Tested

I realize before typing this out that the following excerpt is going to be one of those “which came first: the chicken or the egg?” scenarios in which depending on your preference you may agree with me or you may disagree with me. Both sides have truth as well as wholes, but as for now I will state one of them.

The usual response to people not wanting to sin is a simple avoidance of that sin. If you don’t want to drink, don’t go to parties. If you don’t want to have sex, don’t find yourself in a situation where you are tempted to have sex. Basically the philosophy is “out of sight, out of mind.” But as much as avoiding tempters may help, it is also un-tested and thin. If something is never tested and therefore not sturdy, then as soon as it is tested, there’s nothing to stand on. Parties are not the problem. It is the inability to say “no” in a situation in which you believe you should say no. Everyone makes mistakes. Trying to avoid mistakes is impossible. So instead of avoiding mistakes, learn from the ones you make.