Is It Not a Sin to "Bet?"
I am supposdely taking a break to write my book. However, since this topic continues, I thought I needed to jump back in and further explain myself!
Have you been to the city? I have, and even though I don't live there, I stand by my advice to avoid the city (as a vacation spot) due to its radical, seductive, sinful ways.
The key to my concerns is the seductive spirit that hovers over the city. If there is a chance that by visiting the city and being enticed by the sin seen all around you, then it is wise to consider staying at an arm's distance.
Remember, this city is anti USA, anti military, pro abortion, pro-gay marriage, a city of refuge for illegal aliens. It has more XXX rated theaters and shops per capita than any other city of its size and in its confined area, it allows public nudity and is about to legalize this activity, its leaders are as radical as they come, and it has driven any military presence out of the city limits.
Sure, as I said earlier, there are some beautiful, and historical sites to see. One I love is the wharf, taking a bay cruise, and the Ghiradelli chocolate factory. Walking along the wharf eating hot fresh sour dough bread is always a special thing to do, and China Town is quaint to say the least. And there are many beautiful hotels. The Sir Francis Drake is one of my favorites, as is the St. Francis and eating at the Top of the Mark!
That doesn't mean that you won't run into and come across the things I said. Walking down any street will reveal gay couples expressing outward affection to one another. XXX rated businesses, theaters, and nude gentlemen clubs, gay bath houses, and the list goes on. When I walked around the city on warm evenings, I felt threatened by the gang presence, and angered with the agressive gays who tried to pick up on me. And I was not in the Castro District.
There is both good and bad to be considered, and I issued the "buyer bewares" warning. Be forewarned that if you, as a male, especially, have the slightest propensity to be seduced by the spirit of sexual sin and lust, I'd stay away from the city. It is like a child in a candy store environment, who can't deny their hunger for all forms of candy.
I am not saying, in any way, that those believers who can stand up to this kind of mind and eye seduction to remain there and do what the Lord has called you to do. And if you think you are beyond being vulnerable to the seductive spirits over the city, by all rights, consider going there and sharing Jesus.
However, those who live there know that any believer who may have a problem with seductive spirits, that this is a city to steer clear of. It is not wise to place oneself in a place where they know temptation runs rampant.
I have one question for those who are there and live there: If you were doing your job, wouldn't there be some sort of dent being made in the corrupt morals and values of the city? Instead of Christianity losing ground, and it is losing ground, I would think that for the most part, the war between good and evil would at least be at a stalemate, not giving ground with each new law and city ordinance. The fact that the city is widely known for being a magnet to the GLAD folks is a given. If you are gay, SF is the city of choice.
For sure, those who live, work and serve Jesus in the city, don't leave and never give up. Just don't make it sound like you are having a resounding effect on the out-of-hand sin, political correctness, and social tolerance around you.
I spent no less than six weeks a year in the city, from 1991 to 2000, and never did I feel a strong presence of Christ in the city. The spirit of evil and seduction was winning the war back then and the news coming out of the city hasn't demonstrated any break throughs on behalf of the church. And, as I said before, I didn't feel safe walking alone at night. I learned to ask a colleque or two to come along with me on my quest to get in my daily exercise.
BTW, the city has many challenging hills to climb, and that is great if you are exercising. Although, I liked going down the hills, rather than up.
It is simply my opinion, but I'd say, that the churches in the city limits are probably holding their own, but losing membership each year. And the number of churches that ordain homosexuals, condone homosexuals, and are just plain cults (like the Universalist) are adding to their numbers also.
Another question to those who advocate living in the city...When was the last major revival to take the city by storm? This question goes to other major metropolitan areas throughout the nation, not just SF.
I live outside of LA, and I can say that the inner city churches are barely holding their own. Homosexuality, promiscuity, inequity, poverty, homelessness, drugs, alcohol, gangs, loose sexual morals and values, and the porn and sex industry is gaining momentum in the city limits of LA, and I do not think SF is doing any better. IMHO!
I spent more than 24 years working on a monthly basis with local rescue missions in the inner-city area of LA, and watched as the presence of believers deteriorated, and evil expanded.
Just as with SF, I wouldn't recommend that a family make LA their number choice to visit on a vacation. Sure there are some neat places to visit in and around LA, like Hollywood studios, Universal Studios, the Zoo, etc. But, the actual city is not something that one would want to take their children, and in my opinion, SF is a little worse than LA.
Did I mention that in most major cities across this nation, major churches in the inner city have suttered their windows and doors, and been purchased by offshoots of cults and wannabe churches that are serving the gay community, and other such sin guided cults.
I would think that the hardened hearts of those within most cities across this nation are more difficult to reach than in the rural and urban areas. That does not mean we should give up on the innercity folks. But, having worked with innercity mission in LA and Orange County, I can attest to the fact, that while these people may need Jesus, their hearts are very hard, and evn more difficult to reach.
It is a given, that there are people who are just not going to open up and let Jesus in. That doesn't mean we should cease trying to win them over, it does mean that these kind of folks take an extraordinary person to do the work.
In closing, those proponents of SF know what I know, and that is there are some places most believers should avoid, because not all believers have the inner constitution that others have, and they are susceptible to temptation, and they can falter and fall given the right environment or the perfect (sin) storm! We who know the truth should never put a person in a place where they may stumble and fall. The church has many baby Christians, immature believers, and borderline followers. Why risk their place in the Kingdom when we know the real score.
The devil is like a hungry lion, roaming to and fro, looking for someone to devour!
If we know that a certain area (city) is a zoo without bars and cages separating the public from the predators it is our duty to protect them. At least, that is my opinion!
My use of bold, colored fonts is not yelling, it is simply making sure you don't miss my point!
