The sexual temptation is the most powerful of all of Satan’s baits. In this pornographic culture in which we live, the images of beautiful women are everywhere we look. The lust of the eye is one of the hardest baited-hooks to spit out.

All of the focus on homosexuality and homosexual “marriage” has caused me to do a lot of soul-searching. How could a nation reach the point where such an obvious crime against nature could become so acceptable amongst the populace? Until 2003, sodomy was illegal in all 50 states. It still is today. In Lawrence V Texas, the SCOTUS overturned 2000 years of civil law and declared it a human right. Sodomy still is against the law, no matter what the SCOTUS says.

But the root of sodomy is adultery. Fornication is the better term to use, although many Christians refuse to use the term because of the negative connotation attached to it. Sodomy and fornication are two words that most Christians wish would simply go away.

Can we be frank here? Sodomy is nothing more than the fruit of fornication. I often wish that Christians would be as repulsed by fornication as we are by sodomy. But we are not. Look around your local church. Fornication is more common, and more acceptable, than “judging.”

Fornication is defined as “illicit, consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other.” Although one can engage in fornication without committing adultery, one cannot commit adultery without fornicating. Fornication used to be a crime. Did you know that adultery is still illegal in 23 States? The legalization of birth control (by the courts, of course) in 1965 opened Pandora’s Box to sex without consequence. Abortion, for those who were too lazy to use birth control, was “legalized” in 1973.

Abortion and sodomy-based marriage are the fruits of fornication.

But has fornication stopped in America? Has the “church” legalized it? Is it possible to be a faithful church-goer and follower of Christ and practice fornication? Are fornicators accepted in your congregation? Are they treated as faithful members of the body?

Christians hate that word…”fornication.” It is easy for “Christians” to convince themselves that they are not committing adultery if they are simply “shacking up.” We have separated the sin of adultery from the sin of fornication. That’s why our churches are full of “Christians” who are “living together.” (Back in the good old days we laughingly called it “living in sin.”). It isn’t even considered sin anymore.

Our churches are full of it…

As you can imagine, I hear a wide variety of opinions whenever I post a commentary. I get as many thumbs up as I get middle fingers. But that is okay. I love the give and take and do my best to answer everyone.

But my greatest heartache comes not from the god-haters who lob their grenades through my email, but, rather, the “Christians” who wink at sin, convinced that “Jesus will forgive them.” I call that pre-meditated sin. Cheap Grace. Paul wrote “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

God forbid, indeed.

“…When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” Is.59:19

Fornication is gushing like a flood throughout this super-charged, sexualized, sensuous society. The dam has burst, as the pulpits no longer raise up a standard against it. Sexual sins have become the sin of choice in America. Its popularity has caused the pulpits to go mute…afraid of appearing judgmental…thereby driving customers to a more “progressive” church experience.

Young men are not getting married. Nearly 70% of those under 34 are single. They have turned to free sex and regular masturbation. Why pay for the cow when the milk is free?

No one has fought harder than I have against the destruction of marriage. I have written, spoken, prayed, and marched, in opposition to the gutterization of everything sexual. But, as I peek over my shoulder, I cannot escape the stunning conclusion that we have done it to ourselves.

Christians, the church, use whatever term you prefer, have lost all credibility in regards to “defending marriage.” We have accepted society’s version of acceptable sin. We have swallowed the hook, believing, as the Doobie Brothers sang, “Jesus is just all right with me,” and have been pulled into the boat of tolerance. “JESUS SAVES,” Christians love to crow…while ignoring Christ’s very Words to “GO AND SIN NO MORE.” Using Flip Wilson’s flippant remark “the Devil made me do it” will not assuage a defiled marriage bed.

I’ll continue to fight for “traditional marriage,” but I have to admit that my protestations often ring hollow as I look around at all of the dead fish floating in the water.

Back in my coaching days, about mid-season, I always had our coaching staff purposely return to coaching the fundamentals of their position. During the course of the season, our players often developed bad habits. Our goal was to return the players back to the basics. Blocking, tackling, and protecting the ball are the essence of successful teams.

Our pastors need to do the same. They need to throw the flag on socially accepted sin. Can a Christian be in sin and be in a right relationship with Christ?

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” Eph. 5:11-12.