#2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 2 (WE ARE NOT DECEIVED ANYMORE BY OUR ENEMIES)

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I Kissed His Books Goodbye

Kae Salonzo Perez- Dilla

April 30, 2021

It was in 2019 when one of my favorite Christian authors shocked the Christian world by announcing his separation from his wife. It was Joshua Harris, the famous author and pastor who wrote, "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" and "Boy Meets Girl" which sold millions of copies since their publication in the 90s and made him like a Christian celebrity. I was totally heartbroken when this news popped on my IG feed. A year before this devastating news, I came across Joshua Harris on Facebook and YouTube where I learned about his recent project at that time which is also the reasn why he resurfaced. He was on some documentary film of some sort where he reevaluated his very own books mentioned earlier. I have also watched his TED Ed segment where he apologized for the lives destroyed by his book. He said that he was too young when he wrote his famous books. I was puzzled at that time which led me to do more research a.k.a stalking. I am a good stalker, you know. Kidding aside! So, from there, I started stalking the Harris couple on their social media accounts. I will not forget feeling that something was already off from their relationship since they are both absent from each other's daily activities. I do not know if that is just normal with other people but to me, it isn’t. Also, it struck me that Shannon and the Harris daughters "appear" to be highly modern and very much "in the trend" kind of way when it comes to their clothes, music, and social media posts. Given that they are in the limelight of conservative believers, this is a diversion. I was not a diehard fan of Joshua Harris and so I do not really know what happened to him after writing his books, after getting married to the girl of his prayers, and after pastoring a mega church for 17 years. However, I suddenly recalled an information he disclosed in one of his books. It was about Shannon whose inches close to starting her music career but then converted to her newfound faith and so this dream career of hers was aborted. This, I strongly recalled when I found lots of her IG post informing the world that she is about to release her music albums -which her songs don’t have the slightest expression of her love for God. For a preacher’s wife, for a Christian woman, so to speak, her recent project gave me another major what-in-the-world-is-happening moment. These findings surprised me! That's why I'm not really taken aback when Joshua Harris announced that he and his wife, Shannon, are eventually divorcing. Perhaps something bigger is afoot since then.

 I know I am very late to make a fuss about Joshua Harris and his chosen path today, but I just want to express my thoughts since I kept seeing him lately. I was instantly reminded that I followed him on IG! And now I think about unfollowing him so I would be free from another stress. So, following his separation from his wife in 2019, more of his announcements on the social media just got more terrible as time pass by. He then denounced his Christian faith and joined an LGBTQ parade publicly. What worst could happen now? He has been posting his personal criticism on “Christianity" and against people "in the faith" with the notion of man's freedom being suppressed by God's will.  He makes obedience to God appear so vexing and that it’s the very thing that stifle man from enjoying earthly pleasures. He just twisted the truth about ‘love the sinner but hate the sin’. God is angry at the wicked every day and so we were all once hated by God until he shows us His grace (Psalms 7: 11). But tolerating a sinner could never equate to any form of love. Unless man sees himself as a sinner, he will never repent and seek God. Harris has numerous posts about this particular topic! As I see it, one could assume that it is his way of answering back to the spiteful comments he keeps on receiving from the Christian group. He’s making the believers look like a group of unbelievable people for hurting him with God’s truths. The truth will surely hurt him.

 There is no denying of the fact that Joshua Harris is still a hot issue among Christians today.  Every time Christians talk about relationships, Joshua and his books are brought into place. Before the declaration of his newfound path away from Christ, his books were said to be the "Bible" of Christian romance. Decades ago, Joshua and his books were often referred to when Christians tend to look for godly relationships to pattern theirs. I personally and seriously took note of the contents of his books since I was in a relationship when I read them back then. Just like the other Harris loyalists, I would always mention his name and the things I have learned from his books when giving advice to my friends both in and out of the church during girl talks. It's such a shame that I have to evaluate my old self and admit that I have passed onto others the words of Harris more than God's.  This, I humbly ask forgiveness from the Lord. And so, fast forward to the present time, look at how events have turned now. No one knows what really happened between Joshua and Shannon, but I'm pretty sure that whatever hit their relationship is a reflection of their individual relationship with God which have finally come in fruition in time. The book of Jeremiah says in chapter 7 verse 24, But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. Whilst spending years and years of their life in the ministry, I could not help but wonder, was God really there "in" them? Frankly, although no man is in the position, it’s hard not to question their salvation thinking about what happened to them.

 Joshua Harris have said in an interview that he excommunicated himself from his church because he failed to follow the standards required by the scriptures. In his words, he sounded like he was the victim more than the traitor. To add, one of his videos on YouTube showed live reactions from the offended readers of his books. I personally think that was a clear picture answering the question of why he ended up retracting his beliefs in public. He responded to those people in oppose to what Christians should be doing when being persecuted. He wanted to please them so bad to the point where he just decided to abandon his post, leave his God or god and follow them as if that was the best decision to reach out to them. His mindset is just so disappointing. At some point, did he blame God for earning his haters? Is that why he went after people he doesn’t personally know and has no relationship with God? Was he supposed to reevaluate through the Bible or through people’s lenses? How many were Christians in that pool of readers? It was just necessary to apologize for the wrong points that resulted to misguided readers, but why leave the faith? It’s true that it takes lots of courage to face the music but I don’t see the part where leaving your faith is a new definition of bravery.

