Principles of Marriage

The Problem

Sexual Misconduct

Sexual misconduct

Sexual misconduct is misconduct of a sexual nature. The term may be used to condemn an act, but in some jurisdictions it has also a legal meaning. In legal sense, for a person in a position of authority it includes in particular any sexual activity between him or her and one of his or her subordinates. This commonly includes teachers and their students, clergy and their congregants, doctors and their patients, and employers and their employees. While such activity is usually not explicitly illegal, it is often against professional ethical codes. For example, a teacher may be fired and a doctor may have his or her medical license revoked because of sexual misconduct. In addition, the person in the subordinate position may allege sexual harassment. Entering a sexual relationship with a subordinate, even when the contact is initiated by the latter, is unethical because of the subordinate's vulnerability to the physician and the inequality of power that characterizes the relationship. In the case of the doctor-patient relationship, having a sexual relationship with the patient even after the professional relationship has concluded remains problematic for the physician because of the potential for the patient's continuing dependence on and transference towards the physician. Therefore, sexual relationships with former patients are considered unethical when physicians “use or exploit the trust, knowledge, emotions or influence derived from the previous professional relationship” in any way. What does sexual misconduct mean? (definitions.net)

Types of Sexual Misconduct

There are several types of sexual misconduct. In addition to rape, there is also:

Sexual harassment Unwanted touching The exposing of oneself Engaging in sexual acts in public Forcing someone to engage in an unwanted sexual act

Types of sexual misconduct can also include behaviors that otherwise causes another person to feel harmed or offended for the purpose of providing the offender with sexual gratification.

Our society is plagued with sexually inappropriate behavior these days. It seems as if there is absolutely a total loss of the human moral compass. It seems as if it is the norm for adult men to engage in sexual activity with teenage girls. Hence we are plagued in our society with a number of teenage pregnancies. We find ourselves in a society where our children are being raped, or being abused. You know, all kinds of negative atrocities take place in our society. The marriages are failing, they are falling apart, we find that the husbands seem to no longer be satisfied with their wives and wives are not satisfied with their husbands. And so there is the occurrence of extramarital affairs.

This is a major problem in our society. But the church is not immune from these things, as we have found in our churches, a number of marriages falling apart, ending in divorce, we find that teenage pregnancies exist also in the church, and we have also seen in recent times where, you know, clergymen are also involved in sexual misconduct.

These things are like cancer spreading in our society, affecting the basic fabric of our society, which is the family. This was never in God's intention. And here is the focus of our text for meditation today. The Lord through His Apostle said, sets out marital principles that if obeyed, would lead to a happy marriage and a powerful family Life.

The Text: 1 Corinthians 7:1-9

1 Corinthians 7:1–9 NASB95

Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. But this I say by way of concession, not of command. Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that. But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

To touch the Greek word ἅπτεσθαι (haptesthai) it means to touch it also means to to cause the process of burning to begin—‘to ignite, to kindle, to set ablaze, to start a fire, to light a lamp.’ Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 177.

So one has to be careful how He/she touch another, and i’m not saying that we can’t embrace or give a holy hand shake but we must be careful that we are not starting fires that we can’t put out. We are all human being and are subjected to temptations and the walks around like a roaring lion seeking soul to devour; so don’t be careless but be sober. Our Lord Jesus warned that not to lust after anyone in your heart because this is adultery. 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 5:28.

Fornication: 88.271 πορνεύω; ἐκπορνεύω; πορνεία, ας f: to engage in sexual immorality of any kind, often with the implication of prostitution—‘to engage in illicit sex, to commit fornication, sexual immorality, fornication, prostitution.’ Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 770.

Adultery (μοιχεύω moicheuō ) sexual intercourse of a man with a married woman other than his own spouse—‘to commit adultery, adultery.’ Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 771.

In his letter to the corinthians Paul the Apostle had to address a very scandalous issue in the Church. 1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Co 5:1.

These issues are not new in the Church. these issues don’t happen by chance; it is a calculated move of the enemy of souls to weaken the Church Just like Samson Judges 16: 19-20, and its’ witness. it is a tool that the enemy uses to put the people of God in Bondage. it is a trap of the enemy to ensnare the people of God Numbers 31:13-16. It is a device of the enemy to bring the curse of God upon His people and to stop the church from reaching her full potential. The People of God have been enslaved by the enemy of souls but, God has a solution.

The Solution

You see the marriage union between a man and woman is meant to be an illustration of the love that God has for His church. though She turned away from her lover time and time again God kept on going after His bride. No matter how unfaithful she was He kept on loving, even though she had abused, misused and refuse. Jesus the loving Husband sacrificed everything to buy her back. And over two thousand years He paid the ultimate price and died to purchase her freedom. What kind of love is. George Matheson penned these words 1 O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee. I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be.

Flee Sexual immorality-get married

Discipline Fornicators/Adulterers in Love don’t keep company with brethren who are involved with immoral practices.

Exercise self-control and wait

Ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you choose your partner for life.

this is what the word of the Lord says.

1Corinthians 6:15-20.

The Transformation

Appeal: we must choose to do right for the sake of Christ our redeemer.