What is Indecent?
May 23, 2008
I have sat down three different times to write this post. Writing about what is indecent is difficult for several reasons.
First, it is likely I will tread on some extremely controversial issues. Second, I worry these flammable topics will heap unnecessary guilt onto some of us. I know I struggle with this in my own marriage. There are practices in which the Bible states clearly are sinful and my husband does not subscribe to those views.
This is all too common in an unequally yoked marriage. I know many of you struggle with differing worldviews and moral dilemmas. This discord has proven to be one of the most difficult areas in my own marriage.
Let me return to sitting down three different times to write. Each time as I searched God’s word for scripture, I was taken immediately to Romans. Here is what I am to share with you today:
I searched Biblegateway.com looking for the word, indecent: Three Scriptures returned.
The first: Deuteronomy 23:14 For the LORD your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.
This scripture started this journey. I should tell you that as I write these series of posts, I am also completely surprised where God leads. I am always amazed too! You won’t believe where this one is going. Find out at the end.
The second scripture was about Old Testament divorce.
The third is Romans 1:27Beginning in verse 26. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
What is indecent? Sexual sin.
Before we go down that road and I DO intend to post on this, I want to share a story with you.
I am convinced that what is in our home absolutely matters in the spiritual realm. I will give you a personal example.
Several years ago I visited a close relative. I remember walking into this home and immediately I was drawn to this face. It was a sculpture of a head. About five inches tall and wide. It was round, painted white and the face was detailed in black. There was nothing unusually scary about this face but immediately I got the willies. It was some kind of an evil representation. I still feel uneasy just thinking about it. I was impressed that this home was under its control.
On the flip side, I am also convinced that we have angels who regularly are present in our homes. I am certain I saw one in the wee hours of the morning several years ago. With this said, I know that our homes must be rid of items that are offensive to God.
I know, I know, easier said than done in our unequal matrimony. My husband has a tiny replica of an Indian mausoleum which sits on his office desk. It bugs me. But he sees no harm in it. This is one battle I am not going to fight today. However, if he came home and hung a writing from Buddha on the wall, I would freak-out and we would have emotional strong discussions over it.
Because I have demonstrated consistent love and an ongoing commitment to my faith, my husband would not dishonor me with a Buddha wall hanging today. However, always little things continue to enter our home. Mostly they are mine and they say: This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Question: Do you think there are such things as modern day household idols?
Do you think God is offended to find them in homes?
Would he refuse to abide in a home with these idols?
In April, 2007 I wrote a story for Laced With Grace about a modern day idol that ended up in a Christians yard. This Christian is one of my closest family members. I was shocked to see how easily Satan slipped an idol into her home. I will post this true story here tomorrow.
Next post in this series: Pornography. Is it indecent? After all it doesn’t harm anyone, does it? I have been researching this topic. You are going to be shocked… or not…. I was.
I have some fantastic information, a timely interview, perhaps even an open Q&A with a qualified Psychologist.
Let me leave you with this:
Every second - $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography
Every second - 28,258 Internet users are viewing pornography
Every second - 372 Internet users are typing adult search terms into search engines
Every 39 minutes: a new pornographic video is being created in the United States
Be blessed and remember, we can make a difference in our homes. We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Lynn