasts once were. 05:37 And so I don't know 05:40 that I would look at that situation 05:44 the same as someone who, 05:45 for example, just wanted to have something, 05:47 you know, displayed on their body. 05:50 Okay. 05:51 All right, I mean, so let's just be honest. 05:55 You know, I like art, I mean, I like art, 05:58 I think, you know, I love dressing well, 06:00 I like expressions and stuff, 06:01 and so if I, as a pastor, were to get a tattoo 06:05 'cause, you know, Brittany, you were talking about how, 06:07 you know, we won't accept you 06:08 if you're wearing a tattoos already, 06:10 but what if I'm wearing my tattoos, 06:11 I come to the church and I say, 06:12 "Well, sister Brittany, I want to get another tattoo." 06:16 Are you gonna be mad at me now after I getting my next tattoo? 06:19 What really are the guidelines that we can go by to say, 06:21 "Hey, you should not be doing this biblically". 06:24 You know, is there anything? 06:26 Well, first of all, I would ask the question, 06:27 "Why do you wanna get a tattoo?" 06:29 I mean, if you love art, 06:30 as far as I'm concerned, put on a canvas, 06:32 you know what I'm saying, put it in a sketchbook. 06:34 But I wanna look at it all the time, Korey. 06:35 You will carry the canvas with you all the time. 06:38 But, you know, I've actually overheard conversations 06:42 between Christians, 06:43 biblically explaining why they do 06:46 and agree with tattoos. 06:48 You know, I've heard a young man in the gym saying, 06:50 "Well, you know, the Bible says 06:51 when Jesus comes back, it's tattooed on his leg, 06:54 you know, His name, 06:55 and this is written in our foreheads." 06:57 And so I mean, we can, 06:59 there's a little bit more of a monkey wrench, you know, 07:01 because there are people who get tattoos 07:03 for good reasons, just like you guys are saying. 07:04 I mean, how bad is to put a cross on my arm, 07:07 or I love God, or Jesus saves, 07:10 or some Chinese symbol 07:11 that is speaking positively in my life. 07:13 Just makes sure you know what it actually says, you know. 07:15 Yeah, that's true too. 07:16 And I'm just, I'm gonna be honest. 07:18 I personally am just not for tattoos 07:19 regardless of whether or not it's a religious, 07:21 you know, conversation. 07:23 I just don't like tattoo, 07:24 so I'm always just gonna tell you, 07:26 Bible or not don't get it, you know. 07:28 But if we have to be biblical, 07:30 you know, our bodies are the temple of God. 07:32 You know, when we owned something, 07:34 when we possess it, 07:35 you know, we don't go around and mark it up. 07:36 You know what I'm saying? 07:38 When you buy your house, as much as you like art, 07:39 you don't take out a spray can 07:41 and start graffiti on the side of it 07:42 because you love art. 07:43 No, you wash your house, you clean your house. 07:45 You know what I'm saying? 07:46 So if you really value something, 07:48 if it's really where you think God should be, 07:50 then you should, I think you should keep it clean. 07:51 But you know, my car, my house 07:53 and I will put some wall art on the walls, 07:55 I will put, 07:56 you know, some nice details on my car, you know. 07:57 I mean, I don't know if you can really use that, 07:59 I mean, you know, but I think we have something here, 08:01 we definitely have Pastor Douglas 08:03 is being against tattoos. 08:04 Is anybody want to venture out, 08:05 and be bold, and say, "I'm for tattoos"? 08:07 Well, I mean, it's kind of strange for me to say, 08:10 "I'm for it" but I guess, 08:12 you know, I'll take the other side, 08:13 I'm not necessarily against it. 08:15 And the reason I say that is because I think 08:17 we run into an issue 08:19 when we talk about trying to explain it from the Bible. 08:22 In Leviticus 19, 08:23 there is not only the prohibition of, 08:25 you know, you cutting your body, 08:27 there's other prohibitions there, you know, 08:29 in that chapter, 08:30 it talks about you cutting off your sideburns, 08:32 and wearing material 08:34 that has two different types of fabrics. 08:35 And if that's the case, 08:37 well, I've been living in sin for about 20 years now. 08:39 And so, you know, the question now becomes, 08:41 well, which ones do I accept? 