East Maple

Study after study will show us that a good majority of self-proclaimed “Christians” approve of (if not take part in) sex outside of marriage. Slowly, over time, we’ve adopted the view of our world; that there’s nothing sinful about casual sex between two consenting adults. The problem is that’s not found in the Bible anywhere. Better yet, that stands in opposition to what Scripture teaches and the way God designed our world to work.

Sex is God’s gift to be shared between one man and one woman in the covenant marriage relationship. That’s been the Orthodox Christian stance for thousands of years and no amount of social or political pressure should change that. The problem is the pressure has mounted, views have changed, and many “Christians” have adopted unbiblical views.

Is anyone reading the Bible these days?

¹⁸ “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

¹⁹ “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. ²⁰ But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. ²¹ I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. ²² Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, ²³ and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. ²⁴ But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. ²⁵ Only hold fast what you have until I come. ²⁶ The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, ²⁷ and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. ²⁸ And I will give him the morning star. ²⁹ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Revelation 2:18-29 (ESV)

Of course this isn’t an exhaustive list of what Scripture has to say when it comes to sexual immorality. Take this for what it is: a warning. “Christians” in the west have prioritized works, and love, and faith, and service, and patience endurance, all the while tolerating that woman Jezebel.

Those of us with eyes to see have seen this coming. It’s been marching our way on the horizon for decades, and we’ve failed to confront it the way we should have. Like Thyatira, we’ve been given time to repent but instead we’ve chosen to continue down this spiral of wicked adulterous rebellion.

And, like the text says of Thyatira, we may have been thrown into great tribulation as a result. If you choose wickedness and rebellion, that’s what you’ll get every time.

‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Revelation 2:29 (ESV)