Of pleasure and puddles…

At the basic level, I tend to search not for answers, but rather deeper questions. It is a desire of mine to break down every doctrine, question, idea, and opinion into its foundational structures. For instance, if two men are standing next to each other and both say “I am a Christian,” the listener knows nothing more than he did before, since he has no idea what the foundations of this statement may be. Discovering those foundations is vital to understanding the gospel and the Kingdom. What are the foundations? Do we even believe the right ones? If not, is our salvation in question?

In light of these questions, I was recently asked “What is the opposite of lust?”  Lust itself is a deeply pervasive issue, a virtual plague affecting every man and women in the world in some degree. As such, the casual observer would think that the church has established a fairly rooted stance on the biblical teachings regarding a lustful heart. Sadly, this is not the case. Churches have largely misunderstood and ignored the incredibly strong stance the Word takes on lust and its affect on our souls. We must, as disciples of the Truth, seek diligently to find God’s will and instruction on this issue, and radically implement it into our lives.

In all honesty, I struggle with this sin on both a personal and spiritual level. I will not hide behind the mask named “Everyone Else,” as I alone must accept responsibility for my actions and wayward heart. Though the world around me is tempting me at every turn, the fact that I have chosen to drink from my own cup is my own choice. This is my confession: I do not discuss this sin from a distance with disgust and feigned innocence, but from within the river, swimming at times against the raging currents, but many times letting my flesh float along undirected.

Back to the question of the opposite. We should immediately notice there are several further questions within the first: “What is lust?” and “What is an opposite?” are two main ones. Those are easily broken down further, and so on until we reach the ground floor. All foundations are existent in the beginning, so I will begin with the door marked “Knowledge of Good & Evil.”

The problem with most views of good and evil is that they suggest evil “exists” in and of itself. Although we as Christians tend to deny the dualistic views of so many of the world’s religions, in practice and thought accept them by giving Satan too much glory by placing him on a level with God. This is not the case. “God is in the heavens, He does all that He pleases” (Ps. 115:3) applies to all created things, including complete sovereignty over the works of Satan (see Job). Evil itself is simply the absence of good in the same way that cold is the absence of heat, and a nothing is not a something.

I say all of this not to simply be philosophical or deep, but rather that there must be something within the foundations that we have been missing. Lust, as with all other sin, is a manifestation of something deeper, a hidden place where the true absence lies. On this broken and cracked foundation is built the towers of our beliefs, a ramshackle house of cards ready to be destroyed by the first storm of doubt. This house becomes the manifestation of our hearts, an outward appearance of an inward condition. If the foundation is repaired, giving the house strength and stability, yet the manifestation is not rebuilt, is it still evil? Let me explain the process of my thought with a few examples (Read Romans 1:18-32 for basis):

1. Is not the murderer simply serving his master, namely himself, to the end of obtaining more glory for himself (through controlling life, revenge, greed, etc.)? Repair the foundation, and he is freed to glorify his master not by killing, but by obediently seeking as much of God’s glory and joy by sharing Life with others.

2. Is not the drunkard seeking to numb the pains and memories of this world by separating himself from reality? Repair the foundation, and he can continue to escape this present, subjected beauty by being immersed (drunk can be the same word as baptized in Greek – interesting) in the mind-freeing, soul-healing Spirit of God.

3. Sexual lust is the same in practice. As the foundation is cracked or destroyed, our innate desire to be intimate and entwined with that which “completes” us (namely God) is forced to be focused on lesser created beings – men, women, children, animals, self. Repair the foundation, and the desire is not destroyed but fulfilled, no longer relegated to idols.

As Romans 1 states, the foundational sin is that we have exchanged the glory of God for a lie (v. 25). Because of this, God turns us over to the “lusts of our hearts in impurity.” We are created to worship, so when we are reconciled to the one worthy object of worship, every “lust (desire) of our heart” is satisfied and made pure. The opposite (perfection) of lust is worship!

Keep your eyes on him. “We are far too easily pleased” (C.S. Lewis – click for full quote)

In summary:

• There are foundations beneath every doctrine of man, both of truth and lie.
• The foundational sin (lie) is that we exchange the glory of God for the creation.
• The resulting lust is impure; when restored, lust is replaced by worship.

~ by littleblueflame on June 4, 2008.