Overcoming Loneliness and Temptation: A Path to Freedom: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 13:19, 15 December 2024

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Loneliness can feel like an inescapable prison. Consider for a moment living alone on a desert island, free from societal constraints but also from human connection. Few would choose this 'freedom' because, in truth, it's not freedom but a profound captivity to solitude. Solitary confinement is feared for this very reason. Contrary to Jean-Paul Sartre's famous quote, hell is not other people - most people find that hell is being absolutely alone.

Why discuss loneliness when talking about lust and pornography?

The connection is profound. Many turn to pornography as an escape from their solitude, yet this escape only deepens their isolation, trapping them in a cycle of loneliness and temptation.

General Notes:

Spiritual Battle: Acknowledging God's presence within us does not remove us from temptation or moral struggles. We all have weaknesses; outside of Christ, we are vulnerable, but through Him, we find solidarity. Always practice kindness and adhere to God's Word. - **Isolation in Society**: Even surrounded by people, one can feel profoundly alone. This isolation might arise from differing values or unstable living situations. For further exploration, consider Being Human in a Technological World.
Battling Addiction: When addressing addiction, particularly to online pornography, the conventional advice is to change your environment. However, this is challenging with the internet's pervasive nature. While some can use tools to block content, the global web remains unchanged. Efforts are ongoing, from technological solutions to legislative attempts, offering hope for improvement over time.

Notes for Those Battling:

Power in Christ: "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) Through Christ, you have the power to overcome and heal.
Shared Burden: "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2) You are not solely responsible for the widespread issue of pornography; it's a common battle. Let not guilt overwhelm you.
Endurance: "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:4) The 'way of escape' can sometimes mean merely surviving. Social acceptance might be elusive, but enduring through your struggles is a testament to your faith and resistance against temptation.
Confession and Light: "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." (John 3:20-21) Speak to trusted Christian friends about your struggles. Sin flourishes in secrecy but withers under the light of confession.

In this journey, remember the encouragement from Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." Let us support one another in overcoming loneliness and temptation, striving together towards a life that reflects our faith and hope in God's enduring faithfulness.

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-"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)
+<blockquote>"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
-Loneliness is the worst. It is tough. Very tough. Consider for a second whether you would be okay with living the rest of your life alone on a desert island. You can be forever free from the restrictions and rules of society without ever interacting with anyone else again. Very few people would choose this option of ‘freedom’ because it is the opposite of freedom. It is being inescapably trapped in loneliness. Loneliness is a big reason why solitary confinement in prison has such a reputation. “The joke […] is hell is other people. That is absolutely wrong. Hell is being absolutely alone.” (Ben Shapiro, ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VVquhoUFIs&t=994s The Ben Shapiro Show – Ep. 1699 – How the West Turned Kids Suicidal]'', 16:34-17:21).
+(1 Corinthians 10:13)</blockquote>Loneliness can feel like an inescapable prison. Consider for a moment living alone on a desert island, free from societal constraints but also from human connection. Few would choose this 'freedom' because, in truth, it's not freedom but a profound captivity to solitude. Solitary confinement is feared for this very reason. Contrary to Jean-Paul Sartre's famous quote, hell is not other people - most people find that hell is being absolutely alone.
-Why do we start an article on lust and porn by talking about loneliness? Because these issues are closely related. Many lonely individuals find online porn to be a functional escape from their predicament yet it worsens the loneliness from which the individual wants to escape.
+== Why discuss loneliness when talking about lust and pornography? ==
+The connection is profound. Many turn to pornography as an escape from their solitude, yet this escape only deepens their isolation, trapping them in a cycle of loneliness and temptation.
-General notes:
+== General Notes: ==
-* Knowledge of God’s presence indwelling believers doesn’t remove us from the spiritual and moral battle. Every person has their weaknesses. Apart from Christ, we are lost and vulnerable. With Christ, we’re all on the same level. Be kind at all times and stay true to God’s Word.
+* '''Spiritual Battle:''' Acknowledging God's presence within us does not remove us from temptation or moral struggles. We all have weaknesses; outside of Christ, we are vulnerable, but through Him, we find solidarity. Always practice kindness and adhere to God's Word. - **Isolation in Society**: Even surrounded by people, one can feel profoundly alone. This isolation might arise from differing values or unstable living situations. For further exploration, consider ''[[Being Human in a Technological World]]''.
-* It is possible to feel lonely in societies and communities. Navigating social groups within which you share few social norms with the majority and transient or unsettled living circumstances can be reasons for such a situation. See ''[[Being Human in a Technological World]]'' for more info on this point.
+* '''Battling Addiction:''' When addressing addiction, particularly to online pornography, the conventional advice is to change your environment. However, this is challenging with the internet's pervasive nature. While some can use tools to block content, the global web remains unchanged. Efforts are ongoing, from technological solutions to legislative attempts, offering hope for improvement over time.
-* Common advice for beating addiction is removing temptation, or, as Harvard Health Publishing puts it, [https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/five-action-steps-for-quitting-an-addiction “change your environment”]. One of the particular difficulties of battling online pornography addiction is that individuals cannot completely change their environment. Personal devices and networks can, with paid software, be imperfectly adjusted, but the World Wide Web, with its millions of pornography sites and impact on popular culture, remains the same. Laws to prevent easy online porn access are not universally popular and therefore are hard to legislate.
-* The world is not inevitably always getting worse. Things sometimes change for the better (e.g. lead was removed from paint and petrol when it became obvious that it was poisonous). Technology is becoming cheaper and more capable, Christians who care about the issue of online pornography are developing new innovations and attempting to make important legal changes, and societal awareness about the negative consequences of our current predicament could be spreading. There is reason to hope that our current lamentable situation can improve.
-Notes for battlers:
+== Notes for Those Battling: ==
-* In Christ, you have the power to overcome () and heal ().
+* '''Power in Christ:''' "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) Through Christ, you have the power to overcome and heal.
-* You are not the cause of the broad problem of pornography. It is a common problem that many have to deal with. Don’t let guilt overwhelm you.
+* '''Shared Burden:''' "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2) You are not solely responsible for the widespread issue of pornography; it's a common battle. Let not guilt overwhelm you.
-* Taking “the way of escape” ideally should look like thriving or flourishing but it can look like bare survival. You cannot magic people into accepting you, and it’s quite difficult when you feel unaccepted. When life gets seriously tough, suicide can be a temptation but it is never a good ‘way out’. Persevering through a lonely social situation for years while struggling against the sin of online porn is a godly way out of temptation. This is resisting temptation.
+* '''Endurance:''' "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:4) The 'way of escape' can sometimes mean merely surviving. Social acceptance might be elusive, but enduring through your struggles is a testament to your faith and resistance against temptation.
-* Talk to Christians you trust about your struggles, whatever they look like. Sin grows in the dark and dies when it is brought into the light (John 3:19-21). Keep appropriately bringing sin into the light.
+* '''Confession and Light:''' "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." (John 3:20-21) Speak to trusted Christian friends about your struggles. Sin flourishes in secrecy but withers under the light of confession.
-[[Category:Personal]]
-[[Category:Loneliness]]
+In this journey, remember the encouragement from Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." Let us support one another in overcoming loneliness and temptation, striving together towards a life that reflects our faith and hope in God's enduring faithfulness.
-[[Category:Lust]]
-[[Category:Porn]]