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From the very start, Satan’s primary objective has been to lead mankind into sin. In order to do that, he deceives us so that we disregard sin.
A significant facilitator of sin is the prevalence of pornography. Many Christians underestimate its impact, viewing it as harmless entertainment. Yet, they fail to realise the indelible mark it leaves on our minds. Those explicit images and experiences, once seen, are impossible to forget and can haunt us for a lifetime. Just like a vast filing cabinet, our minds record every detail. Each time we view pornography, we fill another ‘drawer’ with these memories, which will periodically surface throughout our lives. Will you gaze upon the contents of that drawer when it opens or quickly shut it away?
Pornography does more than just plant unwanted images in our minds. It negatively impacts our cognitive abilities, cluttering our thoughts and making focus a challenge. It reduces our mental acuity, which is why some people liken it to being “stupid”.
A study conducted by Barna Christian Research offers some disturbing insights into how accepted pornography has become, particularly among the younger generation:
- “Most pastors (57%) and youth pastors (64%) admit they have struggled with porn, either currently or in the past.”
- “Overall, 21% of youth pastors and 14% of pastors admit they currently struggle with using porn.”
- “The most sobering finding from the study is the reality of how accepted viewing porn has become in our culture today, particularly among teens and young adults.”
- “When asked to rank a series of statements, teens and young adults rank ‘not recycling’ as more immoral than viewing pornographic images.”
Pornography could also be a contributing factor to the current rise in gender confusion. Shockingly, it is reported that 1 in 5 American youngsters struggle with gender identity issues.
As Christians, we sometimes fall into the trap of dismissing our lustful thoughts as natural and harmless.
Yet, consider the following scriptures:
Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Eph 5:10 NLT
How did Jesus deal with sex?
Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids. Prov 6:25
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Mat 5:28
And Apostle Paul instructs:
God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will CONTROL his own body and live in holiness and honor – not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways 1Thes 4:3-5 NLT
How did Jesus deal with lust?
One potential solution is to avoid starting a fire in the first place. In the same way that friction between two sticks can ignite a fire, so can arousing the sexual drive ignite desires which are hard to extinguish. We need to teach our children not to stimulate these sexual drives prematurely, to live as Jesus did, pure and holy. If the fire is lit, controlling it becomes a most challenging task until marriage. Educating young children about the dangers of sexual self-stimulation is key in preventing them from igniting a flame that they might find overwhelming to control.
Lust is a profound issue in today’s society, often underestimated and even normalized. Yet, it poses significant psychological, spiritual, and relational challenges. It creates a disconnect between individuals, reducing them to objects of desire rather than fellow human beings deserving respect and dignity.
The ‘lust giant’ is a pervasive issue in our society, even affecting senior citizens. It’s an ongoing battle for many, including pastors, and it’s crucial to seek ways to counter it.
The solution is to close all doors and windows for the enemy not to enter.
1. For starters do not allow any form of nudity to enter through your eyes.
2. Single people abstain from fornication or casual sex.
3. Married people abstain from adultery. But there is more…
Keep the marriage bed undefiled.
Heb 13:4
Hebrew: amiantos = not defiled, unsoiled, free from that by which the nature of a thing is deformed and debased, pure.
Same word is also used in:
Heb 7:26
Jas 1:27
1Pet 1:4
Marriage Bed Undefiled?
We understand adultery. Did Paul mean something else?
What about oral sex? Or even anal sex which is as common today as rice krispies.
John Piper answers many topical questions on this program named “Ask Pastor John” with a normal average of 300k views on the YouTube channel named Desiring God. He posted a video titled “Is oral sex ok?” To answer the question he asked several questions to determine the answer and found it to be ok. This video had more than 2m views and it is his most popular video by far. This proves that Christians are really questioning and struggling with this subject. Are Christians convicted?
