The Case for Moral Purity
by Jack Graham It’s not hard to figure out that we’re living in a sex-crazed society—one that operates much like an open sewer. It’s even been called the “new morality” by some, including ministers of the Gospel. The fact is we’re not entering a new morality at all. It’s simply the same old immorality that’s been plaguing people for thousands of years. Modern man exclaims, “If it feels good, do it” or “If loving you is wrong, then how could this feel so right.” That same philosophy of the so-called sexual revolution is very similar to that of the Corinthians of yesteryear. Liberty and freedom were key words to this particular group of people. Indeed, Jesus died that we might be free. But always, freedom must be exercised in the perimeters of truth and responsibility. As Americans, we are not free to commit crimes and atrocities against society. Nor is it our freedom to abuse our privileges in Christ and use it as a license for sin. Like people today, the Corinthians logically rationalized their behavior and sinful practices. They lived in a society, much like ours, that was grossly immoral. Prostitution ran wild in the streets and pagan worship was common practice. So the Apostle Paul wrote a word of warning and admonition. He straight talked about sex. You may be wondering what place we as Christians have to talk about this kind of subject in such an open forum, but if we don’t, who will? Is it safe to say that we should just let Dr. Ruth and Dr. Phil do all the talking on this subject? Or should we pass along answers according to the Word of God? Many of you share my same convictions—those concerning moral purity. Unfortunately, people are being heavily bombarded in the office, at school, at college, and on television by innuendoes, temptations, and actions that are totally contrary to what they believe, how they have been raised, and most importantly what God’s Word teaches. More people than we know about in our culture are hungry for forgiveness, cleansing, and the answers to purity rather than personal gratification that comes from sin. God clearly challenges us to be active participants in moral purity in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20. Bottom line: Not only are you to be consistently nurturing, growing, and protecting your spiritual relationship with God, but your body as well. God will not condone in the saint what he condemns in the sinner who doesn’t know Christ. Moral impurity is emotionally, physically, socially, domestically, and eternally destructive. Fifty percent of all emotional problems are a result of sexual immorality. These are people who are haunted by their past, guilt, anger, bitterness, insecurity, and depression. And today more than ever, there are sexually transmitted disease being passed along at epidemic proportions. This sin has within itself destructive and sometimes incurable consequences. In The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon, he attributed the immorality of the Romans as their leading cause for destruction. No nation has ever plunged head first into immorality and returned to morality, but the judgment of God and society itself has fallen upon it. What is happening in America today? God is giving up people to their sin. And because our nation has increasingly participated in immorality, families are being directly assaulted. The family is the bedrock of culture and society, and this sin is first attacking the home. While society may commend sexual impurity, God condemns it. Everywhere we turn there are temptations in music, media, television, and movies. But God says to flee sexual immorality. Here are a few things to consider when dealing with this subject or with someone else who is battling it: • Recognize your potential for moral failure. The Scripture says, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God…” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5). |
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