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Just Stop It!
- 03/27/08
- 56
You’ve probably seen this video. If not, you’ll want to take six minutes of your life and give it a look. It’s Bob Newhart at his best, really. If you’ve heard his old bits about the discovery of tobacco or the invention of baseball you’ll see that not much has changed over the years. He’s as funny as ever. His stuttering, his naivete—it’s the same as it ever was. It’s brilliant.
In the case of this video, though, every time I see it I can’t help but think he’s just a little bit more than funny—he shares some advice that is surprisingly valuable, even if it is both abrupt and hilarious. I keep the video around and watch it every now and again. I think it’s good for me to do so. Sometimes I think that, as a Christian, I can go looking for cures for sin that are long and involved and a little bit mysterious. I can go to friends or pastors or books for counsel and, like the woman in this video, I’m looking for a cure that I can jot down in a notebook and follow step-by-step. I want something I can do twice a day for ten days and watch the sin magically fall away. I want a five or ten step program. Sometimes such strategies work. Often they do not.
In Mark Driscoll’s book Confessions of a Reformission Rev he shares a late-night conversation with a member of his church. This video reminded me of Driscoll’s tale. The man called him in the middle of the night crying and begging for help because he had committed a certain sexual sin yet again. Though Driscoll’s answer was a tad vulgar I think he essentially gave the guy the right one: Just stop it! His counsel to the man was probably exactly what he needed to hear: shut up, grow up, man up and stop sinning. The guy called his pastor looking for a shoulder to cry on but what he got was a lesson in growing up. I hope it wasn’t lost on him.
Some time ago I spoke to a friend about an ongoing sin in his life and tried to show him that the essence of his problem was this: he hates his sin just a little bit less than he loves it. Sure he wants to stop sinning, but even more he wants to keep sinning. And I think he came to agree. My advice was pretty well what Newhart offered the woman in this video: “Stop it!” Are you fighting sin? I’ll pray for you—really, I will. And I’ll recommend that you memorize some Scriptures, some fighter verses, that will help you battle that sin by bringing to mind the promises of God. But I’ll also challenge you to just stop it and to stop it now. You stop sinning by turning your back on it. You do not sit back and wait for God to change you while you remain in your sin. Rather, you join him in the fight, joining your will with His strength. And together you go to war.
I can memorize Scripture from Genesis to Revelation and I can have the whole world pray for me. But there comes a time when forsaking sin, truly putting it to death, requires a decision of the mind and an act of the will. Sooner or later I need to just stop it. And God can give me the strength to do so.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (56)
Amen. The first time I saw this video I thought, “That’s exactly what my generation needs to hear.” Of course, we “just stop it” only by the power of the Holy Spirit, but the command’s there just the same.
That Driscoll story is one of my favorites. It was exactly what the guy needed to hear, and I wish someone had responded to me like that when I was younger. My generation has had enough therapy, and we’ve heard enough cheap grace that doesn’t involve any real change. Sometimes we need to be told to repent and stop sinning!
And let’s not turn this thread into a Driscoll bash-a-thon…
Another way to put this would be what Jesus tells the Galileans in Mark 1:15: “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
And let’s not turn this thread into a Driscoll bash-a-thon…
Amen!
I’ve seen this before yet I still laugh until tears come down my face every time I see it and yes, you’re correct, there is as much truth in this little video as there is comedy.
Good words Tim … and the video is hilarious and yet carries a stirring message. I thought of Paul’s words … 1 Corinthians 15:34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.
I am currently reading your book on Spiritual Discernment. Enjoying and challenged. Thanks for writing it.
That video IS awesome. It always reminds me of two things:
A. Al Mohler’s three step “counseling technique” that he (jokingly) talked about at Shepherd’s Conference 2006:1. What is your problem?2. What would God have you do about it?3. Why are we having this conversation?
B. This quote from D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.
Great video!
“Just stop it!” has already become a favorite phrase of mine, but I can’t quite say it like Newhart does, with that short, shrill voice.
PS - Not planning to bash Driscoll here, but I will say that it is interesting, Tim, that the example you use concerning the late night conversation Driscoll had is the exact one you condemned so strongly in a previous post.
The video is hilarious, but fatally flawed.
Of course, “Just Stop It” is our responsibility. No denying that.
Yet what honest Christian can’t identify with Paul in Romans 7, when he said that he did things he didn’t want to do, and failed to do things that he did want to do.
