In
our last article, we discussed the fact that Christians cannot possibly address
every single activity that is sin every time that they are dealing with one
particular sin; furthermore, the fact that they cannot address every sin every
time is not a stamp of approval on the sins not covered. On the other hand, it is clear that
Christians do need to spend more time on the sins that tend not to be discussed
in depth as often so as to not allow them to slip through the cracks; there are
many people in the world and even within the church who may be participating in
sin unknowingly and would fix this issue if they had the proper
instruction.
As
mentioned in the previous introductory article of this series, there are
numerous passages that contain an abbreviated list of what “not to do”; in
other words, they contain a list of sins and, in Galatians 5:21, the Apostle
Paul includes “and the like” to ensure that we understand that there are sins
not specifically mentioned in Scripture.
In this article, we will examine the sin of lewdness (Galatians 5:19
NKJV), which is translated as lasciviousness in the KJV. While Christians do not often spend a great
deal of time on this specific sin, what applications can we make about it? What
is lewdness/lasciviousness? How do they tie into our lives as Christians and
how do they overlap other sins?
According
to Strong’s, the transliterated word is “Aselgeia”, which is defined as “unbridled
lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness,
shamelessness, insolence”.[1] Additionally, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary
defines lasciviousness as being “filled with or showing sexual desire” and “lewd,
lustful”.[2] Likewise, lewd is defined as “sexual in an
offensive or rude way”, “sexually unchaste or licentious”, and “obscene, vulgar”.[3] Lust is defined as a “strong feeling of
sexual desire”, “a strong desire for something”, and an “intense or unbridled
sexual desire”.[4] From these definitions, it is clear that this
sin can overlap with and accentuate other sins such as immodesty, fornication,
and adultery. How can it have such an
impact?
Each
spring and summer, a plethora of articles are written by faithful brethren on
the topic of modesty and this is a wonderful thing. Immodesty is a significant problem in our
society and, sadly, within God’s church.
However, discussions concerning modesty too often come down to arguments
over exact length of pants, skirts, and whether or not a Christian can wear a
bathing suit. How might lewdness and
lasciviousness impact these types of discussions? The definition of Aselgeia
includes “unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness,
outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence”, which means that the sin included in
Galatians 5:19 is applicable to two groups of people: 1.) Individuals who are
being lewd in their own dress and actions, and 2.) Individuals who are lustful
towards others. Often when immodesty is
discussed, the person arguing for loose guidelines on modesty will state that
they aren’t forcing others to look at them; if others are lustful, how is that
their problem? The answer is found in the definition of Aselgeia! This word
incorporates both the person acting in a lewd/lascivious manner and the person
who is lustful of that person.
Perhaps
we should consider it in this manner; Jesus said that a “good tree does not
bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor
do they gather grapes from a bramble bush” (Luke 6:43-44). If the fruit of our own immodesty is that
others are lead to lust, then is this good fruit? Likewise, consider again the
words of Jesus when He says that “whoever causes one of these little ones who
believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung
around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea” (Mark 9:42). If the way we act, the way we talk, or the
way we dress causes others to stumble, we have become the lewd one and we have facilitated
the lewdness of others. Should we be
shameless, as the definition of Aselgeia includes? As the Lord said through
Jeremiah the prophet, “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?
No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush” (Jeremiah
6:15).
This
examination is not comprehensive, but explores some of the significant
applications to be made concerning lewdness/lasciviousness. What we should recognize is that rarely, if
ever, is one sin independent of another; that is to say, when one sin is
committed, there is frequently any combination of sins committed with the
first. If we are knowingly lewd, then we
show a lack of love for our fellow Christians, God, and we are likely
rebellious. Our goal, as Christians, is
to draw closer to God and to our fellow Christians so that we can reach
Heaven. The central message of 1
Corinthians 13 is that if we truly have the love for one another that Christ
had for us, then we monitor our own actions and that we work to help one
another; we can have all the knowledge in the world and we can go through many
of the other motions of being a Christian, but if we lack love for one another,
then everything else is moot. As Paul
wrote, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these
is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Why is
love the greatest? Because it guides us to follow the commands of God and to
look out for the best of other Christians! Going back to our previous example,
is stating that if someone else looks at our immodestly clad bodies is their
problem and not our own, is that showing the proper love? Or is it showing the
shameless embedded in lasciviousness?
Let
us strive for the love that Christ had for us; as is written in 1 John 3:16, “By
this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for
the brethren.” Which is more important
to us? Lewd talk, behavior, and dress, or our souls and the souls of our
brethren? Let us follow the words written in Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore we also,
since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside
every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us…”
[1] “Aselgeia
– New Testament Greek Lexicon – King James Version.” Bible Study Tools. Accessed August 01, 2016. http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/aselgeia.html. Files from the public domain.
[2] “Lascivious.” Merriam-Webster.com. Accessed August 01, 2016. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lascivious.
[3] “Lewd.” Merriam-Webster.com. Accessed August 01, 2016. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lewd.
[4] “Lust.” Merriam-Webster.com. Accessed August 01, 2016. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lewd.
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