08:43 And which ones do I put away? 08:45 And how I reason it out in my own life is, 08:47 is this an issue of salvation? 08:49 And for me, it's not. 08:50 It's not an issue of right or wrong. 08:52 It's more an issue of what's wise 08:54 and what's not wise? 08:56 Because when you become older, 08:57 you know I see a lot of older folks who have, 08:59 you know, tattoos, you know, today, 09:01 you know, stuff that they probably got 09:02 when they were very young just in a moment, 09:04 you know trying to have fun. 09:06 The question is, 09:07 will you regret it later on in life? 09:08 And I do agree with what Korey said as well. 09:10 Why are you getting this tattoo? 09:13 Is it for the glory of God? 09:14 Is it just for yourself, you know, what is the point? 09:17 Why you doing it? 09:18 I like that. 09:19 And that kind of gives us a good principle to go off of, 09:21 you know, I think everything should be done 09:22 to the glory of God. 09:24 And so you can't just do things based off of what, 09:25 "Hey, this is what I wanna do. 09:26 And this is what I feel is, right, you know." 09:29 So that's good. 09:31 So now, you know, I don't know if we exhausted that topic, 09:32 but let's move on to maybe jewelry, 09:34 another hard one. 09:36 Oh, boy. 09:37 You know, I remember when I was coming up 09:39 that was definitely frowned upon as being, 09:41 "You don't wear jewelry as a Seventh-day Adventist." 09:43 You know, that you make sure 09:44 you, you know, you should to take off the bling 09:46 if you're going in the church, whoever. 09:47 Even had a situation where, 09:49 you know, there's a lady who's going to get baptized, 09:50 and I had a question myself, 09:52 as a pastor, "Am I gonna tell her 09:53 to take off her jewelry or not 09:54 before she gets in the pool?", you know. 09:56 So what can we say, as Christians, 09:59 you know, to someone who is wearing 10:01 Jewelry is a wrong? 10:03 How do you determine that biblically, 10:05 when deciding we should wear a ring, 10:06 or even a wedding band, 10:08 you know, let's talk about that too. 10:09 Let's go to... Okay. 10:11 I think some, one thing, 10:12 and I should just begin by professing 10:16 that I don't wear jewelry. 10:20 But do I see other people wearing? Yes. 10:23 Do I look at them differently for doing it? 10:25 No. 10:27 But I think one thing we forget is that in the Bible 10:30 when, I mean, the Israelites clearly wore jewelry 10:33 because they brought the jewelry to the temple 10:36 as a form of offerings 10:37 whenever there was any lack within the temple 10:39 that's what they would bring with them, 10:41 the gold, and silver, and everything else. 10:44 One of the things that I would caution us 10:47 as we continue is that, 10:50 we have traditionally said 10:52 that Jewelry is not supposed to be worn 10:56 but when we tell people, 10:59 it's almost as if it's a reproof, 11:01 you know, we are more rebuking them 11:04 than we are telling them, "Hey". 11:06 As Korey said, your body is a temple, 11:08 you know, why don't we spend so much time 11:11 talking about what we are not to do 11:14 and exalting the negative things. 11:17 We don't do enough about exalting the beauty, 11:20 like, just telling someone, 11:21 "Hey, you are just absolutely gorgeous." 11:25 You know, even when they're not wearing the jewelry. 11:28 We always make a point of not saying those things 11:30 and then when they wear their jewelry, 11:32 somebody else says, "Wow, you look great." 11:34 So clearly they're going to associate 11:36 they're looking great with their wearing jewelry. 11:39 And let me just say this too for males 11:40 who may are watching are not familiar with this, 11:42 you know, the Adventist culture. 11:44 You know, traditionally, the reason I feel, 11:47 you know, I've heard why we say we do not wear jewelry is 11:49 because we want to live a simplistic life. 11:51 A life that was not glorifying ourselves 11:53 and we are ultimately glorifying God. 11:55 And we wouldn't want to adorn ourselves. 11:58 And so, in fact, 11:59 you know, and people would ask us 12:00 why you are not wearing jewelry, 12:02 say, "Hey, we're, you know, looking for the Christ coming 12:03 we don't wanna hold on to earthly possessions." 