The Truth About: The Flesh vs. The Spirit 1/3

We live in a time, in a church that seeks and years for openness; yet it does not seem ready for the deep truths and sadness and struggles in the lives of its members. While the church is diving deeper into helping those who have been divorced, face death, grief, loss, depression, weight issues, drug, and alcohol issues; is the church ready for openness regarding other deep issues? Is the church ready to discuss body image/self-esteem issues, eating disorders, abuse, anger, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, adultery, lust, premarital sex, masturbation, or pornography (to name a few)?

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- Galatians 5:19-21

Our members wants frankness but aren't quite sure if the church is a safe place. Will people gossip about us? Will they put out prayer requests on issues we might not want public? Will they think ill of us for admitting fault? The truth is we are all dirty, that none are perfect, and that Christ died for all our sins. We have mental images of others being perfect Christians, but this is simply not true, a lie to deceive us. I believe we all are simply too scared to let down our defenses, too fearful to be honest and vulnerable, too hurt to weep with others or for ourselves while on the outside we feel the ongoing need to express ongoing contentment, happiness, joy, and smiles to those watching.

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! - Romans 7: 21-25a

Can and will we be able to share our struggles, trials, and confusions about life? Paul tells us we have two competing desires, while one part of us bows before God in our spirit, another part of us bows before self, forsaking God and others, even sacrificing our future when we are swayed by our temporal fleshly desires.

~ Daniel Brockhan

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