Thinking Through Sexual Sin and Brokenness

By Jackie Knapp

In the past few weeks, we have sensed God moving in our community to bring darkness to light, especially in the area of sexual sin and brokenness. As a response, we want to open the door for honest conversations and provide resources as we seek to honor God in our sex-crazy culture.

How does the gospel apply to sexual issues?

As we begin the conversation, we want hope for change to be rooted in the gospel. When we are seeing clearly, sexual struggles cause us to admit how weak our flesh is, how our hearts are drawn to darkness, and how much we need a savior. “For while we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8). Take some time to confess your need for Christ, to name specific ways you need saving from yourself, and thank God for all he has done for you.

While we believe the gospel is hope for change, it isn’t a magic formula that guarantees a struggle-free life. Everyone’s journey out of sexual sin and brokenness is different, and sometimes change is fast and miraculous. More often, change is slow and tedious, one battle at a time. Guilt, shame, despair, anger, relationship problems, misperceptions about sex, family background and dozens of other factors complicate the process of change.

As we start to examine our lives, we see that “the war against sexual darkness is longer, wider, deeper, and often more subtle than we might imagine. It is no accident that the height, depth, length, and breadth of the love and work of Jesus is more wonderful than we understand at first.” (David Powlison – Making All Things New) How have you seen the gospel connect to your struggles? Is it hard for you to see how it relates?

How do we have honest conversations about sex?

Along with the foundation of the gospel, we believe that God uses the body of Christ to be a place of healing and that change is a community project. But we also know that talking about sexual sin and brokenness is not easy. We need to pray for wisdom to walk through these sensitive topics with each other.

If you are struggling and no one knows, begin praying about who God has put in your life to talk to about this. If you are having trouble figuring out how the gospel connects to your struggles, this is a great place to start the conversation. If you have been a victim of sexual abuse, who would be a safe person to share with?

If sexual sin or brokenness isn’t part of your story, ask for compassion and humility and ways God can use you in the lives of people around you. If this is an area that God has redeemed in your life, pray and think about how God can use your story to encourage someone else. If you are in the midst of struggle, ask God how he can use you to come alongside others as we fight together.

As we move through this season, let’s be praying for love and truth and light to be what characterizes our community, that we would model this call: “If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7-9). What is God calling you to? In what ways can you help Solano become an honest community that draws each other closer to Christ?

We would love to see more Emmaus Partnerships start out of these issues and a desire for real relationships. As God is moving, look for opportunities to initiate consistent gatherings and accountability with the people in your life. Please know that the home group leaders and staff are available if you would like to talk about your own struggles or have further ideas about the topic.

Where can we find help?

What does the Bible say about sexual struggles? There is much more, but here are a few key passages.

1. God created us as sexual beings and gave us the good gift of sex, designed for marriage.

For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:24-25

2. Our sin distorts this good gift and turns it into lust in our own lives or the victims of someone else’s lust.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honour, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7

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