Theological Literacy in Today's Church - Moralistic Therapeutic Deism

This is the final part in my series on Theological Literacy in Today's church. It has been very eye opening to me as I researched and worked through the issues that I addressed. To those that have looked at it and have been enlightened and blessed, I thank you for reading it.


In the original article, my final point was in regards to preaching of pop psychology vs the Biblical Gospel. My research showed that this is better known as Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD). The basic points of MTD are:

• A God exists who created and order the world and watches over human life on earth. 
• God wants people to be good, nice, fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions.
• The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself.
• God does not need to be particularly involved in one's life except when God is needed to resolve a problem.
• Good people go to heaven when they die.

Source: Modern Reformation (Nov-Dec, 2010)

I would submit that the ripe fruit of the seeds that are planted by the Modern Evangelical Church is MTD. One should not be surprised that this is what most teens today believe. The church for many years has been preaching what most people want to hear. 

[3] For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. [5] As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.(2 Timothy 4:3-5 ESV) 

Humanism is alive and well in the Church. I was recently made aware of a sermon by Paris Reidhead entitled "Ten Shekels and a Shirt" (Hat tip Cameron Beuttel). This sermon beautifully illustrates the state of the church today and yet it was made in about 1965 (Could not find the specific date so if you know it please leave a comment below). This would remind me, as a dear brother in the Lord also did that there is nothing new under the sun.  


However how is one as a Christian suppose to respond to this heresy that has entered the church. First we need to address how we got here. Many of the materials that are used for Bible study, I believe have lead us to this current point. One such item is Eugene Peterson's "The Message Bible". Many in the church today have elevated this to a level that is on par with inspired scripture itself. This book is handed to church members and it is almost never explained to be a paraphrase. There is no guidance that it should not be the main Bible that one uses. One knows that something is up with this paraphrase when the author of this work says that it shouldn't be a person's primary source for bible study or preaching. 

The reason so many were surprised at Rob Bell is that his heresy was eased into the church as a wolf in sheeps clothing. The hip and highly stylized Nooma videos have been used greatly. The ones that I have seen do not engage the viewer to think in a meaningful way when looking at scripture. They often produce isogesis of the text rather than clear Biblical exegesis. They are shown in churches and Bible studies and this opens the door for the wolf to easily devour people. The next time the church members are in a "Christian Book Store" they see one of Rob Bell's books and think that what it teaches must be orthodox. My church has not even spoken out against the most recent Rob Bell book, even though one of the pastor's believes it to be unorthodox and "Ticked him off."

Finally the emphasis on social justice programs are the last leg in this stool. Many churches have programs for feeding the poor and homeless, doing yard work for single moms, and reaching out to battered women's shelters. Although these are things that I firmly believe should be done, however it has become a replacement for the Gospel. "You must live the Gospel." is what is said from the pulpit, however I would say that this is impossible. The Gospel is "Good News". One would not try to live out the front page of the newspaper or the lead story on the nightly news any more than they can the Gospel.

What the church needs to do to combat MTD is to proclaim the gospel. Teach the law to the church so that it reveals how utterly dirty and depraved their sin is. Then share the life, death, and resurection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Call the lost to repentance instead of just giving them a neat lawn, food in their belly, and clothes for their back. Because when that is all that we give people we just make them comfortable on their way to hell. 

Evangelism in the Marketplace

For the past several weeks I have been going to a Way of the Master class at a friends church. The class was being held in preparation for the Roseville Street Market. This was my first night and little did I know how profound an affect that it would have on me.  

I have been doing one on one evangelism for the past several weeks and in the past week and a half or so a fear had overcome me. I had not shared my faith for almost a week except for just before Sunday's class. We had homework and I had to get it done.  I have been doing it because I truly have a heart for the lost but I think that some pride had crept into my thinking, which in turn became fear.  

