A Life Hack for Stopping the Sneaky Slide Into Sin
For myself and all of my fellow teachers out there… Throughout the winter months, we teachers moonlight as professional weather watchers. If there were ever experts on weather forecasts and predictions especially in January and February, teachers have that position on lock. Why? Well, of course, because snow days are one of the fun perks of teacher life! An unexpected day off—the free gift of time. And furthermore, it’s typically time when you have to stay home. Forced relaxation. I’m never mad about it.
I’ve been teaching for 16 years now, and I often observe a winter phenomenon in Kansas City schools that I’ll call the “snow day slide.” When we get our first even somewhat significant snowfall of the season, schools cancel pretty quickly and freely. But as the winter wears on, and the “extra” snow days built into school calendars have been used up, a snowfall that nearly mirrors that very first one of the winter isn’t necessarily enough to warrant a snow day anymore. We’ve all become somewhat numb to the winter weather and its consequences. We’ve adjusted to it!
City workers have perhaps increased efficiency when it comes to plowing residential streets where the buses run, and school administrators are maybe a bit more hesitant to cancel school yet again. The initial reactions, which may have resembled an overabundance of care, have changed course. The novelty of the winter weather has worn away, giving way to a determination to power through the iffy roads and keep school in session.
As Christians, I think we sometimes fall victim to a similar pattern. The first time we give into a certain temptation, it feels like a big deal. Our heightened emotions signal trouble, and we might even go overboard with confessing, asking for forgiveness and determining to never commit that particular sin again. But then a couple days pass, and the same temptation creeps back into our minds again. We end up succumbing to it one more time—and then again and again and again. We become numb to it! We adjust. And soon, the novelty and anxiety has worn away, and we just give in. It might even start to feel normal.
It’s the natural slide of sinful nature. Maybe when you watch the first episode of a series with scenes that don’t feel right to be watching, you feel uncomfortable. But then you end up just watching the rest of the series anyway, and every other such scene stresses you out less and less as you grow accustomed to the content. Or maybe you can recall the very first time you lied about a certain situation in your life, and how awful you felt being untruthful! But as the situation has continued, so have your lies, and with each one, it gets a little bit easier to stretch the truth.
I’m guessing we’ve all experienced times like this. So what can we do to stop it from happening again? One way is to be in Christian community. It’s one thing to study God’s word as an individual, but joining together with other believers in fellowship and discussion takes things to a much deeper, richer level. If you don’t believe me, try it! When you’re able to hear thoughts and insights from other people, your own understanding grows. And when you get to know other believers on an intimate level, they can be an additional line of defense against sin. They may see you struggling in an area and feel convicted to ask you about it. Or vice versa! If you have a small group of believers who you share life with, you hopefully feel comfortable confessing your struggles, bringing things out into the open and asking for their help and prayers.
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. -Proverbs 27:17
If you’re not in community with other Christians, it’s a lot harder for you to be sharpened and matured. You’re in danger of not being able to recognize patterns of sin you may have fallen into and now view as normal. And you’re also missing out on the incredible JOY that comes from Christ-centered fellowship. Acts 2:42-47 paints the most beautiful picture of the fellowship of believers that existed at the very start of the early church. It says:
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Can you imagine life like that?! A far cry from how most of us live today. But it’s something I aspire to! What about you? I don’t want to become numb to the sinful, unholy patterns I’ve let settle in over time. I want to join together with my Jesus-loving friends and live in community, generosity, sincerity, joy and favor. Don’t let the “snow day slide” creep its way into your life when it comes to sin. Join in community with other believers so they can keep you sharp. It will change your life.