The final variation of attack can be disasterous if handled carelessly. It involves your patron's seeking help, solace, or commiseration from other humans. Sooner or later a patron is bound to seek out someone with whom he can "identify" (which is nearly any normal human). It is important to realize that at the present time, all of your patrons do not really want to be rid of their lust even though they may say they do. Look into their minds when they are most tempted to lust. That is your true gauge of their resistance to you, and as such, you can be sure that none of your patrons wish that area of their lives to be washed clean by the Enemy. It is simply too pleasurable for them. Given that in their hearts they really want to be lustful, it is only natural that they search for confidants who best reflect their own experience with lust - namely, those who also want to be lustful. I suppose I needn't tell you to keep your patrons away from people who through the Enemy are victorious over lust. It might seem to you that that would one of your biggest problems, but it isn't. Through centuries of conditioning, we have raised human reason to the messianic level on earth. Most humans believe that if they thoroughly understand their problems, they can solve them. What better way to truly understand and find help with their spiritual problem, they reason, then to go to someone with the same problem? So much the better if they find someone who has had an even worse trouble, for they no doubt understand the problem even more thoroughly. It wouldn't do to go to someone who has complete victory over the problem. No, they're too far removed. They wouldn't understand. So it is all through ego that we see doubters going to atheists for counsel and perverts going to deviates for help. Yes, it is rare to find a human who wants to be rebuked and corrected. They want to be soothed, and patted on the back, and encouraged. Those things in and of themselves do us no good unless, through your careful guidance, they affirm in the patron the "naturalness" of his lust and produce among a group an atmosphere of mutual permission to commit their sin on the basis of comraderie. I have with me a file from the archives to illustrate this ticklish game.
This is the case study I spoke of earlier, that of the patron who stood before a mirror with a pornographic magazine in his hands berating himself for his sin. Later in his life, when his lust was extremely well-rooted, he started a men's prayer group ostensibly for the purpose of prayer and the sharing of spiritual problems, but eventually, it grew under his leadership to be one of the most lascivious and denigrating parts of his life.
Patrons usually react to lust in others in one of two ways depending on their personalities and the depth of their lust: either they are extremely accusatory and harsh because they feel they do the Enemy a favor, and by condemning it forcefully, they feel relieved of some of their own guilt at the expense of another's; or they take a non-judgemental and comforting stance and actually encourage it so they can feel less guilty in light of the vast numbers doing the exact same things, which was the case in this patron of whom I am about to speak. He had long since gone past self-condemnation and had progressed very nicely until he had reached the point of total defeat, usually a very harrowing time for most artists, but Phallus handled it masterfully. The patron had previously submersed himself in the New Age ideals and had been constantly looking within himself for the answer to his sin. When the final crisis arrived, Phallus merely said, "Why beat yourself up about it anymore? This is who you are. This negative attitude of yours is stifling the positive potential of your spirit. Accept yourself for who and what you are, and the moment you do, this burden will be lifted from you, and you can guide others in the evolution of their spirits." Oh, he made it look so easy! The patron fell like a ripe apple, and there was nothing that Phallus could ask...carefully...that the patron would not eventually do. The patron was like a Scrooge reborn and revelled in his freedom. He even felt compelled to write sort of a "constitution of self". Here is an excerpt: "I am free because I have accepted myself totally for who I am. I am master of myself now, and I will torture myself no more with who I think I should be, but will grow in what I am. I am imperfect, but it is only through being myself that I can attain any true satisfaction or fulfillment in my life and help others discover happiness in theirs." Here is a paraphrase of what he actually meant: "I feel free because I have accepted my lust totally. My lust masters me now, and I will no longer tire myself by fighting it, but will grow in it. I am lustful, but it is only through being lustful that I can attain any true satisfaction or fulfillment in my life and help others discover happiness in theirs." It amazes me that the Enemy didn't blast him to atoms.
