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http://www.thecharlottepost,com 4B CliarloUe $o£tt RELIGION THURSDAY, JULY 6, 2U06 LifelB Sexuality teachings We live in a time of extreme confusion over values relating to the sexes. Pornography is readily available and has become an addiction for many Yovmg people are becoming sexually active in an educa tion syston that provides sex education in a moral vacuTun. The push for homosexual marriages challer^s former ly accepted definitions of fam ily Cohabitation wiUiout ben efit of marriage has become so common that it scarcely raises an eyebrow, even in many churches. Of the maniages that do occur, many end in divorce. God’s Word is not sUent in the area of relationships. It defines the Christian’s con duct inside and outside of marriage. This week’s lesson shows what God expects fium His people in this significant area of their lives. Lesson Background As we have seal thus far in our summer lessons, the Corinthian church was trou bled with many problems. Paul had received reports of these issues from certain indi viduals who visited him (1 Corinthians 1:11). They apparently also had brought Paul a letter fium the church to request his insights on cer tain issues (7:1). At the time Paul wrote his letter, the church in Corinth was no more than five years old. Given the moral climate within that church (see 1 Corinthians 5:1-11) and in that city, Paul sees the need to discuss at some length godly values about sex and mar- riage. Purpose of Marriage (1 Cor. 7:2-7) 1. At this point in the letter, what was Paul doing? As we have learned fiom last month’s lessons, the church at Corinth had many different problems that they were struggling with. Among the list of problems plaguing the chvuch were division (1:10-13), rehance on human wisdom (1:18-31), spiritual immaturity (3:1-4), open immorality (5:1-5) and litiga tion among them (6:1-6). Now, Paul was turning his atten tion to various questions con- coning singleness and mar riage. 2. What advice did Paul give the Corinthians concerning how they might avoid fornica tion? (v 2) Paul knew that this church was struggling with sexual immorality Fornication was the norm of the Roman cul ture. In fact, the temple to the goddess Aphrodite employed a thousand cult prostitutes. Part of that religious experi ence involved having sex with those prostitutes, and those followers believed that the goddess was pleased when such acts happened. Paul gives his foeference of beir^ single in verses 1 and 8; however, he realizes that most of the Corinthians are strong ly tempted to engage in sexu al activity In this case, Paul Please see SEXUAL/6B ASSOCIATED PRESS Andrae Crouch earned the International Worship Institute’s Cherub Award for a career that has “transcoded so many boundaries and borders,” said Lamar Boschman, founder of the institute. Beyond borders Crouch battled racism to reach Christian music pinnacle THE ASSOCIATED PRESS GRAPEVINE, Tfexas—As Andrae Crouch remembers it, the crowd was roaring - vmtil they actually saw the band. Enthusiasm waned because many in the 1970s audiaice were startled to see something they apparently didn’t know about Christian record ing artists Andrae Crouch and tiie Disciples: They’re black. ‘Tt was like turning the stove on fium burning hot, scorching hot, to low,” Crouch said, laughing. “It would be like, fix>m cayenne pepper to bubble gum.” Some began walking out of the Fort Worth concert, but everyone stayed once the group started playing, according to Cfrouch’s recollection. “The Lord gave us an expression of our own to reach people,” said Crouch, one of the most celebrated gospel artists in history “Some of my best fiiends today were people in that concert.” Crouch retvuns to Dallas-Fort Worth on July 7 to receive the Inter national Worship Institute’s Cherub Award in suburban Grapevine. Past winners include prolific gospel song writers Bill and Gloria Gaither. “He has transcended so many boimdari^ andborders,” said LaMar Boschman, founder of the institute, which helps church leaders enhance worship services. Crouch’s songs, which include “My Tribute (Tb (Cod be the Glory)” and “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power,” which he wrote at the age of 14, span racial and cultural divi sions. Andrae Crouch and the Disci ples helped pioneer “Jesus music,” a 1960s and ‘70s movement that spawned the current explosion in contemporary Christian music. Please see CROUCH/5B School board sued over Jesus picture on campus THE ASSCKriAfED PRESS CHARLESTON, W.Va.- Two civil liberties groups have sued in federal court to remove a picture of Jesus that has hung in a high school for more than 30 years. Americans United for Sepa ration of Church and State and the West '\Trginia Ameri can Civil Liberties Union say the painting, “Head of Christ,” sends the message that Bridgeport High School endorses Christianity as its officdal rehgion. “I frankly cannot under stand why this school insists that it is doing nothii^ wroi^,” said the Rev Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “This is • pretty clear constitutional law. Pubhc schools cannot promote specific religious ideas.” A vote by the Harrison Coimty school board on ronovir^ the painting ended in a tie last month. “At this point, it’s a matto" that’s pretty much going to be up to the board,” Superinten dent Carl Friebel Jr. said. ‘It’s just going to be very interest ing for me to see what the board wants us to do with it.” The suit was filed on behalf of Harold Sldar and Jacque- fine McKenzie, whose chil dren attended or wiU attend the school. Christian- oriented Statue of Liberty THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MEMPHIS-A 72-foot-tan replica of the Statue of Liber ty erected at a Memphis church is greoi like the origi nal, with the right arm octended upward in the famil iar pose. But instead of a torch, this statue holds a cross. And the famous inscription— “Give me your tired, your poor ...”