Advanced Weaponry
Greater than the legions of Rome!
Advances in weaponry often turn the tide in war. The English longbow, with its range and velocity, brought the French to their knees. The development of the Corsair to outgun the Japanese Zero was pivotal. And who can forget the legions of the dead summoned by Aragorn to defeat the orcs and oliphaunts employed by Mordor? (OK, you are excused if you don’t know that last one. It’s a The Lord of the Rings thing.)
In the manual that I’m writing for caregivers regarding those entangled in BDSM, there will be a section regarding the level of spiritual warfare one will likely face. But from what I’ve been reading lately, the Sexual Tsunami has brought with it a new level of warfare for all of us, regardless of your corner of Kingdom ministry.
What follows are a few thoughts.
Hang on to the truth of scripture like a pit bull.
I’ve just begun to read an analysis of history called From Shame to Sin: The Christian Transformation of Sexual Morality by Kyle Harper, Professor of Classics and Letters at the University of Oklahoma. I’ve yet to discover whether or not he is a Christian. This and his other books seem purely academic, focused primarily on the forces which shaped ancient history.
After describing the social structure of Roman culture as it relates to sexual expression, he explains how the Early Church’s grasp on the teachings of Paul regarding sexuality gradually transformed sexual practices in the Mediterranean world. Incredible.
That same sexual ethic was carried to the colonies in the 1700’s and shaped how we ourselves have viewed the proper expression of sex. But now we are seeing a rapid reversal—a devolution of our cultural views, moving us toward the days of Rome when the practice of homosexuality was unquestioned, slaves were used as sexual objects, prostitution was ubiquitous, and public works of art and novels were unapologetically pornographic.
The transformation of Roman culture was not the goal of the Early Church, but rather evangelism and the consequent transformation of people. The application of Paul’s teaching on sexual behavior was key.
Many of you are drawn to counseling or pastoring because of your compassion, but sometimes empathy for struggling clients can blur and distort our reading of scripture. Pope Benedict XVI stated many years ago, “Pastoral care without truth is neither pastoral nor caring.” Hang on to the truth.
Paul’s teachings on sexuality affirmed the Laws of Moses given by God. Those laws shaped the sexual morality of God’s people. And the Early Church’s application of Paul’s teachings slowly shifted an empire away from many centuries of decadence, sexual slavery, and misogyny.
Yes, these days are darkening rapidly. But we are people of the light!
Deepen your relationship with Jesus.
No, this is not just another friendly reminder to read your Bible and pray more, with some sort of New Year’s resolution in mind. Simply draw near in whatever manner helps you soak in more of God. Integrate it throughout the day.
Every corner of Christianity has its own tradition of spiritual practices, prayers, and disciplines. I’ve tried many outside of my own evangelical comfort zone: The Jesus Prayer, Centering Prayer, Practicing the Presence, the Divine Office, the Protestant Rosary, Ignatian Prayer, and so on. Some have taken me to new depths; others have seemingly taken me nowhere.
Whether you try something new or simply stick with what works for you, go deeper.
Learn to listen.
In the early 90’s, two books were absolutely pivotal for me in learning to hear God: Let God Guide You Daily by Wesley Duewel and Surprised by the Voice of God by Jack Deere (recently updated). Having grown up in a church where it seemed we were cautioned against seeking any word from God that wasn’t already in back, white, and red ink in our Bibles, I was skeptical of anyone who claimed to hear from God. These books challenged me in this very critical matter.
The primary reason to listen for the voice of God is for greater intimacy. But receiving guidance from God can be like a laser guided missile. It intensifies the effect of all we do.
Often when I meet with porn addicts, I check in with, “So how did it go this week with temptation?” They give brief reports of successes and/or failures. There have been a few occasions when I’ve heard God say, “He’s lying.” Imagine the looks on their faces. Then we get down to the truth which eventually leads to freedom.
God can guide us in who to pray for, what to pray, and sometimes what to tell the ones we are counseling. Relating to them a word from God can make a huge impact!
In this day when Main Street, USA, is looking more and more liken the pantheons of pleasure from Rome, Corinth, and Ephesus, we need not cower. God transformed the Mediterranean world through the Spirit-filled Early Church.
Be confident in God’s power, but definitely upgrade your weaponry. Understand the scriptures. Go deeper with God. Learn to hear from the Spirit. Use your spiritual gifts.
More specifics will follow in future articles, but for now feel free to leave comments with your own insights.
One last thought: A friend of mine used to end all of her emails with this statement:
Keep the faith!!! Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders & says... “Oh no....she’s awake!!”
Day by day, may that become increasingly true for each of us as we embrace our surfboards and rescue the precious souls around us.
Great encouragement to present God's Truth while genuinely caring for those in need, but to also be open to, even to seek, God's direction in real and direct ways.
Your posts always “hit home” and stir up memories. When I was part of THAT denomination, we had a myriad of discussion sessions leading up to the unfortunate decisions they made about human sexuality. At one, a teenager, a youth leader in her congregation, and respected enough to be invited to a meeting like that, said, “ I don’t know what the Bible says, but what I see on TV has taught me…”. Yes, knowing the Word is so important. It may have been at that same meeting a pastor said, “My job is help people be happy and people are happy when we affirm their sexuality.” There’s that pastoral care without truth. Thanks for speaking the truth.