Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

Immorality has always been a problem to society. Through the centuries, God has destroyed nations, cities, and the world population because of immorality. The flood (Gen. 6-8), Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19), the Amorites (Gen. 15:16), and Israel (see the prophets) are examples of God’s punishment of immorality.

In America, sexual immorality is widespread. “The latest figures in a highly respected new study by Johns Hopkins University professors Melvin Zelnik and John F. Kantner indicate that nearly 50 per cent of the nation’s 10.3 million young women age 15 to 19 have had premarital sex. The percentage has nearly doubled since Zelnik and Kantner began their surveys in 1971” (Newsweek [1 September 1980], p. 48). The Alfred C. Kinsey report which interviewed 17,500 people between 1938 and 1956 demonstrated that sexual immorality has been commonplace for many years. However, in the last two decades, that which was committed in secret and covered up is now practiced and discussed without shame. “Once chastity was something to be guarded – or lied about when lost. Now an uncommonly virtuous teen-ager lies to protect the dirty little secret that she is still a virgin” (Ibid., p. 49).

American society is troubled by sexual immorality. Not only are our teenagers experimenting with sex, our adult population is also promiscuous. Couples decide to live together without the marriage ceremony and the couples range in age from college students to those on social security. Many marriages are destroyed or damaged by an adulterous affair by one or both marriage partners. If there is ever a time and place for preachers to be preaching against fornication as a danger to the souls of men, now is the time and America is the place. America resembles Israel in Jeremiah’s day. He described his society saying, “the land is full of adulterers” (23:10) and “every one neighed after his neighbor’s wife” (5:8). The situation in America is no better. Perhaps some of us have been reserved in our preaching because of our own reservations associated with modesty; though we must not allow the pulpit to become a place for vulgar speech, we must use the language of Scripture to teach what it says about the sin of fornication.

Fornication Is A Sin

Inasmuch as those who deny that there are absolute standards for ethical conduct have made progress in our society, we need to reemphasize that fornication is sinful. Fornication is sinful today just as it was in the first century; there is no circumstance in which fornication is not sinful. Those who say that “fornication may be sinful for you but it is not for me” are mistaken; fornication is sinful for every man (cf. 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 6-18; Gal. 5:19; etc.).

Fornication is a grievous sin. The punishment for adultery, under the Mosaical law, was death (Lev. 20:10); premarital sexual relations demanded that the man marry the young maiden or pay the dowry (Exod. 22:16-17). In the New Testament, fornication is the only sin which frees the innocent party from the marriage vow and gives him the opportunity for remarriage. Indeed, fornication is a grievous sin.

Fornication Has Disastrous Consequences

The consequences of fornication are so serious that the wise man warned repeatedly of its dangers:

. . . To deliver thee from the strange woman . . . which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead (Prov. 2:16-18).

But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword (Prov. 5:4).

Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be bumed? . . . But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul (Prov. 6:27-28,32).

The effects of this sin include the following:

1. The sin of fornication separates a person from God (Gal. 5:19-21). The physical consquences of fornication formerly deterred some from committing the sin; the fear of an unwanted pregnancy and the public shame and embarrassment of an illegitimate baby prevented some from committing fornication. That deterrent to fornication has been removed by the various contraceptives and abortion clinics. Consequently, many more people are involved in the sin of fornication.

We need to be reminded that an unwanted pregnancy might be prevented or terminated. No one on earth may know about the sin except the two participants. However, “the eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3). He knows when the sin is cominitted. The sin separates the sinner from God, bringing him into a state of spiritual death and in danger of eternal damnation in hell.

2. The sin of fornication endangers the physical body. Trying to deter the young in his day from the sin of fornication, the wise man warned, “And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed” (Prov. 5:11). Fornication leads to several venereal diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and more recently AIDS. Because of the dangers to the physical body, some immoral people have changed their lifestyle; casual sex is not as popular as it once was.

3. The sin offornication damages the emotions of man. When a person engages in pre-marital or extra-marital sexual relationships, he violates his own conscience; a burden of guilt weighs heavily upon his mind. Until the sinner repents or becomes calloused in his sin, he will undergo the same inner turmoil as did David when he committed the sin with Bathsheba. He described this turmoil saying,

When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer (Psa. 32:3-4).