The first few encounters of this evening seemed rather superficial to me. I have a very formulaic way of doing things. I have ADD and having a process is good for me, however I can sometimes loose sight of why I am doing something. I fall into just going through the motions. I felt like I was going into that mode this evening until Toby came to the booth. 

A group of kids came by the booth and one stepped up to take the test who professed to be a Christian. One of the friends he was with was prodded by the rest of the group to take the test and he stepped up. He was a rather big young man with long straight brown hair under a loose nit ski cap of sorts that lightly flopped over to one side.  He had a lip piercing that was a half circle with spikes on both ends.  He wore an Ozfest t-shirt with a long sleeve unbuttoned flannel shirt over it. His black skinny jeans and hightop shoes completed the ensemble.  

Our booth has a sign that asks if you think you are a good person and urges them to take the test.  I like to start the conversation with a question that turns things to the eternal rather quickly.  

"So I would like to begin by asking you what do you think happens after you die?" 

I could tell he was a little hesitant and I encouraged him to be honest and really tell me what he thought.  He replied that he really did not know.  He said that some people say you go to heaven or to hell.  

"So do you have a faith background?" I asked, because I wanted to know what was really in there. I was not prepared for his answer.  

"You will hate me if I tell you." he replied in a rather low tone.  

"I will not hate you, you won't offend me, so please tell me." I said. 

"My family and I are satanists." he replied again in a low voice. He went on to explain that he had been beaten up in the past for this and that some people had actually cut swastikas into his skin because his grandfather was a Neo Nazi. 

I then began to ask him about what the satanic view of the afterlife was.  He basically explained that it was that you were going to hell, but not the kind that others talk about.  It is whatever you believe to be the most fun and pleasurable things. I decided to not go into the ten commandments yet because I believed that the groundwork for what the true punishment of hell was like needed to be laid down first.  I spent about five minutes doing that and then proceeded with the "Good Test."

"So there are a set of standards or laws that have been set up and they are the ten commandments. God's rules if you will." I said. He had not heard of them and I told him that was all right that I would be going through a few of them and would lead him through them.  

He professed that he would be guilty and I asked if he was concerned about what the punishment of hell and he said that he hadn't really thought about it. I knew that his heart had not been fully convicted by the law and that he was not ready to have the good news shared yet. Some further preparation of the "soil" needed to be done. I explained that we are all at enmity with God and that all have fallen short and have sinned before a holy God. I put myself in the same boat with him as being deserving of eternal wrath and punishment.  I could tell that he was beginning to understand.  

He said that he had heard a lot of it before. He had a friend that "forced" him to go with her to a youth group on Wednesday nights. I then told him that it wasn't by simply stating Jesus' name as he might have heard someplace that there was something more to it.  I could see that a light had gone on and that he wanted to know more.  It was at this point that I explained repentance and faith to him. This it seemed he had not heard before.  I asked him if he would think about the things that we had talked about and he said that he would.  I gave him one of the New Testaments that we had there and the "Why Christianity" tract.

By this point all of the members of the ministry team were there talking with him and encouraging him to come back in the weeks to come if he had any questions.  I would have liked to have had a better ending because I am the kind of person that tends to be results oriented.  But what I took away from this encounter is very profound.  

Now this is going to be a strong statement, but please bear with me.  Before any of us are Christians, we are all Satanists at heart.  

[5] For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. [6] For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. [7] For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. [8] Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:5-8 ESV)

My heart was in anguish over this young man. Then it dawned on me that all of the lost people that had come by the booth that evening were on the same path. One of my friends and ministry leaders for the Church that sponsored the booth had left and came back after we had wrapped things up with Toby. I told him that of all the encounters this was the one that I was going to take with me for the night.  I had poured out everything in this encounter and realized that all of the ones before needed just as much poured into them.

I really believe that no friendship evangelism method would have, or has been, effective in situations like this. This single encounter made it all more poignant to me that we must go out and spread the word.

