“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).
When I was a senior in college I led a men’s Bible study group with Campus Crusade for Christ. During the Fall semester we had several new Freshman in our group. One of them was named Rick.
Every week in our group we would close by asking the guys for their prayer requests, and every week, Rick’s request was the same.
“Hey guys. Keep praying for my problem with lust. I’m still struggling with it.” He’d say with a nervous laugh and wrinkled brow.
And so we would pray for Rick’s problem with the sin of sexual lust and ours too, since it really is every man’s battle.
After a few weeks into the semester, Rick stopped showing up for group, so me and a friend of mine decided to go and check on him. Climbing the steps to the third floor of the freshman dorm, we heard music blaring from Rick’s room.
After banging and banging on the door, it finally swung open to the sound of Rick’s voice yelling, “What the blank do you want?”
Seeing us standing there, the goofy grin left his face and he amended his remark with, “Sorry dudes, I figured it was the guys down the hall, not you. Come on in.”
Sitting on the corner of his unmade bed, I looked around Rick’s room. Every wall was plastered with posters of naked girls. Stacks of “girly” magazines were strewn about. I couldn’t find a place to rest my eyes that they weren’t assaulted with temptation, so I tried to focus them on Rick.
“Rick, we’ve been missing you in Bible study buddy, so we thought we’d come see what’s up.” I said, trying to keep things light.
“Yeah, I’ve been kinda busy. I guess I just don’t have time for the whole weekly group thing now that the semester has gotten going, what with tests to take and papers to write and all..” He half-heartedly muttered in reply.
“I hear you. A lot of freshman have a hard time adjusting to college life at first. But that’s why we need other Christians for fellowship and Bible study. It’s hard enough living for Christ while in college, but it’s near impossible to do alone.” I told him, mustering all the concern in my voice for him that I could, in spite of his flippant attitude.
“Yeah, well I guess I’m doing alright.” He said.
“Well, what about the lust thing? Remember how you’ve been asking us to pray about that? How’s that going?” I asked.
“Well, it’s still kinda a struggle.” He admitted, with that familiar nervous giggle.
“I’m not surprised.” I said. “Since you’ve told us that you’re a believer and therefore our brother in Christ, I want to be honest with you. If I had to sit in this room much longer, I’d be struggling with lust too! Why don’t you tear down these porn posters, throw these girly mags in a garbage bag and let’s have a bonfire?”
“What… these?” He asked, gesturing at the wall dismissively with his hand. “They’re just something I’ve been collecting since I was 13. I’ve got every issue and pin-up since 1969. They’re just a collector’s hobby. That’s all. No big deal.” He finished with a matter-of-fact tone.
“No. Actually, they are a big deal and they are hurting your testimony and hindering your Christian growth. Rick, you’ve got to get serious about following Jesus. You can’t say you believe and then live like this. Let us help you dude. We can have a bonfire tonight!” I told him, my voice cracking with real concern and emotion.
“Nah… that’s OK… I’ll think about it, but I’m kinda busy tonight. Anyway, thanks for coming by guys, I’ve gotta get a shower and head to my … my next thing, so..” He replied, while getting up and motioning us towards the door.
As we left Rick’s room, I said, “Rick, we really miss you friend. And we’re gonna keep you in our prayers.”
“Yeah, thanks. See ya around.” He replied, while closing the door.
I still sometimes think about Rick. We did see him around campus after that, but never at another Bible study. His brand of Christianity was of a kind that doesn’t affect behavior. It was a kind of passive believing that never really affects behavior. His kind of believing didn’t even affect what hung on his walls.
Should what you believe affect how you behave? Should following Christ make any difference in how you live?
What’s hanging on your walls?