Some Pray. Some Prey.

In Genesis 39 we have the account of Joseph's brief tenure in the house of Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. It is in this chapter that we read of Joseph's challenges with Potiphar's wife. After repeatedly failing to seduce Joseph, she eventually lied to her servants and her husband, falsely accusing Joseph of attempted rape. Her story was believed. Joseph, the seventeen year old slave purchased by Potiphar, was imprisoned. He was not released from prison until he was thirty years old.

Pastor Joy accurately described Potiphar's wife as a wicked woman. And, for some strange reason, several congregants found Pastor Joy's description to be funny. They laughed out loud.

What is funny about sexual harassment?
What is funny about an older adult attempting to seduce a minor?
What is funny about persons in power falsely accusing the disenfranchised and voiceless?
What is funny about wickedness?

Why the laughter?

At the beginning of the sermon our pastor gave a brief summary of the spectrum of Christianity (from spiritual infancy through spiritual maturity). And, interestingly, her summary may hold the explanation as to the immature reaction of the laughing congregants. They laughed because they are spiritual infants. Guess what? We really can't be angry at persons who exhibit immature behavior. It's the nature of immaturity. Spiritual infants, like physical infants, need time and training to grow up.

The distinction between the mature and immature Christian is never chronological. The spectrum is spiritual, and the evidence is behavioral.

The immature pursue wickedness while the mature pursue holiness.

The mature understand the importance of integrity and obedience to God while the immature relentlessly press for self-indulgence and temporal pleasure.

But there's more to consider. Pastor Joy noted that some in the community of faith have been "Christian" for decades, yet are exhibiting the traits of spiritual infancy. They are old chronologically speaking, but are still babies spiritually speaking. This gives us cause for deep concern. Why? Because, in effect, the "decades-old infant" is a type of Potiphar's wife-- a source of inappropriate thoughts and actions, a destroyer of the weak-minded, and an agent in support of Satan's agenda-- equipped with position and power. That is scary.

"As Potiphar's wife spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or to even be in the same room with her." (Genesis 39:10)

Pastor Joy asked a question that we must ask ourselves: "Where are we on the spectrum from spiritual infancy to spiritual adulthood?"

Are you praying? Or are you preying?