The Rules of Engagement

The Rules of Engagement

I dolatry Idolatry is a deep devotion and immoderate affection of an object or a person that displaces the type of love and honor God expects from His creation. (See Psalm 97:7.) I gnorance Ignorance is the want for knowledge in general, or in relation to a particular subject; the state of being uneducated or uninformed. It is not just the lack of knowledge that destroys, it is the lack of the need for knowledge such as the knowledge of God. See Hosea 4:6. I mmaturity Encarta offers us the following definition for the word immaturity : “childish: lacking the wisdom or emotional development normally associated with adults (disapproving),” such as pouting, whining, pleading, nagging, throwing tantrums, dependence, and irresponsibility. I ncest Incest is defined as sexual relations between persons closely related enough that marriage would be considered illegal or forbidden. This weapon, used from the days of Lot, has been used for opening doors in many people’s lives to perversion, psychotic or neurotic conditions, heinous criminal activities, and intergenerational dysfunctions. (See Genesis 19:30–37.) I ndifference Indifference causes hope, purpose, and vision to be replaced by apathy. According to Nobel Prize–winning author Elie Wiesel, “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it is indiffer ence. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it is indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it is [the failure to value life brought on by one thing only]—indifference.” 4 (See Psalm 137:1–4.)

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