Posted on 02/03/2022 9:38:04 AM PST by SeekAndFind
The Reality Is…
There are threats that face the Christian Church, and the cause of those threats is sin. Sin affects every member of the Christian faith, no matter the status. Sin causes us to stumble and sets us back in our cause for Christ. Ultimately, it should remind us how desperate we need the forgiveness and guidance of God.
But which sin seems to set us back the most? What are we glossing over, pushing under the rug, and pretending isn’t there? That, my friends, is sexual sin. In 2016, Josh McDowell told CBN News, “pornography is probably the greatest threat to the cause of Christ in the history of the world.” Wow. That’s a strong statement to make.
Churches should be pushing the alarm button…not the snooze button! The sad reality is we are not hearing the alarm because most Christian men are in the clutches of this sin. Barna Research Group and Josh McDowell Ministries commissioned a studyfound that the number of Christian men who view pornography nearly mirrors that of non-Christian men. How can this be?
Factors
How has the Church suddenly become a fruitless and passive representation of God in this area? There should be alarms ringing left and right about this topic. Yes, there are certainly pastors and leaders out there addressing it and hundreds of books have been written on it. However, instead of winning against this sin, we’re backsliding.
A recent Lifeway Research poll found that 81 percent of Americans said they were concerned with the declining moral behavior of America. If God calls and equips the Church to be set apart from this world and its lusts, why are most Christian men living sexually immoral lifestyles?
There are a couple of primary factors that contribute to this decline in morals and moral behavior. First, the world is constantly advancing the availability, accessibility, and acceptance of sexual immorality. Over half of men aged 18-49 label pornography as morally acceptable. What’s even more disturbing is that 50% of those who claimed their religion was important to them, also said porn was morally acceptable.
The second factor contributing to this moral decline is that Christians frequently underscore God’s Word and the role that He plays in the battle between the flesh and the spirit. Most of the sermons and books today focus on what you need to do to become free — not how God has a role and provision for us in this battle.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10:4-6)
It’s time to fight
As the Body of Christ, we cannot allow this moral decline to continue. We must sound the alarm.
Did you know that sexual sin is different than all other sins? The Bible tells us, “Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he commits sexual immorality sins against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18). Sexual sin incapacitates us both spiritually and physically. Satan knows this and has been using this sin against man from the very beginning. He knows we were created as sexual beings (Genesis 2:24) and our sexual immorality incapacitates us. He also knows sin causes us to hide from God (Genesis 3:10) and he specifically targets Christians.
The Church has been putting forth unbiblical tactics far too long and it’s time for the Church to stand up and fight the war of sexual immorality.
Adapted from J.S. Shelton’s book “Unmuzzled: Escaping sexual sin, Satan’s grip on men.” For more information about J.S. Shelton and “Unmuzzled” please visit: https://unmuzzledmen.com/
Author of the book UNMUZZLED, Jeremy is a man on a mission to directly confront sexual sin in the church today. He does so with the belief God is using him to grab hold of those heading toward a slaughter. He and his wife of eighteen years have five children and live in Texas.
It is more addictive than heroin and really tough to break.
the greek word is a strong word indicating to ‘dwell intensely’ I do believe- it’s important to consider the words used- as they often relayed the intent of the statements- Such as the statement about not being angry- the word used for angery is wrath, not anger- and it means a wrath that is so intense that the person contemplates how to get revenge- Going to bed simply angry is a healthy thing when there is the possibility that the argument will erupt into saying stuff they will regret later— if there has been issues that can’t be resolved right away- the person wakes in the morning, no ill feelings, with a new outlook- but to go to bed in wrath is a whole different animal-
Woman. There’s the answer
True woman.
One wonders how easy childbirth would be if Eve had stood beside her man.
Stand by Your Man
I'm grateful that about 40 years ago I married a woman who has spent the time making her best effort to keep me happy.
“Jesus defined adultery is simply lusting after a woman not your wife.”
Technically, according to Greek scholars, he was referring to looking at a married woman. Which by the way, the average married man understands that concept completely when he notices another man looking at his wife.
