by: R. L. (Bob) Craig

We live in a nation of fornicators. That's a pretty broad statement but if the statistical reports are accurate or nearly accurate, then the statement could be modified a little by putting it like this: the majority of the nation is guilty of fornication or condones what the fornicators are doing. In fact, it would be in harmony with the statistics and my browsing about to say, "fornication is running rampant in the world."

The word "fornication" comes from the Greek word "porneia," the noun form or "porneuo," the verb form. Our English word "pornography" is an offspring of those. It is a generic word that covers every form of illicit sexual behavior. In fact, it is rendered as "sexual immorality" in several modern translations.

The word "adultery" is more specific. It includes sexual activities that in any way involves and violates the marriage bed. It would be covered in the generic, "fornication." Thus we read in Matthew 19:9, "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." If a person's spouse commits fornication, any kind of sexual immorality, [oral or anal sex would also be included in "fornication"] that person has the right to put that spouse away and marry another. Someone has said, "Your definition is not broad enough. What about Matthew 5:28: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." The word translated "woman" in this verse is often translated "wife." It seems to be in harmony with the commandment in Exodus 20:17: "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife ..." Of course "lasciviousness" would cover the situation should a single woman not be included in these statements, but the general definition stands as stated.

So, the Bible says, "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body" (1 Corinthians 6:18). Since fornication is the primary cause of the dissolution of the marital relationship and the cause of nearly all teen-age pregnancy and a violation of one's own body, not only are we told to run from it when we come in contact with it or, what is better, avoid fornication altogether. Avoid the temptation of premarital sex or any other kind of sexual immorality. How do we do it? One way would be to get up and run from it, physically, like Joseph did. (Genesis 39:7-12)

"Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband" (1 Corinthians 7:2). God has given us the key to purity in sexual matters. This action is to be relegated to the marriage bed. If that rule were to be followed, there would be no single mothers; there would be no divorces caused by fornication; there would be little or no sexually transmitted disease; no homosexuality; the world in general would be a more wholesome place in which to live.

Now what about our statement: "We live in a nation of fornicators." Read the daily courthouse news reports. Marriages and divorces run about 50-50. Fifty per cent of marriages fail. I would say [I have no statistical report on this] that 75 percent of these divorces are based on the unfaithfulness of one of the spouses. A recent survey of teen-agers reported that 67% of those surveyed (beginning with age 13 and ending with 18) had engaged in a sex act by the age of 18. According to an unofficial observance, such as listening to comments from people interviewed in TV broadcasts and looking at TV polls, the majority agreed that the president's recent actions were private matters. They reason that it would have been all right had it not been made public because "everyone does it." At least 75% of the TV shows, situation comedies, talk shows, interviews, not only condone unmarried relationships (living together unmarried--live-in boy friend or girl friend) but actually engage in the sexual act or a replica of it, on their shows. Seinfeld, Friends, Frazier, ER, Caroline, and others and Oprah goes along with it all. Most of these shows and the TV scum sheets feel that sex within second, fifth, seventh marriages without scriptural right, is fine. But this is just as sinful as all the rest.

My biggest concern is that nobody seems to be upset very much about fornication and fornicators. Everybody is at least a little distressed about homosexuality which makes up about 3% of the population while fornication, fornicators and those who condone such, makes up about 65% of our population. Homosexuality is a sin but no more so than fornication. Some draw lines and say "I wouldn't hire a `gay' person in my business." What about a fornicator, i.e., other than the gays? No lines are drawn there. We greet with open arms the fornicators (remember, adulterers are included in fornication, i.e., divorcees without scriptural cause who are remarried, the live-in relationships, those indulging in pre-marital sex, etc.) but shun the gays. Some have said, "he is soft on homosexuality." No, the gay is in the same category as the fornicator. Both are guilty of sin. What I am saying is that "the world, in general, is soft on fornication." Fornicators are taking over our nation! 

Copyright Family Guardian Fellowship