A Sermon from the Badlands and the Prairie of Western South Dakota

The old guy on the edge of the Badlands

www.scatteredchristians.org

M Paulson
Kadoka, South Dakota

June 11 , 2010
Audio sermon
Video sermon

Observing fellow 'brethren' on farsebook, selfish-space.com and twiddle-dee.com, I continue to be amazed as I see the 'brethren' going back to their former conversation.  Something is killing them spiritually - and it reminded me of the three little pigs... When the winds of doctrine blow, it seems most 'christians' just fall for it and crumble.

Some other good 'house' studies in the Bible are Matthew 7:25 - house on the sand, etc.; Luke 8:11-15 - parable of the seed being the word of God and how it gets choked by the cares and pleasures, etc. of this world/

But let's look at this subject with the Three Little Pigs...

• The story of the Three Little Pigs begins with the little piggies being sent out into the world by their mother, to "seek their fortune". This is a common theme in fairy tales, in which someone leave the familiar abode of their youth and its protection, venturing into an outside existence which turns out to be fraught with danger.
• This is similiar to what 'christians' do - they get out into the world seeking their self edifying - living their life as they slowly return to their old ways because of the various doctrines that come their way...  They did not recognize the 'danger' and had their 'house' blown down.
• In I Corinthians 13:12, we see that we should be growing up / forward, not going backwards as get out of our childhood desires and ways of life.
• The first little pig builds a house of straw, but a wolf blows it down and eats the first little pig.
• We see here the winds of doctrine - Ephesians 4:14 - and the wolf as Satan / world / temptations / new doctrines, etc.
• We see that the true story is that the pig dies - he doesn't safely run to the next pig's house.
• Retellings of the story sometimes omit the actual death of the pig and the attempts to trick the third pig. The attempt is to write out death or violence in the story.
• The modern Christian wants to take out the 'bad' stuff - the judgment from the Book, etc.
• They go to new bibles, willing to accept new 'peaceful' doctrines, will not endure sound doctrine, will not endure hardness, abuses grace, rejects any final authority, no persecution, new church design, modern goatee'd pastor of love and having favour with the community.
• There is actually a book available that contains the Three Pigs story from the wolf's viewpoint.  By the time the story is over, the wolf and pigs are friends... right!
• The second pig builds a house of sticks, but with the same ultimate result.
• There are some Christians somewhat stronger, but certainly not strong enough.  The winds still blow their little house down.
• Each exchange between wolf and pig features ringing proverbial phrases, namely:
• "Little pig, little pig, let me come in!"
• "Not by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin!"
• "Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in"
• The third pig builds a house of hard bricks.
• The wolf cannot huff and puff hard enough to blow the house down.
• The strong Christian - the sincere one can handle all the doctrinal winds - the heresies, etc.
• Philippians 4:9; II Thessalonians 2:12+, etc.
• The 'brick strong' Christian has peace and inner safety!
• Shamefacedness is a secure grip on modesty - not living 'near the edge'
• He doesn't have to worry about:
• causing someone to stumble
• he knows the challenge of the flesh
• he knows how to keep it from controlling him
• he knows life should be edifying / expedient
• The wolf / Satan attempts to trick the little pig out of the house, but the pig outsmarts him at every turn.
• The third pig had his rightly divided KJB and knew how to handle it!  He was not bewitchable, etc.
• Finally, the wolf resolves to come down the chimney, whereupon the pig boils a pot of water into which the wolf plunges, at which point the pig quickly covers the pot and cooks the wolf for supper.
• The devil / wolf will end up in the 'lake' of fire!

• The story utilizes the literary Rule of three, expressed in this case as a "contrasting three", as the third pig's house turns out to be the only one which is adequate to withstand the wolf.
• The rule of three is a principle in English writing that suggests that things that come in threes are inherently funnier, more satisfying, or more effective than other numbers of things. The reader/audience to this form of text is also more likely to consume information if it is written in groups of threes. From slogans ("Go, fight, win!") to films, many things are structured in threes. There were three musketeers, three little pigs, three billy goats Gruff, Goldilocks and the three bears, three blind mice and three Stooges.  A series of three is often used to create a progression in which the tension is created, then built up, and finally released. Similarly, adjectives are often grouped together in threes in order to emphasize an idea.
• Do a study on the word three (complete) in the NT - it is interesting!

• Seeing life through their own eyes!
• Comparing themselves with others to prove to themselves they are ok with what they are doing!
• Edifying themselves, not the body of Christ!
• Causing the weaker brother to stumble!
• Doing something as an occasion for the flesh!
• Letting the world's ways have a power over them!
• Won't admit the truth as a woman - II Timothy 2:25!

