At times I feel like I have a "hostage" collar on. Attached to it is 15 lbs of C-4. When I go about my day and come into inevitable temptation I am faced with the possibility of it going off. The enemy is right their to let me know I'm going to fail, that being tempted alone is failure and that I'm ALL alone. As I'm averting my eyes, or leaving the place, or turning off the T.V. (fleeing temptation) I struggle with "the line", have I crossed it? Did I just commit "adultery"? Was there a part of me that wanted to see that?
BOOOM!
Does that make me insecure? You bet it does. If I tell my wife (and I have) that I'm struggling it makes HER insecure. "Aren't I good enough?" So I talk with a brother and pour my inflamed (or infected) guts out on someone I love and respect (or he does with me). No matter what we do though, we can't remove that collar. It's just part of life as a Christian husband.
I know that the blood of Jesus covers all of my sins. That he will provide a way of escape and that I can flee all temptation. I know that when I fall that I can get back up and He can restore me and that I can receive forgiveness and that I can be restored in fellowship with Him. He loves me and is committed to me.
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
(Php 1:6-7)
I can have a confidence that even though I'm prone to sin and that in me dwells no good thing that He is able to keep me and that He will never forsake me. That in Him I'm a new creature. That His mercies are new every morning. He is faithful when I am not. I need to guard against an evil heart of departing from the Living God, yes, but HE WON'T LEAVE ME!
So whose collar is that around my neck?
In contrast to Christ, in the Christian home there exists a new concept. The concept has nothing to do with grace or faithfulness. It has nothing to do with commitment or a realization of our sin nature. It doesn't acknowledge God's provision for sin, the blood of Jesus Christ. Instead it wants to expose, judge, condemn, and separate. It says that you had better never even let on that you are struggling or you are on the fast track to a divorce. You had better lie, obfuscate, hide and pretend like you are perfect and the sin that you may struggle with daily will never furl your brow. If you let on.
BOOOM!
Divorce. Women have their finger on the detonator. It's a twitchy finger. Do they feel sufficiently loved themselves today? Where you checking that woman out (the one with the nice legs and short skirt)? Are you secretly viewing porn on the computer? All things that strike at the HEART of her security as a wife. Is my husband committed to me? Given what goes on all around us, how can she be sure? Will he leave when she gets older, fatter, saggier? Isn't being tempted prima facia evidence that he will leave? So they cling to that detonator. I have to be able to hurt him if he hurts me.
Mutually assured condemnation.
What form does it really take? From the wife's perspective. He has to be committed to me as Christ is committed to me, he has to be a leader and model Christ to me unconditionally, even though I don't deserve it. I have to be somewhat committed and be Christlike in some ways unless I don't feel like it. If husband makes a mistake I have OPTIONS. Even though I know the freedom and security that unconditional love brings me, I will love conditionally, the "church" says I can. I have a verse in the Bible that says I don't have to love (although I'm not sure exactly where) and that I don't have to be fully committed to my spouse. He knows it too. A few pixels or a stray thought and I can bail, thank you Jesus!
Furthermore, if I'm frustrated with him I can just pull back and watch him burn. Why do you need a wife? Just man up and avoid temptation like your suppose to, sexual sin is different, it's "divorcable". I sin, but it is different, that is what the Bible says and buddy you'd better stop playing with that collar.
So let's take stock again. The man generally feels like he'd better keep his mouth shut and his eyes on the ceiling. He's not sure how well grace works because he is walking a tight-rope with the person who is closest to him. She's watching him for any sign of a slip because he might commit the "unpardonable sin" which will make the "Good News" null and void. Both of them are literally in bondage. He's hiding while she is waiting in the wings with condemnation and forgiveness.
The question is, is she committed or isn't she? Does the blood of Christ apply or doesn't it?
To me, it feels like a very slippery highly insecure slope. Without commitment how can there be security? What value is limited commitment?
I think this is a core issue in marriage that was addressed very poorly in "Fireproof". Yes, Caleb committed completely, but he's the second class citizen, the husband. The wife didn't commit completely and she never has to (according to the doctrine of some). Her adultery wasn't "divorcable", yet somehow his pornography was. The double standard shrieks FAILURE!
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
(Mat 18:23-35)