Maybe the reason you keep taking a round to the gut in the fight against lust is because that water can you keep using to put out the fire is filled with gasoline.
I'll let Doug Wilson explain further:
We know that when she cast her eyes upon him, Joseph fled from Potiphar's wife (Gen. 39:12). We know also that Paul told Timothy to flee youthful lusts (2 Tim. 2:22). In a world crammed full of enticements to lust, adopting this basic strategy is something that a lot more men need to learn how to do. But at the same time, it has to be remembered that enticements to lust come from more places than bawdy commercials, pop-up ads, or co-workers who don't know what propriety means. Another enticement to lust is the law (Rom. 3:20). The law is good, but sin does know how to take the occasion presented by the law (Rom. 7:11). Sin does not just take the opportunities arranged for you by the strange women of Proverbs. Men need to learn how to be as careful with their applications of the law (which includes the rules for fleeing) as they are with the direct enticements to sin. It is obviously no good to be enflamed with lust because you are using porn. But it is also no good to be enflamed with lust because of an arbitrary list of taboos that you mistakenly believe are helping. Far better to turn away from all such things like a grown-up. So before you dowse the fire with it, make sure you know what gasoline smells like.
Would you say that when we try to fight lust we misinterpret the law as Eve did when she said to the serpent in response to his suggestion, "God says don't eat the fruit, don't even touch it." While I understand how we use the law to act like Pharisees and beat others over the head with it or act like pious people when we're empty within, the statement Mr. Wilson makes about using the law to create a list of taboos we trip over is a bit vague. Care to elaborate on how our fight evades our need to satisfy what our lust craves in Christ?
Posted by: Frank McKinley | March 12, 2009 at 09:08 AM
Great discussion. My thoughts : It gets down to the fact that God has created us to only be fulflled by knowing and worshiping Jesus and craving His Gospel. It's when I forget the gospel : who I am in Christ and that He abundantly loves me, has purchased me 'at a price', I am His and He now lives in me... when I forget to dwell in the truth of Jesus and His gospel THAT's when my sinful heart loves to deceive and lead me to return to life by the law not life by the Spirit. War begins. And it's not just a battle with lust. It is war with my personal security, identity and who I am and where I can find peace. That's why I need other men. Not to beat me and tie me up with the Law, but men to pray for me, to daily remind and encourage me in the Truth of Jesus my Lord and King and who I am/we are in Him. That's the sort of relationship that God tells us to have with the brothers. It is life giving and guards us as a family. Law giving alone kills. I hope that makes some sense. I find this in Hebrews 3:12-15.
Posted by: Will Henderson | March 12, 2009 at 09:24 AM