12:05 And so that's kind of the reasoning 12:07 but when we couple that with our dress 12:10 and what we, kind of, offset the jewelry with, you know, 12:13 I don't know if that really still plays a part. 12:15 So, Korey, go ahead. 12:16 I'm actually glad you said that because I was gonna say, 12:18 you know, and I'm just gonna do this because the truth 12:20 and somebody at home is thinking this. 12:21 We do have verses that we use to justify not wearing jewelry. 12:26 And to be honest and frank that to me they're very weak. 12:29 You know, I will take the woman in Revelation and say, 12:31 well, this woman has nothing on, 12:33 and this woman has jewels on, 12:34 and I'm like, I can see where you're coming from 12:38 but I think that at the end of the day 12:39 it has to be about principle 12:41 and you're right, you're absolutely right. 12:42 Historically not wearing jewelry, 12:44 it was a chance for people to evangelize. 12:47 It was something that set you apart 12:49 so when people saw you they said, 12:51 you know, something is different about you 12:52 and it gave you an opportunity to witness and say, 12:55 "Well, Jesus is coming back" 12:56 which is our job as Seventh-Day Adventist 12:58 is to herald the second coming. 12:59 And so I believe that when we make the mistake 13:02 going back to what Jeanne was saying is, 13:04 we don't teach principles, we teach guidelines and rules. 13:08 And just like John is saying, 13:09 there are rules that God gave Israel in the Bible 13:11 but they were given in a certain context, 13:13 for certain reasons 13:15 because God was trying to teach them 13:16 certain principles 13:17 that eventually they, kind of, transform 13:19 as you come more and more into what is true. 13:23 And so just like we go back to, why am I wearing jewelry? 13:26 Why am I adorning myself? 13:27 Why do I dress the way I dress? 13:29 You know, and I like try to take a little time 13:30 but at the end of the day, 13:32 if we're honest when I put on clothes, 13:33 I'm worried about what people think about me. 13:35 I'm doing it, 13:36 you know, because I want people look at me 13:38 and say, you know, "Look, how he's dressed, 13:40 you know, he looks nice." 13:42 Yeah, you gotta be honest with yourself. 13:43 True. Yeah. 13:44 And I think there's something as very, 13:46 you know, we have to be honest with ourselves 13:47 in terms of our adorning, 13:48 pure enhancements, you know, 13:50 the pure choice is God's choice. 13:52 So, you know, I really like what you said there. 13:54 And one thing too about, you know, 13:55 the issue of jewelry in the Bible, 13:57 we notice that God told the children of Israel 13:59 to take off their Jewelry 14:01 every time He wanted to have 14:02 a deep relationship with Him, you know. 14:04 So it was something about adornment 14:06 that they were doing 14:07 that caused them to be separated from God. 14:10 Yeah, I think they probably, 14:11 you know, resembled the other nations 14:13 round about them and God clearly, 14:14 you know, just wanted them to be separate. 14:16 I think He said to them, 14:17 you know, "Come out from among them 14:18 and touch not the unclean thing." 14:20 But it's interesting though, 14:21 I mean, the temple during that time 14:23 was probably the most elaborately adorned thing 14:25 in the Jewish world during that time. 14:28 I mean, so we talk about the temple of God 14:30 but God's temple was, 14:31 I mean, you know, gold was everywhere 14:33 decked out with jewelry. 14:35 There was all manner of expenses 14:37 that was put into that, 14:38 I mean, God clearly wanted people 14:40 to bring Him his best 14:41 and whatever the best was during that time was jewelry, 14:45 and gold, and all these things. 14:46 So I think at the end of the day, 14:48 what Korey is saying is very profound 14:50 that it's not the jewelry, 14:52 it's not the tattoo where there lies a problem, 14:55 it's the reason or the motive behind 14:57 which or why you are doing it. 14:58 And it's clear that 14:59 when they were building the temple, 15:01 they're saying, "Listen, we wanna bring our best to God 15:03 to give Him glory. 15:04 We're not gonna bring God, you know, linoleum. 