Given Up to Lust

Do you remember that blog post a while back about it being a "man's world"?  

Well, to give you an update, I didn't end up going back out to Puerto Plata to get my car looked at.  I had this gut feeling that I shouldn't allow that gentleman to help me at the other shop, no matter how good his intentions seemed to be.

I don't know what is going on in the spiritual atmosphere lately, but my righteous indignation is kicking up again and my tolerance is growing thin.  I haven't been this worked up over something since last year when the dogs were in heat outside my house (you can read more about that here).

So, what am I getting all angry about this time?

The men here.

(Get ready for some full out ranting)

Waiting at the stoplight, I get kisses blown my way by men twice my age.  Disgusting.

At the beach, which is the ONLY place close enough to home where I feel safe to run alone, men have started to follow me with their eyes before their feet join behind me... at least my speed is improving now.

In the village, macho adolescents think it's funny to enlighten me with the little English they know that "you want to f*** me." ... Really? This is news to me.

And I cannot even drive down the street outside my house without getting suggestive looks and smiles from motoconcho drivers waiting at given stops along the way.  I feel like I have a personal fan club waiting for me every time I drive by...

Being a gringa makes me stick out, especially since every Dominican man is raised and encouraged to find their "rich" white girl.  Dude, I'm living on faith that God will provide my next paycheck! But it's not just me.  Every woman here has received these cat calls, stares, and the all-too-familiar hisses at some point in their life.

You know, around this time last year, I began praying fervently for protection.  I had men visiting my windows and offering to "buy" my smile... whatever that means.  One man even told me he had a dream that he gave me roses and then asked if I liked roses.  This man also would linger in his car outside my classes while I was teaching and just stare at me... I'd move from one side of the room to escape his looks and he would pull his car forward to follow me.  I kept praying he would get a hint, but he followed through in bringing me flowers and candy before the year was over.  I still get the heebie-jeebies thinking about that guy. 

If you haven't forgotten, God answered my tearful cries with a dog.  I was thinking more along the lines of a husband when I was praying...  God sure does have a sense of humor!

Well, I've found myself praying once more for protection (Lord, please don't send me another dog... the one You gave me is more than enough!).  Lucas has become quite the aggressive guard dog and has gotten mighty close to attacking men who have come on the property without permission.  Good boy!

Before I turn in each night, I pray over Lucas and over the property- for a hedge of protection and for angels to stand guard.  In the past month, God has even lovingly asked for me to keep my front door gate locked at all times.  I chose not to lock it one morning as I was hanging laundry, going in and out of the house, and immediately God said, "Don't become relaxed on this one.  Please honor me in my request."

I strongly believe, though he drives me bonkers, that Lucas is so aggressively protective for a reason, and I have to thank God for that.  I was discussing with my friend recently Lucas' desire to shred to pieces a neighbor that came to my front door.  I have an unsettled feeling about this neighbor in particular and my friend suggested that something else might have been going on.  

"Like what?" I asked.  

"Like lust or other intentions." she replied. 

"You think Lucas can pick up on that?"

"I don't know, but something is heightening his resolve to protect you and his property." 

Funny she should mention lust.

I'm reading a book right now by Bob Sorge titled A Covenant with My Eyes.  The title is based off of a covenant Job made with the Lord that he would not look upon any woman with lust (Job 31:1).  The book discusses covenants, the importance of and battle for sexual purity, and what making such a vow means in this day and age.  Any Christian man, single or married, who has been to Sosua should consider reading this book... Lord knows the temptation to look is at every corner.

I was running on Sosua beach this week with a friend and, once more, that anger began to rise in me.  Women, wearing next to nothing, posing for a photo shoot while rolling in the sand and water, about drove me insane.  For the full 40 minutes of running back and forth, these girls were taking photos of themselves.  There were also prostitutes scouting out their next job, and other women who have no shame letting it all hang out.  I was getting angry for my running buddy's sake!

