Burning Our Clothes
by Micky Galloway
The book of Proverbs is timeless and applicable to all, young and old alike. It is designed to help us make good decisions (Proverbs 1:1-5).
We would all think it foolish to burn our clothes, however in the Proverbs we read, “Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?” (Proverbs 6:27). Solomon asks this question. Who better qualified to address the subject of morality, uncleanness, fornication, and adultery than Solomon? He had suffered greatly for his own mistakes. He extols the virtues of the commandments of God to keep one from the evil woman. He then warns, “Lust not after her beauty in thy heart; Neither let her take thee with her eyelids” (Proverbs 6:25). He warns of the ruin that is brought to one’s life when he ignorantly falls into such a trap. “For on account of a harlot (a man is brought) to a piece of bread; And the adulteress hunteth for the precious life” (Proverbs 6:26). When we consider how much this iniquity abounds, how heinous it is in its own nature, of what exceedingly harmful consequence it is, and how certainly destructive to all the seeds of the spiritual life in the soul, we shall cease to wonder why the cautions against it are so often repeated! And so, Solomon asks, “Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk upon hot coals, And his feet not be scorched?”
No one can carry fire in his lap and not be burned! The adulteress or whoremonger (fornicator) is a fire clasped in one’s bosom. The whoremonger or adulterer treads upon the coals of lust; and he cannot therefore expect to escape the flame of conscience and of judicial vengeance. “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers (fornicators, ASV) and adulterers God will judge” (KJV Hebrews 13:4). The same practice in one relationship (marriage), God calls honorable. The same practice outside of the marriage relationship God condemns.
We study about “lasciviousness,” “uncleanness,” and “fornication” like they are sins that do not tempt those who are Christians. Yet, in most of the N.T. passages where these things are discussed they are addressed to those who are Christians. These works of the flesh are “manifest” (Galatians 5:19), that is they are open, clearly demonstrated and obviously opposed to righteousness. Surely, an understanding of these terms should stir the feeling of abhorrence for what they indicate in the heart of every child of God.
WHAT IS “FORNICATION”? There are several words, both nouns and verbs, that are translated “fornication” or some form of the word. “Fornication” is defined as: “The practice of sexual immorality and harlotry: hence a symbol for idolatry … in the NT the words for ‘fornication’ ‘to practice fornication,’ etc., refer to every kind of sexual intercourse outside marriage” (The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, Volume 2, page 321). This is a broad term that includes any kind of sexual immorality: whoredom; concubinage; adultery; incest; lewdness; uncleanness; prostitution of one’s body to the lust of another, whether it be male or female; homosexuality; bestiality; every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse; including the sexual unfaithfulness of a married man or woman (Matthew 5:32; 19:9). One could use a ream of paper copying the many definitions of the term, but this is hardly necessary.
WHAT PROMOTES FORNICATION? This question is not difficult when we consider our own weak attitudes toward such a low moral standard; and the sensual emphasis placed upon every phase of our life. Consider the following reasons fornication has become an accepted part of life.
Our concept of marriage. Less than 50 years ago divorce and remarriage was not acceptable socially much less religiously. Adultery is defined to describe illicit intercourse with the spouse of another and fornication is usually understood to be the broader term including all kinds of unlawful sexual behavior of all people, married or unmarried. The commandment “thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14), included all sexual sins among all people. The nature of sexual sins included rape, incest, seduction, sodomy, prostitution, homosexuality, bestiality and self abuse (Leviticus 18:6-23; 19:20,29; 20:10-21; Deuteronomy 22:13-30). Most of these sins were punishable by death. Jesus said, “But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). This is quite different from the present concept of marriage where one can go in and out of relationships as he pleases and feel he is not guilty of one of the most destructive sins.
Loose morals among the young. Morals are learned from those about us. When parents, teachers and political leaders do not give high priority to how we dress, and when “sexual freedom” is encouraged by their own lives and conduct, how can we expect children to mature with proper respect for righteous living? When parents approve and often provide contraceptives for their children, or provide freedom of the bedroom for their children and their dates, or when people speak of their “affairs” as being “only natural” or “flirtatious,” we are encouraging loose morals and are setting the stage for tragedy to occur. Fathers are charged to “provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). What are we thinking about when we permit our children to dress immodestly and participate in questionable activity in questionable environments? Such looseness has been called “flirtatious.” Someone please explain to me what is “flirtatious” about exposing oneself to another not your companion in marriage! It is sinful, even if the world considers it flirting. Some believe if we call such attire “swimming attire” and there is water nearby, now it’s alright. What twisted thinking! What happened to modesty and the desire to maintain things honorable in the sight of all men?
Immoral emphasis in entertainment. The whole entertainment world is given to the spread of corrupt sexual practices. It is becoming more and more difficult to watch a movie or a TV program where there is not suggestive or open display of some form of fornication. Even many of the popular songs of the day are suggestive of fornication. What are we willing to allow in our homes? Many of us will allow things into our home in the form of magazines, TV shows, movies or computer sites that we would not dare allow through the front door! We have become so conditioned that we accept these as no longer offensive forms of entertainment, but rather acceptable ways of life.
WHAT CAN WE DO? Fornication has a destructive impact upon every aspect of our lives. It has resulted in disease and death; it has destroyed nations, families and churches. Often the regrettable memories it creates forever are never considered. Fornication begins in the heart so to correct the problem we must begin with our hearts (Matthew 15:19). Let us get our heart right! The Bible teaches us to abstain from fornication (I Thessalonians 4:3). We are not to let fornication be once named among us (Ephesians 5:3). Fornicators will not inherit the kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9; Galatians 5:19-21), but rather will have “their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death” (Revelation 20:8). We must withdraw ourselves from those who profess to be brethren who are guilty of this sin and who will not repent (I Corinthians 5:9-11). Let us “FLEE FORNICATION” (I Corinthians 6:18) as Joseph did (Genesis 39:12). He literally ran away from the circumstance where he was tempted. This sin can only be escaped by FLEEING. Do not stay and reason about it or debate the matter or even try the strength of your virtues. One is SAFE from this sin only when he FLEES. Indeed, One cannot take fire into his bosom and his clothes not be burned. He cannot walk upon hot coals and his feet not be scorched.
