Desensitized

[David1701]

On 8/29/2022 at 3:58 PM, Alive said:

A perhaps different angle of this subject. I found in my own experience that when I justified being in a position where I was yielding to the flesh, that the Lord allowed it for a time--but when I began to and was willing to 'see' my error after discipline; the Lord began to work a 'Godly Sorrow' in me that was some painful. The result was a renewed discernment and understanding of the kinds of fleshy pitfalls are available.

Yes, that's also true.

[David1701]

On 8/29/2022 at 6:51 PM, debrakay said:

This scripture caught my attention in this thread.  We live in a fallen world where it is hard to close off the temptations and sins that abound in it.  We would have to enclose ourselves in a bubble not letting anyone or anything worldly into our day to day lives and what good would that do for those who are lost and need to find their Savior Christ Jesus?  We are told to persevere and we are told we only have this one day set before us.  Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not guaranteed.  Daily we pick up our cross and walk with it.  Though it is a heavy load for us as humans to bear, Christ says to lay it on his shoulders which makes it easier for us to carry.  We still have to carry the burdens and evilness of the day but he guides us and gives us the strength to endure and persevere so that we can do it again tomorrow for whatever purpose he has for us.  

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. ~ Philippians 1:21-24

I agree that enclosing ourselves in a bubble is no good for helping others.  It's also true that temptations (to all kinds of sin) can come at us in our daily lives.  The thing is to pray for an heart continually focused on Jesus (looking away to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith), in the midst of temptations, seeking to please Him and to praise Him, no matter where we are.

[Alive]

1 hour ago, David1701 said:

I agree that enclosing ourselves in a bubble is no good for helping others.  It's also true that temptations (to all kinds of sin) can come at us in our daily lives.  The thing is to pray for an heart continually focused on Jesus (looking away to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith), in the midst of temptations, seeking to please Him and to praise Him, no matter where we are.

Amen…He is able to keep us.

[missmuffet]

20 minutes ago, HopeInHim said:

Some even who claim to be a Christians are desensitized to themselves. (I.e. denial, hardness of hard, a lack of self examination…)

True.

[Marathoner]

17 hours ago, HopeInHim said:

Some even who claim to be Christian are desensitized to themselves. (I.e. denial, hardness of heart, a lack of self examination…)

My thoughts as well, sister. There is a passage from Proverbs 30 which expresses this well.

There is a kind of person who curses his father
And does not bless his mother.
There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes,
Yet is not washed from his filthiness.
There is a kind—oh how lofty are his eyes!
And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.
There is a kind of person whose teeth are like swords
And his jaw teeth like knives,
To devour the poor from the earth
And the needy from among mankind.
(verses 11-14 NASB)

[JohnR7]

On 8/28/2022 at 6:48 PM, Marathoner said:

God holds us responsible for every idle word and deed.

We have to be very careful what we say. Because God does watch over every word we speak. ESP I like to joke about things, but we just can't. Words can be death and destruction, and words can be life and healing. 

My dad was a doctor, and a lot of what he promoted was the power of suggestion and the power of positive things. If our words can have power, how much more does the word of God have power to save, heal, rescue and deliver people. 

 

[Starise]

On 8/29/2022 at 4:46 PM, missmuffet said:

There is another problem today with desensitization. It is not a Christian issue necessarily:

The roads here where I live are becoming dangerous if you are not a very safe and defensive driver. 

People are cutting you off with their car so close that it seems like they are daring you to hit them. No one honks at anyone but seems to accept it.
Many people are going through red lights and not stopping at stop signs. It is becoming the way a person drives today. No one notices that it is against the law. That is desensitization. 

The "Got Questions" write up is pretty good on this subject.

The roads are crazy out there. Drive defensively is probably the best rule IMO. Respect other drivers even if they don't respect us. Retaliation on the road never ends well and can turn a peaceful drive into an intense rat race. I almost seen an accident yesterday and I was right behind it. we're talking inches close.

I might have a different view than some on the speed limits. The posted speed limits here in my area of the country were made years ago to supposedly conserve fuel. To actually do those speed limits on a busy freeway is often putting ourselves in harm's way. I see it as a law that was passed that is impractical to safely follow all the time. Since everyone else is moving with traffic it makes people more impatient coming up on someone at 55mph. Those people then take chances trying to go around you which could cause an accident the speed limits hoped to prevent. Since I'm the one driving the car and not the guy who made these crazy rules up, it's my safety on the line. Law enforcement recognizes this too and will let it go unless you're trying to max out your Porsche to see what it will do.

I usually drive with traffic and let the speed demons go by me. Traffic on my road is routinely going 65-70mph.

I think this is a great example of a man made rule that really doesn't work.

[missmuffet]

2 hours ago, Starise said:

The "Got Questions" write up is pretty good on this subject.

The roads are crazy out there. Drive defensively is probably the best rule IMO. Respect other drivers even if they don't respect us. Retaliation on the road never ends well and can turn a peaceful drive into an intense rat race. I almost seen an accident yesterday and I was right behind it. we're talking inches close.

I might have a different view than some on the speed limits. The posted speed limits here in my area of the country were made years ago to supposedly conserve fuel. To actually do those speed limits on a busy freeway is often putting ourselves in harm's way. I see it as a law that was passed that is impractical to safely follow all the time. Since everyone else is moving with traffic it makes people more impatient coming up on someone at 55mph. Those people then take chances trying to go around you which could cause an accident the speed limits hoped to prevent. Since I'm the one driving the car and not the guy who made these crazy rules up, it's my safety on the line. Law enforcement recognizes this too and will let it go unless you're trying to max out your Porsche to see what it will do.

I usually drive with traffic and let the speed demons go by me. Traffic on my road is routinely going 65-70mph.

I think this is a great example of a man made rule that really doesn't work.

You need to be a very safe driver and drive defensively or you are going to get it. I still go with the speed limit since that is what is set. Your freeway speed limit is 55? They used to say go with the flow of traffic but now if you did that you would be going way over the speed limit. I can't say that you would get a ticket because there are not many police around any longer. It is a law so I stick with it. 

[Marathoner]

I avoid the freeway, but I rarely drive. When I do drive somewhere, I obey all traffic laws. Simple. 

[Starise]

I believe it's psychological. If they wanted people to go 55 they should post 40mph.

I will often be in the slow lane until I see danger in it.So I'm sometimes at 55. The problem with the road I drive is there are many high speed merges coming from the right and many of those people won't yield even though it's the law they are supposed to. They zoom right over often without a signal and just assume you will move. So it's either that or go into the faster lane with the 85 mph people. I end up sort of bobbing back and forth so I don't die