You know there just is not much that's taught about dealing with lust in the church. And I mean, what do we practically, literally DO when we are dealing with this, and wonderful, well meaning, lovely people want to quote 2 Timothy 2:22 to us? This verse after all, tells us that it is a good thing to fellowship with like minded believers whose focus is on Yeshua (as a means of "steering clear" of the temptation, I think). Absolutely! Wonderful! Splendid! But what if, while you're involved in this amazing fellowship...you want to lean over and kiss the person next to you? Take heart, married folks, I'm not wanting to tempt you in any way...but lets face it...this happens, right?
Right now, I'm speaking more to those who are unmarried, and maybe they want to be...and they are trying to "keep themselves" only for their spouse, but they are also wondering when it's going to happen for them. They are, "on the look out" (they are!) and they are wondering who this amazing person they are supposed to marry could be. First of all,, I know what you're already thinking: "Don't sit right next to them!" (Duh!). And you would be right...I think this needs to be rule number one. However, it seems to me, that we can physically move away from that person all we want; but where is our heart in all of that? If a "seed" has already been planted...it will grow! (That is, if we meditate on it). Besides, the fellowship in a church is all about a unity and a coming together, rather than a tearing apart. So, it makes sense to me that when such a seed has been planted for whatever reason, a certain anxiety and a guilt is also allowed to grow, and can even begin to fester...as we are now faced with...avoiding that person?... But not?
What are they supposed to do...not make eye contact with us? We are going to be in the same building with them for a while doing things TOGETHER...so how is this even possible? Do we look for where they are...and then sit at another table? In another pew? Yes, sometimes, I think this needs to be done, to be honest...but, how sad! This is sad, because now there is a "division" (if you will) in G-d's family...there's a "disturbance in the force" you might say...and what do we do about it? I'm not really sure...but I really believe that there is more to it than just reminding ourselves that there is (nothing new) that we could ever be tempted with. Now, it's good to know that temptation is "common to man.". We can take heart, because none of us are exempt from this. The thing is, how many of you have dealt with this issue and then felt even worse when you remembered the words of Yeshua: "But I say to you that if any man looks on a woman with lust in his heart, he has committed adultery"? Now, Yeshua was right...I'm certainly not saying that he wasn't...but as far as looking on someone with lust in our hearts...each of us (men and women) probably do that everyday...no attraction necessary. I think we do... because we can do it and it doesn't even compute...while watching TV, while on the internet... maybe driving somewhere. It happens...and we don't even notice it.
I'm talking about the times where we almost seem "set up" to do the wrong thing...not by any person, but through circumstance.
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