Young people who decide to experiment with sex find their feelings of guilt linger long after the momentary pleasure of the sin has past. Even the psychologists are recognizing this.

“Sex before 16 or 17 is counterproductive emotionally, ” says Claudette Kunkes, a clincial psychologist at The Door, an adolescent treatment center in New York. “Younger kids haven’t developed the ego functions which are crucial in making their own choices about sex. The younger girls I’ve interviewed never really enjoyed it” (Ibid.).

Tender young things are sampling sex before its season before they are out of dental braces – and then feeling the anguish of remorse (Ibid., p. 53).

The psychological troubles from fornication will be brought into the marriage. One’s husband or wife will have trouble accepting that another has committed fornication with his/her mate. The participant will have trouble blotting out the remembrance of his involvement in that sin.

4. Fornication damages and destroys the marriage. When fornication is committed by someone who is married, his sin frequently causes the destruction of the marriage; if the marriage is not totally destroyed by the sin of fornication, pain and anguish which leave deep scars result. Some become so inflamed by passion that they throw away 20 years of committment to their spouse and children. Their children suffer through the agonies of a divorce and then are raised in a single-parent home which, however conscientiously managed, is not the ideal home which God ordained as an environment in which to rear children.

Yes, fornication has its consequences. Even its temporal consequences should lead a person to abstain from fornication. Its eternal consequences make the commission of fornication a form of spiritual suicide.

Fornication Is Not Gratifying

I do not mean to indicate by this statement that there are no pleasures in fornication; even the Scriptures recognize that sin has its pleasures (Heb. 11:24-25). However, sin’s pleasures are fleeting and momentary. The way of sin is not the way of deep and abiding happiness.

Those who are searching for sexual happiness are looking for it in the wrong place when they search for it in the bed of fornication. The psychologists are just now beginning to write about the dissatisfaction which people are finding in sex without committment. Those who have disregarded the commandments of God and engaged in fornication are now finding that their casual sexual relationships – one night stands with strangers and acquaintances – do not satisfy their emotional needs.

Those who are seeking sexual happiness need to quit looking for it in the bed of fornication and recognize that it can be found only in a monogamous relationship in the marriage bed (Heb. 13:4). The wise man advised,

Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? (Prov. 5:15-20)

Truly, God’s way is best for mankind. One will find more lasting and gratifying fulfillment in the sexual relationship in a marriage than he will find in fornication, adultery, homosexuality, incest, bestiality, polygamy, polyandry, or any other immoral sexual relationship.

Lust Leads To Fornication

I would hope that those who are reading this have been in agreement with me that fornication is a soul-damning sin which also leads to temporal sorrow. We need to consider what induces men and women to commit fornication.

Some younger women do not understand that a man’s sexual desires are aroused through looking at the nakedness of the female body. Both experience and the Scriptures say as much.

Lust not after her beauty in thine heart (Prov. 6:25).

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart (Matt. 5:28).

Some are described as having “eyes full of adultery” (2 Pet. 2:14). Adultery and fornication proceed out of the heart of man (Matt. 15:19).

This being the case, there are some things which we should avoid which are provocative and stimulating by nature. Here are some of them:

1. Lewd books and movies. Pornography is a scourge to our society. The lascivious magazines such as Playboy, Penthouse, and Hustler arouse the desires of men. Many of the movies on television and available at the video rentals depict scenes of passion which arouse the lusts of men. Pornography leads to other forms of sexual immorality including fornication, adultery, rape, incest, homosexuality, etc. If we are going to possess ourselves in sanctification and holiness, we must abstain from pornography.

2. Immodest dress. We men must avoid places where women are scantily dressed and women must be sure to dress modestly. The woman sins when she dresses like a harlot (Prov. 6:10) or in such a manner as to arouse the sexual appetites of men. She should not wear sexually arousing clothing in the presence of any man other than her husband. Some clothing is sexually stimulating, including swim wear (whether one or two-piece), shorts, halter and tube tops, skin-tight pants, low neckline blouses, and any other garment which might be too revealing. Men need to avoid places and circumstances which might be tempting. Though there is nothing wrong with the exercise of swimming, the public beach and swimming pool are places where scantily clothed women dress in lascivious attire. A Christian will avoid such places.

