But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person — such a man is an idolater — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. – Ephesians 5:3-5
This must have sounded as prudish and ridiculous to the first century pagans of Ephesus as it does to many in our culture today. Ephesus was the world center for worship of the pagan fertility goddess Artemis. The temple of Artemis in Ephesus employed thousands of prostitutes and the worship rites performed there were extremely elaborate and perverse to say the least. Sexual promiscuity and perversion were almost the accepted norm in the city and it was considered the duty of all faithful citizens to engage in these acts in order to appease the goddess (not to mention the fact that Artemis worship was big business in Ephesus).
So when Paul says that there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality among the believers, he is saying something incredibly radical for their culture – and for ours as well! While temple prostitution is not the norm in American society, we are no less sexually corrupt. We are bombarded daily with sexually explicit images and messages that amount to an all out assault on the sexual ethic of the Gospel. These images and messages are so frequent and numerous that we become numb and callous to them. The next time you are watching your favorite television program (before you DVR past the commercials) take note of the number of sexual images and/or innuendos that occur during just one commercial break. It is everywhere!
Paul says that sexual immorality or any kind of impurity is improper for God’s people. The word he uses for “improper” can also be translated “unbecoming” - the word had to do with attractiveness and beauty. In other words, Paul is saying that sexual immorality and impurity just don’t look right on God’s people and it is totally out of place and unattractive for those who claim to be imitators of God!
Paul goes on to say that we shouldn’t even talk or joke about this stuff. How many of us has had the experience of being exposed to something dirty, obscene, or improper in sexual matters and coming from that experience feeling dirty and unclean? What a refreshing thing it is to come into a community of people whose time and talk is filled with that which is noble, lovely, admirable and praiseworthy (as Paul says in Philippians 4:8).
Take a few moments to reflect on your life in the area of sexual purity. It is all too easy to ignore the questions below and just go on about your life. Please don’t!
Consider what you watch or see that may be corrupting you…
Consider what you hear or say that is impure…
Consider who you spend time with who may be inappropriate and tempting for you…
Consider who you can confess these things to and who can help to hold you accountable…
Consider what you hear or say that is impure…
Consider who you spend time with who may be inappropriate and tempting for you…
Consider who you can confess these things to and who can help to hold you accountable…
Ask God for the strength to pursue purity and wholeness and ask Him for the courage to take the necessary action in this area.
Jeff Frazier
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1 comment:
This can destroy a marriage because it confuses lies with Truth. It replaces relationships and intimacy with a cheap lie that will never fulfill us. I know. My marriage was stolen from me.
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