ANIMALISM - DRIVEN BY PHYSICAL DESIRES RATHER THAN SPIRITUAL OR INTELLECTUAL
Don’t we all struggle with this from time to time? Paul explains his struggles with the flesh in Romans 7. While we must continue in our fight against the ‘animal instincts’ or carnal desires that we have and even though we can never condone sinful behavior or attempt to excuse it based on these universal desires, isn’t it comforting to know that even the apostles had similar struggles? Some of my favorite scriptures are the ones where Peter says or does something foolish and has to be rebuked by the Lord. I don’t like them because I want to make fun of Peter or laugh at his mistakes, but they are my favorites because they give me hope that I too can be a great servant to God even though I constantly make mistakes. They also give me hope that I can overcome those tempting desires and foolish human thoughts.
More and more, Christians are giving in to the humanistic mind-set that we are just animals and we can’t control some of our behaviors. “Teenagers are going to have sex it is just a natural fact” or “I can’t help it, I am just made that way”. Sound familiar? All too often, we Christians fall for this palaver. We excuse or at least rationalize all sorts of sins based on these faulty premises. Instead of giving up and giving in, we need to remember that Paul, who struggled with this as much as we do, said there was one way to overcome this and any other sin. (Phil 4:13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Well, there you have it you have the choice to try in vain to conquer these temptations on your own, or you can successfully do it through Christ. I will be praying that you make the right choice.
Don’t we all struggle with this from time to time? Paul explains his struggles with the flesh in Romans 7. While we must continue in our fight against the ‘animal instincts’ or carnal desires that we have and even though we can never condone sinful behavior or attempt to excuse it based on these universal desires, isn’t it comforting to know that even the apostles had similar struggles? Some of my favorite scriptures are the ones where Peter says or does something foolish and has to be rebuked by the Lord. I don’t like them because I want to make fun of Peter or laugh at his mistakes, but they are my favorites because they give me hope that I too can be a great servant to God even though I constantly make mistakes. They also give me hope that I can overcome those tempting desires and foolish human thoughts.
More and more, Christians are giving in to the humanistic mind-set that we are just animals and we can’t control some of our behaviors. “Teenagers are going to have sex it is just a natural fact” or “I can’t help it, I am just made that way”. Sound familiar? All too often, we Christians fall for this palaver. We excuse or at least rationalize all sorts of sins based on these faulty premises. Instead of giving up and giving in, we need to remember that Paul, who struggled with this as much as we do, said there was one way to overcome this and any other sin. (Phil 4:13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Well, there you have it you have the choice to try in vain to conquer these temptations on your own, or you can successfully do it through Christ. I will be praying that you make the right choice.
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