3. Petting. The dating practice of prolonged petting frequently leads to fornication. Teenagers who find some secluded road to go “parking” and engage in long sessions of petting and necking are playing with fire. Sometimes the petting goes on at the house while the parents are both away from home at work. Christians will avoid heavy petting.

4. Dancing. The modern dance has as its attraction sex appeal. It is lascivious or lust producing. The modern dance is not more pure than the dance of the 1950s and 1960s; it is more lewd and provocative. Christians will not engage in dancing.

5. Drinking. When David tried to get Uriah to go in to his wife Bathsheba that he might think that the baby which was conceived in adultery was Uriah’s own child, he used wine to get Uriah drunk. He did it for the same reason it is used today. David wanted to get Uriah to do while drunk what he would not do while sober. Alcohol breaks down one’s inhibitions. To preserve one’s moral purity, a Christian should abstain from strong drink.

Sometimes young people and weak Christians get the idea that old folks just do not want them to have any fun when they are told not to dance, drink, watch R and X-rated movies, and other such things. That is not the case. Rather, we want to guard our children from the sin of fornication – to protect their souls from damnation, their bodies from disease, their hearts from anguish, and their homes from destruction. We urge young people not only to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, ” but also to avoid those things which create temptation.

Conclusion

We live in an ungodly age. So has every generation of Christians since the ungodly world crucified Jesus. Like the Christians before us who lived in ungodly eras of time, we must not be conformed to this world (Rom. 12:1-2). We must be willing to be different, strong enough to walk according to the revelation of God instead of according to the course of the world.

As Christians, let us “flee fornication” (1 Cor. 6:18) and “abstain from fornication” (1 Thess. 4:3). Should the temptation to commit fornication present itself, let us flee from it like Joseph. To keep the temptation as far removed as possible, let us avoid those things which create and stimulate one’s inordinate desires and passions. “But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil” (2 Thess. 3:3).

Guardian of Truth XXX: 9, pp. 258, 278-279
May 1, 1986

By Forrest D. Moyer

Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and worries of life, and that day come on you suddenly like a trap (Luke 21:34).

Introduction

If I asked, “Are you guilty of worldliness?”, what would you say? Undoubtedly I would get varied answers to such a question. Some would respond with a powerful “No!” Someone else might say, “I don’t think so.” Another might ask, “What do you mean by worldliness?” Most brethren consider worldliness as a threat to spirituality, but I believe that it is the greatest problem that the people of God face in the society of our day! In this study we shall show that worldliness is defined in the Bible, and that it is deceptive and that it is destructive.

I. Worldliness Is Described In The Bible

The apostle John describes it in 1 John 2:15-17:

Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If any one loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.

John tells us that the love of the world consists of (1) the lust of the flesh, (2) the lust of the eyes, and (3) the boastful pride of life. Whatever falls into these categories is worldliness and separates us from God. That is why it is vital for us to study this text and this subject.

The lust of the flesh induces a fleshly way of thinking and acting. “Flesh” involves more than the elements that make up the human body. It is a way of thinking and living that is contrary to the way of God. It is contrasted with spiritual living in Romans 8 and Galatians 5. These chapters suggest that the word “flesh” (sarx) includes the mind of the person and his reasoning abilities and not just the cells that make up the human body.

The word “lust” (desire) can be for either that which is good or for that which is bad. God has given to man certain desires and these are all good within themselves. We have the desire for food, for drink, for sleep, for sex. There is nothing inherently wrong with any of these desires. But they can be directed in the wrong channels and become sinful. While the desire for food is natural and good, gluttony is sinful. While the desire to quench thirst is proper, drunkenness is a sin. Sleep is a normal need, but “a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest -and your poverty will come in like a vagabond” (Prov. 6:10-11). Laziness is a sin. The fulfillment of sexual desires within marriage is of God and is, therefore, holy. But sex taken outside the bounds of husband and wife is fornication (whether pre-marital sex, adultery, homosexuality, or bestiality) and is sinful. When we have desires for what is forbidden, we are headed toward “love of the world.”

