Spiritual Adultery, Another Dimension to Commandment

8 on the list of Jesus’s Commandments:  Do not commit adultery—Matthew 5:27-30

We already discussed that Jesus magnified this commandment by saying that lust is already committing adultery in your mind. So let’s move onto something on a deeper level.  The bible tells us that no one can have two Masters. No one can have two lovers either! 

One of the qualities I admire is tactful bluntness, truth telling without cruelty. The book of James is one of my favorites because you cannot sugarcoat or cherry pick parts of scriptures really. He does not mince words.  He states, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4, ESV)

Now the obvious to adultery when it relates to our human relationships is pretty obvious. Don’t check out your ex’s Facebook or social media and start daydreaming or fantasizing. Don’t send sideline messages or texts, have deep discussions or vent to a contender who could emotionally invade your relationship which could lead to physical intimacy. Don’t even lust after or imagine intimacy with a movie star. Admiring is one thing, but lusting is another. We are all guilty of lusting on some level. Just repent and avoid it.

Now what is Spiritual Adultery? An undue fondness of the world and seeking approval from it. 

The strategy of the devil is to tempt us to put too much time, energy and attention on the passing things of this world, and too little on the thing that lasts forever, the development of our soul like perfecting our holiness by serving God and others in a purity that aligns with the Word.

Idolatry is riddled throughout the bible. This is not just bowing down to a statue, putting fruit in front of a carving or worshipping things like the sun or nature.  Idolatry can be less obvious, and very easily something even believers fall into. 

Modern Day Idolatry

“Putting too much emphasis on…” 

• Our position: Teams, Work, Clubs, Society
• Our Abilities & Achievements: Education, Athletics, Work
• Our Looks, Youthfulness, Body
• Our Lifestyle
• Entertainment: Television, Music, Apps, Games, Sports
• Sex or Sexuality
• Money & Physical Things “Keeping up with the Jones”
• Influence/ Fame/ Popularity/ Acceptance
• Appearances of happiness, living the dream life
• Placing a higher importance on your kids or family. God first. Morality first. Obeying Him first. 
• Food, Drugs, Alcohol

Western culture in general has bowed down to money and possessions for generations. There is a spirit of invisibility that has birthed a spirit of “look at me.” People do not know their worth in God’s eyes, because they do not know God. So they try hard to build worth in others eyes or try to get attention in some way. Some of the ways that people get attention is with mass murders, social media posts, outrageous fashion or hairstyles, clowness behavior or style, shocking misbehavior or super success. Desperate for approval or to stand out in the crowd, the search to fill the spirit leads to emptiness. It’s never enough. No matter how much we consume, the desire for more is unsatiable.

We have reached a whole new level, a world wide epidemic is upon us, a super spreader of ideology that contradicts the Word of God.  Superficial narratives throughout the globe have taken over: fame, entertainment, excess, beauty obsession and glamourization of sexualization. 

Truly, there is a mass advertising campaign going on to promote sin and encourage the acceptance of sin, things that God does not like.  Both sides of the political landscape promote sin, many have no clue they are even doing it.

Even God’s logo of the rainbow, which is a symbol that he will not flood the earth has been hijacked and used to promote a type of sexual sin. I love all people. But I would never take the rainbow and use it to promote drug abuse, lying, adultery, jealousy, prostitution, stealing.  I see this as no different. Taking God’s brand, his gift, a reminder of a promise to glorifying sin, is  blasphemous.

Judgment is coming. There is no doubt in my mind that we have far exceeded the filth of Babylon. My fear is that our money will soon be deleted and our possessions will diminish to few, scarcity will be the lesson from the spoiled brat mentality. We have wanted for nothing as they say. The ungrateful comfortableness,  over abundance and disrespect for infants and the promotion of sin puts us in the line of true fire.

A worldwide flood will not come but accept fire, molten rock and towering waves. Like the Assyrian’s that were used to punish Israel. The United States should be on high alert for turning from God’s principles. In a blink of the eye, the internet, trade, all things that function electronically, the economy will be turned off, like a light switch.  The question is, when your “things” are turned off, who will you turn to? Your government? Or your Heavenly Father? And will he know you? We he answer the call? Or will you hear, “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:23

God, I hope not. I love you. That is why I speak so bluntly because I love you. I fear for your very soul. 

You can love the sinner and not love the sin. All my friends and family are sinners. And certainly we shouldn’t promote it or ignore it.

Repetitive, no remorseful sin separates us from a loving God. Puts us in jeopardy of Hell. The Reality: Jesus taught that hell is a real place where some beings will spend eternity (Matthew 23:33, 25:41; Mark 9:43). In Jesus’ teaching, hell is not figurative or symbolic; it is a real place in which real experiences take place. Jesus portrayed what hell is like with vivid imagery such as fire and darkness (Matthew 5:22; 8:8–12).

We have got to have a healthy fear of God. There is too much at stake. 

You may have great loss when you leave the sin. It is not easy. But God will strengthen you with your withdrawl from that which separates you from Him.

Reflection

1. What is keeping you from more time or deeper connection with God? 
2. Is there an activity you need to stop or limit? 
3. Are there any areas of your life which are strictly for appearance? Acceptance? To One up? 
4. Are you tolerating sin? Ignoring it? If so what? 
5. Do you know the complete word of God? How often do you soak in His word? Can you identify sin?
6. Take a moment and pray for our children, our nation and for  our nation like Nineveh to repent, turn back before it’s too late.