/christian/ - Christian Discussion and Fellowship

>>671247

I've had a similar experience. In the absence of pleasure, we found ourselves in a very sterile empty existence. We can feel "non-being" or death or hell more closely when we aren't distracting ourselves.

Its through that that we reach a sort of binary decision point: to despair and drift off into that abyss and destruction, waiting to die, or to make steps towards Faith in something greater, something more meaningful, and to have hope in something beyond this transient nothingness.

That's basically where I'm at and the more of my vices I've removed the more clear that that binary becomes between Christianity and despair.

It definitely is difficult, and we'll both probably always have doubts and moments where the despair creeps back in, but Faith is the antidote, I'm convinced of that. I don't think happiness exists on Earth, but we'll have moments of joy as well as suffering. What really matters is why we're doing it, the meaning behind it.

>>671254

find*

>>671247

Sounds like you're "giving up sin" as a form of duty, gritting your teeth and basically flagellating yourself via aversion. This method doesn't really work long term, but it is one way to relate to sin.

Another way is to see sin as beneath you, below your dignity and a waste of time. Every action you take has an opportunity cost, when you do A you forgo doing B. To understand (or believe) that there are higher experiences to enjoy, the highest is obviously communion with God, abiding in Christ and pursuing what is truly beautiful and wholesome in life, and that doesn't mean simply praying or reading scripture all day or doing charity, but is a mode of being whether you're working or relaxing or cooking or talking to friends.

This video is kind of relevant, Piper talks about giving up porno.

I think everyone has to reach a point where they eventually realize that their will-power is not enough and they have to hand over their troubles, worries and even their "sins" to God, so he can take care of them. If you're doing this by yourself "for God" it's gonna be really hard. But if you submit and ask God for help then you'll be surprised at the results. It won't be perfect all the time, but it will be magnitudes higher than what you would do on your own, by your will-power, via aversion, trying to "Please God" with your self-discipline.

I dunno if this makes sense…/rant

>>671264

>Another way is to see sin as beneath you, below your dignity and a waste of time.

tbh, thats how I try and avoid it mostly, but it's a one step behind from actual arrogance IMHO

>>671294

Not sure about that. We're asked to be perfect and to stop sinning and be like our heavenly father, sin is not actually inherent in our nature, since we were made good and in the image of God, our nature is good and meant for heavenly things.

Sin is beneath us, just like murder and rape and the most foul things are very beneath us or should be beneath us and our sensibilities.