Purity-Our Sexual Orientation

Written by Ed Allen
Saturday, 26 May 2001 19:00

Heterosexual ? homosexual ? bisexual ? asexual ? alternate-sexuality ? Much attention is given in our culture to sexual orientation. "It is not of our choosing," we are told. "It is a matter of natural direction or inclination. And since it's a function of our nature, a person should have the freedom to exercise whatever orientation they tend toward without constraint and without prejudice. Sexual practices are not right or wrong. They are simply private matters of personal expression - like eating or creating art or expressing your feelings. In fact, it is our right to pursue our pleasure in whatever way we choose - as long as nobody else gets hurt." We draw the line, of course, at abuse and rape. At least, now we draw that line. With increasing clarity and volume that's what our culture affirms.

But Jesus disagrees.

As followers of Jesus, you and I are called to practice a radical new sexual orientation called purity. That is the central theme of our passage today.

I have labored this week over how to best present this topic. Every way I crafted it I kept sounding like some old-fashioned Bible-thumper who was completely out of touch. But I also kept thinking about two profound truths.

French philosopher who said, "It's a noble thing to be mad in the world's eyes when the whole world has itself gone mad."
Isaiah 40:6-8 "All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the wod of our God stands forever."

Today we are going to look at a timeless and timely calling, which, if followed will release new-found freedom and power in our lives. But when this calling is violated we feel the effects - both in our own lives and in all our relationships. In our passage today, God gives us a peak at how we live out this radical new sexual orientation in two ways. Then He exhorts us to exercise this orientation in a way that will be uncomfortable for many of us to hear - uncomfortable, but necessary.

Ephesians 5:3-14

(3) But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. (4) Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. (5) For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (6) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. (7) Therefore do not be partners with them. (8) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (9) (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) (10) and find out what pleases the Lord. (11) Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. (12) For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. (13) But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, (14) for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

Practice a radical, new sexual orientation: purity.

How do we do it? How do we practice this radical new sexual orientation?

A. Establish extreme distance from disobedience.

1. "Should not be a hint" literally "should not be named."

"Sexual immorality" = porneia
This includes: sex with prostitutes, adultery, same-sex relations, incest

It is linked with impurity in reference to sex in several New Testament passages. The word impurity according one commentator "encompasses generally riotous and excessive living, but frequently has unrestrained sexual behavior in view." (Lincoln)

"greed" or "covetousness" is a more general term referring to insatiable desire, living in excess. The great Greek pastor, John Chrysostom, called this the greatest of evils and the greatest cause of evil. It makes us oblivious to the needs of others. In this context it also refers generally to sex.

2. There should be no sexual sarcasm or innuendoes.

Drop the crude suggestive jokes. In other words, stay so far away from disobedience in this area that you do not even joke about it. Don't run the risk of desensitizing yourself to this pattern.

God offers up an alternative to this kind of conversation. He says be thankful. Instead of craving more, be mindful that everything you have comes from God.

3. Why?

V. 3 Not proper ? unfit. Paul is not being Ms. Manners here. This is improper in light of who you are. You are "saints," "holy ones." This does not befit you. This does not make you effective. It does not work with the operating system that you have installed in your life. It is like running your car on leaded gasoline or like a marathoner feasting on sweets for a month before the Boston marathon.

V. 4 Out of place ? Just as ethnic slurs and racial put-downs are out of place at a conference on racial unity (or anywhere), so sexual insinuation is out of place among people whose whole lives are like a conference on displaying the character of God.

V. 5 This kind of activity is idolatry. This means we have made the pursuit of pleasure our god and we are not part of God's activity. God has no part in us.

V. 6 You're certainly going to hear, "it's no big deal." (I was talking with someone in my family yesterday and told them I was preaching on sex and they told me a dirty joke.) The message? No big deal! But don't be deceived! God will judge this kind of activity.

4. End this thought by telling us not only distance ourselves from this kind of behavior as far as we can, but to not align ourselves with anyone who is this way. Do not partner.