Perhaps John Piper did not ask the right question. The question is which door or window is possibly open for lust to enter. To answer that is to stop oral sex and see whether it will stop lustful thoughts. The answer is a YES!
We have a helper, the Holy Spirit. He helps us to overcome sin. Once we have closed all doors and windows, and an unclean thought enters our mind, repent immediately, take the thought captive (2Cor 10:5) and ask the Holy Spirit for help. Don’t dwell on those thoughts! Ask the Holy Spirit for help every time you see a provocative woman. We have 2 windows (eyes) to close and the Holy Spirit will help our eyes not to wander. Amazingly you can focus on a woman’s eyes without glancing at her body.
Another surprising outcome of this approach is the enhancement of intimacy within the boundaries of marriage.
Lev 18: “Then the LORD spoke to Moses”.
This chapter is one of the most extensive and direct passages in the Bible reflecting God’s stated will and commands regarding the expression of human sexuality. These are the words of God, and as such they have immeasurable authority.
So do not act (do) like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life. Lev 18:3
Hebrew: ʿāśâ = to do
While we are no longer bound by the Old Testament laws as Christians (Rom 6:14-15, Gal 5:18), these principles and guidelines still hold significant value. They help us understand God’s heart and His desires for humanity.
Although the laws in Leviticus 18 set forth moral/ceremonial principles, the sexual prohibitions enumerated are still in effect today. The New Testament echoes the teaching of Leviticus 18, for it also prohibits incest (Mar 6:17-29; 1 Cor 5:1-5), adultery (Rom 13:9; 1 Cor 6:9; Heb 13:4), and homosexuality (Rom 1:27; 1 Cor 6:9-11; 1 Tim 1:10). When the New Testament JEWISH writers wrote of sexual immorality and uncleanness (2 Cor 12:21, Eph 5:3, Col 3:5, 1 Thes 4:3-8), they did so from the context of Leviticus 18.
In addition, Jesus Himself affirmed the goodness of these commands:
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Mat 5:17
Furthermore, Jesus summarized the entire law in two points:
Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Mat 22:37-40
Obedience to the commands of Leviticus 18 is not only an expression of love for God (recognizing His wisdom and submitting to His will). It is also an expression of love for our neighbour; whom we will not sin against by participating with them in behaviour that is against God’s will and ultimately destructive to a blessed, happy, flourishing life.
Paul wrote that the law is specifically for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, … or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching. 1Tim 1:9-10 NLT
In addition, Paul deals with liberal attitudes towards sexual matters:
They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. Eph 4:19 NLT
In many ways, the modern Western world is moving further and further from a Biblically-guided sexual morality. Yet every person has some sense of right and wrong when it comes to sexual matters. In our modern culture, it often appears that the strongest idea shaping the sense of right and wrong is, if it feels good, then it is right for me. This twisted sense of sexual right and sexual wrong has done tremendous damage in our culture, as it has throughout all of history. It is important that Christians live according to God’s sense of right and wrong when it comes to sexual matters, and not do according to the doings of the surrounding culture.
Many Christians feel that if a subject is not specifically addressed in the bible, it gives them license to do what they want. Our attitude however should be to please God in all our ways. Bear in mind that our accuser (aka destroyer, murderer, deceiver etc.) knows the whole bible and also knows what displeases the Almighty and we open the door for the wicked one if we do whatever we please.
We, therefore, find that the OT laws and principles are amplified in the NT.
Paul wrote:
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 1Cor 6:19
Paul would never have thought that a priest would paint graffiti on the temple walls. Today believers disregard God’s command and desire in Lev 19:28.
The Jews knew what was holy, common and unholy as taught by the law which formed the foundation of Christianity.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Rom 12:2For 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. 1Joh 2:16
Sex has a greater influence on our lives than we think. It affects you for the rest of your life, it affects your children and even your grandchildren. You only notice it when you get older to see the effects in generations resulting from secrets that nobody talks about.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. NLT Rom 13:14