Can sisters help keep brothers from sinning?

Found this letter here

Girls, could we talk to you right out of our hearts for a few minutes? 
It is awkward for us to talk about something of this nature, in person, 
so we thought we would write our feelings.
We are young men who have been saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit. 
We desperately want to live for Christ and not follow the ways of the 
world. Since we have been baptized (immersed) in a “Holy” Spirit, we 
feel in our hearts that we should live “holy” lives. After all, our 
bodies are the temple, the sanctuary, the place where the “Holy” Spirit 
lives and makes His home.
We know that guys and girls are affected differently, so since we 
desperately want to follow hard after God, could we kindly and 
respectfully ask you to help us with a few things?
We realize that girls are primarily stimulated or turned on by “touch.” 
Did you know that guys are turned on by “sight?” So when you are 
“aroused” (sexually awakened) by a guy’s “touch,” we are in the same 
way aroused by mere “sight.” Let us explain. When we see girls who are 
dressed in a suggestive, revealing, provocative, teasing, tantalizing 
manner, our sexual desires are aroused. Our bodies are then affected. 
To be absolutely candid, let us give you some examples of what we are 
referring to. If you are wearing a blouse that barely meets the waist 
of your slacks and some of your skin showswhile you are moving around, 
or simply while you are walking, sitting, or kneeling, our minds are 
geared to wonder what more of your body would look like further 
up….This causes our bodies to respond biologically, and suddenl we 
are fighting a war in our minds and bodies. And that war of lust is 
continuing often long, even hours, after you are gone. We hate this, 
because our “righteous man” wants to think pure thoughts….
When you wear low-cut tops which are in any degree revealing, or when 
you bend over, and they are revealing, this again causes us big 
problems in the flesh. Or if the back is out of your top, we 
automatically think that you do not have the undergarment on, and the 
Spirit and the flesh begin to fight again. Or when we see any glimpse 
of your undergarments, such as straps and the like, we have trouble. 
What we are trying to say is this: If it is not for sale, don’t 
advertise it. We really feel that the still small voice of the Holy 
Spirit speaks to you and nudges you when it is too tight, too short, 
too low, or too revealing. Will you listen to that voice? For the 
Scripture says, “Quench not the Spirit.” (1 Thess. 5:19)

Girls, do you know what we would really like? We would like to come 
among our Christian sisters and not have to fight and struggle in the 
flesh. We do not need to have to wrestle in the flesh at church or at 
church activities. We men, whether young, old, single or married, are 
faced with this every day among girls of the “world.” But we would like 
to have rest in our Spirit man when we come among Christian girls. 
After all, doesn’t the Scripture tell us to “come out from among the 
world and be you separate, saith the Lord.” (2 Cor. 6:17) It also tells 
us that “all that is in the world, the lust of the eye, and the lust of 
the flesh, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (1 John 2:15) We 
are the church, not the world.
We know that people often use the verse, “Man looketh on the outward 
appearance, but God looketh on the heart,” (1 Sam. 16:7) to condone 
anything they wish to wear. This is one of the most misused/used 
out-of-context verses in the Bible. Conversely, the fact is, if your 
heart is pure, your outward appearance will be modest….
Girls can be fashionable and modest at the same time. To be honest, we 
respect you more when your appearance is modest, as the Scripture 
commands in 1 Timothy 2:9. We really do not want the kind of girl who 
dresses provocatively, for we know that if we marry her, she will still 
be that way in the presence of other men once we are married.
We know that we have Christian responsibilites toward girls, too. We 
must be careful to portray ourselves properly. We must treat you like 
ladies. If we are really committed Christian guys, we will strive to 
treat you like Jesus would. After all, you are daughters of God.
Thank you, dear Christian sisters, for hearing our hearts on this 
subject. Once we have conveyed the truth of the matter to you, you 
become responsible before God for what you do with the truth. We really 
are “our brother’s keeper.” (Genesis 4:9.) We know that there is a 
“cult of conformity” in our generation, but we as Christians “march to 
the beat of a different drummer.” Please, girls, do not say, “I don’t 
care,” but help us in these last days to live as close to Jesus as we 
can. Thank you so much.

Sincerely,

Committed Christian Guys”

I may not agree with all that the penman of the letter writes, but I sure can relate to his struggle. I have seen sisters in my own assembly dress less than appropriately at meetings, and its a real battle to “never look twice”. In all honesty, sisters dressing modestly does help avoid the stray look, and the stray thought, which could be germinate the seed of sin.