And, of course, I received "encouragement" from the male peanut gallery, as well.  "Corre! 1, 2, 3, 4!... 1, 2, 3, 4!"  That's greeeaaat... you can count in English! ... Like I've never heard that one before.

But I digress... 

Lust.

It is an emotion or feeling of intense desire in the body.  In this case, I'm talking about strong sexual desires for another person. 

Jesus was very direct when it came to lust.... 

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'  But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.  For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.  For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell." Matthew 5:27-30

If people truly heeded Jesus' words, there'd be a lot more people walking around with one eye and one hand.  Yet I feel that this country is lost in a sea of lust. Sex is ev-er-y-where.  It walks down the street.  It smiles at you from a billboard. It dances with you in a bachata song.  

Just spending time with the girls in the village has proven to me how deeply rooted sex is in this culture as the girls move their 11-year old hips seductively in dance and beckon the attention of grown men nearby.  

There is a difference between a friendly gaze and a lustful gaze, and unfortunately, I don't come across too many friendly gazes from men here.  

As I was spending time with the Lord last night, my bible fell open to Romans so I began reading the first chapter.  In it, I felt God was answering my question as to why this culture is so saturated in sexual lusts.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.  Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen." Romans 1:18-25 

Truth is being suppressed in this country and it's not for a lack of knowledge.  It would be extremely hard for you to find someone in this area who has not heard of Jesus.  People have been given the invitation to accept Him, but, more often than not, they are not willing to give up their sinful lifestyles yet.  They are without excuse.

In turn, God, in His loving kindness, has given Sosua up in the lusts of its heart to impurity, to the dishonoring of its bodies among themselves, because it has chosen to exchange the truth about God for a lie.  The people here are worshiping and serving sex rather than the Creator of sex.

The eyes of my heart were enlightened when I read this scripture.  God is not going to force people to repent or turn from their unrighteous ways, because He wants them to choose Him.  He knows what He wants for His children and has declared this over them, but if they don't want to walk in the freedom and joy and love that is waiting in abundance for them in Christ, He will give them over to their lusts.

This grieves my spirit.  Not that God would do this, but because of the disobedience of man.

Please, don't get me wrong. I, too, have battled with lust.  As fallen creatures, I believe sex is an area where everyone will have some sort of battle, because it is an essential part to fulfilling God's purposes of filling the earth with His righteousness.

What I'm experiencing right now among the male population is deeper than just flirtatious and longing looks.  There is a generational curse and a cultural stronghold at work here. I really have to bridle my tongue and check my heart.  I have to remind myself  daily to hate the sin and love the sinner when everything inside me is cringing and crying for God to make all things new.

Another thing that gets my goat is why men here aren't working to provide for their families.  There are all these men just sitting and waiting on the side of the road with their motos because that's their occupation in life.  Other men sit outside their own homes all day.  Now you tell me... if you have nothing to do but sit around, what is your mind going to think about?   Proverbs 16:27 (TLB) even says that "idle hands are the devil's workshop." 

What has happened to this country? I know the government has much to do with the current state of the Dominican Republic, and education (or lack there of) is a huge contributing factor, as well.  But what happened to the desire God has placed in every man to provide for his family?  Lord, restore this desire in the men here in a pleasing way!

There are so many ministry and mission programs here on the north coast, but what fruit is being produced? What good are we doing if there is no lasting change and transformation? My heart's cry is for God to raise up godly men and women to disciple His lost sheep.  That is what this country needs.

You know... maybe it's time for a little furlough.  Don't you love God's timing?  I head out August 26th for my little brother's wedding in Baltimore and I cannot wait to see family and friends back home in Orlando for a while, too.  I think it may be good to step away for a few weeks and remove myself from the constant bombardment of this over-sexualized culture.

I do love the Dominican Republic, but I love God more.   Things, as they are, are not ok.   

I'm ticked off.