• What are Christians doing at:
• the beach?
• swimming pools - water fights - throwing in their girls/sisters while she is in a dress, etc.?
• outdoors dressed skimpy because of the 'heat.'?
• movie theaters?
• netflix, etc. home videos of movies that are not approved of God and waste huge amounts of time?
• in front of tv and with bad programs?
• believing commercials that they think they really 'need' that item being slyly advertised?
• restaurants being the loudest and messiest ones there?
• winery's and vineyards - tasting rooms?
• social drinking?
• playing church / religion?
• worshipping the unknown God?
• worshipping the real God not according to Scriptures?
• bragging about their 'new found' life of returning to their former conversation on facebook, etc.?
• taking their kids to be around perversions, nakedness, bad music, anti-God environment, etc.?
• taking expensive vacations to Las Vegas, Mexico, Bahamas, etc where there is a blatant sinful atmosphere that glorifies the world and flesh - Christians don't belong in those places!!!
• sports worshipping?
• wrong music concerts, etc.?
• loving pleasures more than God?
• asking foolish questions, following genealogies, starting contentions, strivings about the law, corrupting words, etc?
• Where are the Christian women?
• You can often pick them out of the crowd, but for the wrong reasons
• Loud
• modest skirt length but very immodest tops
• sleeveless, tight, low, see through, etc.
• dressing immodestly now that they have lost their weight!
• heading to the beaches - naked party places...  swimming pools in their yards - teaching their girls how to get used to be naked outdoors...
• bossing husbands
• NOT in fabric shops!
• NOT in their homes!
• going to work - leaving husbands home with kids
• head of companies
• political candidates
• not hard now that the country is feminized... a man couldn't run this country like it had been in the past if he wanted to!
• wearing the pants figuratively and realistically
• led by a feeling and voice of god from within?
• deceived
• bewitched
• following vain words and good speeches
• turning aside after Satan
• pretending they are Proverbs 31 women when they should be following Paul's teachings
• the only verses in Proverbs 31 they can do are 16,17,24b - they have to ignore the rest: 11,12,13,15,18-22,24a,25-28.  They are looking for favor and beauty - vs 30 and their works praise the devil today!
• rejecting Titus 2:3-5; I Timothy 5:11-15; I Timothy 2:9-12; I Timothy 3:11
• at the helm of the ship heading to shipwreck
• pretending to be homeschooling moms
• if it fits into their schedule of errands in town and home projects
• telling their children to hurry and get done so we can go and ...
• failing their families in so many ways!
• involved in sports - immodestly, loudly, etc as coaches or assistants, etc.
• living their lives at home as their coach taught them aggression, your way, pushing, etc.
• changing the car oil, etc.
• driving heavy machinery
• sales people dressed sexy at men's lumber stores, etc.
• redesigning the home, the family, the country, the church, the world
• following the devil's ways to bring in the antichrist - just like back in the garden times with Eve!
• in lawyers offices
• doing anything the bible says NOT to do!
• working in car washes
• cutting down trees
• fixing roofs
• climbing ladders
• attending mixed exercise clubs and gyms
• having personal men trainers
• edifying themselves
• Where are the real sincere Christian men?
• Letting their wives and daughters turn aside after Satan!
• Letting their wives and daughters do all of the above list!
• Playing with their man toys!
• Shirking their family role - "Let the wifee do it - she is willing so why not?"
• Robbing their daughters of their femininity - making them into boys with 'b's'.
• Out in the driveway showing their girls how not to shoot and throw like girls.
• Making their girls - yes, MAKING their older daughters dress immodestly!
• Allowing his girls to dress and act like boys - well beyond the tomboy stage.
• Making their older girls go out and get a career in case their marriage fails, not realizing that making your daughter be self-sufficient is exactly what is ruining her marriage!!!
• Punching and treating their boys harshly so they don't grow up to be queer, but treating the boys that way pushes them towards their mother for safety and eventually most end up queer!  They really do.  The very thing the tough dad doesn't want, he actually makes his boys be that way.
• Seeking Proverbs 31 women so they can be their 'helpmeet.'  However the word is help - not helpmeet and the men want their 'woman' to help them in what they do, not help them while they do what they do.  There is a difference.  Your wife doesn't belong on the roof with you, etc.  She isn't your working buddy!
• NOT protecting their family from perversions, bad music, false doctrine, etc.
• Carrying their bibles like women - like a treasure sword jewelry
• Letting her steer the ship - and he even knows they are in a mess heading for shipwreck!
• have become like women - Jeremiah 50:37
• no longer the strong man of the family
• knows nothing about the Bible
• couldn't show anyone any doctrinal final authority
• has no idea about why he believes what he believes - just follows the church and even at that, doesn't even know why his church preaches and believes what the pastor says.
• many can't even read let alone choosing not to read
• abusing their family / kids mentally, spiritually, physically, medically, etc.
• robbing their children of a good homeschool education by demanding his wife to keep up the chores and perfect home, etc. and for him to have everything at his feet ready for him.
• telling the kids that when dad comes home from work, all play ceases - all studying ceases - no homework allowed - get busy and work hard - "I have had to work hard, so should you."  (partially true, but not to a dictator tyrant stage of fathering)
• not providing comfort - only exhortation and charge!
• not providing the kids an example of a christian man!
• the list goes on and on...

Temptation knocks on their door - the wolf huffs and puffs and blows their house down... so, to prevent it, they don't build a brick house, they make friends with the wolf!

They could get out of their snare, but they have to do it themselves!  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.  It isn't that some of us haven't tried to help others out of their serious messes and snares of life and family, but when we get the gate open, they still have to walk out themselves; and I am sadly finding that just about nobody wants out.  When the wolf starts his huffing and puffing, most give in and just head back to what they are used to and most comfortable, in their own eyes and mind, anyway.

Christians are loving this present world more and more!
...and it shows!

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Mike Paulson
Trying to do the work of an evangelist by teaching Paul's gospel of the Risen Saviour!
www.scatteredchristians.org

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The entire King James Bible is written FOR us, but it is not all written TO us!
We learn from the "For" and we learn to apply the 'TO!"