FALLING into sin is, from hindsight's viewpoint, an inevitable prospect, if nothing is done to appropriately scratch the itch that presents as a desire to be yielded to.
The obvious and illustrative
falling, from a ministry viewpoint, is sexually; the sin of lust through pornea
(the word from which pornography comes from). This doesn't have to be an online
addiction. Pornography, dilmil.co by virtue
of its etymological root (pornea), which is sexual desire gone awry, and
expressed inappropriately, is a classic example. It's far too easy for the eye
to notice the attractive woman or man in the pews, or someone we're ministering
with, or to exchange something supposedly harmless. Sexual seduction happens
far easier than via an affair. It occurs in the mind when the mind dreams up
its fantasies - without much entertaining, or much awareness - we could add.
It doesn't really matter what's
caused the itch; what's important is how we scratch it. And, additionally, it
proves helpful if we know beforehand how itches operate. Furthermore, there are
appropriate ways of scratching an itch as there are also inappropriate ways.
The former should interest us just as the latter should instil fear in us.
1. THE PHYSIOLOGY OF AN ITCH
How does an itch work? If we get an
itch anywhere but on our nose we find we can resist scratching, at least for a
short time. dilmil We can
wait a few seconds, even a few minutes. But if we have that itch occur on our
nose, particularly on a certain section and in a certain way, we have to
scratch it immediately or we'll sneeze. Sometimes we sneeze anyway.
The itch that is sin operates the
same way. Some itches are innocuous. They hardly pique our awareness. But other
itches are downright dangerous. These itches beg to be dealt with swiftly and
appropriately. And we ought to pray that every significant itch piques the
awareness dilmil.co review of our
just-noticeable difference so at least we have the chance of picking the itch
up.
2. THE ROLE THE MIND PLAYS
Whatever the mind has conceived,
whatever the mind has believed, can certainly be achieved. Do you see sin's
deception has already occurred? This is not to shame us, but to caution us, as
to what is happening. Sin occurs first in the mind. (This just proves how indelibly
helpless we all are against sin. In other words, our minds prove how fallen we
are; our minds prove the Christian theology of God that we're all sinners
needing saving - in this case, in the moment.) And if the sin occurs first in
our thoughts, it occurs secondly via our convictions - when thoughts become
feelings, and feelings to be acted on.
The mind's action of entreating sin
is the itch. The body's action to amend the itch is a scratch. And there are
appropriate ways for scratching as there are inappropriate ways. Scratching the
itch appropriately depends on the danger it presents us. Scratching
appropriately recognises the risk and runs in the other direction, toward God.
3. SCRATCHING A DANGEROUS ITCH
Uppermost in our minds has to be
the threat level of an itch that must be attended to. Itches of the sexual
variety may prove dormant for some time, but their threat level is always very
high to extreme - a veritable bomb waiting to detonate; one that could level a
thriving metropolis - because all it needs is an opportunity; the right
environment. The inputs to sexual sin are always there.
Dangerous itches ought to be
quarantined in such a way as they're dealt with in an over-the-top fashion.
Sexual temptation is such a stimulant. As one thought is identified as having
occurred, we take the event very seriously. Again, this is not anything about
guilt or shame, but about pragmatism. It's about acknowledging the potential.
It has to be dealt with
consciously. We must take it seriously enough. Sharing it with an
accountability partner, and not least with God in prayer, we take steps to
change the order of our lives to break the chain of these dangerous cognitions.
Whatever we don't deal with consciously, so far as sin is concerned, can very
well slip under the radar into unconscious thought, which is where Satan, the
nemesis, hides.
God won't fail to give us
strategies to overcome our dangerous thoughts if we're honest with him. And
this is especially true if we, as a minister, have such a vision of calling
that to serve Christ is everything. But let's not forget that, at such a
commitment, the enemy, Satan, may well make of us a higher-priority target.
(Not that that should instil any fear in us. We just need to be doubly and
triply aware.)
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