Bible Studies for Life
Assistant to the President for Church Relations, Samford University
Ready When Pornography Controls
1 Thessalonians 4:3–8
I write this lesson the very week the highly anticipated theatrical version of the book “Fifty Shades of Grey” is set to hit the big screens. It comes to theaters on Valentine’s Day all across America. I would ask every Christian to read our selected passage before taking part in such an outing.
The creators of this movie are anticipating millions in revenue as they allure people to enter a highly sensualized world in which sex is cheapened and perverted. Paul’s words to the Thessalonians are very direct. In the opening verses of the chapter Paul urges and exhorts the believers to abound in purity and honor the Lord with their lives. I can imagine Paul standing at the ticket counters at theaters all over America urging and exhorting believers to not support a movie that sickens the heart of God and perverts His will. It is pornography and it will poison your life.
The Call to Purity. (3)
The will of God for every believer is your sanctification. The words sanctification and holiness come from the same root word meaning “to separate yourself.” For a Christian to truly experience the will of God we must separate ourselves from sexual immorality. God’s highest desire for your life is sanctification and holiness. The call to purity in this verse is clear and intense. Therefore when we view or read pornography we are immediately out of God’s will.
James Dobson found that when a person views pornographic images it causes a chemical reaction which leaves an indelible copy of the images in the person’s mind, leaving immoral pictures that slowly eat away at a person’s purity for years to come.
A recent survey showed 70 percent of men from 18 to 34 view a pornographic website at least once a month. We must make up our mind to not leave ourselves susceptible to viewing pornography.
The Action of Purity. (4–5)
“You should know how to control your own body.” The literal Greek reads “to win mastery over your own vessel.” Through the power of the Holy Spirit within the Christian, he or she has the ability to master or possess actions of the body. The power of the Holy Spirit in you is greater than the power of the lust of the flesh.
Paul gives a stark comparison of the mind of a believer and the mind of an unbeliever in this passage. The indwelling Spirit gives the Christian the power to possess and control his or her vessel while the unbelievers are not spiritually led to do so. When we are saved we are called to begin using our bodies as vessels of honor (Rom. 6:13).
Christians should be held accountable for what they view on television, computers and in magazines. Purchasing filters for your online experience will protect you and your family from intentionally or accidentally wandering on to a sensual website. Take action, be prepared and possess your vessel for the glory of God.
The Relational Aspect of Purity. (6–8)
Perhaps the phrasing of verse 6 gives us some idea of sins within the church of Thessalonica. Rarely does a person involve themselves in immorality without it having devastating effects on the people around them. Adultery, affairs, porn addiction, lustful eyes, inappropriate conversations or innuendos all affect other people in our lives.
Before making the decision to practice sexual immorality one must count the cost of that action. Pornography destroys marriages and thus destroys families. It leaves a wake of emotional distress as those closest to you are replaced with a fantasy. God has called all believers to holiness. Paul said when we view pornography we reject Him and His Holy Spirit within us (v. 8). Reject the temptation to view things that will pollute your mind. We are called to have the “mind of Christ” (Phil 2:5). Don’t let your shades become grey — keep them white as snow through the purity of Christ.
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