If you know me, you know I can be a bit of a semantic stickler… Perhaps it’s my fate as the daughter of a journalist and an accountant. I am very particular about the words I use and I drive my friends and coworkers batty by correcting their grammar or vocabulary. It’s a vice I have no intention of parting with. 

Words matter. 

They also led me down a theological rabbit hole the other day, with one simple question: what is the antonym for temptation? 

Any guesses? 

Alertness. Awareness. 

The antidote for falling into sin is not falling into good works! That was a surprise to me. The antidote for falling into temptation is letting your guard down against the world, the devil, and your sinful flesh. 

And that’s straight from Jesus’ mouth, in Matthew 26:41 when he said, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 

Boy oh boy is my flesh weak. But it is the weakest when I’ve let my guard down, be it via alcohol, anger, media, or a series of “little” choices that didn’t seem so bad until you find yourself on the other side of the line. Growing up, I listened to a Casting Crowns song called Slow Fade. 

“Be careful little eyes what you see

It’s the second glance that ties your hands

As darkness pulls the strings…

It’s a slow fade

When you give yourself away

It’s a slow fade

When black and white have turned to grey

And thoughts invade, choices made

A price will be paid

When you give yourself away

People never crumble in a day…”

I used to roll my eyes and attribute the lyrics to legalism. After being caught in the slow fade myself, I no longer roll my eyes. I close them, and try to trace back the steps to where I went wrong. I pray and ask to be delivered from myself. 

We are what we consume, whether we like it or not. Your guard might be down with songs or movies that seem harmless. “It’s just a song lyric.” Sure, but it’s a degrading one. “It’s just a film.” Sure, but it’s a violent one. “It’s just a content creator on TikTok.” Sure, but it’s a blasphemous one. “It’s just a drink.” Sure. But can you stop at that? 

You might consider yourself discerning, but no one is immune to the way these things impact our souls. So be alert, watch, and pray. What is your gateway sin? What is the one you’ve been secretly justifying and hiding away from the light? 

Don’t mistake these questions for condemnation. In Christ, there is no condemnation. But just as parents want their kids to “turn out alright” and avoid the temptations that lead to pain and suffering on this side of heaven, Christ also wants to turn us into something wholly other by filling us with good things. He wants to prepare us to be content in his house. After all, if we are what we consume, it’s possible to be the Body of Christ. 

1 Corinthians 10:13 is perhaps the greatest comfort: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

While we’re being semantic, do you know what “escape” implies when used as a transitive verb? (Grammar 101, transitive verbs mean the action passes from the subject to the direct object. Bear with me here, you made it this far.) 

You (the subject) are breaking free from sin (the direct object) by way of God’s providence. 

You can be free! 

Watch, and pray.