 When a Christian is found to be challenged, he ought to thrive. What happened to standing fast in the faith written in 1 Corinthians 16:13? But instead, Joshua Harris allowed the enemy to overpower him. He heard the wrong side. Well, to start with, he's probably not a genuine Christian. We don't want to judge him but again, we have been warned in Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  A Youtuber also commented that a Christian should never find his life in the Lord burdensome. Sadly, Harris has put down his cross, got tired and stopped following the Savior. A believer's walk with Christ was never promised to go through an easy road but we will always find ourselves consistently rejoicing in His grace despite the way.  Otherwise, those who are just pretending to understand the gospel will soon be revealed and will simply walk away because they were not meant to be in the fold of Christ in the first place.

 Just recently, not only Harris have denounced his faith in Christ. There were others. Although this is not new anymore because there were others even before Harris’s time, but in this age of social media, issues like this have great impact in the Christian society perceived in various wavelength. And this case has left Christiandom a question-- what do we do with the learnings gained from such persons? It is fitting to know where the line should be drawn when reading Christian books. The Lord has commanded us to daily seek Him in prayer and in the scriptures. Even the prophets enquired and searched diligently (1 Peter 1: 10). Hence, to check if the materials we read carry God’s truth in them, they must be aligned to what the Bible says. God’s words should affirm the ideas being offered to us by other books whether they appear new or not. I believe that the things I learned from Joshua’s books really helped me assess my former relationship and double check if it indeed glorifies the Lord. But I do not give credit to the author because most of the concepts of the godly dating he presented were extracted from the Bible and were inspired by the people around him that were ‘in Christ’, and Lord willing, still walking with Him until now. Joshua Harris have miserably left his once professed faith and no wonder when ‘his followers’ do the same too. The Lord only revealed the impending danger of following leaders and prominent individuals with such devotion that should only belong to God. We should be vigilant and be fully aware of where and with whom do we pour our faith into. 2 Peter 3:17, KJV: "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness."

 The books written by Joshua Harris have heavily influenced his Christian readers. However, more than those pages that illuminated his beliefs before, what would really speak for himself is the life he chose to live today. I have kissed dating goodbye long time ago, not because of his books, but because God has been gracious to me and provided me a godly man to marry. I won’t recommend Joshua’s books but I will be keeping them. If people see them on my shelf one day, I know significant lessons could be drawn from them --more than courtship and dating, but particularly about a Christian’s walk with Christ.  

  We are in the end times and we are witnessing the falling away of man as said in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. But by God’s grace, His true children will persevere until His glorious return. The sad story of Joshua Harris just proved that our God is a perfect God who is solely worthy of receiving man’s adoration and trust. Not that He needs any of it, but it’s just crystal clear that no one else does. And that no earthly relationship should we model ours after except that of Christ and His love for the church which we could learn nowhere else but from the scriptures.

 Isaiah 40:25-31 

To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. 

Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. 

Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? 

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

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YOUR FRIENDS ARE ALWAYS PRESENT FOR THE FESTIVITIES, BUT IN THE SUFFERING THERE ARE NO MORE FRIENDS

Job 2: 11-13 11 Three of Job's friends, Eliphaz of Teman, Bildad of Shuach, and Zippah of Naamah, heard all the misfortunes that had come to him. They consulted and left home to go to pity and console him! 12 And looking from afar, they did not recognize him, and they lifted up their voice and wept. They tore their coats, and threw dust in the air above their heads. 13 And they sat on the ground with him seven days and seven nights without saying a word to him, for they saw how great was his grief.

JOB. Chapters 2 through 27 .

The loss of a close friendship is one of the worst trials sometimes, but it can be a good thing too that God wants to bring out in your life, especially if he feels that this friendship is good company. However, these broken relationships can become a stepping stone to growing up. Some friends move away with time, as their interests have changed where they have moved. The most painful separation is that resulting from an unresolved conflict.

Shallow People Vs Deep People

But today, we must know that there are friends and friends, there are real people, fake ones, good friends, and also bad friends and we see that Job really discovers who his three friends are, who has makes a pretense even to sit on the ground and throw dust in the air above their heads, all of this, beloved for seven days and seven nights. One could say what a perfect friendship between his men, what deep friendships.

Beloved, God allowed Satan to touch Job. Satan has taken away his property, his children, and even his health. God did not allow him to take away his life ( Job 2: 6 ). Job's wife, rebellious, then incites Job to curse God and ask for death. Job, however, closes his mouth and remains firm despite suffering. No more than us, Job does not understand what is happening to him, but he submits himself to God. He does not rebel.