15:06 We're not going to bring Him, you know, rotten wood. 15:09 We're bringing Him the best that we have." 15:10 And I think that's funny you said 15:11 because if our doormat is, 15:15 it looks better than the church's doormat, 15:17 maybe there's a problem with our giving, you know. 15:19 Real quick, very real quick. 15:20 I like what you said, they brought their best. 15:22 Is tattoo is your best? 15:24 You understand what I'm saying? 15:25 Is jewelry your best? 15:27 You know? 15:28 I mean, and that's what I'm saying. 15:30 You can paint a picture, and a mural, 15:31 and it can be great for everyone to see 15:32 or you can get a tattoo covered up. 15:34 And even if you're saying, 15:35 "Well, I'm praising God with it." 15:37 And no one sees it, you know what I'm saying? 15:38 I mean, what do you have? 15:40 Cause' God has given us gifts and talents. 15:41 Is the way you dress, your tattoos and all that, 15:44 is that the best you have to give God? 15:48 Brittany, what do you think? Is that, is that... 15:49 You just asked a question I guess? 15:53 Difficult question. 15:55 I'm not sure we can go and say, 15:57 "Okay, I'm gonna bring my tattoos 15:59 and that's not the best." 16:00 How can you determine what is the best 16:02 compared to what isn't the best? 16:04 I think that's our problem, the way we define jewelry, 16:07 it changes every five minutes. 16:09 The way we define, "what is the best" 16:11 that changes the way we dress 16:13 that changes every five minutes. 16:15 We don't allow people to express themselves 16:18 and we do it do's and don'ts, we don't do the guidelines. 16:21 Like, for example, we say 16:24 "You're not allowed to wear a wedding band", 16:25 some people say that. 16:26 But "Hey you can wear a watch." 16:28 But the watch cost is a lot more 16:30 than the wedding band would have cost, 16:32 or we say, "You can't wear earrings" 16:35 but we go to churches with broaches and huge hats on. 16:39 We say these things are based on principles 16:42 but they're not really 16:43 because we keep on switching it up 16:45 based on how we feel in the next five minutes. 16:47 Yeah, yeah. 16:49 So, yeah, what is it really that we have against 16:50 the actual jewelry, like, you know, 16:52 is you know, that's such a good question. 16:55 You know, we gotta really consider that. 16:57 Jeanne, let's go Jeanne, and then John. 16:58 And I think another thing, I love what Brittany has said, 17:01 and another thing that we need to consider is, 17:04 how are we once we define these things, 17:06 how are we measure, 17:08 what form of measurements are we using 17:12 that we are reinforcing on people? 17:14 That we're... I guess putting on people. 17:16 Yeah? 17:18 'Cause we tend to make choices of preference 17:22 and we make them into salvific issues, you know. 17:26 So I would prefer having a wedding band, 17:30 but if I find somebody else 17:31 who does not wear a wedding band, 17:33 I think, oh, they must be from archaic ages 17:37 or something like that. 17:38 Or somebody else who does not prefer wearing a wedding band, 17:42 they'll be like, "Okay, why?" 17:45 You see what I'm saying? 17:46 So we judge them based on our own personal preferences, 17:49 and then we make this issues into salvific, 17:51 "Oh, they must not have 17:52 a close enough relationship with God, 17:55 if they're wearing all that makeup, 17:56 or you know, so we bring very simplistic, very... 18:02 And I might add that, 18:04 me and my wife did decide to go the watch store. 18:07 You know, I'm just... 18:09 Put it away right there. Yeah. 18:10 But it actually wasn't for those reasons 18:12 it was more of a preference but, 18:13 and because of our culture, 18:14 you know, we've been growing up seeing our parents 18:16 wear wedding bands and like that, 18:18 so but anyway, 18:20 John, you want to add something to that? 18:21 Yeah, I was gonna say, you know, 18:23 I'm always kind of hesitant to speak for God 18:25 but I mean, in my mind right now, 18:27 I just can't see God, 18:28 you know, being upset or angry with someone 18:31 or want to pour out His wrath on someone who has a tattoo, 18:34 or is wearing a wedding band, or a piece of jewelry. 