Wednesday, 06 August 2008
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The Adversary Within: "Your Own Worst Enemy"
by mrs violet
In Mark Bubeck's book The Adversary, he deals with the 3 enemies of the Christian.He states them as being:
* The world
* Satan
* Our own fleshI don't want to go into all of these right now, but I am amazed that within this list people are not written down there. So often we treat people as our enemies, yet the Bible doesn't really see it that way. It talks about our spiritual battle NOT being with flesh and blood, but with the powers and principalities of this age. The Bible then talks about the influence of culture upon our Christian walk and the tension of being in the world but not of the world. And it also talks a lot about the struggles that begin within in our own flesh.
That is what I would like to look at today, the adversary within us all!
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21Mark Bubeck defines the above list of 'works of the flesh' like this:
• Adultery - thoughts or acts of immorality after marriage.
• Fornication - thoughts or acts of immorality before marriage.
• Uncleanness - evil or impure thoughts, dirty stories, lustful desires, dirty movies, pornography.
• Lasciviousness - the practice of stirring up sinful desires outside the limit of God's approval through dress, speech, smile, eyes, physical gestures, modesty.
• Idolatry - the sin of the flesh rebelling against worshiping God. When we either physically or mentally put a 'thing' before God.
• Witchcraft- this is a desire to contact or relate to the spiritual world that is outside of the realm of God's spiritual domain.
• Hatred - dark thoughts towards something/someone, bitterness, contempt, loathing, anger.
• Variance/Quarreling - expresses itself as we become a part of strife or discord. Usually springs from the need for attention or to prove ourselves right.
• Emulation's/Jealousy - inner feelings of resentment that someone else is or has something that we want. Comes from desiring our own interests above others, also manifests itself as a lack of self acceptance or thankfulness for the way in which God has made us, or the life he has given us.
• Wrath - bad temper, violent anger, rage or sentiment, coming from things/people threatening our self interest.. Anger is an attempt of the flesh to step in and take situations (vengeance especially) out of God's hands.
• Strife - self-seeking rivalry, pulls others that threaten us in anyway down.
• Seditions - to divide, split in two parts. This is trying to identify with a group that will my selfish interests. It's what causes church splits and quarreling amongst believers.
• Heresies - like the above, including being party to a spirit of nonessentials. This is trying to identify with a group that will support our conduct with doctrinal argument. Especially harmful in the body of Christ.
• Envying - an inner discontent with our life or ourselves. Look at others success or superiority with a desire for his/her place. Comes from our own insecurity and trust in God's enabling, and a refusal to be happy with God's will for us, and his grace.
• Murders - the rebellious desire of the flesh or the action of taking a life.
• Drunkenness - reliance upon a substance (intoxicants) that provide an artificial means of escape from our sins and responsibilities, providing an artificial feeling of well being.
• Reveling and such alike- this is were sensual appetites rule and dictate behavior. It is the desire and act of meeting and gratifying the body's appetites without moral responsibility.
So how do we avoid sins of the flesh? By acknowledging and repenting of them before our God. We need to at all time walk honestly, seeing our faults and allowing and cultivating the Holy Spirit's prompting in our lives.
Galatians 5:24-26 says, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking or envying each other"
Even though we may feel like good for nothing sinners, the truth of the matter is that if we have come to faith and repentance in God through Jesus Christ, then he has already taken our sin for us. Through the cross of Jesus has made it possible for us to walk according to the Holy Spirit. We need to learn to walk not by what we feel but by the truth of God's word. The verse above says that our sinful nature was crucified with Christ. It doesn't mean that we won't sin, it means that we don't have to be a slave to our sin. You can have victory in your life.
What do you believe to be your greatest hindrance to living the Christian life?
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Comments (72)
I find it funny that there are 44 views and no comments.. just goes to show that we're all afraid of being judged and appearing less than perfect, no? Fine, I'll be the first to admit to my sins. Lust, envy, pride. I hold grudges against people who hurt me. And sometimes I'm rude to people I just don't want to deal with.
Everyone is too perfect around here, eh?
Hmm? Sin? Oh, I don't sin. Sin -- that's not us. We're happy smiley Christian people. How are you? I'm fine. Well I'm splendid! These muffins are delicious!
Pride: source of our unwillingness to admit our shortcomings and repent. A failure to surrender all, thinking we're the ones in control. A hindrance to seeing why we need Jesus Christ in the first place. After it, all other sins follow. To die is to gain.
