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12
How
to
Have a Happy Marriage
Not as obvious as open, notorious, pornography is what
we might call "pornography by degree." That is, those forms
of influence that Satan uses more commonly to cause the
minds of men and women to stray, from the pure, giving
relationship of sex in marriage, into lust.
One example of this is found in some modern styles of
dress. Today women and men alike have been brainwashed
to
misuse clothing purposely
to
try to entice each other's
looks by constantly dressing in a very physical, seductive,
sensual way. People do this, no doubt, in order to satisfy their
vanity,
to
enjoy the luxury of having others find them excit–
ing or sensual.
But, while it's true that God made women so that they
are naturally sexually appealing to men, he did not intend
that they parade themselves in such a way as to intentionally
excite sexual desire from strangers who pass by.
The alluring look is not the look that a man or woman
should strive
to
reach-not outside the privacy of his or her
own married bedroom, that is. For an example of proof,
examine I Timothy 2:9, which admonishes women in partic–
ular to "adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety
and moderation." Dress should be appropriate for the occa–
sion and should exemplify discretion, balance and modera–
tion, whether it be swimwear, evening wear, casual dress or
whatever.
Intentional seducing of the eye clearly transgresses God's
command that we "flee sexual immorality." "Every sin that
a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual
immorality sins against his own body" (I Cor. 6:18).
A man or woman who blatantly displays the charms
intended by God as reserved for a marriage partner can
hardly be said to be "fleeing sexual immorality." Take heed:
You who dress and act in this manner are breaking the spirit
of the Seventh Commandment. God will not hold you guilt–
less.
Numerous other techniques of Satan fall under the cat–
egory of "pornography by degree." These include the use of
blatant sex in advertising and the inevitable sex themes and
scenes in entertainment. All of these things, in one way or
another, help to mold the attitudes of people-of your atti-