— has been replaced by Roman numerals representing the Tfen Commandments The Statue of Liberation, to be unveiled at a July 4 Inde pendence Day ceremony at the World Overcomers Out reach Ministries Church, also has a tear running down her face, representing her concern folAmerica. ‘Teople don’t talk about Christ anymore and om morals are gone,” said church pastor Apostle Alton R. Williams “People cannot drive by our statue without Ihinking about their relation ship with God” The $260,000 statue is not a welcome si^t for the entire community Evelyn Dou^ass, 11, said she takes the loi^ way home to avoid sedng the ‘big green thir^.” “The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of the United States of America. The cross refoesents a specific rehgion,” Doxigiass said. ‘Tfs not right that they are mixing the two. That church is trashing Ihe mean ing of America.” Across Ihe street fix)m the statue, store manager Mary Preyer said she is looking for ward to seeing it unveiled completely ‘T like the idea of the Statue of Liboty holding a cross rep resenting fi^edom through Jesus (Christ,” Preyer said. ‘T just think its fimding could have been put to betto* use for the neighborhood. It’s defi nitely got people tallnrig” Jakes implores black community to support children THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HOUSTON-Bishop T.D. Jakes isn’t giving up on the nation’s black youth, and on Saturday he implored mem bers of the black community to adopt the same mind-set. Jakes, a televangelist, best selling author and minister of the 30,000 cor^regation Pot ter’s House in Dallas, spoke to a crowd of about 5,000 as part of the annual Essence Music Festival. ‘T think the older we get and the more we become involved in our community Ihe more we realize that chil dren are an, investment and lhat we have a responsibility to give something back to the next generation,” Jakes told The Associated Press after his speech “Even when the stats are not good and we’ve not seen the results we would like to see, I feel like we have a responsibility to become involved and engaged with every age level.” The three-day Essence Fest, featuring dajdong seminars and nights filled with top- name musical acts, began its 12th installment Saturday This is the first year it’s been held outside New Orleans. Essence is using this week end to launch its Essence Cares program, designed to promote involvement in orga nizations that help children affected by substandard edu cation, poverty, gar^ violence and natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, which swamped New Orleans last year. Jakes’ almost 45-minute address, delivered in his trademark dynamic manner, often brought the crowd to its feet and had its members chanting cheering and shout ing “Amen!” The father of five aicour- aged people to nurture their own children, and. he also Please see JAKES/6B THE STOCK MARKET Bishop TD Jakes doesn’t want to give up on tiie traditional black family and wants others to adopt the sme mind set PHOTO/THE STOCK MARKET Church News The deadline for announcemenlsdn the calendar is noon on Fridays. Fax your announcements to (704), 342-2160 or e-mail cheris.hodges@thecharlol- tepostcom. Jxily 9 Shirley Caesar’s outreach ministry wfil host its 34th annual conference through July 14 in Raleigh at the Movmt Calvary Word of Faith Church, located at 3100 Sanderford Road. Tb register, visit www.shirleycaesar.com. July 11 mmo The Women’s Initiative Network Chapter meeting will be held at the Doubletree South- Park. Guest speaker wfil Jill Felts, owner of Classy (Dreations Jewelry Tb register, log on www.womensinet.com or call Jessica at (803)802-5454. July 14 University Park Baptist Church, 6029 Beat- ties Ford Road, will host comic Jonathan Slocxunb at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 at the door. July 16 The 33rd Annual Women’s Day Celebration wfil be at 4 p.m. The guest speaker wfil be Minister Chris Whitley First Lady of Moimt Moriah Baptist Chxarch • Greater Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, 1243 West Boulevard, wfil host its Youth Revival with the theme: “A Child Shall Lead Them...word on the street.” Sovices Sunday begin at 6 p.m. and run through Wednesday with services beginning at 7 p.m. For more information, call (704) 332- 2163. July 20 The CHOSEN YouthYoung Adult Depart ment of the New St. Luke Holy Baptist Church of (3od wfil host the NxiNation Youth Convoca tion. Theme: Generation X - Marked for Greatness!! Times: Jtfiy 21 and 22 at 7:45pm and 23 at 11a.m. and 5:30p.m. Location: 910 Please see NUNATION/6B
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