Listen Dude... I don't associate with 'god' or 'jesus' in any way, so...
Thanks anyway?
everything but adultery (cuz I'm not married) and witchcraft...but lately it's been mostly a lot of hatred, wrath, and envying T_T
envy+guilt and to a certain extent + idolatry :<
I definitely sin, but that doesn't mean I put my besetting sins out as a conversation topic. I don't meant that to sound harsh; I think this is a great thing to think about. It's just that I don't think I necessarily need to know what everyone struggles with, and everyone doesn't necessarily need to know what I struggle with.
It is so sad how things are now. Before (When Christians, Jews, and Muslims lived somewhat peacefully together [Or at least imagine the time]) the religions agreed what was sin (Pretty much what you have listed).
Now, in this day and age people are PROUD of their Sins! They speak of it and have no regret of it. And the worst sin of all (Aside from worshiping false idols) is Zeina [Sex with anyone not your wife or husband]!!! This plague is so rampant now, that it's even ENCOURAGED, and if you're a virgin you're, "Uncool" or your even pressured into losing your virginity just to make others leave you alone... This is a sad time indeed, but this is also a great test.
Indeed I believe that the battles are not with people of other religions (Only fight to protect yourself or others) but truly there is a great battle within the minds of men and women.
So how to repel this plague? Enjoin in good, and FORBID evil (Don't even let your friends or family even get near evil), and safe guard your tongue. Change the environment in which you live in for the good.
Those who do bad and go, "Oh well Satan made me do it!" You know what he will say, "You did it on yourself, you didn't have to do it but you did it." (He) Truly an enemy of the Sons and Daughters of Adam.
P.S: I'm not Christian.
It would probably be that I don't believe in Christianity. I'm not a Christian...so I'm not living the "Christian life".
@Jumi_Knight_Elazul@xanga - Sorry...when did Jews, Christians, and Muslims ever live peacefully together?
When did anyone live peacefully together period?
The 21st century is no more "evil" or "wicked" than any other century. Read the Epistles (letters of Paul in the New Testament) if you don't believe me.
@bittersunday@xanga - DITTO!
@bittersunday@xanga - then why are you commenting on a Christian site? You may have a lot in common, morally, with Christians, but you have a different motivation so there's a fundamental difference.
and I realize that may sound intolerant.. which is not what I mean. I just mean, I don't see the point in commenting just to say you're not Christian. A lot of people seem to do that and I don't understand it.
@bittersunday@xanga - Please reread what I said, you overlook things. "[Or at least imagine the time]"
There can be a co-existence between religions, it's just we all refuse to agree to disagree... There is proof Christians and Muslims can live together, look at Lebanon. Also some Christians use the word, "Allah" for God, say, "Al-Hamdulillah" but are not Muslim.
lol, if you don't think this time and age is evil... You ought to have your head checked by the nearest doctor. Everyone (no matter what year) goes through tests, trials, and tribulations, however now it's more abundant.
@Pickwick12@xanga - I can understand not wanting to share with groups of strangers online, but do you share your struggles with your family? Your church family? Non-Christians? We gotta be real, right?
Well, I'm not particularly squeamish about sharing my struggles. Not because I'm proud of them, but because I have a tendency to be overly honest. That, and I genuinely want to be relevant to as many people as I can, which I CAN'T do if I pretend everything's fine all the time.
That being said, right now I struggle a lot with laziness, gluttony (mostly for entertainment and snacks
), and a complete lack of being other-centered. Those are what I consider to be hindering me most effectively.
I'm also working on them. The battle's going so-so for now.
~Victoria
@TheMarriedFreshman@xanga - I do share my struggles, but not with strangers, with people I trust. I definitely believe we need to do that.
Online, quarreling is a big issue with me. But for some reason my blunt style is not so offensive in person.
I am a prideful person, so I have issues there
@Nikolais_apprentice@xanga - Of all the atheists who come here Jill (bittersunday) is about the most respectful, and easily the best informed of them all. Considering she is the child of a missionary family, her input should be valued. I value it and i can be extremely obnoxious and combative with atheists coming here looking for an argument.
@Jumi_Knight_Elazul@xanga -
And her comment was correct. Islam started it existence by slaughtering Jews then Christians.it spread by the sword until it met resistance. Bittersunday is dead on, this world has never known peace and today is far from unusually bad. Human nature has not changed any
@Nikolais_apprentice@xanga - This is a public site and I'm free to express my opinion, regardless of my religion or lack thereof.
