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Recently I attended a class on spiritual warfare. One of the messages the teacher was hitting on was immoral sensual indulgences. Sounds like a topic that could really stir up a good sized crowd, doesn’t it? The illustration used by the teacher was incredibly disappointing. [Side note: I have taught and it’s not as easy as it looks, but I am going to go off about this anyways.]
The teacher confessed that sometimes he struggles with eating too many sugar free cookies. I wanted to stand up and scream, “ARE YOU SERIOUS?” That’s your immoral indulgence?
Now it would be different if this person was chronically obese and he was chowing down on Twinkies and cupcakes 10 at a time. Not the case here though. I also realize that not everyone has to have an “immoral sensual indulgence” to confess at any given moment of their life. However, I can guarendainteeyou that someone in that class of 100 sure did, and that person swallowed theirs for another day.
How do confessions like this one help the church’s authenticity problems?
I’m not petitioning for some erotic or pornographic struggle to be confessed to this crowd of 100 on Sunday morning but surely there’s something a bit more concerning going on in our lives than the skinny person’s eating of a handful too many sugarless cookies?
The real admission should have been: “I get daily cravings for disgustingly tasteless cookies.”
Thursday, June 26, 2008
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2 comments:
Amen on the lame example, and your thoughts about the lack of authenticity in the church. In a room of 100, there is no telling what kind of secrets are hidden away that just got shamed all the more by being told that having a few sugar free cookies is a mark of immorality.
Leaders must be transparent, even with the ugliness. Let's all be honest with each other - I believe nothing will heal sin more in the long run than a constant honesty between people.
Cary,
Thanks for your comments. They were well said. Honesty is tough. You stick yourself out on the line when you're honest. You can be rejected, abused, shuned and more. You can also get help, petetion prayer, receive encouragement, defeat sin. Sounds like the risk is worth it. Especially when people realize that no one can throw a stone if they too have at one time been guilty of sin.
I guess you and I need to do a better job of modeling this transparency we're calling for. Hopefully, God will bless it.
-Wes
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