Exploring Sexual IntegritySample

You Are Not Alone

Integrity is a word that seems to be repeated often in the workplace. It is typically used to describe honest people who do the right thing when no one is watching. Of course, all employers want to hire people who are scrupulous about adhering to company standards — people who are trustworthy and honest. Imagine a world filled with virtuous people; no lying, cheating, stealing, or gossip. Yet when you read the definition of integrity as a noun, the quality of being unimpaired, you realize such levels of wholeness seem nonexistent.

What would our life as Christians be like, if we lived with such strong and moral principles, not just because “no one is watching,” but because God is watching? Not too long ago, I heard the word integrity paired with a conversation about sex ... sexual integrity. As a person who spent decades struggling in this area, the term resonated with me deeply and inspired me to delve into God’s word for guidance.

I have concluded that sexual integrity, as with moral integrity, requires a daily renewal of my mind. It is not natural; it is a process. Romans 12:2 teaches us that shifting our thought processes can change our lives. It is only when we renew our minds that we become good, pleasing to God, and able to abide in His perfect will.

Sexual sin has been around since the beginning of time. Even the strongest man in the Bible, Samson, could not control his lustful desires. The Bible tells us that the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him at a very young age, yet this was not enough to control his yearning for Delilah (Judges 13:24; Judges 14:1-3). The story of Samson ends with a final display of strength (because God answered his prayer), and his destruction. Samson’s story highlights an example of ways we can be powerful in one area, yet lacking in another. It is also an example of Grace for each of us.