All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
Strip Club
Rachelle Starrn was raised in a Christian home & had never been inside a strip club in her life. But she felt this calling from God to reach out to women in the sex industry. She knew that God had given her a passion for those women to know how much He loves them & how precious they were in His eyes. Whatever doubts, she knew God was calling her to take action. He didn't want her to just to feel compassion for them but to do something about it.
In 2008, she started Scarlet Hope, a ministry that reaches out to women involved in the sex industry. They take big, southern-comfort-style dinners to strip clubs. Their prayer is that they're not just feeding their stomachs but they're feeding a deeper spiritual hunger. In some clubs, they fix hair & make-up so they can get some one-on-one time with the girls. It gives them the opportunity to pray with women in the middle of the strip club.
She states that many hearts have been changed & lives touched & many turned to Christ for forgiveness & new beginnings. She says she has seen Jesus show up many times in the back of a strip club dressing room. Many dancers opened up to them, sharing their struggles, asking for prayers, & some have even accepted their invitations to church.
What are your thoughts on this testimony? When I read it I must admit doubts flooded me. I know Jesus goes to the sinners but He didn't put their make-up on before prostituting themselves. Am I wrong with my feelings? No one knows the mind of God but do you really believe God would have them take such drastic steps to reach others?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Seek on
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Janey. Its not self righteous to hold a different view. Self righteous is looking upon yourself as being more holy than those who disagree with you. I haven't seen you do that.
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Permalink Reply by ribbon on
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If I remember correctly there is a lady here on this site or she was here, and part of her testimony is she was a stripper before she got saved. She is very straight forward with her thoughts. She would most likely tell me that I am wrong,,,, but even with that I wish she would rejoin here and tell us her story about coming to Christ.
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The scriptures, Abstain from all evil and flee from evil? I know there is sin everywhere ... ball games ext. How can someone honor these scriptures if it is impossible? Why are they in the bible? Tammy this forum post is by far my favorite in a very long time. Its got me more confused than I am normally and that's CONFUSED but I am learning to think about Gods word more. I want all to be saved too.... but these scri[tures and I am sure other scripture .
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Permalink Reply by RoyW on
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Self,
I'm not sure what others might say but I believe the context of the verse you are using will say to test everything; if it works, keep it; if it produces evil, get rid of it. We are instructed to hold on to the good but get rid of the evil. That would be a good test in this case.
I would have to say that I don't have enough knowledge of the subject to really do that. What are the results? Are these ladies that are entering these places being sucked into sin or are they actually producing new converts. If some ladies are falling, does that make it wrong? What lessons can we learn to improve the results and reduce the casualties? Are the results so disastrous that we should just ditch the entire project?
This is an interpretation of the verse you have just quoted. I don't think the flee from evil verse applies here. I do think you bring up a very good question.
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What I understand of the verse "abstain from the appearance of all ...
this is on my discussion list on my page . I posted it here and when I clicked on it it showed just where I replied with no words. Did someone delete it? I don't remember talking ugly so I don't feel it should have been deleted.
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I talk about this verse because I feel it is why I have my views on this subject.
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Hi Self Righteous:
You are probably right. I guess I didn't feel the ladies were participating in evil and did not feel the verse about fleeing evil really applied. The verse about abstaining from the appearance of evil does apply in my opinion. If these ladies are participating in evil, they certainly do need to flee from it. I certainly do agree with you there. I feel we are in agreement on most things except this particular subject. I do not mind that you have a different opinion. I think you have had some excellent posts. I think healthy conversations are good for all of us. It is good to consider the different possibilities.
Blessings.
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Well Hi back Roy,
I am thinking that the meaning of abstain from the "appearance" of all evil doesn't necessarily mean to not just do not participate but to not appear that you are either. Maybe there is another forum on this verse. I will look and if so maybe I can read it. Thanks Roy
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I'm curious though as to who they appear evil to as people know why they're there, as they are dressed appropriately and carrying in food.
Edited to say: Isn't that what people perhaps thought of Jesus going to eat with sinners and tax collectors? They actually tried to make it sound as if He was doing wrong to go there and eat with them.
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Hi SR,
I previously gave an interpretation of that verse in context. I'm not sure if that were to you or Grace to You. The context of the verse is to test everything and avoid evil. Here is the verse along with previous verses in NIV:
1 Thess 5:19-22
19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil. NIV
I think in context this verse really does not have a lot to do with this conversation. The verse is very applicable to what goes on in churches. It has to do with prophetic utterances. You might disagree with my interpretation.
Anyway, I think to apply these verses, we would have to show that the ladies were participating in evil. I do not think we have established that.
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You might disagree with my interpretation.
Roy , If its biblical what you mention and it seems it is... How could I disagree? I don't know scripture at all. The reason I am so interested in this verse is because when I first read the beginning of this forum topic this verse just popped in my head. Like I said before I am not trying to have my thoughts my way I am now trying to learn what God thinks. You are comfortable in your beliefs. I am just learning. Me dwelling on this verse is not to push my belief on you or these lady's. My dwelling on is is to help me learn. I don't want to go against God. My own opinion , with out thinking about God and wanting to learn is ... if they feel led to do this then do it. If I ever get saved and I wanted to join this ministry or any other ... I would want to know if I am in the right place, what God says..
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What I understand of the verse "abstain from the appearance of all evil" is it means don't appear to be to look sinful , Like if out siders see folks seeing you there. this is one reason I am confused Roy. Thank you for trying to help me.