I am a sick person. One of my favorite cult movies is a British based movie called Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I am sick because this movie is not the kind normal people enjoy. You either enjoy this movie because you have a strange sense of humor (like myself) or you have acquired a taste for it through multiple exposures. There is a secret club that sick people like myself belong to. I say secret because you don't know who is a member until you hear them say one of the secret passwords, which are simply some of the famous quotes from the movie. All one must do is hear certain phrases and it conjures up scenes from the movie. For example, quotes like these usually bring smiles to club members' faces: "Bring out your dead," and "go away or I shall taunt you a second time," or "it's just a flesh wound," and countless others.
One of my personal favorites comes from scenes throughout the movie when King Arthur and his knights are engaged in "battle" and the conflict turns ugly, and King Arthur's brave demeanor changes and he proclaims to his comrades, "Run away! Run Away!" as they flee in fear of the impending doom. In most battle-grounds fleeing is a sign true cowardice; however, there are times when it is a mark true heroism and wisdom.
Joseph ran away. Genesis 39 gives the account of the scene. He has found favor in the eyes of Potiphar, his owner... and his wife. Joseph was apparently a stud muffin. Scripture describes him as "handsome in form and appearance" the NIV uses the words, "well-built and handsome." In the scripture, Joseph was doing his job, but his master's wife orchestrated events that allowed her unbridled access to the Hebrew young man. The proposition was made and the man of God did the bravest thing he could, he ran away.
This attitude toward sin is carried throughout the Word. For example, Paul tells Timothy to flee youthful lusts, and the same instruction to the Corinthian church. I hate confrontation, and there are times, however, that call for a frontal attack, but when it comes to dealing with personal sin, we are told to run away. The enemy knows our weaknesses and when we are tempted, we should not stick around to see if we have the intestinal fortitude to overcome it.
So, how do we run away? Sometimes, it is a physical action where we remove ourselves completely from the situation. But I think it also involves avoiding situations that will lead to a fall. The specifics of this will depend on your particular struggles, but the instructions remain the same. For example, if you struggle with drunkenness, the last place you need to be ministering is a bar. You would think this is common sense, but many folks have fallen in battle simply because they failed to adopt the motto, "the best offense is a good defense."
So, don't be a hero. Make like Arthur and, "Run away! Run away!"
One of my personal favorites comes from scenes throughout the movie when King Arthur and his knights are engaged in "battle" and the conflict turns ugly, and King Arthur's brave demeanor changes and he proclaims to his comrades, "Run away! Run Away!" as they flee in fear of the impending doom. In most battle-grounds fleeing is a sign true cowardice; however, there are times when it is a mark true heroism and wisdom.
Joseph ran away. Genesis 39 gives the account of the scene. He has found favor in the eyes of Potiphar, his owner... and his wife. Joseph was apparently a stud muffin. Scripture describes him as "handsome in form and appearance" the NIV uses the words, "well-built and handsome." In the scripture, Joseph was doing his job, but his master's wife orchestrated events that allowed her unbridled access to the Hebrew young man. The proposition was made and the man of God did the bravest thing he could, he ran away.
This attitude toward sin is carried throughout the Word. For example, Paul tells Timothy to flee youthful lusts, and the same instruction to the Corinthian church. I hate confrontation, and there are times, however, that call for a frontal attack, but when it comes to dealing with personal sin, we are told to run away. The enemy knows our weaknesses and when we are tempted, we should not stick around to see if we have the intestinal fortitude to overcome it.
So, how do we run away? Sometimes, it is a physical action where we remove ourselves completely from the situation. But I think it also involves avoiding situations that will lead to a fall. The specifics of this will depend on your particular struggles, but the instructions remain the same. For example, if you struggle with drunkenness, the last place you need to be ministering is a bar. You would think this is common sense, but many folks have fallen in battle simply because they failed to adopt the motto, "the best offense is a good defense."
So, don't be a hero. Make like Arthur and, "Run away! Run away!"
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