So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word Psalm 119;142

Have you ever wondered why the Muslim religion is so strict about women-they must be covered. Yes, the better Muslim you are the more fully must woman be covered. Clerics in Iran, Saudi Arabia, or the Taliban, are really worried about women's faces: they must be covered, too. Only little slits for the eyes. (They consider that a woman's eyes are the most seductive part of her anatomy, and the Bible in Pr 6:25 seems to agree).

If the Taliban ruled Western nations, they would beat many women on the sidewalk or in the mall who dress (they think) immodestly, and throw them into the house and pull down the shades. Their outrage at what they consider female immodesty is one element that makes up their hatred of the West. Why are they so severe? Because if Muslim men are confronted by Muslim women dressed in Western style, then the foundations of their society will crumble because Muslim men cannot resist temptation. Hence the severity.

(Some people in the West who profess to be Christian exhibit the same severity, in principle. Their "Christianity" is closer to Islam than to the gospel). What's the problem?

Muslims are deprived of an understanding of the gospel message of righteousness by faith. And so are many "Christians." The Christian man who wants a pure heart must not beat women who are immodest; removing them from sight is not the solution. Why, he can't even drive down the freeway without seeing seductive billboards. He can't go to the market, nor even the post office. He can't even go to church without facing temptation!

So, what do you do? Get a lonely cabin in Montana like the Unabomber? Did Jesus do that? He was "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin": (Heb 4:15). Sin is not temptation; sin is yielding to temptation. And the much more abounding grace of Christ overcomes temptation, says "No!" His love is agape, an active love that even loves the tempter or the temptress as Christ does. One is "free" in Christ-in the world, but not of it.

Have you been blessed?

We pray so!

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