Ravaged & Redeemed: Guys, Games and Porn...

The other night I attempted to lead a discussion with PatrisMC, a young adult community I lead. I say attempted because it may very well have been the most chaotic 'discussion' I've ever experienced...and I've spent years leading elementary and junior high discussion groups.

Now, let me say that I genuinely love this group. I truly believe the Spirit has created and spear-headed this community launch and is working to shape a new generation of disciples. That said, in several folks there is, quite simply, an inability to focus on the word, on others, on one topic...on one fruitfully developed thought for more than 60 seconds at any given moment.

I need movement. I enjoy technology. I track well with many transitions and rabbit trails - things movies and video games provide - and yet there's no replacement for genuine, respectful, honest exegesis and whole-hearted, whole-minded wrestling with the Scriptures in a group setting. Many voices. Many thoughts. Many experiences. One Word.

Jeremiah 17:5-10 was the focus of the discussion. A descriptive contrast between the person who trusts in mans strength, the flesh, the material world and worldly wisdom - and the person who confidently trusts in YHVH through Christ, the Word.

The cursed and The blessed. The ravaged and The redeemed.

I've been pondering that chaotic discussion in light of this passage all day. And in the mean time I stumbled across this article titled The Demise of Guys.

It's rare to meet a young dude (and more and more young ladies) who isn't or hasn't been addicted to some form of fast paced, insatiable, ever expanding, always renewed and yet extravagantly-destructive and life-depressing drug: video games, vulgar movies, social media, porn, ______.

To Jeremiah, God described what a truly free and purpose filled life is founded on and the fruit that comes of it. The Lord also terrifyingly described the cursed man, his foundation and the blindingly-depressed life that is his reward.

I felt this tension in the room the other night. In the midst of that discussion on Gods words to Jeremiah I could feel the spirit of the cursed pressing in on the Spirit of the blessed. I couldn't focus. I became  frustrated and many times quietly asked the Lord to bring focus and freedom to those in the room enslaved by the idea that 'whatever I want to do, whenever I want to do it is good and right and healthy.'

That false mindset founded on the quick fix and immediate gratification of self-pleasure and fulfillment has enslaved so many in the coming generation. It hasn't brought freedom, growth and maturity but only a perverted sense of empowerment and an atrophied and, if existent, faith to those who claim to believe in the very Christ who actually is life and who actually teaches against the temporary lusts of man.

The article above only reinforces what Jesus and the Apostles taught. That there is a path that leads to destruction, and as intense as that statement is, our bodies and the perverted abuse we put them through preach this to those who know us best and beyond.

It's quite the focused statement isn't it, to say that trusting in the Jesus of the Scriptures is the way to eternal life, purpose, freedom and fulfillment. And yet it takes so much faith, so much awareness of the correlation between the spiritual, philosophical, scientific life around and within us. It's such a simple truth loaded with all the complexities life offers...

Needless to say. It was a chaotic discussion the other night and yet I get it. There are supernatural forces vying for the hearts and minds and souls of each person during each hour, of each day.

Read Jeremiah 17:5-10 and Read The Demise of Guys. Cursed? Blessed? Ravaged? Redeemed?

Inside & Within

Imagine sitting in a theater waiting to listen to a fantastic speaker. Your favorite speaker in the world; they encourage you, everyone talks this person, it's a sold out venue, the lights go down, they walk on stage, pause...and look you, the audience, directly in the eyes and say, 'You are a wicked and dirty generation. You ridiculous fools living shameful lives...worse than some of the most vile sinners in history!'

Would you stick around?

While eating with some Pharisees (religious leaders) Jesus didn't wash his hands. Simple mistake right? The Pharisees wanted to make this a big deal, a sin. Jesus simply replied saying, 'you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness...'

Now, before dinner Jesus was in town speaking to a crowd and told them that the 'eye is a the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body is full of light but when they are bad, your body is full of darkness. Make sure that the light within you is not darkness...'

So, if we're dirty on the inside we'll be dirty on the outside. If we're living shameful lives on the outside odds are we're sinful and dirty on the inside. The audience didn't get this. They assumed that by looking clean on the outside they were clean on the inside; in their hearts and minds and spirits.

Jesus came and said...NO!

The inside matters. What you think matters to God. What you believe matters to God. What you desire matters to God. What your eyes see matters to God. What your hands touch matters to God. What you clean on the outside matters to God. What you transform on the inside matters to God. Everything you are matters to the God that made you.

What is inside you? What is within you? Is it light or darkness. Are you clean inside and out?
We have the knowledge, power, wisdom, insight, truth, righteousness, perfection of Christ within us.

Let's not be a wicked generation. Let's not remain fools.


- Passages from Lukes Gospel 11:29-41