Question #103
How does lust affect us and the church?
How does lust affect us and the church?
The Answer:
Many answers could be given to this question. Because man can lust after many things lust finds many ways of expression. Perhaps James gave the best answer: “13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man: 14 but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is full-grown, bringeth forth death.” James 1:13-15. Lust is the seed that give birth to sin. John reminds us that there are three avenues through which lust attacks: “15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1 John 2:15-16. There is always a struggle to be drawn away by our own desires or lust rather than to walk according to the things of the Spirit. When that lust conceives, the offspring is always sin. When sin is full grown, it brings forth death. See, Romans 6:23.
Jesus warned us about the same thing: “But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings: 20 these are the things which defile the man. . . .” Matthew 15:18-20.
The wise man wrote: “23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil. Proverbs 4:23-27.
The church is comprised of “living stones.” 1 Peter 2:5. Thus lust affects the church in the same manner that it affects its members. Where a congregation has in its leadership elders and preachers who seek the praise of men rather than of God, that congregation is most likely going to change its practices in a manner designed to attract men on a worldly basis rather than on the basis of the gospel. An individual who sews after his lust reaps spiritual death; a congregation that sews after worldly lusts has its candlestick removed. Revelation 2:5.
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