As you might imagine, “The War Within: An Anatomy of Lust” in our Fall, 1982, issue attracted quite a bit of attention.
We received thirty-five letters about the article, far more than any other single article response in our three years of publishing. Twenty-four of the letters were positive, eleven were negative.
In addition, more readers than usual returned their Reader Surveys (an important source of feedback for us please fill out the one in this issue on page 121). “The War Within” received more 10 ratings than any article we’ve published. It also received several 1 ratings, but still stands as our second highest ranked article ever.
Normally we don’t publish a letters column, but in this case we decided interest demanded it. Following are samplings from the letters.
I object to “The War Within” on two counts: (1) It was unnecessarily explicit; (2) It could utterly discourage one who is being tempted, and imply God’s grace is not sufficient to keep one from a similar tragedy.
The temptation to lust is common to all normal men, but surely such utter defeat is not consistent with the grace of God. When the moral standards of our day are so low anyway, why imply that sexual duplicity is common to the Christian ministry?
Toledo, Ohio
The author of “The War Within” says on page 46, “I cannot tell you why a prayer that has been prayed for ten years is answered on the 1000th request when God has met the first 999 with silence.” This man does not know the biblical principles for conquering lust.
Nowhere does the Bible say to pray for victory over lust. It says to flee (1 Cor. 6:18), read Scripture (Ps. 119:9, 11), walk with the Spirit (Gal. 5:16), make every thought captive to Christ (2 Cor. 10:35), be mutually accountable to one another dames 5:16), and have a satisfying sexual relationship with your own wife (1 Cor. 7:1-9). Where were any of these directives in this man’s “Battle Strategy” on page 46?
I seriously question how long his “deliverance” will last unless he adopts a biblical strategy for conquering lust.
Cedarpines Park, California
One of the author’s big mistakes was his detailing of his lustful experiences. The accounts of “Miss Peach Bowl,” “Miss October,” and Cheryl Tiegs make readers picture in their minds what the author experienced. Ephesians 5 is very clear that we must not “participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret” (11-12, my italics).
The question also arises: Shouldn’t this man have left the ministry, at least while he was being ruled by lust? According to God’s Word, even though we are forgiven, the consequences of our sin still remain, don’t they?
I do not want this letter to be totally negative, for if the above mentioned things had been more generally stated, the article would have been excellent. The idea that pornography deceptively feeds the male ego, while in reality the girls on the pages would have nothing to do with the readers is so true. I also appreciated the ten steps entitled, “Battle Strategy: Some Practical Advice.”
Lockport, New York
“The War Within” was a tawdry excursion into voyeurism. After reading it, I felt I needed a mental bath. The Scriptures manage to deal adequately with sins without giving a blow-by-blow description of their implementation. The apostle Paul puts it best when he cautions, “It is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.”
Artesia, New Mexico
May I as the wife of a church leader comment on “The War Within”? I don’t think that discussing the issue in this way will be edifying to other ministers, other readers, or the author.
Worse, it has given me a sense of mistrust in Christian leadership that I never had before. Name Withheld seems to imply that his condition is normal among ministers today. I find this a horrifying thought.
Yet I find many preachers seem to love to preach on David’s sin. Do they have the same sickness as the author? When a pastor prays penitently for his own sin, I find myself thinking, “You too?” Now I notice how many pastors’ illustrations are centered on sexual problems. Dark suspicions cross my mind. Perhaps I was naive before, but I would rather be naive than overly suspicious.
Wayne, New Jersey
As I read “The War Within” my spirit was arrested and unsettled. Instead of a fire that warms the soul, I felt the fire that hungers for destructive fuel. The essence of the article was on target, the details were ignoble.
Sure, I struggle with lust too. But I desire a challenge to holiness, not a refuge of palatability because so many have the blackness of a lust life hidden in their souls.
We are living in a day of compassionate theology in the church. We feel better if many share our plight, and we unconditionally love and accept because, “there go I but for the grace of God.” But for our soul’s sakes, let’s major on the power and grace of Cod that leads to holiness, and if we mention the pig pen, let’s not describe it.
Erie, Pennsylvania
I could have written every word of the first half of “The War Within.” The sin and the battle are mine. For many years I have lived with the guilt of my sin, thinking I was the only pastor in the world so troubled. My ministry has been blessed, but in the darkness lurked my problem. I felt dishonest, unfaithful, subchristian.
The article has helped me identify my sin, but has also has given me great hope. I feel renewed. Through the encouragement and honesty of the author, I am confident the victory can also be mine by God’s grace.
Midwest
You have allowed God to break in on me. A new love, a new desire, a new devotion, a new hope is now mine because of your courage to print “The War Within.” I can never express my thanks enough. God knows my heart, my new heart, and that is enough.
Name also withheld
I have been a minister for seven years. I can see myself in every paragraph of your article, “The War Within.” I too have prayed for deliverance from my lust-it is coming slowly.
I write because I was under the impression I was the only one with this problem, who had a strong call from God to minister, yet battled lust. Thank you for sharing your struggle. I am more assured that my problem is not unconquerable and can, with God’s help, be overcome.
West Coast
When I began to read “The War Within” I was stunned. I had to write and tell you how unusually helpful it is. It’s well-written, sensitive, but most importantly, so very realistic. Please carry on in this tradition of articles, so unusual in our world of pablum and prepackaged success stories.
East Bend, North Carolina
To the editor of LEADERSHIP and the author of “The War Within”-thank you. It was the best article I have ever seen on this subject.
East
I’d like to express my great appreciation for “The War Within. ” I work on the staff of a counseling center in San Francisco. We deal mostly with Christians coming out of homosexuality into wholeness in Jesus Christ. My three and a half years here have opened my eyes to the dark side of the church today. I know all too well the struggles with sexual sin so many Christians have. Keep up the good work. You’re right on.
San Francisco, California
In view of your timely and helpful articles on temptation I would like to raise the following question: Who ministers to the minister who has fallen into sin? Adultery seems to be a sin that isn’t easily understood by Christians and therefore categorically defined as unmentionable. Is it that much more damaging than theft, lying, gossiping, gluttony, and backbiting?
Because it’s such a secret sin, we don’t have the resources for help that we have for other sins. Thank you for providing some help in your article.
California
Although “The War Within” was explicit, and could lead to fantasizing if one would allow it, I still feel the article had tremendous value. We need to sense the depths to which lust can carry us and often by sticking our heads in the sand we avoid even thinking of the degree to which we can be controlled by Satan.
I think you gave us a genuine picture of how we as pastors and church leaders need to guard our minds and hearts. In addition, it gave a tremendous sense of hope as the author came through to victory.
Thank you for the courage to print such an article. I look forward to future issues with the relevance of this one.
Pennsylvania
Your issue on “Temptation” must have been directed to me from the Spirit. For years I’ve been troubled with the temptation to lust. For too long I’ve asked the question, “At what point does looking become lust?” I have come to believe that what Jesus was saying in Matthew 6 is that since we have the Holy Spirit as individuals, God expects more from us than he did from the Israelites for whom only the act counted.
In any case, we must fight it, and pray to God for deliverance.
South
For years I have wrestled with the conflict of emotions described in “The War Within.” It was a tremendous help to me to read about another who has experienced what surely must be a very common but very hushed concern not only among religious professionals but among many Christian males.
Southwest
It took a great deal of courage for both author and publisher to address the issue of “The War Within.” I commend you for being willing to do it. It was a powerful, moving testimony to God’s power to deliver.
Santa Barbara, California
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