Author: Kevin

I am a follower of Jesus, husband, pastor, author, and caffeine addict. Please follow me on Facebook or Twitter. You may also want to consider subscribing to the RSS feed.

Encouragement for the Tempted

Paul has a lot to say about obedience and temptation in 1st Corinthians 10:1-13.  He refers the Christians in Corinth to the Book of Exodus, encouraging them to learn from the mistakes made by the Israelites.

I find the final verse in the passage to be extremely helpful.  1st Corinthians 10:13 has three encouraging truths for those facing temptation:

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
-1st Corinthians 10:13

Truth #1: Your temptations are not unique.

I’ve read dozens of emails from people who are struggling with some kind of “secret” sin.  They often feel completely alone, which only adds to their sense of shame.  It’s agonizing to think you are the only person in your church who doesn’t have his/her act together.  The enemy would use this belief to shame you into silent suffering.

You may be tempted with with lust, pornography, addiction, a sinful relationship or some other stubborn sin.  You are not alone!  Paul reminds us that all temptations are “common to mankind.” Take heart–we all struggle with sinful desires of one form or another.  Get some accountability in your life and break out of your self-imposed solitary confinement.

 Truth #2: God is in control.

The God who controls the universe is also sovereign over your particular situation.  You may feel like the allure of sin is just too strong, but God will never allow you to be tempted beyond your ability to make the right decision.

Parents do everything in their power to make sure their children are protected.  A loving father would never knowingly allow his child to walk across a busy highway–there’s no way the little boy/girl would safely make it across.  How much more will our heavenly Father watch over us and make sure we are not tempted beyond our ability to endure!

Truth #3:  There’s always a way out

A skilled architect will design building with several fire exits so residents can get out if there is some kind of emergency.  God has done the same thing as far as temptation goes–He always makes sure there is one or more ways to escape.  Sinning is never our only option!

But the fire exit only works if you are willing to take it at the first sign of danger.  This is especially true of sexual temptation–treat like a hand grenade and run!

 Remember these three truths the next time you are facing temptation. 

Interdenominational Dating

Church-christian-world-denominations“Is it OK to date/court someone who is from a different denomination?”

I’ve been asked this question quite a few times over the years and we even discussed it back when we were doing a podcast/radio show.  I’ll share a few things from personal experience and give you some practical questions to consider.

Mare Cris was a member of Victory Christian Fellowship when we first met. I was raised and ordained in a Southern Baptist church.  I actually had “Evangelical Christian” listed as my religion on Facebook when we first started communicating.  She wasn’t 100% sure what I meant by that label, so she asked me some basic questions about my beliefs (smart girl).  She wanted to be certain I believed in the basic, fundamental truths of the Christian faith (the Trinity, salvation by faith, etc.).

I’m mentioning the beginning of our relationship to highlight an important point: there’s a big difference between dating someone of a different denomination and dating someone of a completely different religion (that’s another topic altogether).   You can read one of my posts on discerning the truth for some general guidance on genuine vs. counterfeit Christianity.

Let me define things just to be clear: interdenominational dating means being in a relationship with someone who is part of a genuine Christian church/denomination other than yours.  Stated another way, you both worship the same God and believe in the same gospel.

Now let’s get to some practical guidance.  I believe there are two crucial questions to ask yourself if you are dating someone who is part of a different denomination:

Question #1: are you compatible in terms of doctrine?

Denominations exist in part due to different interpretations on issues such as spiritual gifts, eschatology (the last days), church governance, order/style of worship, and the list goes on.  You and your boyfriend/girlfriend should discuss your beliefs and see where you stand.  Here’s a general rule: you’ll be more likely to have a successful relationship with someone who has similar doctrine/beliefs.

Questions #2: are you compatible in terms of dedication?

Are both of you equally committed to Christ?  This is an important question in any Christian relationship, but I think it also factors in this discussion.  You may meet someone who happens to attend a different church but seems much more passionate about his faith than the single guys in your own congregation.  Equal levels of dedication can play a huge role in whether or not you have a successful relationship.

Here are a few final words of advice:

1.  Talk over these issues and don’t assume they’ll just work themselves out “as long as we love each other.”

2.  A husband and wife should be members of the same church (in other words, the two of you will need to agree on one church to attend once you are married).  Keep this in mind since the whole point of dating/courtship is to find a spouse.

3.  Never settle for someone who has serious problems with his/her character or doctrine.