Personalized Temptation

In the sixteenth-century, Puritan theologian and preacher Thomas Becon wrote a book called the Flour of Godly Praiers. In it he writes prayers for different jobs and callings and identifies the temptations that are associated with these roles. Rulers have different temptations than judges, or priests, or merchants. The idea is that those spiritual forces that try to tempt us away from seeking God take into account your own personality and social role. For example, it would be a waste of time for me to be tempted to attend a stamp collecting convention over spending time with my family. I have no interest in philately. I am, however, tempted by food. Whether savory or sweet, food is certainly a weakness of mine, but may not be one that you struggle with. This is a scary thing about temptation, it is personalized to each individual.

We see this in other accounts of Satan’s attempt to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. Satan’s temptations of Jesus were meant for Jesus. He offers Jesus bread because he is hungry. It would not do him any good to offer Jesus food if he were full. Satan offers Jesus the kingdoms of the world because those are Jesus’ by virtue of being God, the one through whom all things were created. The temptation is to take now what has been promised in the future. That’s not to say that Jesus is not ruling and reigning right now in an important sense, but the benefits of not falling into temptation here is for the good of the church. The point is that the temptations of Jesus are for Jesus, and that my temptations are not yours.

With this in mind, the church must be a place that does not make judgments on others but seeks to be a place where relationships can be mended and grace be given. To a certain extent, we can only empathize with our neighbors at the level of temptation broadly, but not specifically. I know what it is like to be tempted, but not tempted to certain activities that might be enticing to others. This makes temptation actually pretty isolating, and can lead to a sense of loneliness in our temptations. So, advice like, 'why don't you just try harder, or pray more' are not going to be helpful for people who experience temptation in radically different ways than you do. The church must be a place where judgment is put aside, and care, friendship, and loving accountability is offered.

I just want to leave you these words from Psalm 32: “Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away! Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, and in whose spirit there is no guile!”