By: Jonathan Harris
Armed with scriptural principles, personal testimonies, and life experience, Joshua Harris assaults the doors of sexual hedonism by exposing its lies and contrasting them with the ultimate pleasure. In a very simple way, Harris shows that the joy of the Lord is greater than the counterfeit pleasure which accompanies illicit sexual practice. Whether your sin is masturbation, pornography, homosexuality, or simply deviant emotional or visual fantasies- the problem is not sexual in nature. It is theological. Joshua shows that the legalistic standards and man-centered strategies will never work in combating the problem because it is not a problem of behaviour, but rather of belief.
We can’t save ourselves and we can’t change ourselves. Only faith in Christ can rescue us from the prison of our sin. And only the Spirit can transform us. Our job is to invite His work, participate with it, and submit more and more of our thoughts, actions, and desires to Him.
Sounds simple right? Well, not exactly. Following Christ requires that we give up all our earthly ties in favour of Him. Some Christians never acknowledge that this is indeed the case, and others acknowledge it to the point they fall prey to legalism. In reality, this is half of the sanctification process. The other half is receiving the rewards, both earthly and heavenly, which Christ has for those who follow Him. Practically speaking, desire cannot be fought with non-desire. It must be fought with a stronger desire. The satisfaction that comes with knowing and walking with Christ, i.e. delighting yourself in the Lord, is the only path to victory.
Some Christians see sex as the problem, but in reality it isn’t- lust is. Sex is to be fully enjoyed within God’s parameters, not as a selfish craving but as worship to God himself. Everything must ultimately be seen through this lens in order for joy to take root. Those who deny this are truly missing out on earthly satisfaction and potentially on eternal life itself.
How do you view sex? Do you find yourself frustrated over the failure to live up to God’s standards in this area? Are you guilty of misconduct for the right reasons? Do you substitute romantic fiction or titillating images for real relationships? What is your motive in pursuing lust? This book is made for you and 99% of all college students out there. It’s a short light read, so there’s really no reason not to pick up a copy. It could mean the difference between coping and conquering.
To order click here- Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is): Sexual Purity in a Lust-Saturated World
