In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.
“…since the flesh is always with us this side of heaven, the engine never stops. At best it is idling; at worst, it is racing! – isn’t that the truth!
“When you seem to be susceptible to every fleshly bug in the atmosphere, it is probably because your spiritual immune system isn’t functioning. You have been ‘quenching the spirit’ by indulging in the flesh – guilty”
In addition to Kirk’s disobedience to God‘s daily prompting about getting up in the morning, Kirk was feeding the flesh in several other areas. List them.
“unwholesome conversations and associations, unwholesome movie choices, lack of adequate rest, lack of spiritual refueling”
Is it possible to feed the flesh in one area of life without its affecting other areas of life? Explain your answer.
“No, it may seem like the different areas can be kept apart and compartmentalized, but they will inevitably seep through or spill over.”
Take some time to answer the following questions about your schedule and lifestyle. Are there elements that need to be put off because they are high in flesh content? Make Psalm 139:23-24 your prayer as you rate yourself on each item and prayerfully consider the amount of fleshly influence in your life
1=mostly high in “flesh content”
2=somewhat high in “flesh content”
3=seldom high in “flesh content”
4=never high in “flesh content”
Is your entertainment flesh-free? Rate
the content of the movies and television programs you watch; “2”
the style and content of the music you listen to; “4 mostly; 2 occasionally”
the atmosphere of your favorite restaurants and other places where you spend your leisure time; “3”
the values you absorb, watching or participating in your favorite sports; “4, or 2 if Smoking Gun World’s Dumbest is included”
the amount of time you spend in these kinds of pursuits. “3, or 1 if video games are included”
Is your pursuit of possessions flesh-free (clothes, electronics, automobiles, house, etc.)? Rate
the appeal to your pride in being ‘socially correct’ with the group you wish to impress; “3”
the stumbling block you are to others who are trying to impress you the same way; “3”
the sexual appeal to others in the way you dress; “3”
the values you absorb when studying the latest fashion, lifestyle, sports, and consumer magazines to make sure you are current. “3”
Are your friendships flesh-free? Rate
the content of your conversation – sexual, crude, materialistic, or obsessive; “3”
the physical contact with others – arousing desires in them, and in you that cannot righteously be gratified; “4”
the ‘iron sharpening iron’ influence on each other for godliness (living as though God is all that matters) or for worldliness (living as though this world – our world – is all that matters); “2 or 3, depending on the friend and the day”
the attitudes that are fostered – authority versus rebellion, order versus chaos and disorder, and so forth. “2”
Dearest Rachel –
I have a sneaking feeling that, were it not for me, some of your numbers would actually be higher that you’ve submitted. Granted, I suppose that your response to how your experience with physical contact was ‘never’ fleshly was because our relationship was the exception – whatever desires were stimulated between the two of us could be gratified ‘righteously’ (a situation I think both us found amusingly strange from time to time). But I suspect that I may have had an influence on certain entertainments; sometimes in an effort to stimulate that physical contact, in fact.
I’m also a little bemused by your assertion that World’s Dumbest (at least, that’s my assumption as to what “SGWD” references) is a “fleshly” sort of entertainment. I supposed that there are proscriptions against schadenfreude (even if the word isn’t specifically used) in scripture, but I would assert that watching bad examples serve as a good lesson as to what not to do in life, as well as serving as a form of point-and-laugh entertainment. Then again, I might just be trying to justify my own choices in media consumption.
Although, at the same time, it might surprise you to discover that a lot of those things we used to watch together, I no longer partake in. I think it has to do with the fact that it’s just hard to enjoy the stuff we used to do together now that you’re not around to share it. That, and as far as I know, they’ve stopped making episodes of that series; I can hardly imagine the things some of those commenters said being permissible in the season of upheaval during your final year and the few following, to be honest. But some other entertainments have been set aside, too; I used to say they would give us ideas, but now that they can’t be acted upon, what’s the point?
Still, I suspect I was a bit of a bad influence on you, except with regard to the one thing you actually give a possible “high in fleshly content” rating to. And yes, sweetheart, I dare say that video games count, especially since they were eating up time. It wasn’t even time that could be shared, like when we would watch television or videos together. But you were there in the room, enjoying yourself, and that was enough for me at the time. If you were happy, and Daniel was happy with his pursuits, that was quite sufficient.
I still wish we could return to those days, although I suppose the happiness you’re enjoying now far outweighs anything that could be experienced down here. With that said, I also wish you could tell me about it, but I guess I’d settle for you keeping an eye on me, and wishing me well. You can probably guess that I’m going to need it.
Letters to Rachel 