J.J.
I’ve recently noticed that I have a hard time with introductions.
Alcorn opens up this pivotal chapter by giving the example of a seminary student named Brad. Brad had thought himself blindsided by committing adultery with this stranger he met at Starbucks. Shortly after hearing this we learn of what Brad has immersed himself in to make this sin easier for him to commit. Alcorn reminds the reader that, “Sexual sin never comes out of the blue.” He shares of the compromises that are made in order for this sin to quickly become a reality.
“Often we say we want purity, but then we make choices that sabotage purity. Choices have consequences.” There are things in my life that I do knowing that it will lead down the wrong road. From music choices on my iPod to television show choices. There have been times where I knew I needed to cut something out, but I found too much happiness in it. I didn’t see the need to set boundaries. Alcorn echoes the importance of placing boundaries in order to “keep temptation from gaining a foothold.”
Proverbs 4:23,
“Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.”.
Alcorn goes on to mention how your heart needs to be set on pursuing God first. “Your sanctified mind, fed on God’s word, nourished by His Spirit, polices your thought life. It says yes to what pleases Christ and no to what doesn’t.” At the beginning of reading this chapter I was frustrated. I know my own self-drive is high, but it is not high enough to keep me from sin. There is no amount of teeth-gritting, trying harder, self-discipline, or self-motivation that can keep me from sinning. The only One that can do that is God through me. I know where I was without God. Furthermore, I know where I’ll fall back to if I try this life without Him. It’s a heart posture.
“Masturbation is fueled by a roving eye and an undisciplined mind. When we turn to it, we are medicating a pain– maybe loneliness, discouragement, rejection, or fear. There is something deeper than just the obvious desire. We need to address the root issue, to ask God to meet the needs that make us vulnerable to temptation.”
Alcorn hits the nail on the head here with his assessment of deeper, root issues when it comes to sin. The deeper root desire is not wrong, but when we try to fill those things by succumbing to temptation, then it becomes sin. Root issues can be fulfilled and dealt with in Christian community. There are healthier ways to deal with loneliness, discouragement, rejection, fear, and I would argue depression, rather than masturbation, pornography, and lust.
Alcorn writes out a prayer at the end of the chapter to help us with this issue in saying, “I know these sexual images are poisoning me. Give me the wisdom and resolve to turn away from them. Turn me instead to what pleases you.” Amen and amen.
I want to spend a little bit more time at the end of this post discussing the root issues. Recognizing these deeper issues and dealing with them is key to overcoming habitual sin. The Holy Spirit knows us and searches us. Prayer that echoes Psalm 139 would be very beneficial to discovering these causes of sin. Depression is not wrong, loneliness is not wrong, rejection is not wrong, discouragement is not wrong, but when we try to satisfy these things with what is not of God, then we fall into sin. Unfortunately we have a false timeline on when these things should pass. Rather than looking to God for what He is teaching us in these times and how we can be faithful through these things, we fall back to how we can make ourselves feel better. And even then, God is faithful. Even then He is watching over us and guiding us back to Him. Even in sin.
“When I say no to temptation, I say yes to God. He is pleased and glorified. And no one benefits more than I do.”
–A.J.
SDG
