Temptation @ MindSay

It always bothers me. 

Now, I know it shouldn't, because it's really perhaps a silly thing to be bothered about, but nevertheless, it does.  For children, especially young children, certain concessions do need to be made. I recognize that.

The lesson was from the basic, introductory Creation series.  Give those first graders a good foundation and all that.  Multimedia is important, too.  Video one week, audio another.  Interactive situations.  Great.  But this last week, the CD was portraying the temptation of Eve by the Serpent.  God's voice was big and booming and reverberating.  Eve's was ... feminine. A sturdy soprano.  Adam's a mellow tenor.  That's all fine.

But the teacher actually had to warn the students (six-year-olds) about the Serpent's voice. "It's scary," she told them. "But remember, this is only an actor for this lesson, so don't be afraid."

It was good that she said that, because the voice of the Serpent in the story was indeed frightening to small ears.  Sharp, mocking, also reverberating with strange, otherworldly elements added in a sound studio.  The children were made to feel uncomfortable by this voice; I could see it in their faces.

Still, they were very well-behaved. Even Cartoon Ranger, though he climbed on my lap and tucked his head under my chin. 

So what do I find troublesome? 

I guess, for me, it's the idea that the children are receiving that when the Enemy or any of his creatures speaks, beckons, tempts, whatever... That the tone will warn them that it's "the bad guy."  When, instead, quite the opposite is true.  Temptation is almost always attractive and appealing.  One of the greatest jests on mankind is the idea that Satan goes around in a red skin or a red suit, with a pointed tail and horns on his head.  That that is the image of The Enemy.  A Halloween costume.

No, the Enemy comes upon the wary and the unwary.  Comes with an attractive demeanor and seductive voice.  Whether the temptation be small or great, subtle or obvious, it is rarely, if ever, surrounded by ominous overtones and frightening voices.

And I guess that, for me, I like to start teaching with as close to the truth as I can, for the age I am teaching.  Maybe that's why I don't teach first grade Sunday School.  My "Serpent Voice" would be rich, mellow and intimate.  Perhaps they'd find it too pleasant.  And that might be disconcerting, too.

Still, better to be disconcerted and prepared than frightened and misled.  At least, I think so.

I'll stick to older kids.  I can explain things better to them. 

And I won't do audio recordings of Bible lessons... I'd get fired immediately. ;)

    On one scale there’s you. You came to my bedside with water to soothe my aching throat. When I was sick and couldn’t walk from vodka, you just threw me on your back and rolled a blunt. You kissed me different, brushed the hair out of my eyes, praised my naked body. We were abstaining. We only marveled each other; said I was too pure, no matter how many bodies I have explored. It was cathartic -- marvelously empty and new.


     And yet... on the other scale there's immediate pleasure. A few are waiting for my okay.

     Now I can't balance them out. And this hesistence gives me inspiration for insomnia.
 

It's always a good thing to hear someone in authority say, "Good job!"  If you ever got a quiet, "Nice work, there," from a parent, teacher, or employer, you know the feeling.  When the said authority figure isn't trying to angle for something, brace you for a reprimand, or pave the way for something else.  Just a nice, "You've done well."

This is especially appreciated on those rare occasions when times have been tough, siblings were annoying, work was stressful, or exams were a nightmare. 

God knows how that feels. There was a church in the city of Philadelphia that wasn't much, maybe, but they got a pat on the back by their Lord, who sees everything. 

I want to focus on something God promises this church in this passage.

The Lord promises that because this church has endured, stuck it out, held on in the face of adversity, he, God, will keep them from the time of testing that will come over the whole earth. 

Some see this promise as one to us, today, in terms of saying that "if we're good," God will make things easy for us.  That isn't necessarily so. Many awesome, faithful people are put in harm's way daily. 


This word also means temptation.  It is the word used when Christ was tempted in the desert at the beginning of his ministry.  An affliction, too, is another meaning for this word.

Those who, today, are faithful, even if they feel that they have little strength (v.8), should know that the Lord gives them a "Well done!" here.  And though they are not promised a stress-free life, they are promised a freedom from a great, world-wide temptation.

I am not bragging, here. Please understand I do not sit on a righteous karaoke player and say, "Look! I've been freed from a big temptation!"  But I personally can say that, for me, this has been a true thing.  Not that I'm any better than anyone, but I was blessed not to be tempted by much that is rampant in the world in terms of tempting addictions and behaviors.  Drugs? Never even offered to me.  Alcohol? Heh, I get sick, can't even think about even getting a buzz. 

<smile> I won't discuss chocolate, though, okay?

Am I weak? Compared to God Almighty, for sure! But I can see the faithfulness of this promise to me in my life. 

I do not believe, though, that these verses promise freedom from worldwide oppression for those who claim Christ.  I just believe that God will put a damper on things for those who are faithful, when things heat up all over the world.

Am I a prophet? No. I am not. I am just a teacher. That's job enough for me.  And if, someday, I can get a quiet, "Well done," from my Boss... <smile> That'll be MORE than enough for me!