The lust of the eyes has to do with pleasures that gratify the sight and the mind in such a way to lead one away from God. It is that spirit which can see nothing without wanting it in order to flaunt it. It is the attitude that believes that happiness can be found in things which money can buy and which the eye can see. We must remember that the things which are seen are temporal (2 Cor. 4:18). This is what worldliness is: emphasis on that which is temporal.

The boastful pride of life is the spirit that attempts to show people how important we are. This is why we buy houses, cars, clothing, appliances, and other luxuries which we cannot afford. We want to impress people. We want to boast about our own greatness. The “travel now, pay later” advertising gets millions of people to buy things beyond their means. Why? To impress people with our material possessions. That, my brother, is worldliness. These three principles of worldliness set forth by John will be of help to us later as we continue our study.

Jesus describes worldliness in Luke 8:14:

And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with the worries (cares) and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

Jesus is explaining His parable of the sower. He says that “thorns” choke out spiritual life. What are these thorns?

The cares or worries of this life have to do with our anxieties over material things such as our food, clothing, or shelter. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus, with His masterful word pictures, teaches us not to worry about our food or clothing or the necessities of life (Matt. 6:25-34). In vv. 31-33 we hear Him say:

Do not be anxious then, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “With what shall we clothe ourselves?” For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

Anxiety about these physical needs are indicative of little faith (v. 30). Instead of worry our lives must be characterized by prayer (Phil. 4:6) and action (Matt. 6:33 – “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness”). Anxiety about these things can choke out the word and that is worldliness.

The riches of this life are another source of worldliness. Paul spoke of such in 1 Timothy 6:9-10:

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.

It is our desire for riches that chokes out the word and, thus, constitutes worldliness.

The pleasures of this life also constitute worldliness. These would be any pleasures that would draw us away from the godly life that the Holy Spirit has laid out for us in t Word. Now, with John’s and Jesus description of worldliness before us, we can observe that.

Worldliness may fall into two categories. There are things that are wrong within themselves because God has declared them to be wrong. Anything that falls within the description of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21 is sinful because God declares that it is. This includes sexual sins, sins of the disposition, sins of action. Peter speaks of this kind of worldliness when he talks about “a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries” (1 Pet. 4:3). Paul is emphatic in ordering us to “flee fornication” (1 Cor. 6:18). Anything that falls into this category is sinful – it is of this world. The “R” movies and many “PG” movies are sinful because of these passages. Parents, do you exercise control over what your children see? Would you allow your three year old child to go down the alley and eat food from garbage cans? Well, friend, the “R” movies (and many others) are garbage of a more deadly kind. They poison the soul! Would you bring a filthy garbage can into your living room from which to feed your family? Yet, almost every week and pollution into their homes by means of degraded TV programs. Such is harmful to adults, but it is disastrous to children! Such is also true of the modern dance. The moral allurements of such are not conducive to a godly, spiritual life. It is in the realm of worldliness.

But there is a worldliness that I believe is even more destructive to Christians than what we discussed in the preceding paragraph. That has to do with things that are not wrong within themselves, but which constitute worldliness by their use. Paul said that Demas loved this present world. I rather doubt that Demas got involved in immorality or drunkenness, etc. Rather I am inclined to feel that Demas was afraid that he would die if he stayed with Paul in Rome. He loved this present world and was not ready to leave it, I fear that we all must be very careful lest we become worldly in this way.

These are those who have so many interests in life that the most important things are choked out. People become too busy to pray, too busy to study, too busy to visit the sick, too busy to be involved in home classes, too busy to come to all the services. That’s worldliness! When we say, “I don’t have time,” we are saying that God did not give us sufficient time to do His will, and that is a charge against God Himself. He gave us all 168 hours each week. In so doing He gave us time to do everything that He desires of us in seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness. Usually when one says, “I don’t have time for spiritual matters,” he still has time for sports, for TV, for theater, for extra school classes or for anything else that he wants to do. The truth is that we find time to do what we want to do. When we get so involved in making money that we do not have time for Jesus, that’s worldliness! I’m not afraid that a lot of my brothers and sisters will be involved in drinking parties, or gambling or immorality, but I believe that many are involved in “respectable worldliness.” You are allowing other things – things not wrong within themselves – to choke out your spiritual life. These things become the most important things in your life. Let me impress upon you, friend, you can get by without movies, TV, sports, theater, etc., but you cannot get by without Jesus Christ in your heart and life! Let us indeed “seek those things which are above” and “set our affection on things above” (Col. 3:1-2).

