A little while ago, I produced a verse by verse series in Philippians. I really enjoyed that exercise and have been wondering if I should take on another book. Well it turns out that 1 Thessalonians is the victim of my machinations, and hopefully, the thoughts produced by this fantastic book will edify and encourage the reader.

As with Philippians I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

Let’s remember that Paul is reminding these dear folk of his instructions for life in this and following passages. And he starts this list, describing the sanctification believers are to follow after with the topic of sex.

I find that very instructive, as we live in a culture drowning in sex. A culture that has not only exposed everyone to every sexual temptation, but is perverting in every way the sexual aspect of our lives.

And what does Paul say regarding sex? Abstain.

Well not absolutely!

It is sexual immorality that the believer is to abstain from. Let me remind my reader that Scriptural passages speak of sex within a marriage is “to be rejoiced in” and a pleasure to be experienced between two people. The Proverbs get quite explicit in describing the sexual intimacies!

Proverbs 5:18-19 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.

I will let me reader peruse the book of Songs, where Solomon speaks of his love, and sexual desire, for the object of his love.

So when Paul is directing the believers to abstain from sexual immoralities, he is directing them to be faithful to their wives as a first step. Entering an unfaithful union outside of the marriage bond is strictly forbidden per multitudes of Scriptural commands, but I think Paul is going further than simply informing them of this restriction.

I think this way due to the term he uses in describing the actions the believers are to follow. They are to abstain.

Now, when I hear the term abstain, I think – Don’t do it! Simply don’t get involved. It is like the old saying that I hear from some – “You can look but you can’t touch”.

As long as we “don’t do it”, we may feel we have obeyed this instruction from Paul. Yet the term “abstain” in the Greek seems to carry with it the concept of distance.

Strong’s Dictionary actually defines the term for us.

ἀπέχω apéchō, ap-ekh’-o; from G575 and G2192; (actively) to have out, i.e. receive in full; (intransitively) to keep (oneself) away, i.e. be distant…. (italics mine)

How should we understand this alternate idea? Does it allow for viewing of sexual immorality, as long as we “don’t do it”? I would suggest this might not be Paul’s intent. And the application for those of us in our sexually dominated culture may be quite extensive.

How do we choose the movies we watch? If scenes of sexual immorality come up, (and when do they not?), do we turn away, do we skip the scene or do we simply turn off the flick?

If we go to a party and the music starts, with the dancing becoming explicit, as we have seen become popular in days past, do we jump on the dance floor and participate, or do we turn away, even leaving the celebration? This particular case needs wisdom, as some responses to this experience may be perceived as a “holier than thou” stance. It may appear as a judgmental position that is not, in my opinion, a good witness!

How about when you are grocery shopping and the magazine covers show too much skin – whatever that may be in your estimation – do you turn away, do you seek to honor God?

Even as you are interacting in the office or the work site, there may be some who seek attention and provide temptation for the eyes. How can we be “distant” from the sexual immorality that may be offered to the eye-gate for consumption.

Paul’s command to abstain from sexual immorality is far reaching, and is not restricted only to those who are in a married relationship. It is a challenge for each of us as we seek to honor the God we love.

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