The James Bond Syndrome
We have all probably grown up with the James Bond movies and the image of the character that is presented with him. If you are like me, you probably even saw yourself as the suave, debonair, mysterious man who got all the gorgeous women, drove the greatest cars and had all the cool gadgets.
In every movie, he always was with the most attractive woman that was irresistible to his charm even if it cost her life. As a spy working for the Queen and country he still had an image to uphold that included being well dressed in a tuxedo that was custom fit. He had stylish and expensive cars along with all the latest gadgets created to help him out of any situation. This all seemed to come at no cost or expense to him and no concern for them. It seems that he had the Girls, Gold and Glory.
So why do so many men feel that they have to do everything in their power to emulate this fictional character?
Like many things, guys tend to fantasize about getting the girl, winning the big game, being rich or having super powers while feeling like they are stuck in a dull average Joe life.
When you really look at it though, Bond may have had all those things, but he tended to be a loner. Yes, he had what many psychologists would say is an ISTP type of personality. This type of person is practical yet great at handling a crisis and resourceful. He prefers to be alone yet outgoing as an Introvert. He would be sensing depending on his senses and observation skills. His thinking would be based on logical decisions and not just going on his feelings. Finally, he would be a perceiver in that he is a non-planner and never plans what he is about to do.
Now you may be thinking, how does this apply to me as a Christian man?
In 1 John 2:16, it says “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”
- Girls- the lust of the Flesh
- Gold- the lust of the Eyes
- Glory- the Pride of Life
Now Dr. Cole said that “Lust is the desire to get at the expense of others, while love desires to give at the expense of self.” This is evident when you see Bond in that he uses women as an object for most parts to get information from them, help him to get to the bad guy (which usually gets her killed) or simply to use them for his sexual pleasure.
Even Jesus was tempted. In Hebrews 2:18 it says “ Jesus was tempted in every way as we were. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”
With the James Bond syndrome, we see how these same issues can cause men to get caught up in the traps of sin. You can even see how many want to have that Peter Pan or Playboy lifestyle that they don’t want to grow up and take responsibility for their actions or to have that image of a rich lifestyle and have anyone or anything they want and then discard it when they are done with it. We have too many lives, marriages and families destroyed because of the temptation of Satan to try and live up to a glamorous lifestyle that God hasn’t intended for them and to later fall or destroy lives trying to reach it.
Music is "Car on the Corner" by V. V. Campos https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/4mzm5x9ruQ/