18:36 I just can't see that and I can't see somebody, 18:39 this is me personally right now, 18:41 not being saved solely on the basis 18:43 that they are wearing jewelry. 18:45 I just can't see that. 18:46 And I, kind of, liken it to, let's say, 18:48 somebody who's off the street, 18:49 they're just coming into the church, 18:51 they're just getting to know God, 18:52 and when they pray, no, they don't say as we do, 18:54 "Dear Heavenly Father", 18:55 you know, they say, you know, "Jesus," 18:57 "My homeboy," or something like that. 18:58 I mean, is God really offended by that 19:00 or does He just, 19:01 He's happy that, that person is praying to Him? 19:03 And so when you think about somebody 19:04 who's getting a tattoo, 19:06 let's say they're just coming into the church, 19:07 and they don't understand all the Christian language 19:09 that we have today, 19:11 they don't know all the traditions 19:12 but they're saying, 19:13 "Listen, I want to get something on my body 19:15 to commemorate my relationship with God." 19:17 I mean, I want, does God really? 19:18 Is He going to frown at that? 19:20 Or, you know, I just don't know. 19:21 You know, John, I think you're making some interesting, 19:23 interesting points but if we're honest, 19:25 you know, I understand people coming to church 19:27 but most of the problems we have with jewelry, 19:30 tattoos, and stuff are not from people coming into church. 19:33 We get to know about how to treat them, well, 19:34 in terms of getting tattoos, wearing jewelry, 19:37 most of our problems come from the young people, 19:39 you know from people who have grown up in the church 19:42 and after, you know, 19:43 they've left their parent's house, 19:45 so they're going to college 19:46 or they get to the teenage years, 19:48 they all of a sudden want to wear jewelry. 19:49 And so I think we have to be careful in saying that, 19:51 well, you know, if it's how I feel 19:54 and how, you know, whether I worship God. 19:55 Because I feel like we're going to start 19:57 giving kids an excuse to say, 19:58 "Well, I'm just trying to give God my best." 20:00 You know, for me, at the end of the day, 20:02 it's gonna bowl down to one thing 20:03 and I'm just gonna be honest. 20:05 This is how I judge everything I do. 20:07 You know, if we're gonna put anything on 20:08 the Bible really doesn't literally talk about 20:11 putting anything on except the armor of God. 20:15 Paul says, "Put on the whole armor of God." 20:17 Forget about jewelry, forget about tattoos, 20:20 if we would teach people 20:22 that this is where you start 20:23 putting on the breastplate of righteousness. 20:25 You know what I'm saying it? 20:27 And go into the whole armor of God, 20:28 developing that relationship, 20:30 then you can start to say, 20:31 well, as the Spirit moves me, as a Spirit leads me, 20:34 as I develop in His relation, 20:35 I may realize that the things I liked 20:37 when I first began in this journey, 20:39 when I first started having questions, 20:40 they're no longer that big a deal to me, 20:42 which has been that my testimony. 20:44 Certain things when I was a young man, I said, listen, 20:46 you know, if I get myself basketball 20:49 and they said, I want to play NBA, 20:50 I may have to give up Sabbath to playing in NBA. 20:52 I would never do that now. 20:54 Because I've come so far in my journey with God 20:56 having put on the armor of God 20:58 and it's not, I'm not saying that I've got it on 20:59 and it's all fitted and nice and tight. 21:01 You know, I'm still, I'm still, you know, 21:03 God is still tailor-fitting my armor, you know, for me. 21:06 You know, but as I walk with Him, 21:08 as I interact with Him, 21:10 the things in His words, 21:12 the principles of His word become more clear to me 21:14 and I don't have to now rely per se on 21:17 "Thou shall not adorn this and then the third" 21:20 You know, God can, will meet me 21:21 and make those things bring to me 21:23 and I do believe eventually this kind of stuff 21:25 doesn't even become a topic 21:27 as you begin to put on the armor of God. 21:29 Well, Pastor Korey, you're preaching now, man, 21:31 and I like that. 21:32 I'm going on a run, bae. 21:34 It's a good point. 