The Greatest Danger of Sexual Sin

Fornication, Adultery, words that immediately bring up pain and upsetting memories. The Scriptures talk a lot about sexual sin and the consequences that come with it. While all of these consequences are awful and in many cases life altering, there is one repercussion that is seldom talked about. That seldom talked about repercussion may be the greatest consequence of all. Before I explain that, I want to talk about some other problems that come with sexual sin.

The Book of Proverbs warns about inappropriate sexual liaisons. In chapter 5, Solomon the author, warns his son not to indulge in adulterous relationships because of all the losses that will occur. Solomon mentions first that the young man will lose his honor. As a pastor I have seen many a Christian lose the respect of family, co-workers, and fellow church members when caught in sexual dalliances. We have recently read about the sexual indiscretions of Jerry Falwell Jr.’s wife with a young pool attendant and Falwell’s alleged support of the indiscretions. This scandal has cost Falwell his job and influence in the evangelical world, not to mention the message it sends to all those young Christian college students who have been taught sexual purity.

Second, Solomon talks about diseases that one can catch in illicit affairs. Sexually transmitted diseases can cause long term physical suffering as well as not being able to engage in further sexual activity because of the possibility of transferring illnesses to others.

Later in chapters 6 and 7, Solomon now adds a third danger to being in an adulterous affair: a jealous husband who might kill you. Listen to these words in 7:21-23, “So she seduced him with her pretty speech. With her flattery she enticed him. He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter or like a trapped stag, awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life.”

So far you might be thinking what can be worse than losing all respect and honor, contracting a horrible disease, or possibly losing your life. I would agree that these issues rank very high on a list of the worse things imaginable. But other than losing one’s life, it is possible, albeit extremely difficult, to recover from these consequences.

When a person truly repents and wants to make restitution, amazing things can happen. It is possible to regain respect and physical health. It is also possible to obtain forgiveness from the wounded people. Granted, nothing is certain, but always achievable with a truly contrite heart.

So now I come to the one consequence seldom talked about: an unholy soul bond. In 1 Corinthians 6:15-16 we find these sobering words: “Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which belongs to Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! And don’t you know that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, ‘the two are united into one.’” Then in verse 18: “Run away from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.”

Why would Paul, the author of 1 Corinthians, talk about having sex with a prostitute in the same way he talks about married people having sex; in other words, “the two becoming one”? The reason is that sexual intercourse creates a unique bonding to our souls. So whether you are married and have sex with your spouse, or have sex with someone who is not your spouse, the same effect of bonding occurs. This fourth and last warning is that an unholy bonding pollutes the soul of the Christian believer. This pollution contains memories and emotions that can affect a person’s relationship with Christ going forward.

In the original Star Trek series, Mr. Spock could put his hands on another creature and start to talk for that individual. It was called the Mind Meld, because Spock became one with the other entity. A strange but effective analogy. When our bodies are linked up with another in sexual intercourse, married or not, we have a soul meld. It is like everything from that other person becomes somehow entangled in our souls, which is our mind, will, and emotions. This is why I believe an unholy soul tie is the most dangerous aspect of sexual sin.

The good news is we can ask God to not only forgive us of sexual sin, but to cleanse us of the unholy pollution. In time I believe with renouncing the wrong soul bond, God can purify us, the soul tie can be destroyed, and we will be free to fully embrace our oneness with the Lord.

So, if you are tempted to commit sexual sin, DON’T!! If you have, repent and don’t ever do it again. Seek forgiveness and healing. To be stuck in the ramifications of an unholy soul tie will prevent you from moving forward and be ineffective for the Kingdom. What is at stake is your spiritual freedom, freedom that is priceless.