And why did he want to do right? Because he loved God’s laws, and recognized that they were right and good.
Yet he failed to “Just Stop It”.
Why?
Because our ability to not sin requires that we walk by the Spirit.
And that in turn requires that we have at least some understanding of how to walk by the Spirit, and thus not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
And that requires at least some understanding of our identity in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17); our Justification (Rom. 5); our freedom from condemnation to those who are in Christ (Rom. 8); how to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph.5:18); how to have a close relationship to Christ; the dynamics of how law-based thinking actually inflames sin, and how our being under grace dissipates sins power (Rom. 6:14); how sin is IN us, but is not us (Rom. 7); how we are dead to sin and alive to God through Christ (Rom. 6),
To say, “Just Stop It” is pure Finneyism, who reasoned that if we can stop sinning for a minute, then we can stop for five minutes, and five X twelve, an hour, and 24 X an hour is a day, and so on.
Try it. How’s that working out for you?
Thank God we have a Savior who’s blood continually cleanses from every sin, while we try out our sitcom theories.
Blessings,Terry
Tim,
I think there’s two ways to look at this. The first, the way you put it, is definitely true. Sometimes people search the world over for a way to overcome their sins, and the answer is to just “stop it.”
But I came from a religious background that stressed a “sheer will” sanctification in almost every aspect of life, practically speaking. We know that’s not the whole story of course. So when I see this video, while I find it funny, and part of me finds a great deal of practical truth in it, part of me still cringes when I think of many hurting souls, struggling with their sins being hurt more by pastors who lorded it over them.
Just my two cents.
-Thomas
Amen to what Terry wrote. I know a preacher who loves Finney, is a self-proclaimed Pelagian, and preaches sinless perfection—and that is his message: stop sinning! That sounds great, and it’s easy to try to emulate, especially on our “good days”, when we think…why do I do what I do?!? But if we try to “just stop it” in the flesh, sooner or later we will sin again.
Absolutely repentance, which is a turning away from sin, is essential…but we can’t fall into the trap of practicing or preaching that simply stopping to sin will work. And sometimes we do need a strong reminder to just stop what we’re doing, because we are being lax in our fight against sin. Balance is the key…in this area it is so easy to lose that and end up with perfectionistic moralism.
By the way, this is not a specifically Driscoll bash, but if any Pastor has the immense privilege of a flock-member coming to him in despair over a besetting sin, and the counsel is merely “grow up and stop it”, and then that Pastor brags about his counsel in a book, all things being equal that is a BAD Pastoral Counselor.
The video is hilarious, but fatally flawed.
I agree, of course. I don’t mean to say that “Just stop it” is a biblical solution for all sin. But I think the point of the article stands—we do need to just stop it and do so relying on God’s power, not our own.
Justin Taylor sent me a link to a brief interview with David Powlison where he discusses this video. You can catch it right here.
I agree, of course. I don’t mean to say that “Just stop it” is a biblical solution for all sin. But I think the point of the article stands—we do need to just stop it and do so relying on God’s power, not our own.
Absolutely. But as your post shows, it’s a two-edged sword. We also won’t be able to “Just Stop It” if all we do is wait for God to force us to stop. He fills in what strength we lack, but we have to use what He’s already given us.
Tim,
A while back David Powlison wrote a helpful critique of this Newhart sketch on Justin Taylor’s blog. He provided keen Biblical insight into the Christ’s provision for change in the life of the believer. I would commend his thoughts on this sketch.
David Powlison on Bob Newhart’s “Stop It!” Sketch
HT:JT
The reality of indwelling sin will be a constant until we go to be with the Lord. That is not to say we concede and just keep on sinning.Our justification is an objective thing , secured by the life ,death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ , but our sanctification is a life lived in daily repentance as we preach the gospel to ourselves everyday and saturate ourselves in the word and prayer , trusting that the Holy Spirit will give us strength to fight! I have been doing this now since I listened to Jerry Bridges talk about how it helped him grow in Christ.Plus for me and my struggles with my sinful nature , the sins that I’m prone too , until I saw them as serious offense before a holy Lord and was broken and humbled by God , I didn’t hate them enough to fight to put them to death. But the fact remains , as Christians we will be both a saint and a sinner at the same time , all our lives. That doesn’t mean we will not have areas of victory and see clear growth but we should never delude ourselves , sin is a persistent cancer that hides and we need to take whatever steps we can to put it to death. It is a war and in battle we need friends who will be honest , open and hold us accountable but ones you can be real with . Plus we also need to be men , admit when we sin and repent. As John tells us in his first letter , if we say we have no sin we are liars.But we also must never forget that when we fall into sin and repent , we have an advocate , Jesus Christ that makes intersession for us before the Father.That is the wonder of the gospel of Christ !!
