Oct 11, 2013 3 min read

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires …” Colossians 3:5/a.

The deadly (root) sin of lust is the most complicated, sensitive, personal and comprehensive among the seven deadly sins if we take seriously Jesus’ words: “‘But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.'” Matthew 5:28. We can talk about lust only with a broad mind, deep faith, pure love, and with the attitude of our Lord who said to the accusers of an adulterous woman: “‘If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.'” John 8:7/b.

Hormone problem, moral issue or spiritual obligation?

Our age, place and time when and where we live are important factors in forming our opinions about impurity. We like to condemn only the sinful act and forget to take into consideration the previous events, the social and economical circumstances, as well as the far-reaching consequences of immoral behavior. On one hand we are pressed to be more liberal but on the other hand more conservative.

Innocent joyful moments or serious consequences in the long run?

Lust offers the greatest pleasures, and also offers the steepest slope to slide down. It is true that everybody is equally entitled to the pleasures of physical love yet no child should ever suffer from the irresponsible behavior of their parents.

Who are the victims of a dysfunctional marriage? Are not the children harmed and, indirectly, the society also? Who represents the interests and the future of the kids? For the sake of the future generations, who has the privilege of speaking up and bringing things under control?

No perfect solution but some basic points:

n Young people should have jobs so they can get married and assume the financial responsibility of their families,

n Is abstinence torture? What about the medical consequences of sexually transmitted diseases?

n What is the best method to keep people away from inadvertently joining the “old too soon, smart too late” club?

n If children do not grow up in loving and responsible families, who will take care of the parents when they become old and feeble?

n Can there be any interaction between the driving forces of hormones and the power of the Spirit? Please read Philippians 4:13.

n Was not marriage, approved by God, also to be the framework of total happiness and freedom in which two people could enjoy a happy life? Read Genesis 2:18.

I wish to finish with a quotation (in translation) from Lacordaire (a French Dominican preacher, 1802-1861): “To love for an hour is animalistic, to love for a year is human to love for the whole life is angelic, but to love for the whole life and remain faithful to the only one is divine”.

The Rev. Alexander Jalso is a retired United Presbyterian minister living in Ligonier.