Shame Revisited

I heard Wayne Jacobsen make a comment about pornography that I think should be the starting point. The power of pornography lies with the power to shame us. The false condemnation of the devil is upon us plus the Church condemns us due to the overwhelming legalism that exists. You are never good enough for God. Try harder is the answer. You better do this or else. The love the Father has for us is so great. Bask in the love of the Father.

So what about pornography or any other area you struggle with, i.e. eating, prostitution, etc. Sit down with the Father and ask Him to reveal what you need, what is missing in your life, from Him to fill the void missing in your life. Shame prevents us from going to Father God and talking to Him about our problems. Shame is something we inherited from Adam and Eve. Only the Father can fill the emptiness we each have.

Shame

Feeling shame for the pornogaphy. Feeling shame because of the masturbation. How hard is it to talk about your problem. Most of the church thinks your not saved because of your addiction. It's ok to be addicted to drugs or alchol. But pornography. How dare you? I have belonged in one church group or another for over 23 years. In all that time I have never truly been allowed to be myself. I can't talk about my troubles. When asked make sure you say "fine". Don't confuse someone by saying you need help. They might have to act. Keep the pattern. Be a good religious person. Don't let anyone know that you are trapped and want to escape. I mock and I am cynical. The church today is an exercise in futility. No compassion. Work this program. No rest allowed.

Until a person learns that they died on the Cross with Christ and that the Christ-life is the only answer to this life they will continue to look for the next fad. I grow weiry of it all. I want freedom that I can only have in Christ.

Ask Ahead of Time

I heard my pastor make a comment about asking Father God for forgiveness. He said if you are planning to sin ask God to forgive you ahead of time. An excellent idea. What Father God desires of each of us is that we allow Him to love us as only He can. By talking with Him before the sin is still in the thinking stage we allow Him to deal with it. He wants to have this interaction with us. I am doing this today as I am being tempted to call into a phone line that connects with prostitutes. Prostitution has cost me thousands of dollars. The amount of time involved with sex addiction. The stages I would go through to final achieve my goal is staggering to think about. I would connect with a prostitute, make arrangements, drive almost to the location and at the last minute get spooked. Then I would go home and start the whole process over again. If it was pornography I would look over sites so I got excited. Then masturbate.

I only wish the Church could deal with this area of bondage with true grace and not legalism. I have grown weary of all the condemnation I have heard over the years. I believe the answer is only found in the Cross of Jesus Christ. Nothing else will work.