Truly, worldliness is defined in God’s word.

II. Worldliness Is Deceptive

Jesus tells us that worldliness will “weight us down”; it will “choke” us. These processes seldom take place immediately. Usually they gradually and slowly begin their deadly work. Thorns begin to grow as the seed grows. The thorns grow a little each day until they become so large that they have done their murderous work. Worldliness creeps up on one. The believer gradually accepts and then adopts the ways of the world. Jesus indicated that in Matthew 24:38-39 by His reference to the people of Noah’s day who were going on in their daily manner of life totally oblivious to the fact that the flood was coming. People come to feel comfortable in their worldly way of life. They come to look upon even sinful activities as being the normal way of life. We accept our “respectable worldliness” as the way that most decent people live. We fail to see the choking effect of this kind of worldliness.

We live in a time of deceptive advertising. People are bamboozled by the ads that promise joy and happiness but bring only sorrow and shame. The liquor industry has led millions down a path of destruction by their deceptive ads. “The man of distinction” ads allure many to drunkenness. The ads do not show the true side of the coin. They do not show the wreck on the highway with the mangled bodies of innocent children strewn on the roadside in their own blood – the wreck caused by “a man of distinction”! They do not show the children without sufficient food to eat or clothing to wear because their father is such a “man of distinction” that he cannot hold a job or do anything but hang out at the bar. These ads do not show the dissipated man in rags with vomit running down his filthy clothes. Indeed, they deceive. The ads show the woman who “has come a long way, baby,” as a lady of sophistication because she smokes a particular brand of cigarettes. The ads do not show the hundreds of thousands who are suffering from lung cancer, heart disease, ulcers, and emphysema because of their use of tobacco. The ads picture the glorification of illegitimate sex, but they do not show the ruin of teenage pregnancies and of broken homes caused by adulterous action. Truly, worldliness is deceptive.

III. Worldliness Is Destructive

We must understand that worldliness will destroy us! James 4:4 says:

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

The Lord is emphatic. Worldliness places us in hostility to our God. It is destructive. We have already seen John’s statement that “if any one loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). He shows that if we are in love with the world that we shall pass away with this world.

Paul shows that those who are guilty of the works of the flesh shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21). In Philippians 3:18-19 we hear him say:

For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

These are worldly people because they set their minds on earthly things. Their end is definite: it is destruction! Worldliness will lead one to Hell. If you are traveling the pathway of worldliness, you are in the way to eternal destruction.

We have shown that worldliness is defined in the Bible, it is deceptive, and it is destructive. Have you allowed worldliness to sap your spiritual energy and drag you back into the power of Satan? If so, “come out from among them and be separate and do not touch what is unclean.” Every effort that you make for godly living will be worth your while.

Guardian of Truth XXX: 9, pp. 264-266
May 1, 1986

By Elmer Moore

On the nights of September 30 thru October 4, 1985 and March 3, 4, 6, 7 of 1986, 1 was privileged to moderate for J.T. Smith in his debates with Charles A. Holt. The propositions for these debates involved the “local church” and the “eldership.” The first debate was held in Lake Jackson, Texas and the second one in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I do not intend to present a review of the debate as such, but simply state my personal appraisal of it.

First, let me assure everyone that I have no ill will toward brother Holt; neither do I have a personal axe to grind with him. I firmly believe that he espoused false positions in the debates, and failed miserably as a debater.

It was a disappointment to me that brother Holt did not debate the issue at all. Fact of the matter is, he did not debate – period! I know that he understands what a debate is supposed to be. He knows that arguments of the opposition are to be examined with fairness and candor; yet he completely ignored the major portion of brother Smith’s arguments, choosing rather to devote most of his time in a tirade against his brethren. I don’t recall ever hearing a more bitter, vindictive, castigation of the church of the Lord in terms as severe, in my life. My judgment is that I listened to nine nights of a man who has~ become so bitter against his brethren that he seeks opportunity to brow-beat them. Nine times in his last speech in Chattanooga, he compared the church of Christ to the Roman Catholic church. Brother Holt stated in the debate that he had no intention of answering brother Smith’s arguments (referring to them as “quibbles”); but intended to teach the people. Yet brother Holt advertised the affair in his paper, The Examiner, as a debate.

