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"FLEE FORNICATION" (2)
The above quotation comes from 1 Corinthians 6:18 and is a
message that ought to catch the attention of every person that wants to please
the Lord. In our previous article on this theme we discussed the definition of
fornication, saw what the New Testament teaches about it, noted some examples of
it, and pointed out some possible consequences of practicing it. Let us look at
other related matters.
Some Modern Concepts And Defenses Of Fornication
"Oh no, we don’t have any plans to get married. We
just live together." The Bible’s answer? "… ye should abstain
from fornication" (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
"Yes, we are hoping to get married some day. But right
now we are just living together to see if we think it would work out for us. You
might call our relationship a ‘trial marriage.’" Remember, Jesus said
that fornication is "evil" (Mark 7:21-23).
"Only young people are involved in fornication, so there
is no need to bother mature people with this topic." Really? When Lot lived
in the city of Sodom, the men of that city came to his house and expressed their
desire to have homosexual relations (a form of fornication) with Lot’s guests.
Please note that the text says that those who wanted to do this horrible deed
were "the men of Sodom … both young and old" (Genesis
19:4,5). Do we actually believe that the inspired message of the New Testament
about fornication was only intended for teenagers and young unmarried people?
True, young people need such instruction, but so does everyone else!
"We are still young, so we need to have some fun."
God’s word says, "Flee also youthful lusts" (2 Timothy 2:22).
"Everybody else is doing it, so it is no big deal."
It IS a big deal when the Lord says to "flee" it, and when He shows us
that fornicators will be lost in hell (Revelation 21:8). Just because a lot of
people are doing something, that does not mean that God approves it.
"The main thing is to practice safe sex." This is
the cry of our day that can be heard from some in the medical and teaching
professions, popular entertainers, and scores of others. If every person in the
world supported this saying, that would still not make it right in God’s
sight. Good people, the only options for sexual relations that God allows are:
1) Completely abstaining from them before and outside of marriage, and 2) Having
them only with one’s true mate in a God-approved marriage (Hebrews 13:4).
This, and this alone, is the "safe way to go" in the eyes of God.
"Sexual activity is good for one’s health, so it is
okay if two people who are not married to one another to have physical relations
if it will help them physically." Yes, I actually have heard a Christian
make this statement! It is true that our bodies are the temple of the Holy
Spirit, and so we ought to be concerned about taking care of them (1 Corinthians
6:19). However, that does not give us the right to disregard what is said in the
preceding verse of the text: "Flee fornication" (6:18). People
are pretty desperate when they try to defend their unlawful actions by appealing
to the physical benefits of them.
"I know that it is wrong, but I just can’t control
myself." Our God is a God of fairness. If He commands us to do something,
then we have the power to carry out His instruction. He charges His children,
"… abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (1
Peter 2:11). We not only can control our fleshly desires, but we must
control them. We don’t want to sound like a broken record, but how much
plainer can it be: "Flee fornication" (1 Corinthians 6:18). To
claim that "the devil made me do it," or "it must have been a
demon in me," is a sorry effort to cover up sin!
"We are all free to express our love in whatever way we
feel comfortable." Who said so? "Free love," if it means sleeping
with any and everybody, is a concept that is foreign to the word of God. In
Christ Jesus we do enjoy freedom (Galatians 5:1). However, such freedom does not
give us the right to act any old way that we please. Later in the same chapter
we read this statement from the Holy Spirit: "For, brethren, ye have
been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh"
(5:13). He then spells it out that fornicators shall not inherit the kingdom of
God (5:19-21). We must never forget that it is God, and only God, Who has the
right to determine what conduct is acceptable and what is not.
"I personally never have and never intend to be involved
in unlawful physical relations, but I don’t see anything wrong with watching
it on television or listening to music in which it is mentioned." There are
probably some folks who see "eye to eye" with what we have written in
points 1-9 above, but are in disagreement with what we say right here. Brothers
and sisters, it is not spiritually healthy to open our minds to scenes or words
that depict fornication. We need to learn to be strong and wise enough to
"flip the station" or shut off the machine entirely if we cannot find
something on TV, radio or in our personal music CD’s or tapes that is fit to
watch or listen to. It is just a fact that what a person sees and hears
influences him. "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are
the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23). God calls us to be people with
pure hearts, and that takes effort and discipline (James 4:8). Methinks that
more of us than would like to admit it have become far too lax in what we
willfully "take in" with our eyes and ears. Have we forgotten how to
blush?
How Can We Avoid Fornication?
We need to spend time studying the Book to know what God says
about fornication. Abstaining from every form or appearance of evil (1
Thessalonians 5:22) can take place only when we know God’s will on a given
matter. The Psalmist wrote, "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I
might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:11). That is still a mighty
effective habit to develop! When we do learn God’s will on this subject, we
need to teach it with all diligence to our children, other family members, and
our friends.
We need to meditate upon the eternal consequences of
committing fornication. Fornication will keep people out of heaven and destined
to eternal hell (Galatians 5:19-21; Rev. 21:8).
If one has not yet married, then he needs to decide that he
will keep himself pure for his future mate. Determination to do right can go a
long way in helping us practice self-control.
For those unmarried people who feel that they can no longer
contain their desires for physical relations, the Bible says, "Nevertheless,
to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have
her own husband … But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better
to marry than to burn" (1 Corinthians 7:2,9).
Be happily married. When one is content with his own
marriage, then he will have no desire to go outside that marriage to find
pleasure in the arms of another person. Regarding this point, the Holy Spirit
tells husbands and wives to love one another, including willfully having
physical relations with each other (1 Corinthians 7:3,4).
When the situation calls for it, we need to be ready to
resist the devil with a steadfast faith, for such will cause him to flee from us
(James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9). Joseph found himself in a situation with Potiphar’s
wife when the only thing to do was turn and run away from temptation (Genesis
39). We need to be prepared to flee from spiritual danger.
Jesus said, "… whosoever looketh on a woman to lust
after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart"
(Matthew 5:28). Because this is so, we need to avoid those places and
circumstances where we will be unduly tempted to lust after one who is not our
mate. If we are striving to maintain a pure heart, then in our minds public
beaches, public swimming areas, and dances ought to be "off limits."
Why? Because the attire of most people in those places is immodest, or else the
bodily movements are indecent. Folks, the facts are that those things cause men
and women to lust in their hearts, which often leads to outward immoral acts.
Label me a fanatic, outdated, radical, an old foggy, or whatever you think is
appropriate, but it is just not wise to put ourselves in potentially dangerous
situations. If you think you are too strong to be affected, take heed lest you
fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).
We need to do all that we can to think about those things
that are good, pure and holy (Philippians 4:8).
"Flee fornication." What a serious charge
that is! May God help us to accept His will on this subject, live by it, and
teach it to others.
-- Roger D. Campbell
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