A difficult series of blogs to write (Blogs 55-61). Negatively critiquing the work of my dear brothers and sisters in the faith gives me no pleasure. Brothers and sisters that—with nothing but the best of intentions—are also tirelessly and sincerely striving to glorify God and edify the Church. But neither can I remain silent. I cannot sit on news that can benefit untold numbers of still-struggling fellow believers (see www.wileygrafbooks.com/news/fresh-hope-for-the-83-percent-v9). I cannot sit on news that heaps praise on the oft-forgotten God of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. News that could potentially even help to ignite revival in the Church—a Holy Spirit Revival (see www.wileygrafbooks.com/news/revival-in-the-church-v8)! I take no pleasure in negative critiquing, but neither can I remain silent. I must share what I have learned firsthand of the Holy Spirit’s exceeding abundant inner-working power (Ephesians 3:20) to deliver believers from addictive lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16)!
All of the higher profile Bible-based purity programs insist that accountability is the addict’s only way of escape from addictive lusts of the flesh. But Scripture clearly teaches that there is another way. A wholly Spirit-powered way (Galatians 5:16). The first in a series of five blogs (1-of-5) that attempts to explain how easily Bible-based purity programs could have missed the Bible’s wholly Spirit-Powered Escape Plan. The first in a series of five blogs examining Bible-based (but Spirit-passive!) purity programs.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
BUILDING UPON A PROVEN FOUNDATION ...
With the best of intentions, most builders of Bible-based purity programs have reasoned that, “An addiction to pornography is neurologically similar to an alcohol addiction. Alcoholics have been breaking free from their addictions using the proven accountability-based methods of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) for decades. Why re-invent the wheel? By simply adding Scripture to AA’s proven accountability-based methods, this Scripture-added form of AA could be used to help believers break free from their porn/sex addictions.”
Sounds reasonable. And this approach has indeed provided many still-struggling believers with a way of escaping the sins of the flesh (albeit an extremely difficult way; see the next two sections of this blog). But any hope of building an easier-to-successfully-navigate, wholly Spirit-powered purity program for conquering the flesh is already pretty much dead in the water. Here’s why ...
...BUT A FOUNDATION THAT RESTS BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
The World has no working knowledge of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit cannot therefore possibly play even a minor role in the World’s purity programs. Builders of Bible-based purity programs do, of course, think to add Scripture and to identify Jesus Christ as their Higher Power, but, at best, leave the Spirit as only a passive player in their building plans. In the born-of-the-Spirit believer’s war with the flesh, it has therefore already been determined that most of today’s Bible-based purity programs will not teach the believer how to:
· Rid himself of the lusts of the flesh by walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16)
· Access the Spirit’s exceeding abundant inner-working power to accomplish more than the still-struggling believer could ever ask or think (Ephesians 3:20)
· Fulfill the righteous requirements of the law by walking according to the Spirit (Romans 8:2-4)
· Put to death the deeds of the flesh by living according to the Spirit (Romans 8:12-13)
Tragically, the Church is awash with whole books and whole programs that never once cite any of the above classic purity-based Bible passages!
In this fatal first step, the fate of the still-struggling believer has been sealed. With the Spirit playing, at best, only a passive role in most Bible-based purity programs, the still-struggling believer has been placed squarely between a rock and a hard place. The still-struggling believer must now either: (i) go public with his sin problem and enlist the aid of a flesh-starving accountability partner/group to escape the lusts of the flesh, or (ii) continue in his secret, shame-filled, hypocritical, inconsistent walk. Most builders of Bible-based purity programs have given the still-struggling believer no other option.
ANOTHER OPTION: EASY-PEASY, WHOLLY SPIRIT-POWERED ESCAPE!
Those insisting that accountability is the only way of escape openly acknowledge that accountability-based escape (= partner/group-aided starving of the flesh) may be the hardest thing that an addict will ever do in his life (see www.wileygrafbooks.com/news/the-hardest-thing-v9). On the other hand, escape in the Way of Escape Battle Plan is accomplished by repeatedly popping a DVD into a DVD player and drowning oneself in the Holy Spirit. Easy-Peasy! Why the dramatic drop in difficulty? Because itis always easier to “Feed the Spirit” than to “Starve the Flesh.” Much, much easier.
It is always easier to “Feed the Spirit” than to “Starve the Flesh.” Much, much easier.
A GAME-CHANGING BOOK HAS ARRIVED
In A Way of Escape, readers learn how feeding the Spirit results in a much easier-to-successfully-navigate Escape Route. Readers learn how to escape the lusts of 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).
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
The still-struggling now have another option. The still-struggling 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!
