Struggling To Worship After Giving In To Lust
Struggling to Worship After Giving in to Lust
The struggle to worship after giving in to lust is a deeply personal and spiritual issue that has been addressed by various Christian traditions. At its core, it involves understanding the nature of lust, its impact on one's relationship with God, and the path to restoration.
Lust is described as a sinful longing that leads to falling away from God (Rom. 1:21) [5]. It is characterized by an inward sin that can manifest in various ways, including the gratification of fleshly desires. The biblical account in Numbers 25:2 illustrates how lust can lead to idolatry, with the Israelites being enticed by the Moabite women and subsequently engaging in idolatrous practices [10, 12, 13].
The consequences of giving in to lust are severe. According to Hosea 5:4, "Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God, for a spirit of prostitution is within them, and they do not know the LORD" [2]. This suggests that lust can create a spiritual barrier, making it challenging for individuals to return to God. The prophet Isaiah also highlights the futility of idolatry and lust, stating that those who indulge in such practices are unable to deliver themselves or escape captivity (Isaiah 46:2) [1].
The struggle to worship after succumbing to lust is rooted in the understanding that true worship involves rendering homage to God alone [4]. When individuals give in to lust, they compromise their ability to worship God sincerely. The apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of purity in worship, stating that believers are to present themselves as a "chaste virgin" to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2) [3].
Restoration and renewal are possible through the grace of God. According to John Calvin, the grace of God is essential for animating believers and enabling them to worship God truly [6]. Calvin also notes that the fear of Divine vengeance can restrain individuals from open sin, even if they are not yet subdued in their minds [7].
The Catholic tradition, as represented by Thomas Aquinas, views lust as a vice that can be directed towards sacred objects or persons, thereby becoming a form of sacrilege [9]. This understanding highlights the need for individuals to cultivate self-control and purity in their thoughts and actions.
In the view of the early Church Fathers, such as Augustine, the struggle against lust is a fundamental aspect of the Christian life. Augustine emphasizes the importance of walking in the Spirit to overcome the lusts of the flesh (NPNF1 Vol 6) [8]. He also notes that the pleasure derived from sinful desires can become a habit, making it more challenging to resist [11].
The path to restoration involves acknowledging one's sin, seeking forgiveness, and cultivating a deeper relationship with God. As Adam Clarke notes, the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but instead follow their own lusts and accumulate teachers who cater to their desires (2 Timothy 4:3) [14]. In contrast, genuine worship involves a commitment to wholesome doctrine and a willingness to deny oneself and follow Christ.
Sources
- Isaiah “Isaiah 46:2 (LITV) — They stoop; they bow together; they are not able to deliver the burden; and their soul has gone into captivity.”
- Hosea “Hosea 5:4 (BSB) — Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God, for a spirit of prostitution is within them, and they do not know the LORD.”
- II Corinthians “II Corinthians 11:2 (Rotherham) — For I am jealous over you with a jealousy, of God; for I myself betrothed you unto one husband, to present, a chaste virgin, unto the Christ,—”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Worship — Homage rendered to God which it is sinful (idolatry) to render to any created being (Ex. 34:14; Isa. 2:8). Such worship was refused by Peter (Acts 10:25, 26) and by an angel (Rev. 22:8, 9).”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lust — Sinful longing; the inward sin which leads to the falling away from God (Rom. 1:21). "Lust, the origin of sin, has its place in the heart, not of necessity, but because it is the centre of all moral forces and impulses and of spiritual activity." In Mark 4:19 "lusts" are objects of desire.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 62: and the glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works,” ( Tit. 2:11-14 ). After holding forth the grace of God to animate us, and pave the way for His true worship, he removes the two greatest obstacles which stand in the way—viz. ungodliness, to which we are by nature too prone, and worldly lusts, which are of still greater extent. Under ungodliness , he includes not merely superst”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 43: this tuition is not without its use, even to the children of God, who, previous to their effectual calling, being destitute of the Spirit of holiness, freely indulge the lusts of the flesh. When, by the fear of Divine vengeance, they are deterred from open outbreakings, though, from not being subdued in mind, they profit little at present, still they are in some measure trained to bear the yoke of righteousness, so that when they are called, they are not like mere novices, studying a discipline of which previously they had no knowl”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — ON THE WORDS OF THE GOSPEL, JOHN V. 31, (part 4): that thy flesh should serve thy soul? Let thy soul serve God. Thou oughtest to be ruled, that thou mayest be able to rule. For so perilous is this struggle, that if thy Ruler forsake thee, ruin must ensue. 6. What struggle ? "But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. But I say, Walk in the Spirit."[9] I am quoting the words of the Apostle, which have been just read out of his Epistle. "But I say, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of the Parts of Lust, Art. 10: Article: Whether sacrilege can be a species of lust? I answer that, As stated above (FS, Question [18], Articles [6],7), the act of a virtue or vice, that is directed to the end of another virtue or vice, assumes the latter's species: thus, theft committed for the sake of adultery, passes into the species of adultery. Now it is evident that as Augustine states (De Virgin. 8), the observance of chastity, by being directed to the worship of God, becomes an act of religion, as in the case ”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Bekhorot 5b.6: The same tanna’im also dispute the meaning of another verse discussing that incident. With regard to the verse: “And they called [ vatikrena ] the people to the offerings of their gods” (Numbers 25:2), Rabbi Eliezer says: Naked women encountered them, which is how they were convinced to engage in idol worship. Rabbi Yehoshua says that they all became those who experienced seminal emissions [ kerayyin ] resulting from the lust they experienced.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. XII.--33. "Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery wi (part 2): guilty of this unwillingly. But yet, previous to habit, either there is no pleasure, or it is so slight that there is hardly any; and to yield to it is a great sin, as such pleasure is unlawful. Now, when any one does yield, he commits sin in the heart. If, however, he also proceeds to action, the desire seems to be satis- 16 fied and e”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Bekhorot 122a.10:6: The same tanna’im also dispute the meaning of another verse discussing that incident. With regard to the verse: “And they called [ vatikrena ] the people to the offerings of their gods” (Numbers 25:2), Rabbi Eliezer says: Naked women encountered them, which is how they were convinced to engage in idol worship. Rabbi Yehoshua says that they all became those who experienced seminal emissions [ kerayyin ] resulting from the lust they experienced.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Bekhorot 122b.10:6: The same tanna’im also dispute the meaning of another verse discussing that incident. With regard to the verse: “And they called [ vatikrena ] the people to the offerings of their gods” (Numbers 25:2), Rabbi Eliezer says: Naked women encountered them, which is how they were convinced to engage in idol worship. Rabbi Yehoshua says that they all became those who experienced seminal emissions [ kerayyin ] resulting from the lust they experienced.”
- 2 Timothy (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Timothy 4:3: For the time will come - There is a time coming to the Church when men will not hear the practical truths of the Gospel, when they will prefer speculative opinions, which either do no good to the soul, or corrupt and destroy it, to that wholesome doctrine of "deny thyself, take up thy cross and follow me," which Jesus Christ has left in his Church. But after their own lusts - For these they will follow, and hate those preachers and that doctrine by which they are opposed. Shall they heap to themselves teachers - They will add one teacher to another, run and gad ab”