Never giving up in a world of surrender

Hebrews 12:4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin

Too often certain moral failures (sins) are excused, defended, and promoted on the basis of experiences and failed struggles. "I tried not to be ____" or "I tried not to like _____" are viewed as proof that the reality is they were fighting against something that simply was a part of them (and the science scrambles to interpret various inane biological events and chemicals in a way that favors these theories). It's argued that they could not stop doing what they felt wrong doing because in actuality, that was a natural part of them- in fact it was only "wrong" to them because society impressed upon them it was wrong. Since it's natural to them we should embrace it as they have. They're happier without struggling.

This is a ridiculous and dangerous argument, because:
1. It presents the concept that something you cannot fight is simply natural AND that therefore it should be embraced.
2. If you argue that someone who cannot resist urges therefore must have been born with them, and therefore ought NOT to resist them (but rather embrace them and be lauded for them) - and that by extension the only reason they're wrong is because society tells them it is (but how dare society do so) - then it is no exaggeration to state that it follows that serial killers only do what is natural to them, and who are we as society to force them to struggle against what is just in their blood. Why can't THEY be happy? Who are WE to restrain them?

While sin is natural, it is NOT to be embraced. Our life is to be an endless and difficult battle against the constant temptations. We will fall disgracefully short in our struggles and must rely on God, but the simple and convicting fact remains that if a man must spend 80 years struggling futilely against for instance alcoholism or urges toward domestic violence he must nevertheless absolutely and unfailingly battle to the point of sweat, tears, and blood against those sinful urges.

He may even have a less than cheerful life, but better to have a life of struggle and pain and wisdom than a life of carefree and reckless desires which leads to damnation. "Choose you this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" as Joshua said, though in this context we might understand the weight of that statement better.
Indeed, we may find that decades of hard struggle will serve as a blessing in disguise as we come to appreciate the multitude of blessings and smaller joys that God has placed around us.

Truly, even if this entire life is a 100 year slog through mud and crap (metaphorically) filled with pain and loss and hurt and grief and desperate repentance, EVEN THEN it would be better that it were thus and we did not cease our striving but looked forward to the immeasurable rewards of eternity with God.



On a related note: WHEN will we realize the horrific damage we commit upon those who learn from us by failing to rebuke, or affirming, or accepting, or promoting their confused ideas and their sinfulness.