21:36 You know, I think that you must start there. 21:37 You know, putting that full armor of God, 21:39 putting your relationship with Christ as a forefront, 21:41 and allow God to really shape your perspectives. 21:43 I think that's true, I mean when I was a young guy, 21:45 I was trying to get, you know, the magnetic earring, 21:46 God didn't want to actually get that... 21:49 Piercing. You wanna get the water tattoo. 21:50 Yeah, and the water tattoo, right. 21:52 And the reason why I was 21:53 'cause I wanted to look like my friends, 21:54 I want to be cool, I want to feel a certain way, 21:56 but now as I gotten older I don't feel 21:58 it's not really a necessity to me anymore. 21:59 I'm not, you know, I know who I am, you know. 22:01 And I think knowing who you are does come 22:05 when you do put on a full armor of God, 22:06 you begin to know who you are, and who's you are. 22:09 And lot of those things kind of falter off. 22:11 Jeanne, you're going to add to that? 22:12 Yeah, I was going to say, 22:14 I'm listening and the thing that is, 22:15 kind of, playing in my head right now is, 22:16 "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, 22:18 look full in his wonderful face 22:20 and the things of this earth will grow strangely dim." 22:22 There is so much that is going on, yes, 22:24 we can say that what is going on today 22:27 is not what was happening in the Bible times 22:29 and the rules do not apply to us right now. 22:32 But I think, a very important principle to live by 22:35 is whenever you turn your eyes upon Jesus, 22:38 everything else gains perspective. 22:42 You get a clearer view of what, yes, God may not have said, 22:46 "Do not wear a tattoo." 22:48 And He says specifically don't do that, 22:50 or don't do this, and don't do that. 22:52 But the principle is, 22:54 as soon as we fix our eyes on Him, 22:56 everything else gains a clear perspective. 22:59 Okay, so I want to take maybe one more minute 23:02 and then go to the screen. 23:03 I just want to, I want to challenge all young people 23:05 and this, you know, because we want to be practical. 23:08 Let's say, for a month if you wear jewelry, 23:11 if you've been contemplating tattoos, 23:13 if you dress a certain way, let's say that for a month, 23:15 you say, "I'm gonna take my jewelry off 23:17 and I'm just gonna see God's face". 23:19 I think that that's a great place 23:21 for young people to start. 23:22 To just say, "I'm not even gonna think about it, you know, 23:25 I'm not gonna put it on. 23:26 Not because people tell me not to, 23:28 but I really wanna hear 23:29 what God is going to say to me." 23:31 You know, and if after that month 23:32 you feel the same way, 23:34 then you know, who am I to judge? 23:35 But we'll just pray that by God's grace 23:37 he will move on somewhere so I think 23:38 that's a good place to start. 23:39 Okay, all right. Well, real quick John. 23:41 Yeah, I think we have to be 23:42 willing to be open to whatever God says, 23:44 I think Korey makes a very good point. 23:45 You know, the Bible says, "The path of the just 23:47 is as a shining light, shining more and more 23:49 into the perfect day." 23:50 And I know all of us we believe in present truth, 23:52 we don't know everything now, 23:53 but God is constantly revealing stuff to us 23:56 collectively and personally. 23:57 Yeah, very good. 23:58 Well, I think we'll stop there for a moment 24:00 and we wanna look at the screen because we have 24:02 a number of young people we talked to. 24:04 And I asked them the question on, 24:06 how can a young person live pure? 24:08 And we're gonna watch the screen 24:10 and see what they said. 24:11 I think one thing you have to do 24:13 or would be a good thing to do 24:14 would be keep a prayer journal. 24:15 Writing something down really makes you 24:17 think about what you have to do, 24:18 also memorize the Bible texts. 24:20 Bible says, "I've hidden your word in my heart 24:21 that I might not sin against it." 24:23 So I really think is, memorizing and writing down 24:26 will make you, be able to have a better prayer life 24:28 to overcome sin. 24:31 So that's an awesome point, you know, 24:33 keeping a prayer journal, writing things down 24:34 develops your relationship, ultimately, 24:36 at the end of the day we want to develop 24:38 your relationship with God so that you can understand 24:40 what type of pure enhancements you should take 24:43 in terms of adorning yourself. 