Something that I have contemplated a lot over the years has to do with our apparent natural inclination to continuously desire (and do) what is not best for us...then we say something like, "I was born that way." Or, "That's just the way I am".
I am not talking about natural God-Given personality traits and abilities (or lack of them); we are born with those sorts of things. I am talking about doing things that are bad for us and then claiming somehow that we can't change, because that's just who we are.
And, when someone tries to help us, we get defensive and sometimes mad…and call that person 'judgmental', 'intolerant', or 'holier-than-thou'. (I tend to simply ignore those trying to help me)…and they are trying to help us stop hurting ourselves!!
We have all done it.
I know I have, and still do somewhat from time to time. None of us want anyone telling us what to do or 'how to run our lives'. But that's another blog for another day.
What I keep wondering about is how we get this way. I know that we are all born in sin. We don't have to be taught to do wrong. We are naturally drawn to certain ways of living that God has stated are clearly wrong; or, to things that we know in our heart are not best for us. Profanity, homosexuality, sex outside of marriage, over drinking, over eating, pornography, stealing, lying, manipulation, gossip…and the list goes on and on…………and on. We are all guilty in many areas.
So, how do we get to the point that we actually defend our sin and demand that others 'accept us for who we are'? How do we get to the place where we justify the very things that are destroying us?
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In the meantime, back at the Jordan house…Kaley and Elijah rented the documentary, Supersize Me…it was quite interesting. As an experiment to explore the effects on one's physical and psychological well-being, Morgan Spurlock chose to eat nothing but fast food (McDonalds) for one month. His rules were simple:
-He must fully eat three McDonald's meals per day
-He must sample every item on the McDonald's menu at least once over the course of the 30 days
-He must only ingest items on the menu. Including bottled water.
-Any and all outside consumption of food is prohibited.
-He must eat a McDonald's salad every tenth meal
-He must "Super Size"" his meal whenever, and only when, the option is offered to him.
-He must only walk 5,000 steps per day.
Before the experiment, Spurlock, age 32 at the time the movie was filmed in 2003, ate a varied diet but always ate vegan evening meals…since his girlfriend is a vegan chef. Overall, he was healthy. At 6 feet 2 inches tall, he weighed 185.5 lbs.
After thirty days, he gained 24.5 lbs. He also experienced mood swings, sexual dysfunction, and liver problems. It took Spurlock fourteen months to lose the weight he gained.
But what really got me was this: In the beginning, his body reacted negativly to this change…to the point that he threw up (on the third day, I think). But, after a while, he actually began to crave it! This unhealthy lifestyle even became his comfort at times, both physically and psychologically. And even though his own body tried to tell him along the way that this was a bad thing, he chose to coninue on through the warnings…to the point of seemingly needing it.
As I was contemplating this, I realized that is similar to what we do regarding sin. At some point, we make a choice to continue in our sin or unhealthy lifestyle. We choose to push through all the warnings signs and eventually become the thing that we have chosen! And then say, "Well, that's just who I am."
It was at this point, I heard something. I will say that it was from God, but I don't know for sure what that voice sounds like anymore. But, I think I can at least say it was based on Godly concepts…
Tim, what or who do you want to be? It is your choice. You become your choices. Choose sin and ungoldy paths, you will become an ungodly person. Be apathetic, and choose to live in the gray areas of life, you will become a lukewarm person. Choose to follow Jesus and the Godly path, and you will become a Godly person. It is all your own personal choice, and you are soley responsible for this.
So Tim, don't blame others, the world, circumstances, and life events for what you have become. Don't claim that you can't change…the fact is, you choose not to. Make Godly choices throughout each day, and you will begin to change to a more Godly person. It's not always easy, but it's simple.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
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