My judgment is that brethren ought not to provide him any further audience where he can further his tirade against God’s people.

The church of the Lord is indebted to brother J.T. Smith for bringing these matters into the open. Many felt that brother Holt had abandoned the views he held in the 1960s. The debates have certainly been eye-openers.

Also it is well to note that in January of 1985 the charter for Holt Ministry, Inc. was filed for record. This was done for the express purpose of making possible the advocacy of brother Holt’s position, either through his paper, or a number of other ways that were mentioned in the charter. This was almost a year before the debate in Lake Jackson. The debate was well timed. Surely now all know that the only change that brother Holt has made regarding his position on the church and the eldership has been from bad to worse.

I believe that brother J.T. Smith not only did a thorough job in defense of the truth, but was kind and courteous toward brother Holt throughout.

Guardian of Truth XXX: 8, p. 234
April 17, 1986

By Kenneth Thomas

One would have to not only deny the studied conclusions of learned men of our day, but many plain Bible passages as well, to argue with the truth of our title for this discussion. Our thoughts translate into our actions. Unless we learn to dismiss the thought which would lead to disobedience, disobedient we will be! Faithfulness conversely works the same way, we must engage in positive thinking which will lead to proper actions in obedience to our Lord. This being true it is extremely important that our thought patterns be guided by divine revelation through God’s word (Psa. 1:2; Jas. 1:18, 21-25; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).

As He Thinketh. . .

Solomon to whom God gave a degree of wisdom above his fellows said, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7). Our Lord addressed Himself to this same subject when in Matthew 15:18-19, He stated, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”

As you can see, each of the sins listed above finds its source in the mind (heart) of man. That’s where it was conceived. When it is allowed to pass through a gestation period and is finally born as the act, it becomes sin as James states in James 1:13-15. Two of the sins listed in the context, at least, become sin when dwelt upon so as to lack only opportunity to actually carry out, those being fornication and murder. See Matthew 5:28; 1 John 3:15.

I heard a song which left in my mind the sentence structure which I used in a sermon recently called “Living As Christians in a Wicked World.” I took the title from an article I read also. Anyway the song translated into my thinking in these words, “first you think the thoughts, then you talk the talk, then you walk the walk.” You may have heard the song but regardless of that, it portrays biblical truth. If you have read this far, and if you accept the conclusions I have reached as biblical, then you will profit by studying with me further, on:

Some Things That Mold Our Thinking

David prayed in Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord my strength and redeemer.” He also pronounced the man (person) as blessed (happy) who meditates on things spiritual (God’s word), day and night (Psa. 1:2). David also said in Psalm 119:11, “Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” The apostle Paul admonished Christians to think of certain things so as to have the peace of God in their (own) hearts. “. . whatever things are true . . . noble . . . just . . . pure . . . lovely, of good report . . . praiseworthy, meditate on these things” (Phil. 4:7-8).

The Music We Listen To

If you think you can fill your mind with a steady diet of “hard rock” or “punk rock” music performed by such people as Madonna or Cyndi Lauper and not be adversely affected, then you may as well stop reading right here for you have already been overtaken by Satan’s lures! If you are already hooked on Boy George or Prince or if you enjoy and listen to such groups, as many do, like KISS (which stands for “Kids in Service to Satan” I have been told), you have a problem whether you or your family recognize it or not. It isn’t too late if you are willing to listen, but if such an article as this “turns you off,” I would say it’s mighty close to being too late for you!

Here’s how Madonna is spoken of in a magazine article in Newsweek (3/4/85), “MADONNA: The new woman as classic sex siren, she promises more than an invitation to dance.” I’m not sure of this but it appears that Madonna is a name she’s taken as a spoof and put down concerning the virgin mother of Jesus because and I now quote, “Madonna’s new album, ‘Like a Virgin’ (Sire), recently No. I for three weeks, is already ‘triple platinum.’ In 14 weeks it has sold some 3.5 million copies.” Some of the new rock and punk rock female stars and some of the males glorify the “alternate lifestyle” doctrine of lesbianism and male homosexuality. All of them glorify and advocate what has come to be called “free love.” Brethren, it’s anything but free if I may make a play on their word. It is enslaving and very costly in many cases both physically and especially spiritually (Gal. 5:16-21; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Rev. 21:8).

