Humans were created in God’s image. In their uppermost condition of dignity, humans are God-like. However, after degeneration, the worst condition in humanity is in sexual appetite. Procreation was designed by God, and sex plays the role of ensuring procreation. Nevertheless, the degradation of humanity is deepest in sex.
The worst degree of shame is sexual. The subject of sex invites many unintended consequences. One can be sued for sexual harassment, or interpreted as being of loose morals. Amongst many societies, the subject of sex is taboo. Nevertheless, it is inaccurate to apportion sexual sins to those judged according to public morals.
And said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now, what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
The degradation induced by Sexual scandals, as entrapping humanity, can be categorized by levels of intensity, as listed below. The analysis reveals that all humans are commonly entrapped in sexual sins. Only true Christians, have received redemption from sins connected with sexual immorality.
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Rapists. The worst among sexual transgressions is represented in rapists. The reason is that rapists do not always consider other people’s feelings, except to gratify their own ecstasy. The mindset of a rapist is sadistic and certainly not deserving to be treated like a normal human being. As controlled by sadism, the sexual pleasures of rapists come from the pain, inflicted on other humans. After committing such crimes, rapists may not hesitate to murder their victims, to avoid detection. Such crimes are commonly committed by men. But there have been cases of women also raping men, although not inviting public outcry.
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Bestiality. The only reason such crimes are on a lower gradient than the first is that animals carry no sanctity of life. Nevertheless, such behaviours still reveal the degradation of human beings, created in God’s image. Slightly below this level, is included those hooked into practising masturbation and pornography. All such actions are commonly practised in the privacy of an individual, whether male or female.
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Promiscuity. This carries less intensity when compared with the preceding two categories. Promiscuity describes sexual intercourse, simply for pleasure, without necessarily considering the responsibility arising from such behaviours. Such offenders completely lack dignity, as freely sharing sex with anyone. They are, however, better, because they access agreements with those concerned. Sadly, children are born out of such irresponsible sexual conduct. Hence, we have street kids and inexplicable criminals in society.
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Seduction. Both men and women of good standing, have been victims of seduction. The majority may be those having kept the secret to themselves. Only God knows of such secrets, whether confessed and repented of, or not. This includes those overwhelmed by the passion, but not physically committing adultery. This is where Christian standards are not reachable to most people, as clearly stated by Jesus:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right-hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell” (Matthew 5:27-30 NIV).
Jesus was diplomatic, so that only those with ears, would understand that Jesus meant going to the extent of castration, for instance. If unable to control sexual appetites. Sex lovers would denounce this, as heresy. But this comprises true instructions of Jesus, as also corroborated in His teaching about divorce, in God’s Church.
“I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” (Matthew 19:9-12 NIV).
True believers have no problem with Jesus’s teachings. He was the only informant on matters of God’s Kingdom. Those advocating for sexual gratification are not Christians, even though deceiving many who regard them as such. Paul highlighted sexual sins as dominant, among the list of sinful conducts entrapping humanity.
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21 NIV).
Jesus never condemned marriage. Nevertheless, He clearly stated that those desiring to follow Him ought to be willing to forsake everything, including wives. The Apostle Paul was dealing with sexual challenges embattling early Christians.
Paul could not be forthright in condemning marriage. But His opinion was in agreement with Jesus, who stressfully encouraged those intending to follow Him to forsake their wives (Luke 14:25). Paul was single, but appears as not having had any problem with sexual passions. Thereby, trying to sell his understanding to others.
Now for the matters, you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfil his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband.
In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.” (1 Corinthians 7:1-7 NIV).
The deepest condition of human degradation is sexual. How important is marriage in modern Christianity? When considering Jesus’s teachings, a true Christian is advised to castrate. Otherwise, one risks entrapment into a worse condition than the least among the listed categories, concerning sexual degradations.
5) Prostitutes. Unbelievable as this might sound to most people, prostitutes are better than the rest, including those trapped in seduction. Prostitutes have been given dignified terms, like “Commercial Sex Workers.” What makes them better, in terms of degradation, is their openness. Prostitutes are not pretenders. They are degraded like others, but they are not secretive, like those of previous categories.
Others suggest that prostitutes are the worst sinners. But one would need to examine those advancing that suggestion. The most likeable behaviour among prostitutes is transparency, as approached by anyone, in their open business of selling their bodies.
In an open market, it is up to those in need of their services, to approach them. This is allowed in a deplorably sinful world, such as ours. Where in the world, are prostitutes not found?
This should not be mistaken for condoning prostitution. But merely stating that prostitutes are not pretenders. This could be the only reason why Jesus appeared as having a soft spot for them: “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you” (Matthew 21:31 NIV).
No wonder why even one of them, Rahab, is recorded among the heroes of faith. “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient” (Hebrews 11:31 NIV).
Jesus died for the purpose of redeeming humanity, entrapped in degradation. There are many sins causing human degradation, but none is as intense as sexual immorality. Sodom and Gomorrah had to be destroyed, after having reached the last degree of decadence.
Sex is most lethal, in the area of human degradation. Throughout the ages, even the most prominent preachers got entangled in sexual scandals. No sane man cannot be trapped in sexual seduction, regardless of how righteous he might appear to be, in public. As far as Christianity is concerned, sex is most deadly.
The highest standard of an ideal human is in Jesus. There is no record that Jesus ever contended with sexual appetites. Although credited for bearing children, sex is the most serious cause of human degradation. Suppose you are a pastor, how do you avoid seduction?
You may never have slept with any woman, and assume being perfect. But Jesus said just by looking at a woman, lustfully, you would have committed adultery. The question of whether you repented and changed from that behaviour is a matter between you and God. But sin is sin, as long as hidden.
Sin loses its venom when exposed. That could be the only reason why prostitutes are regarded favourably, among other sexual offenders. Unbelievers can blame God for having created sex. But it should be known to everyone that sex was designed for those of this world. Marrying and being given in marriage, as long as not pretending to be Christians, is what was designed for this world.
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Revelations 3:14-19 NIV).
The cold, representing none pretenders, are not condemned, just as the hot ones are also not condemned. The referred cold ones can be like the deplorable prostitute who cleaned Jesus’s feet, inviting ridicule against Jesus, from a self-righteous Pharisee.
When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:36-39 NIV).
There would be no sex in heaven. Those taking advantage of Jesus’s redemption, need to review Jesus’s teachings seriously. Sexual ecstasy can never be compared with the ecstasy preserved in eternal life, as prepared for humanity.
However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except for their own spirit within them? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God (1Corinthians 2:9-11 NIV).
Choosing sex, at the expense of God’s Kingdom, is as silly as choosing a bowl of soup, at the expense of one’s birthright. No matter how enjoyable sex might be, it is only intended for temporary pleasures on earth. Moreover, most of the sexually entertained people die miserably, leaving behind such sexual pleasures. Their degradation remains, even at their death beds.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. In a simple conversational tone, most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99
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