by: Creflo Dollar
There are born-again Believers who live according to the norms of society instead of the standards God has set for us in His Word. The temptation to do this is great, and in many cases, Christians have been deceived into believing there is nothing wrong with what they are doing. Television and the motion picture industry have played a huge role in this deception by displaying people living “happily” in ways that oppose the Word of God. A prime example of this are shows and movies that display couples who cohabitate and have sex before marriage. As Believers, we must remember that just because an idea, concept, or way of life is acceptable in society, it doesn’t mean it is right in God’s eyes. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:12 that “Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power” (The Amplified Bible). Although certain lifestyles are not necessarily against the law, they are not acceptable by God’s standards. Cohabitation and sex before marriage places a tremendous strain on two people who are trying to live holy, and it opens the door to temptation. Yet, some Christian couples believe living together is okay. They justify it with the reasoning that it saves money while they are planning their wedding. Then there are those couples who think it’s okay as long as they are not having sex. However, the Bible says we should abstain from the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Although their way may seen right, God’s perspective is the only one that matters. Another misconception among Believers is that it is okay to have sex with their partners if they are engaged. Their mentality is: We’re going to get married anyway. The Bible teaches us that fornication (sex without a marriage license) is wrong! (1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Corinthians 6:18). God has not changed His mind about this, and He will not bend His own rules because Believers have decided not to take His Word seriously. God didn’t create His statues to spoil your fun but rather to protect you from harm. Sex outside of marriage can blur your judgment, stunt your spiritual growth, prevent you from developing a healthy relationship with the opposite sex, and can possibly cause you to have a broken heart when your expectations are not fulfilled. Additionally, sex outside of marriage will stunt the emotional development you need as a couple. Additionally, a sexual relationship outside of marriage is usually based on the world’s definition of love, which is essentially emotional and selfish. People enter these relationships fantasizing about a “perfect” life with a “perfect” person. They have the illusion of love that is portrayed in the movies, but emotional love doesn’t last long because it is based on feelings, and feelings change. However, lasting relationships are sustained by agapé love (the God-kind of love), which is unconditional and based on a decision, not feelings. When you truly love someone, you should be willing to wait until you are married to take advantage of marital privileges such as sex and cohabitation. God does not want us to selfishly take from others to satisfy our own desires. Real love always gives the advantage, and never takes advantage. So, decide today to begin viewing your relationships as opportunities to develop in unconditional love. You’ll be so glad you did.
Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 6:12 1 Thessalonians 5:22 1 Thessalonians 4:3 1 Corinthians 6:18
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