Sexual immorality has been a serious problem through the centuries, way from the beginning. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah in the days of Abraham because of grave immorility among the people. The English word “sodomy”, which is the sexual intercourse between homosexuals, has its origin from this city of wickedness and debauchery. In Genesis 19, two visitors came to Sodom and were welcomed into the home of Lot. Before it was night, all men both young and old from the city of Sodom, surrounded Lot’s house and asked for the two visitors to be brought out for them to have sexual relations. Lot spoke up against such atrocious and outrageous behaviour, and Lot offered to give his two virgin daughters to the depraved men in order to protect the visitors. Lot must have realized that these visitors were messengers from God and their lives must be shielded and honoured. While it was noble of Lot to protect the visitors, Lot’s willingness to sacrifice his daughters was just as disgraceful and depraved as the men outside his house. Lot’s sense of morality had been influenced by his living amongst an unrighteous people and a decadent community. For the people in Sodom and Gomorrah, there was no way out of condemnation, there were not even five righteous men to be found.

Apostle Paul warned the Corinthian Christians after he received reports of sexual immorality in their midst and that these acts are worst than what the pagans are doing. He insisted that immoral people within the Church must be rooted out. He compared such evil to be like yeast, which a small amount will cause the dough to rise and become substantial in size. Likewise, evil has a contagious effect and can destroy the reputation and honour of the Church of Jesus. Paul instructed that any known immoral Christian must be counseled, reprimanded and restored into Christian fellowship.

Present day Christians are faced with the same dangers. The influences of evil in our world and the compromising norms of the community we live in can slowly erode our Christian moral and righteous foundation if we are not careful to preserve holiness and righteousness within the Church. The Church must have a clear stand against homosexuality and adultery. The Church however must extend love, care and concern towards those who have repented; we are to love the sinner but hate the sin. Sexual immorality ruins the core of one’s soul and sins against our own body (1 Cor 6:18). A Christian’s will and body belong to Jesus to whom he has given his allegiance. The Church is to be faithful in keeping holiness and purity amongst its members, it is the sanctity of its union with Jesus – “The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before” (1 Thess 4:6).