[13] For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

[14] How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? [15] And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:13-15 ESV)

My prayer is that I will not come to a point of "going through the motions".  That I will have a heart to spread the word and share the gospel more and more each day.  The words that are spoke at the end of the Way of the Master Minutes is very real to me more than ever: "There goes another minute, gone forever.  Go share your faith while you still have time."

 

Theological Literacy in Today's Church - Ecumenism Pt2 - Peter the First Pope

There are some in the Evangelical community that seek for a greater communion with the Catholic Church. As my last blog post included this began with the ECT document. By legitimizing the Catholic doctrine through the ECT Evangelical leaders would have to concede a foundation of the reformation. The Primacy of Christ over the Pope.

I have done quite a bit of study and have found that these questions matter. If Peter was the first pope that would mean that an authority was established out side of Christ and leave the church open to a whole raft of theology that would have to follow as a result. So, was Peter actually the first head of the church? Was Peter the first Pope and thus the papacy was born?

 1.  Peter was not giving the status of a Pope and there was not papacy instituted by Christ.

[13] Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” [14] And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” [15] He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” [16] Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” [17] And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
[18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” [20] Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
(Matthew 16:13-17; Matthew 16:18-20 ESV)

This is the passage used by Catholics to show that Peter was instituted as a pope. Peter is declaring that Jesus is the Christ.  The one that all Jews have been looking to come, their Messiah. Jesus was the stone upon which the church would be built (Isaiah 28:16). Peter even refers to this reference himself in 1 Peter 2:4 - 9. He is proclaiming Christ as the cornerstone upon which those that oppose him will stumble. This is interesting to think that the supposed first Pope would quote something that changes the entire meaning of Matthew 16:18-20.

Wouldn't this question have been answered in Luke 22:24-30 where the disciples are arguing as to who would be the greatest among them. He rebukes them and lets them know that there is not specific headship in God's order to things. This would have been an appropriate time for Jesus to have responded differently and name Peter as the head of the church.  "You ask who will be the greatest. I have decided and peter will be the Rock upon which I will build the church and the kingdom of God." No, that was not how he responded.

Peter does figure prominently in the new testament, however that does not show any role of there being a papacy or hierarchical structure being set up in Christ's Church. Quite the opposite since we see in several cases within scripture where Peter was either shown to be in error and even rebuked. He is sent by the apostles, questioned by the council in Jerusalem and even taken to task by Peter.

2. Jesus is the head of the Church not a Pope.

One of the words often used to describe the church is the body or the body of Christ. Based on scripture, Christ is the head of that body (Ephesians 4:15-16). Now Roman Catholicism would not contradict this because they also believe that Christ is the head of the church, however they believe that he is only the spiritual head of the church. The words used in the bible however do not lead one to believe that this is only a spiritual figurehead (My Catholic Friends please correct me if I am wrong).

Jesus is the "preeminent" head of the church (Colossians 1:18). There is to be no other. This was set out for all time upon his death, burial, and resurrection. The Catholic church has interfered with this  by the way that the Roman Pontiff is exalted by all of the church's followers. I did a search for how to greet the pope. I did not find anything on Catholic Answers, however I did find a list on eHow:

http://www.ehow.com/how_11183_greet-pope.html

As can be seen in point 6 one is directed to give him edification by calling him "You Holiness" or "Most Holy Father." This is to show him supreme respect in the heirarchy of all Christandom. This is not a biblical point of view. Matthew 23:9 tells us to not call another man father, instructor and we are instructed to follow the one and only instructor Christ. Now it is not the word "father" that is objectionable it is the undue respect that is being given to the Pope.

but he prohibits his disciples from using these terms in the way the Pharisees used them, in a spirit that wrongly exalted leaders and reinforced human pride. (Excerpt from ESV Study Bible passage on Matthew 23:9)

Kissing a man's ring or bowing down to him to show respect because he is the leader of the Church is wrong.  There is only one that we should bow to and that is Christ, for he is preeminant. 

