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Sexual Temptations; a man's greatest weakness Just recently I went to see the movie, Sky Captain and the World Tomorrow. It was a good movie. However, there was one, just one, very small, very subtle scene where a man and a woman appear naked in bed together. Now, don't worry, I can explain… (I don't watch these types of movies you know!) Their clothes had been burned, and they were waiting for new ones. You couldn't see any body parts, so it's ok, right? I'm not so sure. What about what's under the covers? No, you couldn't actually see anything, but what did your mind tell you was under the covers? That type of scene allowed the mind to fill in the blanks; a recipe for trouble. I'm a guy; I struggle with the same things as other guys do. After the movie, my mom made some comments about that scene. I didn't want to hear them. I was disappointed myself in that scene.After the movie, we went to Wal Mart. In there, my mind went back to what my mom said about that scene. Then it hit me; this stuff is pushed at us from every side! My eyes went from a tightly dressed young woman, to a makeup ad, to a magazine cover, to a movie cover… GAAA! I screamed in my mind. I can't get away from it. Hardly would we call what I saw in Wal Mart 'pornography', but I think it's just as damaging. Let's take a look at the definition on 'pornography' from Webster's New World College Dictionary, fourth edition: "Pornography: Writings, pictures, etc. intended to arouse sexual desire". Hmmm... I think I would categorize quite a few DVD cases in that category, wouldn't you? The purpose of course, is to sell the DVD. (Magazine, makeup, book, etc.) Think about what this does in your mind. Let's take a simulated trip down the movie aisle at Wally world. (Wal Mart) Your eyes glance over the action flicks, hmmm, here's a good one… You read the back cover… Look's interesting… You see that at the end of the aisle they have war movies on sale… You start to walk.. On your left, you see DVD players, VCR's, the works… Then you turn to your right again… To get to the war movies, you have to pass the romantic comedies… There is one that grabs your attention… The one with a man and a woman embracing… Let's stop here and think for a minute. What do you do? Do you look back at DVD players on the left? Or do you continue staring at that cover that grabs your attention? I know. I've been there myself. I would like to say I would look at the DVD players, but I don't think that would be 100% honest. And, if I'm like the normal man, (And I'd like to think I am…) I don't think he would look away either. What is it about a beautiful woman that grabs our attention? I'm not going to try to explain that. Suffice it to say that God created both men and women to be visually attracted to one another. But that doesn't mean we should abuse what God created. Hollywood wants your money, and they will do anything to get it. What do you think you're doing in your mind when you stare at the DVD cover? You are, according to Christ, committing adultery with her. Yes, they are strong words I know. This will hamper your relationship with your wife. All of our lives we spend looking at gorgeous women on DVD covers, then when we've been married 15 years, we forget that beauty comes from within. I know some young women, who, by the world's standards, would be downright ugly. But because of their character, and their attitude, they are the most beautiful women in the world. God's gift to both a man and a woman is their relationship, not their bodies. Now, of course, within the right constraints, (i.e. marriage) God allows for a physical relationship. When we look at women who are not dressed right, or even when we look at appropriately dressed women with the worn ideas, we are committing adultery with them in our minds. God said it, not me. Popular culture tells us that beauty comes from the body. Why? Because the humanist doesn't believe there is any definite reason to live, (contrary to the Christian) he believes that a noble cause is to 'pump up' and get a great body for the opposite sex. Don't misunderstand me, I don't have anything against working out. Let's just make sure, that while we work out, we are not focused on the body. Moral character, which comes from the inside, is so much more important than a sculpted body. A popular movement right now could rightly be called the 'purity movement'. Christian teens, both girls and guys, wear rings, necklaces, etc. to symbolize their commitment to purity until marriage. I'm in favor of it; I wear a ring myself that says 'MY GIFT TO YOU'. Purity is my gift to my future wife. But if, while we wear our rings, and sign covenants, we look at unpure things; whether they are DVD covers, magazine covers, or whatever, I believe we are violating our commitment. What good will it do, when we have met that special woman, to say to her, "Here is my ring/necklace of commitment. I have saved my body for you, but not my mind." I certainly don't think I would want to say that, would you? For the harmony that comes only from being married, we need to shy away from allowing our eyes to linger on the woman on the DVD cover. Now, to speak to the woman. (Who has doubtless had a good laugh just reading this…) What can you do? I obviously can't ask that you not be beautiful, that is what sets you apart. But, I can however, ask that you dress pure to make it easier on us men. Now I'm sure you're thinking, yeah… pure…boy, that needs some defining… Yes I suppose that it could use some defining. I'm not going to say 'yes, every woman needs to have the skirt at least two inches below the knee at all times. The skirt must not go above the knee in any way, shape, or form…' No. That's not what it's about. It's about accountability. Yes, men tend to look at women. Just don't give us a clear invitation. I have seen some woman's clothes that literally yell out, 'hey, look at this!' No. Dress in a way that says, 'hey, I'm pretty, but I know that beauty comes from the inside not the outside'. Just remember this, it's not about what you wear, it's about the heart. In conclusion, I would say that a man's biggest battle is the temptation to look at women in an improper way. Hollywood, the music and movie industries, and even the Internet make it hard to stay away from. However, we cannot use this as an excuse. As a method to help, let's look at scripture. When we are filled with the words of God, we are stronger to temptation. God's word offers answers; we need only to look. Don't put yourself in a situation for temptation. If someone quit smoking, but the next day got a job at a cigarette store, how long would he last? The same principle applies with women. Don't go to the lingerie section of the store. Go into the store with a purpose, not just 'to browse'. Don't mindlessly 'surf' the Internet. One thing which I know works, is the 'buddy system'. If you were going on a ten-mile hike over the Himalayan Mountains in winter, your chances of survival would be greatly increased with a partner. Picture life as a hike through the mountains. Challenge your friends to hold the same standard as you do. Hold one another accountable. Share your struggles, your victories, and your defeats. Is this a recipe for success? I would like to think so, but success in this area, goes beyond being held accountable. Just remember that God sees every time we 'sneak a peek'. God knows it even we might be fooling all those around us.
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