That was the prevailing attitude of the patron when he began his men's prayer group at his church. The group would meet every Wednesday for about an hour. They would first discuss any problems they felt needed to be addressed in prayer, then pray. Thanks to the leadership of the patron, not a meeting went by where some form of lust was not discussed. The participants admired the patron's candor about such matters and felt they were being open and honest when they discussed their lust, but soon the conversation took on an aspect more suitable to a bar than a chapel, as the patron encouraged discussion of specific lustful activities. I have here one of the more informative transcripts from one of the later meetings to illustrate just how a patron's lust may both feed and feed off another's lust. The transcript is complete with parenthetical sidebars which reveal also the patron's thoughts (really Phallus's comments) as he interacts in particular with George. You will see how well Phallus had him in hand. His pride blinded him even to truth planted firmly between his eyes by George. I should mention that the patron had been consistently trying to get the name of a woman with whom one of the group, Steve, had been involved in sexual sin. Steve had mentioned several specific episodes with this woman, but steadfastly refused to reveal her identity. Each confession from Steve elicited new lustful desire in the patron. By now, the image the patron had in his mind of this woman was fairly overblown, and he could not wait to sample her himself. I now read from the transcript:
PATRON: Well, it looks like everyone's here. Let's open with a word of prayer. Dear Lord, we thank you for your presence here today, and we pray for your strength and guidance as we confess our sins one to another in a spirit of love. Help us to be completely open and honest with one another (Do you hear that, Steve?), holding nothing back so we may all carry one another's burden and enrich each other with your grace. Amen. Well, does anyone have anything to share this evening? (Better not start with Steve. Don't want to appear too anxious) George? How about you? Would you like to start?
GEORGE: Well, actually I hadn't planned on speaking at all tonight. I was going to speak to you privately afterwards, but after hearing your prayer, and since you picked me first, I'll be open and honest. I'm thinking of quitting this prayer group.
PATRON: (Don't get excited. Look concerned, shocked. That's it) Well, George, I'm sorry to hear that. Is there a problem? Is it something someone in the group has done? Don't feel you have to protect anyone. We're all adults and friends here, ready to help you.
GEORGE: Well, it's nothing really specific. I just don't think that this group has helped me much. In fact, there's times I feel even worse than before I started coming. Sometimes I even feel that this group has even hurt me. It's nothing I can really put my finger on. I just...don't know. I haven't improved any with my problem with lust, and I...I don't know...maybe I was expecting too much. You know, I expected to conquer my lust. I expected that Jesus would just blast it out of me, and then I could really live a victorious Christian life, but...I don't know...I feel that my lust is even worse than before I started coming here.
PATRON: (No problem. Easy.) Now, George, you know that in this life, God himself has decreed that you will have suffering, and Jesus said that those who would follow him must take up their crosses. Perhaps, this is a cross God wishes you to bear to build your resistance. After all, how can you ever expect to stand against the enemy if you have never met him? You must be patient. Soon you will have the spiritual muscle to fight temptation better, but for now, you must learn and work to build yourself up in Christ.
GEORGE: I realize that, but I have been coming here for over a year now, and I haven't seen any improvement. As a matter of fact, to be totally honest, sometimes I think you actually encourage this group to be more lustful.
PATRON: (The nerve of this idiot! What does he know about spiritual things? I knew he was starting to be a problem.) Now, George, think. I have devoted my life to Christ and spreading his word. What would ever make you think that I would deliberately do something to bring shame to his name?
GEORGE: I told you it's nothing I can put my finger on. It's more the... atmosphere you create. I mean, for example, I think we spend more time talking about the lustful things we do than about how to fight it.
PATRON: (You know nothing about the evolution of the spirit. You would stifle everyone here!) George, every member of this group offers their comments freely. I don't force them to say what they say, and I think it is helpful that we feel no inhibitions or fear over the impact of our words. This group provides a safe harbor where we can all feel safe from criticism, prejudice, and judgmental attitudes. We need to be accepting of each other as Christ was.
GEORGE: But to the exclusion of what is right?
PATRON: (He's nothing but a fundamentalist bigot. Oh, he has all the answers, doesn't he?) George, we are all men, each striving and fighting to find God's plan for our lives. If a man needs to confess a specific act of lust, who are you to say that it is wrong? (He's not fitting in with this group. Let's see if he wants to stay.) The bible tells us to confess our sins to each other, and that is exactly what goes on in this group, where there is no risk of embarrassment. Each of these men trust each other. Do you trust them, George?