Just a brief note—take this article for what it is. It wasn’t meant to be a complete theology of sin or of combating sin. Maybe I should have made the “Sometimes” a little more obvious.
Sometimes I think that, as a Christian, I can go looking for cures for sin that are long and involved and a little bit mysterious. I can go to friends or pastors or books for counsel and, like the woman in this video, I’m looking for a cure that I can jot down in a notebook and follow step-by-step. I want something I can do twice a day for ten days and watch the sin magically fall away. I want a five or ten step program. Sometimes such strategies work. Often they do not.
If you read this site you know I’m no fan of Finney and the like, so don’t lump me in there!
Love this video. I think Jake has it right — my generation has had enough therapy, enough people patting our hands and telling us it’s not our fault, so for someone to say, “Well, just knock it off, then, dummy,” is both timely and refreshing. Obviously a wise Christian will say, “Look, knock it off. Flee to Christ or you never will knock it off.” Compatibilism!! :)
Amen to what Terry Raybrun said!
This video doesn’t represent a biblical approach to sanctification or repentence at all. The example of Paul you gave is what I was thinking of too.
And this isn’t a bash of Pastor Driscoll either, but if “just stop it” is sound advice then why doesn’t he “just stop” his foul language from the pulpit? God’s grace is our teacher (Titus 2:12) and it takes time in each of our lives to be conformed to Christ daily and for spiritual fruit to grow and be evident.
Thanks again Terry.Robert
Challies said “…what he got was a lesson in growing up. I hope it wasn’t lost on him.” This is in reference to the caller in the middle of the night. If I’m not mistaken, Driscoll completes the story and it was NOT lost on him.
Thanks Tim. Much needed advice. And kudos to James for the ML-J quote.
I wonder if most people hide behind the “well, we’ll never be perfect this side of Heaven!” line in order to justify living in continual defeat. The Romans 7 card seems to serve the same purpose. God forbid we should use Scripture to justify a defeated life! I don’t deny the ongoing struggle with the flesh. But no Christian should ever believe they need live in state of defeat, walking around with their conscience defiled all the time. We should spend more time meditating in Romans 6 - we must constantly remember that something ontological happens in regeneration.
I think we need to recognize the tension here. There is a tension in the believer’s life between the need for us to act and the inability to do so apart from the Spirit of God. Justification is monergistic, sanctification is synergistic.
Sitting around waiting on God to zap me from on high so that I don’t look at porn any more or stop drinking too much or stop gossiping, etc. is an unbiblical, sinful approach. However, so is trusting in myself and my own willpower to deal with such things.
If we drive off the road on either side here we’re outside of the Biblical teaching on sanctification.
Terry said: And that in turn requires that we have at least some understanding of how to walk by the Spirit, and thus not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
This is not an attempt to be deliberately contrary, but hopefully to stir up some discussion. I agree with others that the message of this video is really a pelagian version of sanctification. (What would happen if we applied this to salvation? “Just stop sinning, pray a prayer, etc.!” That’s pretty obviously not grace.) But why would we look at sanctification as being of something other than grace?
In salvation one must come to the end of their own efforts & abilities and God supplies faith. Isn’t sanctification the same? We must come to the end of our own efforts & abilities and come to God for grace. It’s not just a matter of “understanding” certain teachings and truths as much as it’s not something where we can “just stop sinning.” Maybe our problem is really a low view of sin. It’s not just an outward action. Anything thought or done that is NOT moved by love for God is sin. And no matter what our understanding or will-power, we cannot cause God’s love to dwell in us and move us. That is a 100% work of grace that we must seek God for.
I didn’t find that funny at all. Probably because I have struggled with panic attacks myself.
Justification is monergistic, sanctification is synergistic.
Is sanctification REALLY synergistic?
I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. - 1 Cor. 3:6-7
I don’t know that this statement by Paul is directly on point with respect to sanctification alone, but it sure seems close, and certainly something to consider when we say that sanctification is synergistic.
