Sexting Temptation VictorySample

SEXTING AND YOU

The Guardian in a 9th May 2017 post, carried this statement by Helen Watkins, a member of the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council: “Culturally these days it’s not uncommon for adolescents to engage in courtship rituals that involve sending nude photographs of themselves.” Prominent attorney B. J. Bernstein quipped, “Sexting is so rampant that we would cripple the criminal court system if we could actually pursue everyone.”(in the 2014 book, Kids Gone Wild by Joel Best and Kathleen Bogle, page 5). I recall an advertisement that showed on Indian TV for a Mobile Phone service. In that advertisement, the boy asks a girl via text, “What are you wearing?” The reply from the girl? “Nothing”. I would place such exchanges in the category of “sexting” – something that is indeed widespread among the Google Generation, world over. 

Perhaps you, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, have also indulged in it. Or perhaps thought about giving it a shot some time. 

What would the Scripture say about sexting? Understanding from the Scripture that sexting is sin, is the first step for victory over sexting temptation. 

What would the Scripture say about sexting? Does the Scripture even talk about it? It sure does! Just check out Proverbs 7. It records the story of a “naughty boy”. He had a sexual fling with an “aunty” whose husband was not at home. He was lured to her home – thanks to her sexts! We can see it that way!! Check out Proverbs 7:14-20. It goes this way in The Voice version of the Bible: “The Immoral Woman: It was my turn to offer a peace offering, and today I paid my vows. So now I come to see you. I really want to be with you, and what luck! I have found you! You’ll be impressed. I have decorated my couch, laid colorful Egyptian linens over where we will be together. And perfumed the bed with exotic oils and herbs: myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come in, and we will feast on love until sunrise; we will delight ourselves in our affections. You don’t need to worry; my husband is long gone by now, away from home on a distant journey. He took a bag of money with him, so I don’t expect him home until next month” (Prov. 7:14-20, The Voice). If what she said here was converted into a twenty-first century sext, it could read this way I would imagine: “I am a believer who believes in hyper-grace! Even my future sins are forgiven! So God has already forgiven, what we are about to do. Come home, dude. My hubby’s gone on a long business trip to Dubai. His return flight date is far, far away. He is a stingy fellow – he never cancels his flights to come home sooner to give me a surprise hug! I have spread fresh linen on my bed. I have filled my bedroom with incense from Oman. Flavoured condoms are under the empty pillow beside me! Be here sooooooooon, my boy! Let’s make love till the morning – nonstop!” (My interpreted translation of Prov. 7:14-20). Not only were her words calling him to do rubbish (have sex outside of marriage) but also her theology (using religious theology as an excuse for immoral life – read Proverbs 7:14) was rubbish. But we will not get into that in this series of devotions.  

The Scripture implies that this married woman’s ‘dirty text message’ worked (Prov. 7:21). The young man raced to her home (Prov. 7:22). He sped to her bedroom riding on his Bullet, so to speak! But what was the shattering consequence? He was like a “bull being led to the slaughter” (Prov. 7:22, The Voice). He was akin to a fool who was caught in a trap (Prov. 7:22, The Voice). When he said ‘yes’ to her sext, it was as if ‘an arrow punctured his liver’ (Prov. 7:23, The Voice). He was as foolish as a ‘bird flying straight into a net’ (Prov. 7:23, TheVoice). ‘He had no clue that his life was at stake’ and ‘everything was about to change’ (Prov. 7:23, The Voice). The naughty boy of Proverbs 7 experienced a terrible consequence for obeying a ‘sext’. Does he resemble you? Does the married woman of Proverbs 7 resemble you?