Consequences of Sexual Sin
Life can get dicey this side of Genesis 3. Crops fail. Weather fails. Nations fail. Health fails. Resolve fails. Much of life is simply about learning to navigate disappointment and pain. But there is one thing which perhaps causes more pain than anything else; sexual sin. There’s the betrayal; the lying; the deception. There’s the severing of trust; severing of families; severing of relationships. Sexual sin in spiritual leadership packs an added severity. Churches are damaged; ministries are damaged; witness is damaged.
Sin’s damage upon the human race is severe. Read the news for just one day. Look honestly at your own thoughts. Within each of us dwells, as the Puritans called it, a “dark guest.” The pull of the flesh is strong. We need to be aware of sin’s capabilities. We need to fight ourselves. You can pretend that the flesh is not that strong and cowers at the swinging of a spiritual butter knife. But you’ll be overtaken by its skill and strength.
I don’t want to go down this path. I once heard someone say that they’d rather have the Lord kill them than commit adultery. I know that I’m capable of it. By the grace of God, I want to fight against this. Though sexual sin is forgivable in Christ, there are consequences to consider. It’s helpful to consider the reaping of sowing. In a recent doctoral course, Steve Lawson helped me in the fight by describing several consequences of sexual sin.