GEORGE: Certainly I do...but...listen, that's part of my point. What's the point of confessing if you're scared someone might find out? I mean, that's not really a confession at all is it? I thought the whole idea behind confession was freedom. You confess because you've made up your mind to fight against your sin, and you know you're forgiven for your past sin. You don't care who knows about your sin anymore because it has no more stake in your life. I think...
PATRON: (Shut him up. Shut him UP! They're starting to listen to him instead of me.) Listen, George, I think your initial instincts were right. We should probably discuss this in private. We don't want personal animosity to enter into it.
GEORGE: But this isn't personal, I just think that...
PATRON: (Are you stupid? Shut UP!) Would you be willing to discuss it later in my office?
GEORGE: Oh, sure. Yeah, I guess so.
PATRON: (Bright boy.) Good. Now does anyone else have something to share? (Now to get that name.) Steve?
STEVE: Well, nothing has really changed. I'm still feeling a lot of lust for this woman, and I can't deny that I love it.
PATRON: I'm sure we all can understand that.
(The group lightly laughs)
STEVE: I don't think I would have any trouble if she wouldn't do the things she does to me.
PATRON: Such as?
STEVE: Well, you all know what a tiger she is in bed. She just drives me nuts. How can you fight something like that?
PATRON: (I must have this girl's name.) Well, I think a good start would be naming your sin. Who is she?
STEVE: I've told you I don't feel comfortable giving her name. It would be like writing it on a bathroom wall.
GEORGE: There's another example. Why do you need to know her name? Isn't knowing the sin enough? Why don't you just tell him how he can combat his lust?
PATRON: (I will rip your tongue out by the roots, if you don't leave right now!) George, if you're going to interfere with the working of the spirit, then perhaps you shouldn't be here tonight.
GEORGE: All right! Fine! I'll leave! (He leaves).
PATRON: (Good riddance!) Gentlemen, I'm sorry that this happened and that you all witnessed it. I hope George will be in all your prayers as he will be in mine. Perhaps I will go to him later and try to win him back. (Like hell I will!) But now, let's continue...Steve, I think it is important to name your...ah...consort if only to reinforce honesty in your life. The bible tells us that there is nothing hidden that shall not be made manifest. That is the essence of heaven, nothing hidden, total, open honesty. If you hide things like this from men, what real chance have you of revealing your sin to God for forgiveness?
You see the game? Every thought, every action held captive by his sin; just a thin layer of religiosity crusts over a swollen, pulsating core of lust. He was a hollow plaster saint, and it was only a matter of time before his sin burst the mold. And like a strong undertow beneath still waters, the patron sucked several of the group down with him.
The artistic goal of this attack is primarily, as you may have read in the first chapter of your textbook, to solidify your patron's lust by destroying in him any belief that the Enemy is faithful and true and more than able to forgive and forget and wipe him of any trace of sin. Even the smallest bit of that type of belief could easily powderize your art. Always encourage him to believe in himself and his abilities as a means to spiritual growth, which should be relatively easy due to the fine work of our Public Relations department. They've effectively infiltrated nearly every home, school, church, and business with their wonderful "New Age" philosophy. It is just that type of thinking you want to foster in your patron, and if he will not adopt it wholly, then certainly you can use it to corrupt his faith. For if your patron believes more in himself than the Enemy, then you have rich soil to plow, plant, and cultivate seeds of neutralization which will grow into beautiful thick- barked trees of destruction.
The fundamental goal of this attack is simply to gain time. Probably the most rewarding aspect of all this, as you will later learn, is that an inflamed lust encourages excesses in other areas of life. He will do more of everything he shouldn't because of the insatiable spiritual hunger his lust produces. However, time is necessary for lust to root itself firmly within your patron's soul. Let him spin his wheels for as long as he wants; just keep from his mind the slashing barbs of the Enemy's commands. That is your main concern. Until our next meeting, I bid you all farewell.