104 14 Habits of Highly Effective Disciples
and explicit temptations. The widespread adoption of mobile technology
and accelerated Internet connectivity among both adults and adoles-
cents has led to a sexual crisis. Research demonstrates that even young
Christian men and women are caught up in the addictive use of por-
nographic materials; and so are some older Christian men and women.
Recognition of an addiction as well as a willingness or ability to address
the addiction can be difficult for anyone.
Unfortunately, many who feel unable to find freedom from mobile
and Internet pornography are hesitant to admit their struggles and
questions within the church. Churches and individual Christians alike,
particularly parents, need to proactively create safe venues where the
issues of pornography and healthy sexuality can be discussed. Freedom
from this sin is available but it often requires communities of faith that
are open, transparent, and allow for confession. Such churches boldly
stand alongside those journeying away from these destructive patterns.
In a world of pervasive sexual impurity, effective discipleship must
be holistic. It must combine the preaching of the absolute avoidance
of all sexually explicit material with the redemptive grace of walking
alongside those trapped in the cyclical pattern of this sin. Such encour-
agement can lead people to find the freedom, health, and restoration
that is available in Jesus alone.
A related, but too often neglected, subject is domestic physical and
sexual violence. A key passage in this regard is Malachi 2:13–16 which
according to the nasb reads in part, “‘For I hate divorce,’ says the Lord,
the God of Israel, ‘and him who covers his garment with wrong.’” The
Hebrew word for “wrong” is hā·mās and is far more frequently trans-
lated in the Old Testament as “violence.” In other words, in addition to
despising divorce, the Lord also hates those who “cover their garments
with violence” towards his loved ones. Domestic violence is sin, and
when individuals engage in sexual or domestic violence they are break-
ing faith with their family and sacrificing personal purity.
If Christ’s love (Galatians 5:2) is characterized by sacrifice, then the
areas of impurity identified in verses 3–5 are denoted as outgrowths
of self-indulgence. Verses 5–6 describe the costs for non-discipleship:
squandering kingdom inheritance, self-deception, emptiness, and ulti-
mately securing God’s wrath.