Proclaimer Blog
The minister and sexual purity
If, like me, you use the McCheyne Bible reading plan, you’ll have spent some of the last few days in the early chapters of Proverbs. The chapters on sexual purity are especially challenging for those in ministry. Why? Because the ministry of the word, especially but not only the pastoral element of it, is emotionally instensive. That is why preaching tires us out – there’s nothing particularly physical about it (for most of us!). But we feel drained after preaching because of the emotional investment. It is this emptying that makes ministers so vulnerable to attack. And, of course, a successful spiritual attack in the realm of sexual purity will have devastating consequences.
We’re made to be sexual beings and so this is a risk for us all – however much we may like to think about it. Here are five things the Bible says. I find these useful. No rocket science, but a necessary and regular reminder of how we guard our hearts.
1. Think of the heart. Jesus is clear that adultery starts in the heart. Even a lustful look (Matthew 5.27-30) is the same as the act to the God who sees all. And, of course, it is from within that the actions come. Unchecked lust in the heart soon turns into a porn habit. We need a ruthless approach with our own hearts, crying out to God to show us our black spots and help put sin to death.
2. Think of the Spirit. Each morning I write out the fruit of the Spirit in a little notebook. You may think that is rather quaint, but it helps me pray for his help and the fruit he brings. Including self-control. Key to fighting sexual temptation is to cry out to God to so fill us with the Spirit of Christ himself that his fruit is hanging from every branch.
3. Think of the church. The one flesh command from Gen 2 is more than sex (Eph 5.32) but not less than it (1 Cor 6.16). It therefore, at some level, depicts the joyful union Christ enjoys with the church. As a minister of this good news you need constant reminder of this truth at all kinds of levels. The church is not yours, for example. Union is a deep and meaningful doctrine. Sex,both sexual enjoyment, but also sexual fidelity or abstinence (for those who are single) is a depiction of this union.
4. Think of sex. This is not a helpful command for the unmarried – but it is biblical so I include it. The joy of sex is also preventative (1 Cor 7.1-7). Ministry couples whose marriage bed is unused are in great danger of temptation. It should not be so. It’s a command. You might not think that’s a particularly romantic way to think about sex – but it’s enormously romantic to keep your partner from Satan; it’s the best thing you can do for him/her.
5. Think of the consequences. However much we might like to think that sexual immorality is abhorrent in the cold of the day, we need to recognise that the Scriptures show us again and again that it is attractive. This is the testimony of Proverbs 5-7. Adultery can “captivate” us. The adulterous woman seduces the unwitting man. Interestingly, Solomon’s approach is to warn his son against the consequences of such an alliance (“destruction”, 6:32). How “attractive” the website or moment, we need to keep telling ourselves, “this way destruction lies.”
There’s more in the Bible, of course, but perhaps these will help out.