How Sexual Immorality Affects the Body of Christ

Today I watched the Francis Chan sermon called “Holiness” and he talked about some verses that we don’t normally hear about.

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For ‘the two,’ He says, ‘shall become one flesh.’” 1 Corinthians 6:15-16

The image that Paul paints here is very strong. You see as Christians we are all part of the body of Christ, this isn’t something to be taken lightly. We all know that sexual immorality creates a spiritual bond between two people. When we are involved in sexual immorality as Christians, whether it be pornography or sexual activity outside of marriage, it’s forcing the spirit of Christ within us to engage prostitution. The picture that Paul is painting here is like rape.

Furthermore, your actions affect the body of Christ, not only you and your partner. This is why sexual sin is considered so severe; you bring down those around you. Sins are only equal, in that they all condemn you in the same way; sexual sins are to be taken very seriously. Verse 18 says, “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.”

Francis then goes on to tell his congregation that those who choose their sin over Jesus should stop attending the church. Woah, I thought that pretty much everyone was welcome at church?

Oh how lovely this place, to be with You by Brandon Peters

“But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner-not even to eat with such a person.” 1 Corinthians 5:11

That’s heavy! This is scary, because many churches today are only concerned about numbers; but what’s the point of having a huge church if it’s only filled with lukewarm Christians who make God look bad? A much smaller congregation that is on fire for God will be able to impact so many more people. I’m not telling you to go around telling people to leave your church, I’m telling you to get your junk in order. And help those around us get their junk in order, telling someone to leave the church should only be a last-resort measure.

My question to you is this, are there sins that you are embracing in your life? Are you a Christian whom the church should not welcome? I don’t say this to condemn you; it’s to motivate you to get rid of your secrets that are holding you back, holding the church back. I’m not talking about being perfect but our goal is to be a pure bride for Christ’s return. Please find someone in your life who you can talk to, I’ll be that person if you need. I’ve struggled with stuff in my past and my pride held me back from true freedom. But now that I’ve gotten rid of it I’m a new creation in Christ and I’ve never felt better 🙂

Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart. Psalm 24:3-4a