I need to repent to some of you....

Because of some things that I said on Sunday in my sermon, I feel that I need to repent. As we studied through 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, we covered a lot of context and I neglected to mention some things. The message is here http://www.vimeo.com/26268083

What was happening in the Corinthian Church is that the women had found a new freedom in Christ which was a good thing. However, that new freedom began to lead these women into finding their identity in their freedom. The way that this was beginning to play out, was that the women did not dress in a way that was honoring to their husbands and were causing distractions as the church was gathering to worship through singing and preaching. Paul instructs the church in Corinth not to use their spiritual freedom to deviate from the social norms of their day because this would create a distraction in worship.

To my embarrassment, I never addressed the issue of “Identity” in my sermon. In forgetting to do so, I may have said some things that were offensive and degrading to you. For that I repent and will seek to explain the issue of “Identity” now.

As believers in Christ, we are to find our “Identity” in Christ and Christ alone. Our culture would tell us that a women's value is found in how she dress, how she looks, how much she weighs and even how willing she is sexually. In Christ, none of that is true. As women who have been purchased and bought by Jesus, your identity is found solely in Christ. So, as God's people we view things such as beauty and sexuality much different than mainstream culture. God is much more concerned with the heart than he is with the outward appearance of someone.

My fear is that the women (and men) at Netcast will do the same as the women in Corinth; and that is seek to find their hope in something outward. To do so is idolatry, and I would seek to spare you of that. The temptation will be for us to succumb to what the culture calls sexy or beautiful and forget what scripture says is sexy and beautiful. To trust in the cultural view is a shallow puddle and constantly changing, but to trust in Christ is a deep fountain and eternal. Thus, we at Netcast find our queues from the Word of God.

So Ladies....For those in Christ, you are incredibly beautiful, both on the inside and the outside. You have been uniquely designed by the Lord and are wonderfully made (Psalm 139). Not because culture says so, but because Christ says so. Not because of your height and weight, but because of your heart. Not because of what you wear, but because you are clothed in the blood of Christ. Praise his name.

I love you more than you can know.

Pastor Matt