Articles
God's Authority & the Sexual Revolution / Dearer Than Life
God’s Authority & the Sexual Revolution
(by Andy Diestelkamp)
For the last century, a sexual revolution has been taking place in our culture. This is not all bad. The subject of human sexuality is not at all foreign to the Word of God. Neither is Scripture’s handling of this topic limited to a bunch of “thou shalt nots.” However, there are many who, not liking the Scripture’s clear limitations on sexual expression, prefer to characterize the Holy Bible as, at best, hopelessly out of touch with the present culture and, at worst, oppressive and hateful.
Yet these people forget that Jesus and His disciples came with the gospel into the culture of the Roman Empire, which, if compared to our own, would likely make our culture look rather sexually tame. In other words, the message of God’s Word was presented to a culture that was much more libertine in its sexual mores than is our own. If the high ideals of God’s plan for human behavior were not softened for the immoral culture of the first century, then there can certainly be no cultural argument for softening it now. The fact is, the Scriptures do not have archaic values but values which transcend time and culture.
The Scriptures not only permit sexual activity; they promote it and command it (Genesis 1:28; 2:24; 9:1; Proverbs 5:15-19; Song of Solomon; Matthew 19:4-6; 1 Corinthians 7:1-9). The reason the Bible is vilified by the sexual libertines of our culture is that the Scriptures are equally clear that the sexual activity that God authorizes is limited to the husband/wife relationship of marriages. Indeed, marriage is honorable and the bed is undefiled, but any sexual union outside the committed relationship of marriage is fornication (immoral sex) and is condemned (Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
God has always made it clear that He is holy, His Word is holy, and we must be holy (1 Peter 1:15-16) if we are to have fellowship with Him. Though our physical bodies are created of the same elements which comprise the rest of God’s creation (Genesis 2:7; 3:19), we are distinctly superior to the plants and animals. We are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27). While sex is a natural physical behavior, God expects us to control our flesh with the spirit that is in His image. When we act on our physical urges without the control of the spirit, then we behave like animals rather than humans (Galatians 5:16-25). That is not holy.
Sexual activity outside of marriage dishonors God’s will for man. Certainly, humans are capable of copulating with whomever, whatever, and whenever; but such behavior is not holy. While it might be understandable that those who reject God would resort to sexual activity that is as promiscuous as the animals from which they believe they evolved, professing Christians cannot endorse such immoral behavior, no matter how it is labeled (1 Corinthians 6:13-20).
It is becoming popular among many who profess faith in God to redefine everything from marriage to love. A favorite argument in the current debate over homosexuality is to observe that Jesus never condemned homosexuality. While at first glance that may appear formidable, it crumbles when it is observed that He also never specifically condemned polygamy, prostitution, pedo-philia, or numerous other specific sexual relationships. When a debated position finds its strongest argument in what Jesus never specifically condemned, then it is indeed weak; for authority to act is not found in the absence of condemnation.
The toleration of heterosexual sin has opened the door for the toleration of homosexual sin. If we are going to ignore the standard of God’s Word, then there is absolutely nothing to stop the continued degradation of human sexuality to the level of animals in all respects. God has called us to a higher and holier standard. That some (or even most) people refuse to acknowledge or abide by that standard does not change that standard. As a society we may amend our laws to suit the will (or whim) of the people, but this does not change the standard.
The opposition to sexual immorality is not rooted in hatred or some sort of phobia. It is rooted in respect for the authority of God’s Word and His divine order. As Creator, He knows what is best for His creation. To disrespect God’s design, order, and revelation is to disrespect Him and is certainly not holy. Elevating our lusts to being as acceptable and valid as God’s Word is exactly what Eve did in the garden (Genesis 3:6).
It does not matter how many times lust is called love; it does not make it love. The cavalier warping of the meaning of love is being used in an attempt to justify all kind of perverse behavior. Sexual immorality is not love (1 Corinthians 6:13, 18). God is love (1 John 4:8). He defines love and He defines what is morally upright.
While the foregoing absolute statements are enough to exasperate those who wish to have the sexual freedom of animals, such people have no basis on which to object to any kind of sexual expression, consensual or otherwise. The inability to see beyond their own lusts have them sowing the wind and reaping a whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). That observation is not motivated by hate but by love combined with hope that beings created in the image of God might come to see the folly in ignoring the will of God.
Dearer Than Life
(Selected)
In the forests of Northern Europe lives the ermine, a small animal known best for its snow-white fur. Instinctively, this animal protects its glossy coat of fur with great care lest it become soiled. Hunters often capitalize on this trait. Instead of setting a mechanical trap to catch the ermine, they find its home in a cleft of a rock or a hollow tree and daub the entrance and the interior with tar. Then their dogs start the chase, and the frightened ermine flees toward its home. But finding it covered with dirt, he spurns his place of safety. Rather than soil his white fur, he courageously faces the yelping dogs who hold him at bay until the hunters capture him. To the ermine, purity is dearer than life!
The Lord wants us to be a people who will keep ourselves “unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27)
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