Not sure about everything this guy is saying, but his concerns about the effects of freely available pornography is valid. Not everyone is addicted to it, but for those who are, and they are many, it eventually destroys the desire for and the ability to form healthy relationships. I have been seeing more and more people in my practice with porn addiction harming their lives and relationships.
The old term was “jaded.” People have understood essentially forever that seeking sexual gratification without being part of a loving attachment is self defeating. People were meant to pair up with the opposite sex and enjoy sexual delight with one another, not alone.
Well I don’t really think you should care. I will answer to the Creator, if there is one (I have a faithful belief that there is), when the time comes and so will you.
Faith is believing that which cannot be proven.
Reality is acknowledging that which is proven.
I believe our Creator gave us our immensly powerful brain with which to think and live freely. Afterall where did the burning desire for freedom within our human nature come from if not from our Creator? It is left up to us to use our brain and our free will to do good or evil; it will be our own actions and decisions for which we will be judged on judgement day; not how fervently we believed in God.
Why would God give us such a wonderful brain and the desire to be free, only to then reduce his wonderful Creation to slavery?
I think a bigger threat to Christianity is the corporate church which are some of the vainest of organizations on the planet and which often do a very poor job of actually teaching the word to the truth starved. I do admit that not all corporate churches fall into this pit of vanity, but I do believe most are guilty of that sin.
The Lord told us that we were incapable of living righteous due to our sin and only through Christ could we be redeemed. Paul warned us about spreading false doctrines and leading the flock astray and holding to the word and not picking and choosing what part of the word to hold sacred - One must take it all or take nothing. This is where I feel many churches fail and the schisms that exist between the body invite in corruption.
This is a “do you still beat your wife?” type thread.
Because God gave us a sex drive that makes us do crazy things.
Next time you hear a pastor slam men, or even make an anti-male joke (”Why did the Israelites wander for 40 years? Because the ken didn't want to ask for directions”) look around. The congregation is 75% women.
What self-respecting male is going to give up an hour of Sunday time to listen to that cr@p?
Men is being devalued in the very places where they should be cherished.
RE: Because God gave us a sex drive that makes us do crazy things.
Didn’t he also give us a conscience and create us in His image so that we can practice self-control?
Are you free from sin?
“If you are a Christian ,as in part of Christ’s church , you are by default NOT living an immoral life.”
One struggles against sin and God gradually gives victory, but we all have our favorite sins. Pornography is not MINE, but I have one heck of a temper that sometimes gets the best of me!
Christians don’t wallow in sin and rejoice in it, and I see no sign “most Christian” men are living in sexual immorality...but we all do things that displease God. So a lot depends on how one defines “living an immoral life”. And yes, a few Christian men have serious struggles with pornography. But...in men’s groups I’ve been in where pornography was discussed, maybe 10% were having serious issues with it.
Not sure exactly what you’re trying to say here but I believe you, like a lot of people, have cause and effect backwards. You think a lot of Christians are deviants, instead of realizing that a lot of deviants like to claim to be Christians. It is a way to cloak themselves. That’s not to say that sexually deviant people can’t genuinely be trying to live a Christian faith, but there is a big difference between someone who is trying to be better and fails occasionally vs someone who is simply trying to hide or excuse his lifestyle.
“Jesus defined adultery is simply lusting after a woman not your wife.”
Actually, Jesus was pointing out that lust separates us from God as much as physical adultery. The point of the Sermon on the Mount was to drive us to repent and not pretend we are good enough by ourselves. Anger separates us from God and leaves us in as much a need for salvation as murder does, but murder does far more harm to others than just anger. (Matt 5:21-22)
And there is a difference between seeing a beautiful woman and responding, “Wow!” and actually wanting to have sex with her. As the saying goes, you can’t stop a bird from landing on your head, but you don’t have to let the bird build a nest! Noticing a beauty is one thing, dwelling on a desire to feel her body is another.
Our creator reveals truths to us. He certainly does not enslave us. We have the free will to believe revelation in faith or not. Jesus said He is way,truth, life. He also said when we see Him,we see the Father. We can believe that which is not proven on the basis of the omnipotence, omniscience of the speaker. Or not. Free will
In true marriage.
Not when a woman slips away when Adam is sleeping.
What’s the guy to do in the meantime.?
How long is the meantime?
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