delusion

Hey, I decided to start a short series challenging the 'norm' as Christians, and today I want to speak about 'delusion' or fantasising, if I can put it that way.

What is delusion? According to the Urban Dictionary, delusion is "holding false beliefs or judgments about external reality that are held despite evidence to the contrary." The Gen Z term, aka 'delulu,' is used to describe someone who holds unrealistic or overly idealistic beliefs or fantasies. This goes as far as creating scenarios about a 'non-existent' relationship. This is a broad term, but I want to focus on this particular meaning in the context of relationships.

Now, both of these definitions already have negative connotations, but let's start with the Gen Z term, it's seen as being overly optimistic and hopeful, and can sometimes be seen or associated with a positive act. I've also included the original definition because that's where the slang derives from. While society is pushing the idea of being 'delulu' as a "it's not that deep" concept, and something everyone must go through by highlighting the optimistic or hopeful side of things, we need to familiarise ourselves with the enemy's attempt to disguise sin or things that will eventually lead to sin.

Acts 13:10 says, "Full of deceit and all cunning, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness..." 2 Corinthians 11:14 says, "And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." I'm afraid this could be another case story.

When it comes to delusion, you are moving with no sober mind. The mind is so powerful and usually where the enemy attacks us. Something so 'innocent' can really open up a can of worms.

First of all, I just want to make you aware that this is what eventually happens when you overly fantasise about someone or are being delulu: it either makes you idolise the person, or degrade yourself as thoughts of insecurity creep in somehow, and you might end up degrading the other person, especially when you're looking for a reason to stop liking them or when they simply don’t like you back and all three are not godly. But beyond that, one of the biggest struggles is the shame that comes with it—all that imagining and overthinking. You start feeling disappointed in yourself, even hesitant to go to God (at least, that’s how I used to feel), which then proves that there is something wrong with this. Sin separates us from God, and the in-between is sometimes filled with shame. And now, therefore, you feel isolated.

For a long time, I didn't see anything necessarily wrong with this, but I have realised how much it hinders my relationship with God and how many struggles I faced ever since, especially when it came to my view on relationships.

I think delusion, like many things, is not necessarily "wrong" or a sin, but it's a path to sin—there is no way to control it. And if we are trying to obey the words in 2 Timothy 2:22, then we should flee from this as well because it is such a big opportunity for lust.

I'm praying for us!!