We are not beholden to Rome. As Christians are we to submit ourselves to the local Church leaders that we attend? My answer to that is a resounding yes, however we are called as Christians to discernment. We are to search the scriptures ourselves to see if what we are being taught as Christians is true (Acts 17:10-15). The Bible is clear and understandable throughout. We are able to understnd and discern the truth from scripture. The cry of the reformation was to search the sources "Ad fontes". We are all called to search the scripture and if the Evangelical community concedes this point we should just return to Rome and shutter the doors of all protestant denominations throughout the years. The deaths of the many reformation martyrs would have been in vain and even those of the early church would be for nothing.

Grace and Peace

Theological Literacy in Today's Church - Distracting Issues

The Church today is more consumer oriented and with that many pet or side projects that are important to individuals. These issues fall into several different categories (at least as this author sees them):

• Social Justice
• Political Activism
• End Time Prophecies

I do believe as christians that we need to be socially and politically aware and the first two issues may cross over and become blurred. However, when it comes to watering down or replacing the gospel message with one of social justice or political activism ans pretending that is what the gospel means is wrong. These things can be reflections of what the Gospel has done ine ones life, however they should not be taught as being "The Gospel".

California is a good example of political activism in the Church with Prop 8. There are many that see this as defending the Gospel and an outreach when not one of them has had a conversation with someone who was on the opposing side and explained the Gospel. To be fair, I must point a finger at myself as well.  I have not been very diligent about sharing the Gospel outside of my family and sphere of influence, so this one hits home.

Being socially active as a result of what the Gospel has done in our lives is important, however there are many that see social justice as the Gospel. Several years back many Americans were introduced to liberation theology because of President Obama's pastor. Liberation Theology is what is seen in many of the emergent churches today. We are exhorted by James to be doers of the word and not merely hearers.

[26] If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. [27] Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:26-27 ESV)

We are to be socially active, however it is a response to the Gospel and not a replacement of the Gospel. New Liberation theology encompasses the idea of being "Green" as well. This is not the foremost responsibility of the the Christian, it is spreading the Gospel.

[18] And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)

Finally there is the issue of Biblical prophecies. I have several friends that are dispensational in their theology. When I was at an outreach at the state capitol this weekend there was a Bible Prophecy tract. I am cause to pause when I see this. Is a tract on end time prophecies the best way to spread the Gospel? In my opinion, no. A clear presentation of the Law and the Gospel is what I have come to believe as the best biblical way to spread the gospel, ala Way of the Master.  By the way I am taking the class over the next few weeks and would ask my readers to please pray for me as I have often been terrified to spread the gospel in this way.

There are many pet issues that are distracting the Evangelical Church in America today that have taken it away from a clear gospel presentation. Many of the issues discussed are presented to make the Church and Jesus attractive and appealing so that people "try it out." Well Jesus did not command us to go out and market the Church but to "Make Disciples." That does not fit with the Social, Political, and Prophecy driven marketing machine that many Churches and ministries have become.

Bravo Martin Bashir

Bravo Martin Bashir. Asking the questions evangelicals should have been for years.  Bravo.

Update:  Attached is a link to an interview of Martin Bashir by Paul Edwards regarding the interview above.

http://www.godandculture.com/blog/msnbcs-martin-bashir-on-the-paul-edwards-program

Theological Literacy in Today's Church - Are You a Good Berean?

This past weekend I was at a friends house and we were watching the "The Late Great Planet Church" available at http://nicenecouncil.com/. To give you a little background, I purchased the DVD in an effort to understand dispensationalism from an opposing viewpoint. My friend, an avid dispensationalist, had some issues with their portrayal of dispensationalism. One point that we discussed was the state of literacy within the church.