Didn’t Paul also say that those whom God foreknew He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son? Isn’t that sanctification? That sounds quite one-sided as well in terms of God being the one who is doing the conforming.
Just something to think about.
That story from Driscoll was the second funniest in the book. The first was the account of his gastrointestinal problems in the pulpit one weekend…
I saw this headline. I believe this is the principle in discussion…
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/crime/2008/03/27/grace.girl.pray.cnn
Newhart is superb. This was one funny skit. Thanks for sharing it.
Theologically it’s good for somethings and bad for others.
Scared of being buried alive? Stop it!
Bulimia? That’s needs a little more than stop it.
But in the skit it was great.
Tim, thanks for this video! It is hilarious :) I’ve been to your site quite a while now, and I understood what you were expressing in your post. We need to put to death the deeds of the flesh, through the power of God’s Holy Spirit, not through long list of “Hail Mary’s” and what not. Sometimes we need to “just say no” to the old man.
Growing to be more like Christ is synergistic, that is, the Spirit works with the justified believer to conform them to the image of Christ. Probably the best place I can think of to see that is in the letter to the Philippians.
First in chapter 1 verse 6 as Paul spoke of how he prayed for the Philippian believers he wrote, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil 1:6 (ESV) Clearly here he spoke of the working of God in the life of believers to bring to completion what he by his grace had started. That taken by itself would seem to point to a completely monergistic working of sanctification in the life of a believer.
But, once we get to chapter 2 we find Paul calling for the Philippian believers to be like Christ, that is, to be more and more conformed to Christ’s pattern. (verses 1-11) However, when he comes to bringing this all together in verse 12 we read, ” Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” Phil 2:12 (ESV) This verse seems to say the exact opposite. In essence it calls for believers to work out not getting saved, but the changes salvation are to bring, in particular that of becoming like Christ. Take on its own it would seem to point to this all being human effort and nothing of God. This is not, however, where the scriptures stop, for verse 12 is only part of the sentence which ends bringing all this together this way in verse 13, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Phil 2:13 (ESV)
Yes, we are to work out our salvation (sanctification) with fear and trembling, but as we work we always need to realize that we never do this merely on our own, for God is working in believers to will and do. That is synergistic sanctification.
To neglect the one part of our effort leads to what I have seen in my own life. having a sin constantly besetting one, praying about it, but not fighting against it. When that is the case the temptation is to blame God rather than realize believers need to work out their salvation with fear and trembling.
To neglect the other part, that God is at work in believers, not just to will but also to do, leads to trusting in ones own sufficiency rather than in Christ.
The second place I see this principle spoken of is in 1 Corinthians 15 where we read, ” But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” 1 Cor 15:10 (ESV)
Based on this I would say that it is both God working in us (that is foundational) and we working with all our might, by that same gracious working in us.
Is sanctification REALLY synergistic?
Absolutely, though God gives us grace to participate. Even ask John Owen.
Burly is right - Driscoll comments in the book: “The truth is that the guy actually did what I told him and today has a wife and some kids and no longer watches porno”. So in that case, the “Just stop it!” advice worked.
Personally, not enough people have given me this advice in the past. Too often I think we deliberate and deliberate and try to justify our actions - I think this is timely advice! I think of Paul’s words that we need to put to death the sinful nature - that’s pretty strong words, and not something that you want to put off!
in that case, if you can say that sanctification is synergistic, couldn’t you say that justification is, too? i mean, only those who come to the Father are saved, and belief is required, and so on. i don’t see how that’s so different.
though i do get the point and can agree on some level, “just stop it” (and even that martyn lloyd-jones quotation) seem woefully insufficient, too much so to be funny to me.
“in that case, if you can say that sanctification is synergistic, couldn’t you say that justification is, too? i mean, only those who come to the Father are saved, and belief is required, and so on. i don’t see how that’s so different.”
One is “dead in their trespasses and sins,” while the other has been “made alive together with Christ” (Eph 2:5). The former must be monergistically summoned because of his deadness, while the other is synergistically involved because of his aliveness. And God is glorified in both. That God is previous in all actions, even in Christians, doesn’t negate this reality. Like Tim said - ask John Owen.
