Faithfulness & Temptation | Rev. Brooke Hartman

With the family as the basic building block of society, the command to not commit adultery is necessary to protect the continuity of the nuclear family just as the command to honor your parents is necessary to protect the intergenerational extended family. This command is given not just to stabilize society, but also to bless each member of the society. This command seeks to provide children with a stable home life and spouses with a fulfilling lasting relationship. While marriage is never easy, studies show the healthiest and happiest people on earth are those in a stable marriage.  

 

In ancient days, marriages were often challenged by the practice of polygamy and the uneven application of this command which held women to a higher standard of faithfulness than men. Today, marriages are challenged by hook-ups websites, the ubiquity of porn, the ease of reconnecting with old flames on social media, and cultural attitudes towards sex as an act of self-expression that shouldn’t be policed rather than a sacred gift of which we are stewards.

 

As Christians, we are called to recognize the harmful nature of these societal temptations and work to minimize them while also working to offer the grace of Jesus Christ to those who have found their lives wrecked by them.

 Scripture - Exodus 20:14