However, I do not think point of God’s admonition for women to dress modestly, is to keep brothers from sinning. Rather, it was in order that the “hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price” (1 Peter 3:4) may be displayed.

My point is: girls and women ought to dress modestly, not for the brother’s sake (helpful as that may be), but for the sake of pleasing God. 

Which brings me to another observation. I have met more than a few sisters who would care about how they dress to church, but are less modest when dressing outside of church. In church, I’d see them in long skirts, but on the street, in the mall or at the gym, much flesh is on show. Why? The impression I get (and I’d love to be wrong on this), is that the modesty they show in church is just to please the ‘church-people’, and not motivated by a desire to please God. This screams ‘hypocrisy’ at best. If modesty pleases God, and girls and women want to please God, they would be modest wherever they go. 

As for men, the bible teaches a number of things: “be sober-minded” (Titus 2:6). Husbands are taught to treat their wives “with honour, as fellow-heirs as the grace of life” (1 Peter 3:7). While instructed to husbands, there is no scriptural reason why unmarried boys and men cannot be taught to treat sisters the same way. While its difficult to keep the eye from roving, and the flesh from desiring, the bible says we are to “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth,  fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col 3:5). 

Conclusion: 
1. Sisters, dress modestly. It pleases God, and we brothers would appreciate it.
2. Brothers, bring “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ“ (2 Cor 10:5), and if you fail, and commit adultery in your heart, don’t blame the sisters. 

What do you think?

Tell your family before you convert?

So, a new law will be passed.

excerpt:

PUTRAJAYA: The Government will soon introduce a regulation requiring non-Muslims wishing to convert to Islam to inform their family before doing so.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said this would prevent problems of families disputing the conversion of their loved ones when they die. He suggested that non-Muslims who intend to convert have a form or letter declaring that their families had been told and had understood his or her decision.

Noting that there was no such regulation at present, Abdullah advised them to inform their families to “make things easier for everyone.”  - Read full article

I wonder if this law was made in the interest of the convert, or for the convenience of the authorities? Does it really solve the problem? How does the law help the convert?

Has anyone asked the question as to WHY a non-muslim convert does it in secret? I’ll suggest a reason: the family won’t agree and won’t accept the person any more. So now they HAVE to tell them that they’ve converted. SO? What makes the government think that by telling of their conversion, the convert can obtain the signatures to acknowlege it?

I tell you, when your family disowns you, and looks at you in disdain, and make your life a terrible one, the last thing on your list of worries is who gets your body after you die.

So a person wants to become a muslim. His family disagrees. They don’t sign the declaration. What happens then? Is he recognised as a muslim by the authorities? when he dies, will the Islamic authorities accept that they have no claim over the deceased body, or will they bring the kadi from the mosque the deceased frequents for his prayers and proclaim that the deceased is indeed a muslim, and take away the body anyway. It’ll be quite interesting how this law will be enforced, especially on the part of the religious authorities.

Cant we see that there exists a system here in our country, where ‘religious correctness’ takes precedence over the person’s welfare. What makes it worse is that this ‘religious correctness’ is very nicely embedded into the laws of the land.

Ex: A woman has the word ‘Muslim’ on her IC. But she doesnt pray to Allah, she doesn’t know Him, nor does she practice Islam in anyway. She lives and breathes Christianity. When she desires to have the word ‘Muslim’ removed, the National Registration Department says they have no jurisdiction over this. Since you are ‘technically’ a Muslim, the case is transferred to the Syariah courts, who, of course, will legally label this apostasy, and will have none of it. Application rejected. Muktamad. When the (christian in ’spirit and truth’) lady dies, and her Christian family wants to bury her body, the religious authorities come knocking down the door saying she’s a Muslim and so they have to have the body.

the scenario above is an amalgamation of recent, real incidents. What you make of it, I leave up to your judgement, but it ‘kinda’ accurately illustrates my point about the religious rigidity the government enforces.

It seems to me that this law was only made for the ‘convenience’ of keeping everything ‘by the book’. It doesn’t really ‘make things easier for everyone’ as Pak Lah says. Especially for the central person in the quagmire - the convert.

Btw, can I suggest another law be made that if a Muslim WANTS to leave Islam, and the family consents, and signs a form, that the authorities won’t hound give them a difficult time?

P/S: Forgive the rather cluttered post. I was thinking as I was typing, so the thoughts may seem a little strewn.