There are many in the Church which are biblically literate, in the sense that they can quote from scripture, however many in Church do not know the first thing about theology. I have come to believe that ones theology does matter. If one believes wrong, not by mere mistake or misunderstanding, very likely are headed down a dangerous path or can be lead in the wrong direction.

This can be seen with current controversy over Rob Bell and his new book. His theology is nothing new. It is simply nothing more than liberal theology repackaged for a modern audience. When one has a proper theological understanding it is harder to pull the sheep away from the herd.

There are several things that have crept into evangelicalism that I believe have lead to this:

• A focus on ancillary issues such as end time prophecies, political activism, and social justice. 
• An unhealthy drive towards ecumenism.
• The exchanging of Gospel centered Biblical preaching for man centered pop psychology. 

Over the next several weeks I will explore these issues and offer some suggestions from my perspective. For those that have read my blog and continue to read it, I thank you and hope that you will find this series engaging.  

The Church Of and In the World - The State of the Modern Evangelical Church

The church has been adopting various methods of presenting the Gospel for many years. Many of the modern technological advances that have transformed our world have shaped and transformed how the gospel can be spread. This has been helpful to communicate with church members as well as those that may be searching for someplace to fellowship. You can go to a website and find doctrinal statements as well as sermon podcasts and videos. 

As long as these methods are being used as a tool I believe it is a side issue and churches can use them or choose not to, however when it becomes the chief way of presenting the Gospel the church begins to abdicate their responsibility. As with the world, driving traffic to the site becomes a priority and thus many marketing techniques are employed. Marketing the Church becomes a priority and the Gospel message begins to become diluted.

The first clue that the church was headed in a non biblical direction was when the term "church marketing" surfaced several years back. There is even a facebook page called "Church Marketing Sucks."(I apologize if I have offended anyone, but that is the name.) The desire to grow the Kingdom becomes a race to increase church numbers.

Many churches take the approach of Gamaliel and believe that if their numbers are increasing then they must have God's endorsement (Acts 5:34-39). I agree with Justin Peters that this is a false assumption for churches to make. After all if this were the Biblical test for the marks of a healthy Church how does one explain the Mormons, Muslims, or Budaism. These are thriving religions today. Are we to believe that they are somehow being blessed by God?

Ultimately the desire to save sinners is subtly overshadowed by an underpinning of consumerism. The Church Member is no longer seen, whether it is conscious or unconscious, as part of the body but as the consumer to be had. Why shouldn't they, after all the stage needs new state of the art LCDs, Lighting, and new servers are needed to support the online tithing traffic. I say this somewhat tongue in cheek, but the Church has become big business. Just look at this site https://www.givingkiosk.com/

I was recently reading an article 95 Theses to the Modern Evangelical Church by Greg Gordon and two of them stuck with me for several weeks.

11. Worship has become an idol in many “churches.” The music often resembles that of the world. (Amos 5:23; Phil 4:8; 1Jn 5:21)

12. The world is shaping the views of the “church” more than the “church” shaping the world. (Rom 12:2; Mt 5:13; 1Cor 1:22-23)

The world has influenced the church far too much and thus the visible church in many instances has lost it's unique set apart qualities and as a result has driven many away from the church because it looks the same as the world. Attend a service today and you can get a rock concert that rivals many that are one tour today. At some you can even find out that the worship music that you heard today can be downloaded on iTunes after the service. It begs one to think, would Jesus have taken up his whip of cords in electronic form and hacked many of these church sites in order to overturn them as the den of thieves that they may have become? Would the Giving Kiosk be overturned and destroyed?