Hi Jim (#30). I’m thinking through some of what you stated regarding Phil. 2 & 1 Corinthians 15. It seems those verses could also be taken as Paul stating that while his body is an instrument that is involved/used in the process of sanctification, it is 100% God who is doing the sanctifying. In other words, just as being born again is not something that takes place somewhere outside of a person, so sanctification is taking place within the true believer. But as far as moral ability, we have none at all with regards to sanctification as we had none at all with regards to salvation. What do you think?
carissa (#33) has a good point. How can we say salvation is monergistic but then go and say sanctification is something else? The implications are quite enormous — I’m still trying to wrap my tiny mind around them. What does synergistic sanctification say about God’s perfect love for Himself within the Trinity? Can something be pleasing to God that does not proceed forth from God? I would say no and point out that from the great commandment the only thought or action ever pleasing to God is the one done out of true love for Him, which must come from him (1 John 4:7-8).
It is really a radically different view of sanctification than is commonly taught today - or at least that I have been taught in the past (Just do it!) But I think it’s the consistent “reformed” / monsergistic position. Rather than simply “doing our best” and believing that God is going to sanctify us, we are to seek the face of God for grace, realizing we have no ability to do a single thing pleasing to Him unless He works it in us.
The objection to this is that people will then just stay in their sin and “wait for God to act”. But my response to this objection is that nobody who truly has the life of Christ in them will have this attitude (at least not for long). The one in whom Christ dwells has beheld the glory of God in the face of Christ as in 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 and has Christ dwelling in them. There WILL be a hunger for God (perhaps to different degrees). If there is not and there is a sinful pattern of life, people don’t need to be told to just “stop it” but to examine themselves to see if they are truly in the faith.
I’ve seen this happening even recently. A man was in a sinful pattern of life and even well known “reformed” teachers were telling Him that he was truly converted and just needed to trust God’s promises. But the problem was that deep down beneath all the outward acts, he was still at enmity with God. Eventually after some time He even admitted to hating God yet still people tried to convince him he was saved. Maybe this is too bold of a statement, but I think that when we have a synergistic view of salvation in that way, we may actually be deceiving many people about the true state of their hearts.
Thank you!
If God predestined those whom He foreknew to become conformed to the image of His Son, and it is God who causes the growth, and Augustine was correct in his prayer that God command whatever He would, and grant whatever He would command, then how exactly is sanctification synergistic?
What exactly do I bring to the table in my sanctification? What part of my sanctification do I get credit for that God does not get credit for?
A couple of other passages to consider in light of whether or not sanctification is synergistic:
I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
and…
it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
In a sermon called “Hacking Agag to Pieces”, John MacArthur gives this very same advice. Stop it! To be honest, everytime I sin there is usually a point where I decide “I am going to disobey!”. Usually I start to ‘reason’ why I should sin and try to convince myself that it is the best thing for me; then I indulge well aware that I will probably feel ‘guilty’ about it later. This is the kind of twisted sinner I am. Sometimes it feels absolutely horrible to repent after doing something like that. Shall we sin that grace may abound? By no means! But thank God he gave us Christ. Thank God he lets the prodigal come home………everytime! Thanks for the reminder Tim. We gotta man up and stop!
Elizabeth said: “Probably because I have struggled with panic attacks myself.”
Have you tried “stopping it?” I bet it will work.
“What exactly do I bring to the table in my sanctification? What part of my sanctification do I get credit for that God does not get credit for?”
I don’t think it is about “credit” but about participation. Since we have been “made alive together with Christ” via (monergistic) salvation, we are now to “present our bodies a living sacrifice.” So, what do I bring to the table? Nothing that makes me more sanctified, but I bring, daily, my life as an offering, My old man to be put to death so that Christ lives and ministers through me in a way that is reflective of His glory. While it is His power that sanctifies, I am the one offering my life. As CJ Mahaney says, “Sanctification is a process, not an event.” Whereas Justification is a one-time event initiated and completed by God. Perhaps reading this from John Owen will help:http://www.oldlandmarks.com/owmort4.htm
So, what do I bring to the table? Nothing that makes me more sanctified
If you don’t bring anything to the table that makes you more sanctified, then how is sanctification synergistic?
“Is sanctification REALLY synergistic?
I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. - 1 Cor. 3:6-7”
Sorry Brian but that verse is not about sanctification at all. Paul is not addressing personal spiritual growth there but the growth in numbers of the church. He’s admonishing the Corinthians not to claim to be the converts of any one evangelist but to recognize all conversions as the work of God.
