The Bible's Bad Girls

I’ve run across some intriguing titles in the Christian book market: BAD GIRLS OF THE BIBLE, UNVEILING MARY MAGDALENE, REALLY BAD GIRLS OF THE BIBLE, and WOMAN OF SIN. I know that the original BAD GIRLS OF THE BIBLE is a very popular seller. And, no wonder! What a title!

Who would pick up the book, GOOD GIRLS OF THE BIBLE or PURE WOMAN?

Sad, isn’t it? We are drawn to the bad over the good. (Now, I think Mrs. Higgs’ titles—the first three—are brilliant. I also understand that her books teach righteousness. But I’m making a point here.) Why is it that we’re fascinated by vices, immorality, and faults?

This carries over to entertainment. Why are people willing to walk into clubs called “The Dragon’s Den,” “The Devil’s Throat,” and “Nero’s Lounge”? (I wonder if people would be similarly attracted to venues named “Godly Corner” and “Piety’s Paradise”?)

Why do people who genuinely love God watch movies where the actors curse, slash, commit all kinds of immorality, plan murders and other evil—all on the screen before them? Why do they watch oversexed music videos with likewise immoral lyrics?

Why are so many women hooked on sit-coms? Why do they read heavy-breathing romances?

Why is the pull towards evil so strong—even for true believers in Jesus Christ?

Consider these Bible verses:

            Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5).

            Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-25)

            I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:1-2).

            If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1).

Show the Way

In Jeremiah 42, the leaders of the people go to God’s prophet Jeremiah. They ask him to pray and find out from God what they should do. That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do (Jeremiah 42:3). Jeremiah promises them he will pray and tell them everything God tells him. (verse 4) The people say they will obey God’s word. (verses 5-6) Jeremiah prays, but God doesn’t answer him immediately. And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah (verse 7). Then, Jeremiah tells the people God’s message.

Sadly, the response wasn’t what we would expect. A big shot named Azariah and all the proud men (43:2) called Jeremiah a liar. A discussion between them and God’s man ensues.

Now, here are the bones of this story:    

•      The people were absolutely right to seek God’s will.
•      The people were right when they promised to do whatever God wanted.
•      Jeremiah did his duty and prayed for guidance.     
•      He waited ten days for the answer. (Sometimes, God’s answers aren’t immediate. I wonder what the people were thinking while they waited: Was Jeremiah putting them off? Had he lost touch with God? Why was it taking so long?)
•       Jeremiah tells them God’s words.      By now, someone who thinks he’s something has gathered some followers who don’t care what God says.
•       The result of the people’s rebellion and disobedience was God’s judgment. (chapter 44)

When the people could so easily have obeyed God—as they swore they would—and enjoyed His blessing, they chose instead to follow a charismatic leader with his own group of cronies, ignore God’s word, and reap the consequences.

What’s the application for us?

We have God’s Word, the Bible. It’s all written down. We don’t even have to wait ten days to read it. It’s our choice whether or not to read it, whether or not to heed it, whether or not to obey it.

If we choose to obey, we’ll be blessed. If we choose to disobey, we can expect to lose God’s blessing.

Things haven’t changed much in 2,600 years!