I come here because I like to be informed on how Christians think. I comment in order to show Christians how non-Christians think.
@Jumi_Knight_Elazul@xanga - I don't think you understood my comment.
Let me sum it up again.
What I was saying was that there has never been a time when Jews, Christians, and Muslims have co-existed peacefully in the past. And I think you need to do some more research on Lebanon before assuming that Muslims and Christians co-exist peacefully there.
You say "Everyone (no matter what year) goes through tests, trials, and tribulations." That's what I said in my original comment to you. That every age sucks because people suck.
I never said I don't think this age isn't evil (so I don't know where you got that from my comment). I said that it's no more rubbish then previous ages.
I've gone through my share of horrifically crappy times, thank you very much. But I'm wise enough and know enough about history to realize that things were bad 1,000 years ago, 10,000 years ago and that things aren't any worse or any more "sinful" then they were in the past.
"More abundant" ? I'd suggest, if you haven't already, to take a world history class. Read up on ancient Greek times. Ancient Roman times. The Crusades. The French Revolution. Then please tell me that humanity is worse now then it has been. Because you're incorrect--from both a Biblical standpoint (I'm not a Christian but it seems you were trying to argue from a "Christian" perspective) and a rational standpoint. People don't change. They are as terrible now as they were 300 years ago.
And f'serious...leave the ad-hominim attacks out of debates next time, okay? It makes your argument look weak and makes the person saying them look desperate.
@bittersunday@xanga - You think we don't know how non-Christians think? And that it's your responsibility to teach us?
@Nikolais_apprentice@xanga - From my experience, no I don't think many Christians know how non-Christians think. And vice versa.
I mean, it's a basic split of personal philosophy--I can't understand what it's like to believe in god and wholeheartedly believe the Bible to be truth just as I imagine most Christians cannot understand what it's like to NOT believe the Bible as god-breathed.
It's my responsibility because I believe people should be informed of other belief systems and the way they work. Hence why I comment here. I find it refreshing, intriguing, and intellectually stimulating to know how other people's minds work.
And my goodness...combative much? Chill out, okay? There's no need to be rude.
@bittersunday@xanga - *COUGH* TROLL *COUGH*
Don't be such a bitter person, it's pretty irritating. I see people like you all the time always trying to make an argue and shove your point of view down the throats of others. Ok, whatever you say, whatever makes you happy and whatever makes you sleep at night. I will not waste my time on you, good day.
@trunthepaige@xanga - Doood, if Islam was all murderous, then EVERYONE would be dead. Muslims are people just trying to live their life, they walk around the street and are peaceful.
Islam is a means of being human and a way of life, yeah sometimes things get taken out of context (every religion has it's... Odd ones) but that doesn't mean you should let a few people ruin your perspective.
But as I can see a lot of people don't get that.
"Deaf, dumb and blind" I feel really sorry for a lot of folks....
@bittersunday@xanga - I'm not trying to be rude. I'm curious.
Did you know that most Christians were not raised in the belief system? Most of us know what it's like not to believe the way we do, because we were either raised in a different belief system, or didn't fully accept it until we were old enough to understand it. So yes, most of us do understand how non-Christians think. A lot of people, especially here, I find, won't admit to it and like to gloss over that fact.
@Jumi_Knight_Elazul@xanga - I'm not a troll (if you would read my other comments on here you might know that) and I'm not here for an argument either. I was very respectful in both of my comments to you, I did not push anything on you, and you were extremely rude back. I think that makes you more "troll-ish", sir, not me.
And don't worry, I won't waste any of my time on you either. ^_^ I like intelligent discussion, not ones where all the other person can do is insult and throw little tantrums.
Insulting everyone who disagrees with you will not get you very far in life. I hope someday you will mature a bit and realize that.
@Nikolais_apprentice@xanga - Your response sounded very rude and defensive to me, but if it was truly your intent to not be rude then I will take your word for it. You know yourself better than I do.
A lot of Christians were raised outside of Christianity, yes (I'm a missionary kid. I know this very well). However, that doesn't mean that all of them do. Which is why I visit the site and comment.
If you think you understand how I think, awesome. Then I'm not commenting for you. I'm commenting on behalf of those who think all atheists are like Richard Dawkins.
And just as you were curious to know why I come here, perhaps I am curious as well to understand my parent's and boyfriend's religion better on a more personal level. I think you and I are both entitled to our curiosity.