The Constant Battle Against Sexual Immorality
The world in which we live, late twentieth-century America, is quickly deteriorating. By deteriorating, we mean morally. Technologically, physically, and economically society seems to be advancing, but spiritually we are declining. Immorality abounds. Deviant behavior and actions that once were rarely mentioned in public, except to condemn, are now openly discussed, joked about, and promoted. Both men and women frequently use filthy language (cursing, sexually explicit, etc.) Satan is working non-stop to encourage all these evils, and he works especially hard to bring them into the lives of Christians.
In this article we want to notice various forms of immorality that are present in the world, how Satan works to bring these evil acts into our lives, and what we must do to combat them.
Various Forms of Immorality
Many forms of immorality are socially acceptable, and those who oppose them are thought to be narrow-minded, unloving, or worse yet, extreme. The term extremist is used to prejudice the minds of the general population. It is a term similar to the term anti used by liberals in the church to paint as hate-mongers and orphan-haters those of us who demand Scriptural authority for what we practice. Let us notice some of these socially acceptable forms of immorality.
Homosexuality is emerging, not only as acceptable, but almost as the in thing to practice. A 20/20 segment (aired 12-4-98) on ABC interviewed a number of older women leaving their marriages claiming they were lesbians and did not realize it till later in life. Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters portrayed them as mixed up, perhaps confused, and sympathized with them in their situations.
The television show "Ellen" openly defends and promotes the gay/lesbian lifestyle. Men kissing men and women kissing women are now spot-lighted on prime-time television. Among those of us who are older, few would have ever thought such a thing would occur! Our country's President and Vice-President are very supportive of the homosexual lifestyle.
Many public schools in larger cities are catering to the homosexuals. Some offer classes that promote the homosexual lifestyle as normal, and anyone who would oppose it on moral grounds is generally castigated. An Indiana school recently allowed a poster promoting sympathy and understanding for homosexuals to be displayed in a high school classroom.
Regardless whether society accepts it, homosexuality is and always has been wrong. From the beginning, God created man and woman for one another (Genesis 2:18-24). Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, and homosexuality was one of the sins that led to their destruction (Genesis 19; Jude 7). The New Testament also condemns this sin, and only those who have dishonest hearts would deny that the plain teachings in God's Word condemn their sexual deviancy (Romans 1:26-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:8-11). Homosexuality is a present evil that is making great inroads into our society.
The sin of adultery is also prevalent in America today. Those in the world act as if it is no sin at all. They see it more as a freedom provided by the courts of the land. Many divorce and remarry at will, never giving thought to the fact that they are committing the sin of adultery.
Adultery is so prevalent that some preachers in the conservative churches of Christ are promoting it by twisting the Scriptures to accommodate those living in adulterous relationships. Other preachers encourage this sin by accepting those who teach this error and looking on these false teachers as faithful brothers in Christ, while casting out those who oppose and expose the teachers of error. In Matthew 19:9, our Lord said "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery." Divorcing your mate and marrying another is a sin (Romans 7:2-3). God calls those who do so adulterers and adulteresses, and there are plenty of them in today's society.
Drunkenness is another commonplace sin in twentieth-century America. Everywhere we turn in this land, there is a reference to drinking alcoholic beverages; and it is usually shown in a positive context. Commercials, billboards, and television programs picture drinking alcohol as the socially acceptable thing to do. Society's elite enjoy it. The up-and-coming generation drinks intoxicants and is portrayed by the media as having no trouble with it.
It is taken as a given that people drink intoxicating beverages, and when a person turns down a drink, he is looked on as a strange being or thought of as the designated driver. Teenagers watch their parent or parents drink, learn from them, then quickly put into practice what they have learned. Some parents actually rent rooms in hotels where their graduating sons and/or daughters can go to drink after special events such as homecoming game dances and proms. The parents say their children will drink with or without their approval, so they want them to be safely off the streets while they do it. Such illogical thinking pervades much of our society, but it illustrates how far we have strayed from Biblical principles that were instilled two or three generations ago.
The Bible condemns the recreational drinking of all intoxicating beverages (1 Peter 4:3). The Proverbs warn of the dangers of consuming alcohol (Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-35). Disease, divorce, abuse, death, and misery accompany drinking. Yet, some preachers in the church, by their weak and compromising preaching on the subject, encourage and condone the use of alcohol.
Immodest dress is common in today's world, especially in the United States. Commercials, television programs, retail stores, ad campaigns, magazines, various types of uniforms (sports, cheerleading, twirling costumes, swim suits, etc.), and fashion designers all promote this sin. We are constantly bombarded with immodest and indecent dress. Both males and females are guilty of this sin. However, God's word clearly speaks about the types of clothing in which Christians ought to be seen--modest, seemly apparel which befits people professing godliness (1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:1-6; Galatians 5:19-21; Matthew 5:16).
Abortions, which American medical personnel perform in mass quantities, are another abomination in our country. About half of United States citizens believe that a woman has the right to choose to have an abortion. Among the other half of Americans is a large group that does not care either way; thus, they unwittingly lend support to abortionists. Bible principles condemn abortion.
Jeremiah said that God knew him before his birth, while he was still in his mother's womb (Jeremiah 1:5). David wrote that the Lord knew him before his birth and that he was "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:13-16). Abortion is the murder of an unborn human being, and many are hardened to the point of unconcern toward this evil. Why? The reason is likely twofold-1. Because it is so prevalent 2. They are far removed from a knowledge of God's word, which enlightens us to know that abortion is a moral evil.