24:45 I think that we have one more we're gonna look at as well. 24:49 I think one of the best things that you can do, 24:52 sometimes we don't want purity, 24:54 sometimes we want to do the wrong, 24:56 so I think what you have to do every day is, 24:59 talk to God honestly 25:01 and even if you don't have the desire to be pure, 25:04 ask God for it. 25:06 I think it should be able to help you. 25:08 Unless you give me... 25:10 Yes, that's the ultimate point, good point. 25:13 You know, we have to continue to pray 25:15 and ask for God to give us that desire 25:17 to even want to be pure. 25:18 So we're coming to a close here 25:19 but I'mma go around and ask you all, this question. 25:22 We're talking about pure enhancements, 25:23 we're talking about jewelry, tattoos, here it goes, 25:25 Brittany, I'mma start with you. 25:27 Would you, would you let your daughter, 25:30 would you let your daughter wear jewelry or tattoos? 25:32 What do you think? Oh, boy. 25:36 No, if she comes to me to say like, 25:39 "Mom, I want to get a tattoo." 25:41 I'd probably sit down with her and probably ask her, "Why?" 25:45 And work through that stage. 25:48 If I come at, "No, don't do this and don't do that." 25:50 My daughter's most likely gonna be post-modern, 25:52 she's not gonna wanna listen to that type of reasoning. 25:54 But if I come in and I actually talk to her about it, 25:57 that probably work out better. 25:59 Okay, all right, very good. Somebody else? 26:01 Give me your opinion. What do you think? 26:02 What do you think? 26:04 Well, honestly, I'm gonna tell my children that they cannot. 26:07 I'm just gonna be real, it won't just be a harsh no. 26:10 I believe as parents and all the parents 26:13 that listening right now, you are responsible to God 26:15 for your children while they are in your care. 26:17 And if God has convicted you on something, 26:19 you gotta uphold that. 26:21 And I will let my children know that. 26:23 I am responsible to God for you, 26:25 and so however I feel I have to go with it, 26:27 when you become an adult, you move on my house 26:30 and start paying rent on your own 26:31 and what not, you can do whatever you want to do, 26:33 and I pray to God will lead you in whatever way you need to go. 26:35 Alright, yeah, last one. 26:37 I think God is a God of choice. 26:40 And I want to give my kids, 26:42 at a certain age, that choice as well. 26:44 I would train them, I would teach them, 26:46 and I will ask them, why, when they come to me 26:48 asking about tattoos 26:49 and jewelries and things of that nature. 26:50 But at a certain stage and in a certain age, 26:52 I will allow them to make their own choice. 26:54 And if they happen to go the path of the prodigal son, 26:57 you know, I pray that God will bring them back. 26:59 Alright, and sorry, Jeanne, we can't get to you. 27:00 But I do wanna end with just saying this, 27:02 that ultimately God is going to be the one 27:04 that is going to adorn us with, you know, jewels. 27:08 He's gonna be the one who's going to crown us 27:09 with that crown and give us those jewels. 27:11 And so if we're seeking after those things now 27:13 the Bible says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God 27:15 and all these things shall be added on to you." 27:16 And if we're seeking first those things on this earth, 27:19 maybe we may miss out on the jewels 27:21 that God has for us in heaven. 27:23 Also I do want to add this in, 27:25 I Corinthians 10:31 it says, 27:30 "So whether you eat or drink 27:33 or whatever you do, 27:35 do it all for the glory of God". 27:37 And it skips down to verse 33, it says, 27:39 "Even as I try to please everybody in every way. 27:42 For I am not seeking my own good 27:45 but the good of many, 27:46 so that they may be saved." 27:48 So even in considering 27:49 that we are trying to save others 27:51 in our pure choices, 27:53 so end of the day, 27:54 remember always to make pure choices. 27:56 God bless you. |
Revised 2017-06-08