Write a Letter to Your Tempted Self
The recent scandalous revelations regarding well-known Christian leaders have left many people reeling in shock and dismay. As we discover the depths of sin to which they fell, and as we observe the devastating impact of their hypocrisy, we may find ourselves wondering, “What were they thinking?”
And the answer is, they weren’t.
Listen to how Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes the mind-numbing effects of embracing temptation:
At this moment God is quite unreal to us, he loses all reality, and only desire for the creature is real…Satan does not here fill us with hatred of God, but with forgetfulness of God…The powers of clear discrimination and of decision are taken from us. The questions present themselves: “Is what the flesh desires really sin in this case?” “Is it really not permitted to me, yes – expected of me, now, here, in my particular situation, to appease desire?”
In that moment when the siren song of temptation convinces us to rationalize our way into sin, we’re rarely thinking about how that sin will impact our relationships with God and with those whom we love and lead. We become forgetful of our sacred commitments and of the consequences of breaking them.
So how can we help ourselves remember?
Several years ago, I was contemplating this question in the wake of another devastating wave of fallen Christian leaders. And I decided to write a letter to my tempted self– a letter that contemplated a hypothetical world in which it was my name that was splashed across the headlines, a world in which it was I who had made a series of foolish compromises, a world in which it was my sin that was now exposed for all to see.
I wrote this letter to force myself to think about the consequences of sin, and over the years, I have periodically pulled that letter out and read it aloud to myself. Each time I do, it strikes a healthy fear in my heart, and it reinforces in me the importance of proactively cultivating a healthy walk with God so that my love for Him remains stronger than any temptation I may face.
A letter like this, of course, is not a silver bullet, but it can be another small and helpful weapon in the arsenal against temptation. I’ve included a copy of my letter below. It’s not particularly eloquent, but it does the job for me. You might consider writing one of these for yourself.
Brent,
Whenever you are tempted to take even the smallest step toward moral impurity, please consider the following irrefutable reasons to turn around and walk away:
Nothing you do is hidden from God. He sees and knows all, and one day you will stand before Him to give an account for your every thought and action.
Elvie respects you. You’d be a fool to trade something as valuable as her trust and respect for the temporary pleasure of even a fleeting glance. What little enjoyment that might be had from such does not begin to compare with the immense heartbreak and damage it would cause in your marriage.
Since sons often follow in their father’s footsteps, if you fall into moral impurity, it will increase the likelihood that Bryce will likewise fall into lustful habits. You owe it to him to be pure.
If you want Caryssa to marry a husband of integrity and moral purity, then you’d better be one yourself.
Should you fall into sin and that sin become public (and it usually does eventually), Bryce and Caryssa would lose respect for you and could grow up resenting you for turning their lives upside down through your foolishness.
Should you fall into sin and that sin become public (and it usually does eventually), you would have to face friends and family members with what you did. Those relationships might never be the same.
A guilty conscience will prevent you from preaching and counseling about moral issues with credibility and confidence.
If you willfully nurture secret sin, you will experience God’s painful hand of discipline, and He may well withdraw His hand of blessing from your life and ministry.
Should you fall into moral impurity, your reputation would be ruined, and your ministry would probably be over. You would need to seek another career. What on earth would you do?
Should you fall into moral impurity, the people of your congregation would feel confused, betrayed, disillusioned, and angry. Some might even walk away from the Lord and you would bear responsibility for that.
Don’t do it. It’s wrong, and it’s not worth it. Jesus gave His life for you, and He deserves better from you.
Your wiser self,
Brent
JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST and get new articles and resources from THE PRODUCTIVE PASTOR delivered right to your email inbox.