I recently read an article where a Christian woman was desperately encouraging Christian men to stop engaging in sexual sins, regardless of how difficult it may be to break away from, because it’s hurting the church and the message of salvation. Very true!
At the root, sexual sin is about acceptance, which is a very important reason these kinds of sins are so appealing. There are many people living in marriages where either spouse doesn’t really accept them; could this be the real issue?
In our ultra-materialistic world consumed with selfish ambition, its easy for anyone (male or female) to neglect those around them to pursue a narcissistic view of family, success, or fulfillment. And it's in that context where people aren’t willing to accept the faults, failures, or just differences of those associated with the image they hope to portray, even the closest person in their life – their spouse.
Probably seen best in 1 John 2:15-16, “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father but are from this world.”
Believe it or not, a person’s marriage speaks volumes about their faith. How well does he recognize the needs of his wife? How well does she recognize the needs of her husband? Even if those needs don’t even register on their own radar. Paul stated a key to our influence, and it’s best seen in the marriage relationship. Philippians 2:3-4, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”
Our presentation of marriage to the public may be most recognizable by the use of our body language, which often shows other people whether or not there’s genuine respect for each other, an appreciation for each other, or if they’re accepted or not.
The world is hungry for acceptance, and God designed a unit that is the closest representation of our relationship with Him built within the concept of marriage. Christ is the groom, the church is His bride (Ephesians 5:22-30, Revelations 19:7-8, Matthew 25:1-13, Hosea); therefore, we should love Him with everything we have. When we do that (which happens to be part of the greatest command – Matthew 22:37-39), then our spouse will have the appropriate foundation for love and acceptance. Women, as much as men, fall into the trap of being lured away into worldly desires “that plunge them into ruin and destruction... [And those who long for them] have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
A Godly display of marriage is vital to a healthy image of the church. Therefore, we must see to it that we treat our spouse in a godly way, which will help the non-believer see how wonderful Christian relationship are.
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