“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.”
– Matthew 5:27-30
It was suggested to me that the title of my last post—Anger—was not likely to be enticing for readers. If that is true, today’s title will suffer the same fate. On the other hand, knowing how well sexual content is marketed in our modern culture, this might go viral. That is, until people actually read the scripture text.
Why would I select post headings like “Anger” and “Lust?” Simply, they are one word themes of the sinfulness Jesus addresses. Anger is treated as the root issue that produces all kinds of harmful thoughts and actions. Likewise, lust is treated as the root issue that produces all kinds of sinful sexual behavior. Once again, Jesus demonstrates how the Law pierces to the heart. Outward obedience is good, but insufficient for us to be confident in our righteousness. Many who claim to be guiltless as it pertains to adultery will squirm at Jesus’ teaching here.
First, let us not think that the matter of lust is primarily a male problem. It may be natural for us to think that way, given the way our attitudes regarding sex have been shaped through the centuries. But make no mistake: men and women alike are vulnerable to lust. The language Jesus uses is certainly male-oriented, but no reasonable person would contend that his point does not cut both ways.
Considering the issue, a natural question to raise would be, “at what point in my thinking do I become guilty of lust?” That is at the same time both an honest question and a dangerous question. It is honest because we might genuinely want to know if we are committing sin. It is dangerous because it inherently suggests our desire to walk as close to the line as possible without crossing it. For instance, the word lust is usually defined as a “strong urge.” Therefore, we could be tempted to use this as cover by saying, “Well, my urge for that person isn’t strong, so it must not be lust.” Such tactics may find more success in soothing our own consciences rather than convincing Jesus.
Instead of creating black and white lines that humans will persist in turning gray, it may be more helpful to consider ways of honestly challenging ourselves. Allow me to pose a few questions we could use. Do my thoughts of attraction toward a person flee quickly, or do I nurture them so they linger in my mind? Are these thoughts reoccurring? How would I feel about sharing these thoughts with a Christian brother or sister who is NOT my accountability partner? (Or, would I feel obliged TO share these thoughts with someone who IS my accountability partner?) If you were to follow through with where your thoughts lead, would it bring you to a harmful place? What would Jesus say if you were to lay these thoughts before him?
When we think of adultery, or any form of sexual transgression, we automatically think of physical actions. Jesus’ teaching makes us aware that the battle begins in the mind. Victory or defeat hinges upon our willingness to have our thoughts taken captive so we may remain obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Most of the time, perhaps without exception, defeat in the area of sexual purity begins with losing the battle for our thoughts.
In case we have the impression that the issue of lust is only moderately important, consider the admonitions Jesus offers. “If your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off.” It has been observed that if people were the “Bible literalists” they often claim to be, we would see more people walking around with empty eye sockets and nubs at the end of their arms. Please don’t think I am suggesting inflicting physical harm upon yourself; I’m fairly sure Jesus is not asking us to take him literally with those statements. What I DO think we are intended to hear is that the issue of sin is extremely serious, and we must not treat it otherwise. It is better for us to take difficult measures to help us avoid sin. It may be related to our consumption of certain media, the influence of certain people, or situations that we know bring us into temptation. Whatever it is, Jesus says take the measures to block it or cut it out of your life. Your spiritual health depends on it.
See you along the Winding Path.
The Winding Path 