Harlotry of Today
The harlotry of today is any kind of sexual deviancy of either men or women. It is shocking to learn there is as many as 1 out of 4 children (possibly 3 out of 5 girls) are sexually abused by someone they love or should be able to trust. Boys are at risk today more than ever before. Many survivors of sexual abuse have never talked to anyone about this. When this happens it affects the issue of trust in the life of those being abused. Most suffer in silence.
We cannot talk about the harlots we see in our society today until we understand what the Biblical meaning of the word is. The Hebrew word “zanah” means harlot to commit fornication. Fornication is sexual behavior considered immoral: in the Bible, sexual intercourse between a man and woman who are not married, or any form of sexual behavior considered to be immoral. The Greek word “porne” is the root word for pornography and fornication meaning a woman who sells her body for sexual uses. The Greek word “pornos” is a man who indulges in unlawful sexual intercourse, a fornicator or a man who prostitutes his body to another’s lust for hire. (Strong 2001)
“Fornication is any type of illicit sexual activity. Included in the realm of sexual misconduct in the Old Testament are seduction, rape, sodomy, beastiality, certain forms of incest, prostitution (male or female), and homosexual relations. The specific sin of adultery, related to marriage, was considered more serious than the others, however, so that a special set of laws governed it. In the New Testament, almost any form of sexual misconduct (that is, sexual activity outside the marriage relationship) could be designated as fornication or “immorality”.” (Achtemier, 1985).
“Harlot” also refers to any woman, married or single, who practices unlawful sexual indulgence, whether for lust or gain (such as found in Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25. The words “harlot” and “harlotry” were used figuratively for idolatry. This figurative use was based on the marriage-like relationship of the Lord and the nation of Israel. When the people gave their allegiance to idols rather than God he charged that they “went a whoring after” other gods or “played the harlot after” other gods. The condemnations are directed toward that inner harlotry which is a rejection of the Redeemer. (Elwell, 1988).
A way to avoid fornication can be found in 1 Corinthians 7:1-2 “Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 tells us there is a punishment for being a fornicator, adulterers and idolaters. Also mentioned is abusers of themselves with mankind which is the Greek word “arsenokoites” which means one who lies with a male as with a female, sodomite, homosexual. (Strong 2001). These and thieves, those that are covetous (greedy of gain especially what belongs to others), drunkards, revilers (To use abusive language), and extortioners (a robber) are considered unrighteous and shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
People of God are called to be honorable, trustworthy, reliable and dependable when it comes to sexual behavior. We should reject fornication and we shall not be called as fornicators. Ephesians 5:3-53 tells us “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”
An article written in Table talk magazine in 1991 wrote an article blaming infectious diseases like syphilis, gonorrhea and even AIDS Divine punishments for fornication. It is true that some people contract these diseases without being guilty of sexual sin. However, they are suffering because they live in a profligate society in which these diseases are rampant. AIDS appears to be a specific curse on those who break God’s law and a general curse on a society that tolerates sexual immorality. (Tabletalk, 1991).
There are many sexual issues that are not directly addressed in Scripture they do however apply in principles. It is our responsibility to build sexual integrity. Committing fornication is not building integrity with the LORD God. Watching porn in today’s society is a big business that can rob a bank account. More importantly it robs the soul and makes a chasm between you and the LORD God. You will not find porn or X-rated movies in the Bible but you will find fornication and uncleanness and they fall into this category.
“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” (I Thessalonians 4:3-7).
Fornication, harlotry, illicit sexual activity, sexual misconduct, sexual indulgences such as porn, adultery, and idolatry are abominations to our LORD. These become secrets in the lives of people and can destroy their lives and the lives of those who love them. The only way you can break free from sexual deviancy is by:
Confession: (“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”( James 5:16). You cannot change that which is inside you must have help confession is the beginning point. Romans 10:10 reminds us: “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Repentance: “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” (2Corinthians 7:10). There needs to be change.
Forgiveness: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9).
Grieving: “And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.” (2Corinthians 1:6).
Making Amends: “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12 ) Making amends is not punishment it is healing. Fornication, harlotry, illicit sexual activity, sexual misconduct, sexual indulgences such as porn, adultery, and idolatry seek to make amend toward the victim of their sexual deviation. They must realize that their actions has hurt someone else.
Today we are fighting a war against an enemy that is dangerous to our children, our families and the future of our society. It is a war against an unsanctified sexuality. Avoiding sexual immorality and learn to control our own bodies and drives in ways that are holy and honorable to the LORD God. We need to be aware of children having sex earlier and earlier, the Pastoral sexuality which can be called the “Catholic crisis” and Pedophilia and pastoral pedophilia is also among the Protestant.
Something has to be done about the pornography explosion. Recent Supreme Court ruling allowing “virtual child porn” that is digital images are alright to watch. This is not true it hurts the relationships as much as magazines or X-rated movies. There are new sexually transmitted diseases coming and they are more difficult to treat. They are resistant to any form of treatment that we have. They transmitted diseases are communicated orally. They can cause sterility, are causing a host of viral diseases that can harm their potential as a mother.
We are in trouble with the harlotry of today and we must understand that the sexuality has been distorted in our society. The church are sweeping this under the rug and not addressing the problem areas from the pulpit. It again rest upon us as Women of Christ to bring these issues of sexual harlotry and sexual deviancy to the attention of those around us one person at a time. We need to stand up and not be afraid to tell someone we love they are in danger of not being part of the kingdom of God if there is not change and a reconciliation with their Lord Jesus Christ and the LORD God. Then pray pray pray!
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:15-17).
“Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:21-25).
“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (John 3:15-21).
References:
Achtemier, Paul J. (1985). Harper’s Bible Dictionary. San Francisco: Harper & Row
Elwell, Walter A. & Beitzel, Barry J. (1988). Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, Mich; Baker Book House, p. 928
Strong’s, James. (2001). The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Tabletalk Magazine: May 1991 (Lake Mary, FL: Ligonier Ministries, Inc., 1991), p. 18.
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MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Harlotry of Today: .” Becker Bible Studies Library Feb 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2286 ,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, February) “Harlotry of Today: .” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2286 ,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “Harlotry of Today: .” Becker Bible Studies Library (February), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2286 , (accessed).
