And this sexual sin acclimation is true culturally - across the board. We've all warmed up to or choose to discount the ultimate punishment for these sins as if Hell simply doesn't exist anymore.
So what if a Christian begins participating in these? Is hell his ultimate fate? And to take it a step further, what of lusting after another individual via sexual fantasies? We know the Bible qualifies that sin as equal to physical behavior, therefore again, is hell preeminent for those individuals?
God's people screw up. It's documented all within God's word, and of course, we see it time and time again today. And the stories tend to relay judgement and punishment for these sins. This is exactly in line with how you as a parent would hopefully treat the children that you consider your own (bio or adopted). Parents' roles are to parent. Not coddle or cater to.
But when you see other parents' children screwing up, you feel for them, but since you have no authority over those children, you often tend to leave them be.
God does this too. Again, take a looksee at the Old Testament.
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Middle age too really does a number on a man's perspective. I'll be 50 in a few years. Therefore, let me just say here, I'm so fortunate to have had this very full life. Young men at times call me sir, and overall, young people just know that I'm "over the hill" (or close to it). And considering that truth, what brings me the most peace is my no longer having to deal with wave after wave of that god-forsaken sexual-sin shame thanks to me no longer being in bondage to it.
And I wonder if that's played a part in what I admitted to above. Perhaps my own sanctification, if you will, has in a way, tuned me away from my more empathic / sympathetic point of view. This, coupled with my gray hair (& disgusting gray nose hairs), undoubtedly has played a role. It's hard to relate to that which you no longer don't know well.
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Now, full disclosure here.
Do know that nothing really keeps me away from Internet porn, even today, except staying absolutely not isolated whilst surfing online. Therefore, there are those times when opportunity abounds, and I jump right back in for a few minutes. The relinquishment of my "online - singular - freedom" occurred almost 6.5 years ago when I finally chose to wear Covenant Eyes' bridle. Eventually too, Samson Society became a mainstay that I embraced with a thankful heart. The community of Samson keeps one focused on what's lingering beneath those desires to participate in sexual sin. Therefore, this two-pronged approach worked wonders for me.
I say that to prove to you that my sanctification is ongoing, and that so long as the Internet exists (and Internet-capable devices), I'm likely going to need to stand clear of surfing / walking through my life alone. It's just too reckless an approach for me.
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If you attend a Samson Society (national) retreat, you'll see that Samson Society men tend to be, on average, around 35-40 years of age. Not to say there aren't younger (& much older) men participating, but overall, they skew less gray and overall more hair.
And I believe this is due to the fact that as Christian men and women we're perhaps more "in tune" to the debauchery of sexual sin (regardless of whether or not we're participating in it) at younger ages (closer to our biological sexual peak / stronger libidos), which in turn convicts us to repent and reach out for help (if need be). From there, perhaps, as middle age approaches and sexual sin may or may not become a mainstay behavior for us, the internal permissive / dismissiveness sets in.
You'll recall the Dirty Old Man post from a few weeks back. It's that mentality that I'm referring to here when I use that word permissiveness.
I don't want to ever be that man. For it's his willingness to consume smut / compromise his faith that seeds the fields of opportunity for all of those who produce it. Just as his (low) standards usher in / vaidate all manner of dilution within this world of woe.
But, I must admit, it almost feels inevitable that I lose some degree of my sharpness relative to sexual sin sensitivity. Therefore, there's no doubt in my mind that only through God's grace can I recollect / relive my youthful days enough to have them work against the dullness of my antiquated conscious.
Keep me awake, Oh Lord. Allow my gray nose hairs to once again olfactory that distinctive stench of hellfire and brimstone that awaits those who "do what's right within their own eyes" relative to their genitalia.
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