Conversations about sex and pornography have, for too long, been relegated to men’s groups. Confusion and temptation don’t target a specific population, but confront all of humanity. In a recent conversation we had with a college student here at Regen, she shared her story of hiding, sin, and the importance of community and grace. If we, as a culture, invite authenticity and vulnerability, then...
Thief Alive
There were two criminals suffering with Jesus at His death. In our own areas of pain, I think many of us align with the first thief, demanding God relieve suffering on our terms, and ready to turn on Him or from Him when He doesn’t. (Last week, I wrote that Jesus ignored this thief’s demand not because He didn’t care, but because the thief was asking for something Jesus could not, in love, give.)...
You May Need to Quit Fighting
Can you think of an area of your life where you’re losing an ongoing battle with temptation, returning to a particular sin again and again? If so, maybe you need to quit fighting. When we talk about dealing with temptation, we often use words like struggle, fight, battle or war. With good reason. We are in a spiritual war and have been since the beginning. This kind of imagery is all over the New...
Men, We’ve Got To Remember
Men have forgotten who they are. The masses of men regularly viewing porn, sleeping around, losing all resolve at the sight of naked flesh—these reveal that on some deep level man has forgotten. Men, you are meant for more than temptation tells you you are. Jesus did not go through such trouble to leave you gutted and groveling. He came to resurrect in you godly masculine strength—the kind loyal...
Oh to See Again!
Is it possible you and I have never fully used our eyes before? What if we’ve been looking at the world around us, the people around us, even ourselves, but we’ve never really seen before? When Adam and Eve rebelled against God at the very beginning, the Scriptures teach that their eyes were “opened” and they “knew they were naked” (Genesis 3:7). It almost sounds as if previously they’d been...
A Culture Confused
Look closely at what’s being done and listen closely to what is being said, and it’s apparent our culture is deeply confused and conflicted about sex and sexuality. We imply that sex is no big deal, and yet we can’t fathom anyone going without it. We abhor sex trafficking of minors (as we should), but we view the sexualization of children through media and fashion as harmless fun. 20% fewer of us...