A Battle Plan for Purity? Why another book on living sexually pure, when other authors and purity programs are already reporting great success in Christian circles? What differentiates the Way of Escape Battle Plan from purity programs that have gone before? There are five primary distinctive.
DISTINCTIVE OF THE WAY OF ESCAPE BATTLE PLAN FOR PURITY
- Limbic Weaponry: Emphasis is placed on using highly emotional, highly visual spiritual weaponry in the war against the flesh.
- Walking in the Spirit: Stepping up the degree to which one walks in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16) is the key to discovering God’s promised way of escape from temptation and resulting sin (I Corinthians 10:13).
- Active Pursuit of Regular Relationship Intimacy with the Holy Spirit: The active pursuit of regular relationship intimacy with the Holy Spirit is the key to unleashing His inner-working power (Ephesians 3:20) and winning the war against the flesh. Drop the passivity!
- Dramatic Drop in Enemy Attacks: The flesh’s attack capability is severely compromised by regular viewing of the Spirit-anointed, flesh-diffusing apps in pre-emptive mode, while the flesh is yet in a relatively weakened state.
- Flesh-Starving Accountability Not Required: By tapping into the Holy Spirit’s power to deliver from lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16), mind renewal is possible without ever having to enlist the aid of a flesh-starving accountability partner or group.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
THAT FIFTH DISTINCTIVE IS HUGE
That fifth distinctive is huge. All Christian authors and purity programs that I have reviewed insist that this is a battle that cannot be won alone. If it is to be successful, an accountability partner/group must be part of the recovery program. In support of this position, Scripture passages encouraging the confession of sin to a fellow Christian are often cited (e.g., Galatians 6:1-2, James 5:16). As are the added benefits of building community and stronger churches.
Despite these strong and convincing arguments, I suspect that most still-struggling Christians are still not seeking accountability-based help. In a survey of persons wanting to quit porn, a whopping 83% of respondents admitted to having no one in their life to help them quit [1]. The primary reason? The Shame Factor is too high. Too high for them to publicly admit that they have a sin problem and seek help. Many more would be willing to give purity programs a try, if they were not required to be part of an accountability group.
A PURITY PROGRAM WHERE PARTICIPANTS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE PART OF AN ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP
Now imagine the impact of a Battle Plan for Purity that would allow the individual Christian to overcome the flesh without having to enlist the aid of a flesh-starving accountability partner/group. A Way of Escape proposes to offer just such a Battle Plan. The key is learning how to step up the degree to which one “walks in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16).
A GAME-CHANGING BOOK HAS ARRIVED
In A Way of Escape, readers learn how to overcome the flesh—not by starving the flesh—but by stepping up the degree to which they “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16). They learn how to build a library of Spirit-anointed, flesh-diffusing apps. Apps that are uniquely fitted to them, and their unique Spirit-filling triggers (Ephesians 5:18b-19).
The still-struggling 83% now have another option. The still-struggling 83% now have fresh hope for discovering that long-sought-after way of escape from temptation and resulting sin (I Corinthians 10:13). A way that—because it is wholly Spirit-powered—does not require enlisting the aid of an accountability partner or group. Truly, a game-changer!
THANK YOU, HOLY SPIRIT!
REFERENCES
1. The Porn Phenomenon: The Impact of Pornography in the Digital Age, Barna Group, Ventura, CA, page 112 (83% determined as the average of 79% for Teens and Young Adults and 87% for Adults Age 25 and Older), 2016