Gambling, another common and growing sin in our day, comes in many forms. Some of the ways in which people commit this sin are casino gambling, wagering on horse and dog races, state lotteries, raffles, and bingo games. In businesses and offices, employees often bet on the outcome of various sporting events. This sin's promoters include schools, governments, denominational churches, and many charitable organizations, as well as those in the gambling industry itself.
Principles contained in God's word prove gambling to be sinful. It survives because of greed and is nothing more than theft by consent. Just as killing someone in a duel is murder, taking someone's money in a poker game is stealing. Stealing and greed are both wrong, and every Christian should avoid and abstain from them (Ephesians 4:28; Colossians 3:5). Because so many reputable organizations use gambling as a source of revenue, it is generally seen by most as a harmless form of recreation.
The last common sin of our day that we want to address is dancing. The dance comes in many different types, some of which appear to be innocent and even healthy. Schools promote dancing when the children are very young; this promotion culminates with the Junior/Senior Prom in the spring of each year. There are sweetheart dances, homecoming dances, and birthday parties where the attendees dance. Satan begins his work of breaking people down to accept this evil when they are very young. Parents encourage their children not to be shy, but to get out on the dance floor as if it is something that is good for bringing them out of their shells. Dancing is a lascivious act that the Bible condemns as a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).
We have noticed various forms of immorality that are frequently practiced by those in the world. Not only do many people practice homosexuality, drunkenness, immodesty, dancing, gambling, abortion, and adultery, but they look upon most of these sinful acts as normal and healthy for all ages and both sexes. These sins are also accepted by many people who claim to be Bible-believing Christians.
How Satan Works to Bring These Evils Into Our Lives
Let's consider some of the ways in which Satan works to bring these sins into our lives. His primary tool is the lie (John 8:44). He deceives us in various ways and uses those close to us to aid him in his battle. One of his methods of destruction is familiarity. Why have we spent so much time looking at these various sins? Because they are so common in the world in which we live. Since this is so, there is the danger that we can reach the point where we are not upset or disturbed by any or all of them. Seeing these perverse acts from day to day, we can become accustomed to them or become comfortable around those who are engaging in them. Then they can easily worm their way into our lives or the lives of our loved ones, and souls will be lost. This is one of the hideous schemes that Satan uses. Familiarity causes relaxation. One's guard drops and he falls into Satan's trap.
We must fight back. We must not become comfortable in a world of sin. We must be like Lot who was "oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)..." (2 Peter 2:7-8). Preachers, elders, and Bible class teachers must teach the truth about these evils and do everything possible to keep Christians from relaxing in sin-filled environments.
Satan will also use our families, friends, and loved ones to soften our attitudes toward worldliness. Sometimes our children or grandchildren become involved in one or more of these sins, and attitudes that once stood firm begin to weaken. Through this avenue, Satan makes headway among God's people, especially concerning the sins of dancing and immodest dress. We must hold to the Divine standard--not the world's standard--as our standard. The modern dance is a lascivious act, whether or not it is being performed by one of my family members. Compromising in this area will not help bring them out of this sin; rather, it will encourage them to continue in it.
Immodesty is wrong no matter whose friends or loved ones participate in it. The fact that sports are involved does not change the sin; it only makes it more public and more damaging to the cause of Christ. Those who teach God's word must not fail to send clear signals so their students will be warned and their souls saved. We must use the principles and examples contained in both the Old and New Testaments to establish what is modest and immodest, urge all members of God's family to abide in the teaching, and discipline those who refuse to adhere to the Divine standard (Genesis 3:21; Exodus 28:42; Isaiah 47:2-3; 1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:1-6; Galatians 5:19-21; Matthew 5:13-16; Luke 17:1-2).
Another tactic used by Satan is time. He leads us to believe that we have plenty of time; therefore, if we choose to engage in some particular sin, we will have time to repent. In fact, some people commit sin with full knowledge of what they are doing, intending to participate for only a little while, then repent and leave it alone. Satan deceives them into thinking that what they are doing is not all that harmful and that they will be able to participate for a little while, then quit. They fail to consider consequences and influence.
King David could have had this attitude when he committed adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). However, sin has consequences. It is addictive in nature, takes us farther than we want to go, and keeps us longer than we want to stay. When we sow to the flesh, we will reap a harvest (Galatians 6:7-8). One fact about sowing and reaping is that we reap more than we sow; another is that we do not fully realize the fruit until sometime in the future. When parents allow their children to sow wild oats, they seldom think about the fruit that those wild oats will produce. Often, that fruit is drunkenness, fornication, unwanted pregnancy, death due to drug overdose, and in the end-lost souls.
Categorizing sin is another maneuver that Satan uses. He deceives us into thinking that the sins we or our loved ones commit are trivial. We humans tend to categorize sins much like the Catholics; we tolerate those we view as less harmful and condemn those that are more harmful. Of course, the sins we are committing are trivial sins, and we truly do not like to refer to them as sins. Watching filthy movies or television shows is acceptable; but if a brother goes to a strip bar or nude club, he is a vile reprobate. Which is really worse, watching someone strip on a screen or on a stage? We must recognize sin for what it is and seek to destroy its influence in our lives and the lives of those around us (Romans 12:1-2).
Local churches of Christ should not tolerate these sins. They ought to be exposed as such and the brethren warned about their destructive nature. Preachers must not cease to warn. We must "preach the word" and be faithful in our work as ministers for Christ (2 Timothy 4:2-5).