SIN MAKES PEOPLE STUPID

My two recent blog posts have touched upon the theme of SELF-CONTROL, so I thought it’d be good to more directly explore this topic in my next few posts. Notice I didn’t bring up “the other ‘S’” word prior to Thanksgiving so we could all enjoy our gluttony guilt-free. This was not pre-meditated, though I did enjoy some great food over the weekend and I hope you did too. 

I’ve always been impressed by Paul’s letter to Titus, specifically chapter two where he instructs his ministry partner in the things which need to be taught in the church on the Isle of Crete. He specifically mentions the need to be “self-controlled” in regards to older men, young men and younger women. I guess older women don’t need to be self-controlled. J In the New American Standard version it uses the word, SENSIBLE, but the Greek word (the original language for most of the New Testament) in both cases is: SOPHRON (so’-frone), and it means “curbing one’s desires and impulses, self-controlled, temperate.” (Strong’s Concordance)

There is a word which I think describes the opposite of self-control and is used in older versions of the Bible: LICENTIOUSNESS. The New American Standard seems to generally prefer the word, SENSUALITY, while the New International Version uses multiple words, such as: debauchery; shameful ways; filthy lives; lustful desires; license; you get the idea. The definition of the Greek word for licentiousness (Aselgeia, as-elg’-i-a) very much describes the common attitude in our culture: “unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence.” (Strong’s Concordance) Each of these words describes “the lustful life of the wicked.” (2 Peter 2:7 World English Bible). 

For you and me to live with SELF-CONTROL we have to learn how to live contrary to the attitudes in our culture which lure us with lies. There are so many influences in our daily lives which suggest we should be able to do whatever we want when we want. This lie is actually a false promise of freedom, because it’s actually a direct path to bondage. It’s always amazes me when someone who is committed to a lifestyle of “sexual freedom” or the partying life declares they are free. At first the pursuit of these kinds of things is an expression of freedom, but there soon comes a point where a person is controlled by the desires which are driving them. I find it interesting the NAS uses the word, sensible, instead of self-control. When a person does not have self-control they are not sensible. I’ve said before that “sin makes a person stupid.” That might sound somewhat harsh, but most of us have examples from our own lives where we did some pretty stupid things because we allowed sin to influence our choices. Controlled by desire [lust] people do things and act in ways which violate their conscience and their values.

Peter’s appeal in Acts 2 is still relevant, if not more so today: “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” (2:40 NIV) The New Living Translation of this verse reads: "Save yourselves from this generation that has gone astray!" The Message: "Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!" The way out involves learning how to be self-controlled in this “sick and stupid culture.” We will continue on this theme in the next few posts. Until then I want to give you 2 Peter 1:3 (New Living Translation): “As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness!”