” .. the deep work of spiritual transformation of my soul has been what the Holy Spirit has done, not what I have done. I can to some degree change my conduct, but only He can change my heart.” -Jerry Bridges
Paul said, “I am what I am by the grace of God, and I worked harder than all the other apostles, but not me, but the grace of God in me. And i am crucified with christ, and yet i live, but not me, but Christ in me.”
So we need to “Stop it!”, but only in and by his grace, in order for us to be able to overcome our sinful habits, and become more conformed into the image of Christ, and sanctified and holy.
Tim,As always I appreciate your post and would agree with your observations. I’d only add (not to bash) that with your commitment to “read and discern”, which obviously has produced an incredible amount of illustrations you might use to make your point, why would you use a reference from a pastor that must be prefaced with an apology?
So much has been written re: Driscoll and there seems to be widespread agreement that the vulgar remarks are a weakness, not a strength (Driscoll himself would say as much). The undending references to those remarks makes, it seems to me, all of us a participant in the vulgarity (and there I go again)!?
Thanks again for your work.
GO TIM! This is challies at his best. Turn this into a Sunday morning sermon and we’d be out of church by 11:06 with solid biblical truth to change our lives! Looking forward to our time together soon.Steve
I didn’t see that punch line coming at all, brilliant.
I understand that we as new creations have a responsibility to put to death the deeds of the flesh, and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. However, I think we need to be careful when say that sanctification is synergistic, and we especially need to be careful in how we use that term with respect to our spiritual growth, which is what directly affects our sanctification.
After all, is it not God who has allotted to each believer the measure of faith that he/she has (or does every believer receive the same measure of faith, and then is responsible for growing that faith?), and is not our progressive sanctification a result of our faith? Did not the disciples plead with Christ to increase their faith?
IF our sanctification is truly synergistic in the same sense that we would use the term in relation to it NOT being a part of our justification, then I guess we should stop using the phrase, “There but by the grace of God, go I”, when speaking of someone else falling into grievous sin, our remaining weak in faith, or when they struggle with sin that we do not. Because, IF our sanctification is really up to us and our contribution and the effort we put forth, then the correct phrase would be, “There but by my synergistic cooperation with God, go I”, wouldn’t it?
I’m sort of late to this discussion, but thought I would add a couple of thoughts. I struggle with both sides of this discussion. I’ve been faced with temptations that are overwhelming and to which I often succumb and have used the verse related to God’s role in sanctification, i.e. it is God who works in you both the willing and the doing…. I don’t have the strength to overcome so obviously God hasn’t given me that grace yet so don’t sweat it. I’m immediately challenged by verses which tell me that I am die to self, crucify the flesh, etc. I don’t think it’s easy to choose one side or the other in this discussion. Obviously, I shouldn’t think of myself as having the strength in and of myself without the Holy Spirit and the power of Scripture to defeat temptations. But neither should I continue to fail and fall while waiting for God to empower me. One other thought on the “Just Stop It!” approach. When we aren’t struggling with the sins the other person has, it seems easy enough to say “Just Stop It” because that’s what we think we have done. But if our temptation is, say, covetousness, how do you just stop that? You have to not watch any TV commercials or go anywhere where you might see someone with a Lexus or iphone or a six-figure income. It may be as hard for the other guy to give up pornography as it is for me to give up covetousness.
“He loves his sin, just a little bit more than he hates it”.
I’ve never forgotten this most powerful illustration. In a sermon entitled ‘The Meaning of Grace’ preached by a man called Bob Sheehan just weeks before he suffered a cerebral haemorrhage at the age of 47 (and passed away 6 weeks later), he spoke of an encounter he remembered from his youth.
He came home from school one day, and while preparing a snack in the kitchen, overheard a conversation between his mother and a friend. The friend spoke of how she had been to see her doctor, and was referred to a specialist who told her that if she didn’t stop smoking, she’d be dead within a year.
Bob blurted out “you will stop, won’t you”. She responded with a laugh, and said that she couldn’t stop. Young Bob continued “but the doctor says if you don’t stop, you’ll die”. Her reply? “I can’t stop, Bobby. I love it too much”.
Even though we know the wages of sin are death, until we love Christ more than we love our sins, we’ll keep on sinning. May God indeed ‘Take away the love of sinning’. That’s what we need, whether Calvinist or Arminian.