Tag Archives: the Beast of Lust

Creatures of Instinct

If you have ever read about or studied the spiritual climate prior to previous great awakenings, morality tends to move in cycles.  When individuals experience the happier days in life, human beings can forget about the Creator above who brought good tidings and great joy.  If this trend continues, it won’t be long before your flesh leads you to become creatures of instinct.

But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish, 2 Peter 2:12.

Although each previous generation claim they had it harder, those who lived during periods of self-control were likely spared from the beast of lust.  For those born in ages of disobedience or sexual revolutions, the forces of temptation are magnified.  As complacency, justification and rationalization kick in, the desire to indulge intensifies.  Thus, many become pawns of the sinful nature.

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world, 1 John 2:16.

When the dust settles, creatures of instinct find a valley of sin standing in their way from God’s hands of forgiveness.  As the apostle Paul states in Galatians 5, an opposing force acts as a sparing partner.  Free will adds to this equation, placing a priority on decision making.  Thus, if you follow in the footsteps of Moses, choose life before a creature of instinct leads you down the wrong road.

by Jay Mankus

Terminators of the Faith

The decade of the 1980’s gave birth to an unusual phenomena, the desire to embrace bad boys.  Thus, as The Terminator series was introduced in 1984 starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, for many people fantasy turned into reality.  Whether it is a coincidence or not, three years later the Jamaican reggae group Inner Circle first released Bad Boys on their One Way album.  Two years later this song was re-released on Identified which was then adopted as the theme song of the show Cops.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them, 1 John 2:15.

In a chapter dedicated to explaining the concept of spiritual warfare, Ephesians 6, the apostle Paul compares Satan to a skilled warrior who shoots flaming arrows at his enemies.  If the shield of faith is not used to defend yourself, battles will be lost.  Earlier in his teaching, Paul refers to bringing a knife to a gun fight so to speak in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4.  Essentially, if you don’t arm yourself with the right spiritual weapons, you will be unable to overcome the terminators of the faith.

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world, 1 John 2:16.

The Christian group Tribe of Dan illustrates this in their song The Beast of Lust.  Everyone has a weakness, vulnerable to specific temptations.  Once hooked, these bad habits turn into addiction, causing wondering eyes to crave for more and more.  When you reach the point of no return, the pride of life takes over, telling you, “everything is alright or I can handle this.”  If intervention does not occur, this downward spiral leads to what C.S. Lewis calls diabolical pride, where you are right and everyone else is wrong.  If you find yourself trapped, held captive by these terminators of the faith, may the Holy Spirit show you the way out of your predicament, 1 Corinthians 10:12-13.

by Jay Mankus

 

 

Shocking Words from Inside the Bible

Inside of book 3 within Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote a chapter entitled Sexual Morality.  Lewis takes an unusual angle, comparing food to sex, using this to explain why an adult may venture into a strip club.  This appetite is called the Beast of Lust by the group Tribe of Dan, a powerful force which persuades people to wander further than they ever expected or thought to go beyond God’s boundaries defined by the Bible.  Lewis is likely referencing 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, where the apostle Paul warns believers against giving into their sexual desires outside of marriage.  Paul introduces the concept of soul ties, where sleeping with another person binds a part of your soul together with this individual.  These ties are strong, often ruining marriages due to previous encounters, one night stands or prior relationships.

One of my favorite classes I taught for 10 years changed its name several times, yet the textbook remained the same, Mere Christianity.  Upon reaching C.S. Lewis’ chapter on sex, I usually spent a day introducing students to Leviticus 18, a guide for what is and what isn’t lawful sexually.  Although many of the things mentioned are common sense, if you have ever read the book of Genesis, you might be surprised by what you missed, overlooked or like me, shake your head, feeling like you need a shower.  Incest, homosexuality and one night stands are a common theme within the first 37 chapters of Genesis.  Chapter 38 even eludes to masterbation in verses 9-10 and contains an act of prostitution before ending in the birth of twins.  Yes, there are definitely shocking words from inside the Bible, yet why do they exist?

First, sex is the first and last act of the sinful nature.  Galatians 5:19 lists sexual immorality as the most natural feeling, inclination or tendency that human beings face.  When someone feeds this hunger without limits, it can give birth to orgies, the last act of the flesh in Galatians 5:21 when sin is full blown.  Second, God doesn’t beat around the bush; He is honest, telling the world what to expect when you indulge into worldly pleasures, Romans 8:5-9.  Free will gives everyone options, to do as they please while on earth.  Finally, Jesus is real, speaking on your level, even if it meant speaking to drunk guests at weddings, John 2:1-11.  While many churches are afraid of speaking about sex in sermons, the Bible is full of shocking words to get your attention so that one day, you might make reservations for a future life in heaven, John 3:16-17.  Jesus is just a prayer away, Romans 10:9-10!

by Jay Mankus