Stockholm

The recent rescue of Jaycee Dugard after 18 years of captivity touched my heart and provoked my spiritual mind. Jaycee was kidnapped at age 11, kept in a tent in a backyard, raped and abused for 18 years, and even had two children by the male captor.

What is bizarre is that she bonded with her tormentors. She helped run a business and did not take advantage of the opportunities to escape. This is called Stockholm syndrome. It is a psychological shift that takes place when a captive is first threatened then shown acts of kindness by the captors. The result is that the victim identifies with and defends those who are actually abusing them.

While shocking and incredulous at first, it occurs to me that this is a constant condition in the Spiritual realm. We once served sin but now we have been redeemed. Our old master kept us in slavery, paying us slave wages. Now, under a new Master, we serve righteousness and receive life everlasting. For some odd reason, we still go and visit that old master and work in the field we prayed to be delivered from.

Is it Stockholm or just plain Stupid?

Whatever it is we need to stop it and be free. Jaycee will need a lot of intensive counseling to convince her of the crime against her and the salvation she now has. In like manner the penitent believer must be reminded repeatedly of the undone condition of the sinner and the great worth of his salvation.

“What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:1-23).”

Amazing Grace!!!

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God will provide!! - if only God would provide while He provides.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Phillipians 4:19

Conversation

There’s more to a conversation than just talking. The word itself points to alteration or change. Conversation comes from the Latin – conversari, meaning abide with and convertere, meaning to turn around. So then, in a conversation you are abiding with and being turned around (to some degree) by who you are talking with.

Scripture says, “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him (Proverbs. 26:4).” “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners (1 Corinthians 15:33).” It becomes clear etymologically and practically that we must be careful of our words and who we share them with.

Arguing with a fool makes you a fool. We know this to be true by the many childish discussions (or should I say ‘disgustions’) that we have witnessed or participated in. Tension rises, pressure builds, voices get raised and the wrong words are said. All for naught because it accomplished nothing positive.

To argue with a fool you have to meet him at his level. This means that you have to climb down into the ‘fool pit’ with him. The same is true for all unworthy conversation. The real results, after all the words and passions have passed, is that you have become that which you so despised.

It is about motive and value. If you know a person to be argumentive keep it simple. Or if the subject is not so important, brush it off. Wise men hold their peace but a fool answers every challenge. We don’t have to correct every mistake, answer every critique, silence every rumor, disprove every lie or confront every insult. The higher you rise the more things are beneath you.

By the way, it tickles my soul when someone tries to bait me into an argument and I reply, “Oh really, that’s awesome.” Or “Wow, I never looked at it like that before.” I send them merrily on their way while I save time and energy. If someone genuinely has a point or needs fruitful contention, that’s one thing. But if they are out to belittle, or strut their stuff, they can take center stage elsewhere.

I wonder if this principle holds true in the positive. If arguing with a fool makes me a fool, and evil communication corrupts good morals, then what happens when I speak with the wise and good. Abiding with and being turned around by wise men sounds like a good personal growth plan.

Wow! Maybe that’s why we all need to pray more.