Unsung hero

Read this blog post here

Today I read an inspiring article on CNN about Scott Silverman. About twenty three years ago Scott was on the verge of stepping out of an open window on the 44^th floor. His life was a shambles. He was depressed and despair had taken hold of him. Fortunately, a coworker stepped in and he didn’t go through with it. Today, that same Scott Silverman runs a program called “Second Chance” in San Diego California. Second Chance gives people just that - another shot at life. From people fresh out of Rehab to people fresh out of prison, it teaches them basics like how to write a resume, how to conduct a strong interview, gives them a place to live (which also gives an address so they can get a job), and what’s more, places them in an environment of positive change.

Second Chance has helped more than 24,000 individuals, partnering with local companies who make repeat hires because they’ve had such a good experience.

Remember, this is the same Scott we talked about before. A man who turned his life around so successfully, and who has made such a positive impact in the lives of so many others that last month, San Diego declared one day as “Scott Silverman Day”.

Anthony Panarella, an ex-convict who graduated from the program said “Little kids have Superman or Spiderman. I have Scott Silverman”.

Remember, no matter where your life is right now, the most powerful things before you are not obstacles, nor the events of your past, but the undeniable opportunity to change your future

Thanks Scott for being such a fine, living example of this, and thank you CNN for choosing to report so well on such an important and valuable story.

(Note: The entire CNN story can be found here http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/03/19/heroes.silverman/index.html?eref=rss_t

CNN label’s Silverman as the hero. I disagree, I think the hero was the unsung colleague who was instrumental in preventing his death, without whom Second Chance may never exist today.

Will Sharlinie come home today?

Toll-free Hotline: 1-800-88-Lini or 1-800-88-5464

I sure hope she does, and today will be a day of either much joy, or much disappointment for her family, and also many Malaysian’s who have been keeping their eyes peeled and trying to look for her.

6 days ago, on the 23rd of January 2008, 50 bomohs unanimously agreed that Sharlinie was alive and will return in a week. I mean, 50 bomohs cannot go wrong, can they?

The bomohs were unanimous in saying that Sharlinie, who was reported missing on Jan 9, was alive and would be found within a week - Paragraph 5, The Star, Jan 23

In the old testament, if a prophet makes a prophecy and it doesn’t come true, he is was to die. That is how seriously God takes ’speaking in His name’. (deut 18:20-22)

If sharlinie does not come home tomorrow, what becomes of the 50 bomohs’ predictions?
Will the government take action against them?
Will they refund their hefty fees to the family?
Most of all, what will they say that will comfort Sharlinie’s sorrowing family? I can’t imagine what they would say.

I’m sorry for being so negative, I don’t blame her family for calling the bomohs, even though I neither believe in bomohs nor the powers they summon for their ‘revelations’, but I’d feel very angry if these folks are taking this family for a ride.

If the bomohs claim that their revelation was indeed genuine and that they didn’t conjure it up on their own, may I humbly ask all to question the ‘powers’ that they consult, who has obviously lied to them? My bible says,

Ye are of the devil, as your father, and ye desire to the lusts of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him.When he speaks falsehood, he speaks of what is his own; for he is a liar and its father. - John 8:44

Whether the bomoh’s are right or not, I just hope Sharlinie comes home soon. No child or family should go through this.

Here’s what the newspapers have been reporting:

Wed, Jan 23, 2008

Sharlinie alive and will be found, predicts bomohs
The home of five-year-old Sharlinie Mohd Nashar, who has been missing for two weeks, was abuzz with activity Tuesday with the family having invited about 50 bomohs and their followers to perform prayers and conduct rituals.

Thu, Jan 24, 2008

Sharlinie may look different now, say cops
This possibility was based on other missing children who were later found, Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamad told reporters.

Fri, Jan 25, 2008

Cops cautious about info from bomohs
While the police welcome the help of bomohs to search for missing girl Sharlinie Mohd Nashar, they are cautious about information obtained via supernatural ways

Sat, Jan 26, 2008

Public warned against SMS rumours
The public was once again reminded that action could be taken against those who spread false SMSes that could bring about adverse effects, such as the latest one involving missing girl Sharlinie Mohd Nashar.

Sun, Jan 27, 2008

House search for Sharlinie extends beyond 5km radius
Police have extended their house-to-house search for missing five-year-old Sharlinie Mohd Nashar beyond the 5km radius

Mon, Jan 28, 2008

Tighter security at entry and exit points
Johor police have tightened security at all 17 entry and exit points in the state in search of five-year-old Sharlinie Mohd Nashar

Tue, Jan 29, 2008

- No news -