Dear Preacher

Here Are Some Questions From

Your Listeners in the Pews

Dear Preacher,

I know that we shouldn't get confused in church listening to the preaching, but I must tell you that sometimes I do. It sure would help me if you could clear up some things I've heard you say lately.

First, I know we all have to battle the forces of evil in our minds, but I'm a little confused in that area. You say you have sinful thoughts - just like everyone else. I would like for you to explain in a little more detail what you mean by "sinful thoughts." Do you mean that you spend time acting out sinful acts in your mind? What I mean is, how far do you go in your mind with adulterous thoughts, or do you get control of yourself and stop those thoughts before they progress that far? Do you actually act out in your mind things even worse than adultery? When a preacher mentions from the pulpit that he has evil thoughts, it leaves us all wondering what it was he was thinking about and just how far he went with it. If we only knew, then we would know how far we "lay people" can go. You know the Bible says you are the example for the flock, so surely God doesn't expect any more out of us than He does out of you, and if you can't get the victory over evil thinking, then surely we don't have a chance for victory ourselves.

About those thoughts - you said that the devil puts them in your mind. Could you explain to us why Jesus said in Matthew 15:19 that they come from an evil heart? I was under the impression that the devil is the tempter, but that he cannot force us to sin. I thought that James 1 teaches that the devil uses the lusts of our flesh to draw us away from God and tempt us. I thought it was a lot like we do when we put bait on a hook to catch a fish or a trap to catch an animal. I didn't think he could put the bait in our mouth or force us into the trap. If he can control our mind at will, then it seems the armor of God isn't very effective and the mind of Christ isn't sufficient to resist him. I really need to know what to do. If there is no victory for me in this battle, I would rather settle back and quit trying so hard. If, no matter how hard I try, evil is present and will overcome me, then it seems of little use to try. I've heard over and over that I am not going to succeed in trying to be holy because the best I could do would smell like stinking rags to God. That sort takes away the incentive to try to please Him, if you know what I mean. My boss at work treats me better than that.

Can the devil make me carry on with evil thoughts and indulge myself in gross sin in my thoughts? I really need to know the answer to this one because it will make a big difference in how I deal with it. It would be a real relief to me to know that it really isn't my fault after all. God wouldn't be just to judge ME for those sins, would He?

You'll please forgive me, but it would be such a disappointment to me to find out that you and other preachers indulge yourselves in evil thoughts and imagine yourselves in bed with other women and such things. I thought men of God holy men that "walk with God" and live on a higher plane than the perverts downtown.

I'll be anxiously awaiting your reply.

One of your sheep

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