The Bible speaks of putting off "boyhood / childish things". Why?
Because if you don't, those things will run counter to your own spiritual maturity as a Christian. And that's the keyword here: maturity. Arguably, mostly via time wasting.
Most individuals who experience same-sex attraction (& be forewarned; I'm making a stereotypical statement here) are avid entertainment aficionados. Whether it's television or film, social media or video games, music or theater. Most know every entertainer, every lyric, every cover, re-make and spin-off because they marinate in it 24/7/365. If you've ever wondered why corporate America duly embraces homosexuality, it all points back to the Almighty Dollar. In other words, it can only help their bottom line to tow the cultural party line.
Speaking of same-sex attracted men, here's a few fun facts:
A number of authors argue that same-sex attracted men are perpetually "stuck" within their youth relative to truly legitimizing their God-breathed sexuality.
Fathers who struggle with SSA sometimes claim that rearing their sons allows them opportunities to resolve this emotional immaturity vicariously.
Again, the Bible speaks too "throwing / putting off" boyish things.
-------------------------
Our pastor sometimes cites "the filth" that he and his wife screen on their television. Too, he'll actually call out (on rare occasion) the congregation (in so many words) relative to his innocuous (heavy) social media involvement. Out of the other side of his mouth, he'll preach an expository sermon each Sunday.
And this juxtaposition isn't uncommon amongst Christians, though hopefully it's anomalous amongst pastors (ours) for it runs counter to scripture's commands.
-------------------------
Comic books were my upper elementary / middle school hobby. Starting out with "Richie Rich" as an elementary student, I eventually moved to "The New Teen Titans". From there, I read "Wonder Woman" and "Crisis on Infinite Earths" 'till eventually I was shopping at the local comic bookstore (in Ridgeland), spending way too much money than I should have been on all manner of "independently published" mags ("Dreadstar").
I kept these treasured newsprint gems in individual plastic baggies that looked like Ziplocs with no zipper before eventually amassing them all together within an empty Chick-A-Fil waffle fry box.
My best friend, at the time, who also adored these little cartoon newsstand leaflets, soon took his hobby into overdrive. He did this by establishing an "account" at the aforementioned comic bookstore. Therein, they - in real time - physically accrued his favorite titles on his behalf (like a prepubescent P.O. Box).
Once I witnessed this over-the-top consumptive behavior, I chose to put the brakes on my overzealous comic book hobby.
-------------------------
I remember, like it was yesterday, identifying the young man whom I'd be gifting my comic book stash. Immediately prior to the handoff, I neatly organized each title, putting them in chronological order and separating them via neatly labeled cardstock dividers.
I didn't actually make the drop face-to-face. Instead, I simply put the waffle fry box in his disheveled bedroom and walked away (I was a friend of his father). Walker (the recipient) was around 16 at the time. I suppose I shouldn't have expected a thank-you note. Nonetheless, it never did arrive.
In the end, I have thought about those comic books an awful lot. Wondering what it would be like to leaf through their many pages once again, or perhaps gift them to my children / grandchildren.
And I believe that's to be expected. Nonetheless, I've never regretted gifting them to my young Brookhaven friend. For when I looked at him (at the time), I saw where I was departing / maturing (away) from. Hence, he now bore a significant reminder of my youth inside that french fry box.
Is there a boyish pastime (or relics therein) you'd benefit from jettisoning? Something perhaps, that represents well, who you once were as a child? If so, it should be something that you truly wish to hang on to throughout your adult life (as a means to look back and remember).
Locate a young man to gift that to today, and from there, follow through. No matter how much it pangs you to do so.
Processes like these are sure signs of maturation.
No comments:
Post a Comment