Be The Fruit

Idolatry of Sex

by Bill Blair on 28/08/08 at 1:29 pm

Is there anything more powerful for more people than sexual desire?  Some people are controlled by substance addictions, overeating, or achievement, but it seems like there are people all over that controlled by lustful sexual desires.

Just yesterday I saw clips of Bill Clinton giving his speech at the Democratic convention, and of course the first thing I think of with him is Monica Lewinsky.  Here is a man who nearly squandered his presidency because he was controlled by his sexual desires. He nearly lost his presidency because he could not keep himself from fooling around with an intern.

Have you ever thought about what must have been going through his mind when all that was going on?  There could not have been much thinking going on at all.  I would venture to say that once the lust hit his mind that all rational thought disappeared.  There must have been no concern for the cost, just the urge to consume.

Clinton’s situation shows the true nature of how sex can be an idol in a person’s life.  His lustful desire was the center of his life and nothing else could come before it.  The threat of losing his wife, family, job, or legacy could not come between him and his desire.  His lustful desire was truly his god. 

I am not writing this to pick on Bill Clinton, but he serves as a good example for what can happen.  The truth is that we all could think of examples of people who have wrecked their lives because they were consumed by sexual desires.  I have seen parents who commit adultery and end up ripping their families apart.  In many cases I would say that such parents love their kids, but it seems like their desires just simply eclipse and overshadow all the negative effects that may come about from their actions.  It is truly controlling.

I could go on and on, but I think it is clear that sex, or more precisely lust, is an idol that controls and destroys the lives of many people.  In this day, however, it seems like our culture accepts lust and glorifies illicit sex.  If you watch TV at all, it would seem that only people who engage in illicit sex can enjoy it at all.  If you watch TV, it would seem like married folk can’t enjoy sex at all, but I and the Bible beg to differ.

Because this is such a problem for so many people and that our society has it backwards, I have decided to write a series of posts dedicated to this topic.  In the series I will give God’s design for sex as well as argue that it is only when we embrace God’s design for sex that we can truly and fully enjoy it.  This series of posts will be derived from a paper I wrote on the subject earlier this year.  The posts will appear in my normal Idolatry Thursday slot, and should last 5 or 6 weeks.  So be sure to “tune in” each week to learn about what God has to say about sexual intimacy.

Until next time, put God first and “be the fruit.”