Here ! That this man in his suffering, after the discovery of the thoughts of his own wife who was more than a friend, will be in front of his friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Tsophar, come to visit him in his misfortune and remain without words during several days. Overwhelmed by suffering, Job complains, then finally rebels. He does not want to live anymore. His friends, then, talk to him, each in his own way.

How To Spot A Shallow Person

 Brother look at the names of Job's three friends: Eliphaz = " God is fine gold " Who represents how precious God is in the life of Job Bildad = " Son of dismay " Desolation , who entered the life of Job Tsophar = " Who chirps, sparrow " Who represents the baby, the lazy. So Job must be reborn again as a child , a new beginning of a new life with God who will raise him.

Beloved, quite often seized in the ordeal, at this precise moment that we can see who are the friends who seem to be true friends, because the first friend Eliphaz of Job says to him: Where is your hope? God chastises the man he loves! The second : Bildad does not understand why Job complains and justifies himself; far from supporting him, he still overwhelms him ( without forgetting the meaning of his name ). " It is because of your sins and those of your sons that all this is happening to you! "... Bildad scrutinizes Job's past; without compassion, he accuses Job and throws desolation into his suffering. The third friend

: Tsophar is aware of having a wisdom superior to that of others and that of Job. He would like to bring Job to repent ... ( not to mention the meaning of his name "to be born again" ).

16 Signs you are a shallow person

Brother, Blow after blow, the three companions will press their accusation into the conscience of Job, as one pushes the nails of Jesus: You are a hypocrite, a cunning man. If you were not guilty, you would not defend yourself with so many words. Whoever apologizes, accuses himself, says the proverb (v.5 and 6). Job can not receive the advice of these friends, just as we do from our friends who have made the trunk when we are touched by the enemy. After listening to them, he firmly resists their words, turns away from them and resolutely turns to God. He says, " I want to speak to the Almighty and defend myself before Him ... You are only bad doctors, if only you could shut up! Shut up, leave me! ( Job 13: 3-11

). Then he speaks to God, begging, " My god give me only two things, take away the pain from me, then, speak to me and I will answer you " ( 13:20 to 22 ). Yes beloved many friends are there to prevent our communion with God , our progress and some have become the agents of satan , well placed to make us fall at the moment God wants to test us, prepare for his elevation. Sometimes we have to be like Job, shut our ears or close some mouth that tells us there or in some church know better, let Jesus give us direction. Amen

Without knowing what is happening to him Job knows, however, that his God does not act unjustly. He finds refuge in the Word of the One who answers the prayers. This is well-beloved, the behavior you must have before following a friend, before you let yourself be led by any kind of doctrine and any wind south of our continent, because (Teman = "south"), (Schuach = " Depression "), (Naama = Girl of Lamech and sister of Tubal-Cain before the flood), because the following of the names of the friends of job, leads us to understand well that the deluge fell in the life of job to make cleaning, just like in yours, which is going through an ordeal today. Beloved, There is already a certainty that God is writing in his heart, and supporting him.

I would like my words to be written and to be forever engraved in the rock: I know that my redeemer is alive, He will rise last on earth. When my skin is destroyed, it will rise and I will contemplate God. I will see him and he will be favorable to me. My eyes will see it and not those of another. My soul languishes waiting within me! "( Job 19:23 ). While the friends of Job invited him to look at his past, the Lord, despite the suffering still present, supports his soul with words of hope. The only reality that rejoices and sustains Job's heart is that of eternal life with his redeemer (his Savior). I will see it with my eyes!

Characteristics And Traits Of Shallow People

Brother, sister, today we can take the situation of Job as an example, but we must understand, Job his story is before the arrival of Jesus, he is alone in his fight, he has more his friends, and neither the son of God Jesus, he counts on his God. You are not alone in battle or in trials today because you have Jesus who died for you and gave you the victory, not forgetting that you have the Holy Spirit, whose fight or Passing through your trials will always make you victorious, for Jesus is in the boat with you, just like Job, it is up to you to place your faith and put God in the first place today.

Conclusion

Our future and our joy is also in the work accomplished by Jesus so that we may be with Him forever. Our eyes will see it and we will be forever with Him. " You love him without having seen him, you believe in him without seeing him again, rejoicing in a marvelous and glorious joy, because you will obtain the salvation of your souls as a reward for your faith " ( 1 Peter 1: 8 ). Beloved to finish, there is pride in this attitude. " I will hold fast my justice ... said Job my heart does not reproach me any of my days " (v. 6). But what does the word of God answer? " If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us " ( 1 John 1: 8 ). Moreover, if our own heart does not reproach us for anything, it does not prove that we are without sin. God is infinitely more sensitive to evil than our consciousness ( 1 Corinthians 4: 4 ). In the dim light, our clothes may seem clean, while in full sun (the light of God) the slightest task will appear ( Prov 4:18 ).