Damage Control

Read 1 Corinthians 5:1–6:20

15. Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never!
16. And don’t you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, “The two are united into one.”
17. But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.
18. Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.
19. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,
20. for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:15-20

The phrase “damage control” is used frequently in political circles, referring to limiting negative press coverage following a potentially damaging act or statement by a politician. The phrase could, however, easily be applied in a number of other areas. Take sex, for instance. Sex is a wonderful expression of love between a husband and wife. It is an experience that strengthens and builds the marriage relationship. Why would damage control be needed in this area?

Paul addresses this topic in his first letter to the Corinthians, warning them to avoid sex outside of marriage. Ignoring this warning today is not only spiritually harmful, but it can be physically deadly. It is important to stop the damage before it begins. As you read this passage, note the seriousness and intensity of Paul’s teaching, and determine not to let sexual sin devastate your life.

The hissing doubt of the world says that the Bible’s restrictions only keep us from harmless pleasures. The world downplays the risks and plays up the pleasures, making exceptions and excuses.

Spare yourself some grief, and keep in mind the damage that sexual sin can do. It hurts God because it defies the guidelines that he so lovingly gave us. It hurts others because it breaks the commitment necessary to a relationship. And it deeply affects our personalities, which respond in anguish when we harm ourselves physically and spiritually. The destruction caused by sexual sin is so great that God urges us to run from it (1 Corinthians 6:18).

Sex itself doesn’t do any harm—sexual sin does. Preserve God’s design for sex in your life, and you’ll enjoy the pleasure of his Holy Spirit.