When so many young people and some not so young are “turned on” by such as this my friends, if doesn’t speak well for the future of our nation. As Christians we have our work cut out for us and in too many cases we are failing since we are either ignorant of these things or involved ourselves so that few are speaking out in protest. Please read Proverbs 14:34.

When gospel preachers preach, teach and write on such topics as this, they need the parents to reinforce what is stated and written and if we would all stand together we would have a chance to succeed in supporting our children in standing together against such filth.

The Music We Listen to And, See as Well

Along the same lines as the above, yet even more devastating to the minds of young and old alike are the special rock stations such as MTV where those who tune in cannot only hear but view the contortions and bodily gyrations as vulgar, lewd motions are made with the body as the words leave not one thing to the imagination. The frenzies in the audience indicate to any honest observer exactly the intent of the performer.

I can remember when this country (at least a part of it) was so outraged at the swinging hips and vulgarity portrayed by Elvis Presley that Ed Sullivan’s show cut him off from the TV viewing audience at the waist. Today what he did wouldn’t even raise many eyebrows. We have now been conditioned to the place that we aren’t shocked anymore. We have lost the ability to blush as did Israel of old (Jer. 6:15). In order to be capable of discerning between that which is wholesome and good and that which is sinful and unwholesome in God’s sight we must spend time with “the book”I The Hebrews writer indicated this very truth saying, “. . . by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. . . Solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern (know the difference between) both good and evil” (Heb. 5:12,14).

I See Nothing Wrong With It

Too often Christians rather than being “transformed by the renewing of your minds” have been conformed to the world’s way of thinking (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Jn. 2:15-17; Jas. 4:4). Sadly, the above statement is all too often true of many members of the body, they actually “see nothing wrong with . . . … Think a few minutes with me as you read a list of things that weak, uninformed, worldly-minded members see nothing wrong with:

1. Dancing that tends to produce lasciviousness (Gal. 5:19).

2. Addiction to nicotine (Gal. 6:17; 1 Cor. 6:12; Matt. 5:13-16).

3. Watching the filthy soap operas on TV and other filthy programs as well as attending movies where bad language and immodesty, etc., abound (Eph. 5:11; 2 Cor. 6:15-17; Phil. 2:15).

4. Reading suggestive or sometimes downright pornographic literature (Phil. 4:4-8).

5. Wearing short shorts and halters, going to public beaches and pools and mixing with others even scantier dressed (1 Tim. 2:9) and again, example (Matt. 5:13-16).

6. Listening to and telling filthy jokes (Eph. 4:29; Col. 4:6).

7. Missing the assemblies of the church for trivial matters. See no need to attend every possible service (Heb. 10:24-31; Acts 20:6-7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Col. 3:16; 1 Thess. 5:17).

8. Spending money they can’t afford for various things and going into debt for years for something they want, yet giving very little to Christ (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 8-8; Matt. 6:33).

9. Not diligently studying the Bible and preparing for Bible classes (2 Tim. 2:15; Eph. 4:3,16; 1 Cor. 12:14-27).

10. Rarely, if ever attempting to win a soul to Christ by sending literature, setting up a home study, etc. (Acts 8:4; 2 Tim. 2:2; Heb. 5:12-14).

11. Make little or no attempts to restore the erring to Christ and faithfulness (Gal. 6:1-2; Jas. 5:19-20; Matt. 18:15-17).

12. Consistently put family and friends and sometimes jobs before Christ and faithfulness (Matt. 10:34-37; Lk. 14:26-35).

13. Not visiting the sick, shut-in, etc. (Matt. 25:31-46).

14. Never finding a needy person or family with whom to share their blessings (Eph. 4:28; Lk. 10:30-37).

What has the religion of Christ done to change you? Are you a conformed or a transformed member of the body of Christ?

Guardian of Truth XXX: 8, pp. 236-237
April 17, 1986