Here's what this looks like:

If you spend much time on the computer, get filtering software for your computer.

Invite someone to hold you accountable. Confess.

Movies, TV with nudity or sexually suggestive situations that are arousing - don't watch, turn off.

If you're married talk about it.

I have a friend whose wife cuts out suggestive pictures in catalogues.

Come on Ed. You're being a prude.

I don't think so. Imagine if you inherited huge piece of property. Beautiful waterfalls. Lakes to swim in. Canyons to explore and picture perfect meadows in which to take a nap. One tree in the middle that had delicious fruit. Think of what you would be missing if you spent all your time hanging around the tree. Imagine further eating so much fruit you get sick to your stomach. That's the power of sex in our lives if unchecked.

Establish extreme distance from disobedience.

B. Practice personal purity. Let out what God has put in.

Verses 8-9: 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)

1. This sounds like we're saying 'Just Do it.' This doesn't seem helpful, but it is important to remember: Purity is God-given.

You are light in the Lord. God has made this happen in us.

Listen how radical the description is of the change that has happened in our lives is. Dark to light. Dark often a symbol of God's judgment. Light often a symbol of God's blessing and guidance. We have been removed completely from the sphere of judgment into the sphere of God's blessing.

And we are not simply living in the Light - we are light!

So live it out. One writer said, "The Christian life is always a call to be who God says we are." (Snodgrass)

2. It follows from this practice that we will be able to discover what pleases God.

V. 10 follows from V. 9 ("discovering what pleases the Lord.)

Cullman: "The working of the Holy Spirit shows itself in the testing, that is the capacity of forming the correct Christian teaching at each given moment ? This testing is the key of all New Testament ethics."

In other words, as the church practices her purity she will discern what pleases the Lord in every age because of the Holy Spirit working through her.

We are not na?ve enough not to recognize that there is difficulty with this idea. Some hear the teaching "establish extreme distance from disobedience" and suggest that we should not wear make-up, or go to movies, or hold hands before we're married. We are not going to try to resolve this tension in our minds this morning. Instead we are going to cling to what God says here. I believe our differences can be complementary and should not contribute to disunity. That happens not because the Holy Spirit is not showing us what pleases Him, but because we do not handle disagreement the way he tells us to. We do not fight for unity the way he tells us to.

What does this look like?

In some sense, a personal issue. Let God be your guide and you will discover what pleases the Lord.

Let me give couple of personal examples:

Negative: Dracula movie with suggestive scenes. I should have walked out but didn't

Positive: I was playing pool at a billiards place. I did not stare at waitress; did not flirt; did not respond to any of the comments made about her. This meant a lot to new Christian I was with.

This is not about will-power. This is about faith, and depending on God. Not like trying to turn your otherwise normal home into a bed and breakfast. Like inheriting a bed and breakfast and then keeping it clean and advertising it.

One behavioral application: Expose what is wrong.

1. One way of establishing distance from disobedience and practicing purity is by exposing what is wrong.

"expose" carries the connotation of confronting.

Need to make it known that the deeds of darkness are "fruitless". They do not produce effective living and they are powerless and futile in pleasing God. They produce nothing of value in God's eyes.

2. As it turns out this has not a negative but a positive effect. Darkness becomes light when we expose it to the light.

This is what happens in a dark room.

This is the essential meaning of verses 12-14.

(12) For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. (13) But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, (14) for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

What does this look like?

You cover the topic of sexual purity in your Home Fellowship

In Home Fellowship you talk about lust and how to handle it appropriately.

When you discover that your teenage son is peeking at suggestive pictures you deal with it.

We discuss it on Sunday morning. This doesn't mean that we spend a great deal of time talking about how sinful our society is. We discuss what pleases the Lord!

Max Lucado tells a story about candles in a closet that refuse to be lit during a storm. Don't be that candle. Let the light out. Practice the radical new sexual orientation to which we have been called - Practice purity.

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