We should not be so surprised by the state of the church today. People are drawn to what tickle's their ears. They want to hear that they can be healthy, wealthy, and wise if they only believe. It is as the Apostle Paul predicted:

[3] For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. [5] As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:3-5 ESV)

In light of this, is it so surprising that Katy Perry saw the lure of the world and turned from singing worship or Christian songs and now glorifies that she has "Kissed a Girl." That a Jessica Simpson would turn from pursuing Gospel Music and become a secular artist. There are many stories of the rich and famous that were once devout Christians, but  who have been lured away as well. I hope and pray that God will one day lead them back to Jesus. But this should not be a surprise after all:

[7] For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. [8] Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:7-8 ESV)  

Many churches have exchanged expositing the word for being flashy, exciting, and glamorous. Instead of engaging the mind and hearts by biblically proclaiming the word, it has become a race to see how to fill the "God shaped hole" in people's heart and turning to a man centered imminent god that is no longer the transcendent God of the Bible. The church that best serves the passions and lusts of the people are the ones that the world holds in high regard. Instead of Piper, Driscoll, and Chandler, the media and the world seek out the likes of Osteen, Warren, and Bell.

The picture painted above may seem very grim, however the pendulum appears to be swinging in the other direction. Because of those that have continually preached the word in a consistent expository and exegetical fashion are drawing Jesus' sheep to him.

[27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. [30] I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30 ESV)

Jesus will ultimately have the Glory and the Holy Spirit will move many to share his Glory and Love for his people and many will be saved despite how corrupt the most visible parts of the church make it.

To Him be the Glory.

Grace and Peace

Agape and Eros Love

This has been something that has been eating at me ever since I heard it in a sermon at a church that I had been attending for about 3 years. The sermon series was on sex from a Christian perspective. To be honest I cannot remember much from the original sermon and will ask from some latitude in the post. The one thing that remains extremely clear in my mind is that the pastor stated that God gave us the word Eros and that it was meant for the marital bed.

Now, I need to give you some background. I have struggled with sexual sin for many years and this was something that was hard for me to wrap around my brain. First, I knew when this was said that Eros does not appear in the New Testament at all. The form of love that is spoken of in the Bible when referring to marraige is that of Agape.

(Ephesians 5:25-33 ESV)

[25 ] Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, [26 ] that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, [27 ] so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. [28 ] In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. [29 ] For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, [30 ] because we are members of his body. [31 ] “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” [32 ] This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. [33 ] However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.


The word for love that is used above is that of Agapao. Now, why does that make a difference? It is now time to give a little background on the difference between the two versions of Love. We use the word love to mean different things in different situations. When one says they Love ice cream, it is different from Loving your Mother, and Loving your spouse.

Eros in greek, at the time that the epistles and gospels were written, meant something very different from what it has morphed into today. Eros was a desiring love, a desire unto possession and control for the object of their desire. It was used for sexual desire that was unclean and impure.

Now, Agapao on the other hand is an unconditional love. This is the kind of Love that God feels for us and commands us to express within our families. This is the pure form that we are to have between husband and wife.

This bugged me quite a bit and so I decided to speak with the pastor regarding the use of the word Eros in the sermon. Now, I did not look into the word forms as deeply back two years ago as I did recently.  When I spoke with the pastor he said that he was just trying to refer to that form of Love being saved for the bedroom of a husband and wife. I accepted the answer. I felt "ok so eroticism is ok when expressed between a husband and wife."

It actually confirmed in my mind the corrupted view of marital relations that I had for many years. It was ok to have these images of my spouse mixed with the disturbing images that I had been corrupted by.  I am sure this was not the intention of the pastor, however it was what I walked out of his office thinking.

Now I want to make it crystal clear that I am not trying to say that my corrupt was legitimized in any way by what the pastor said. I had sinned by bringing the worlds view of something that was meant to express deep love for and caring towards your spouse.

The main point that I want to make is that words mean things and they were used in the Bible for a specific meaning. If they were not in the bible then there was a reason that they were not used. Provided you have a view that scripture is inspired, which I do, then God had a reason for words that were not in the inspired greek text, just as there was a reason for including specific words. Although extensive knowledge of greek is not needed to properly exegete scripture, it sure is helpful to have a layman's knowledge so as not to misrepresent the word. 

Grace and Peace