Scriptural Reference:

"Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."
1 Corinthians 6:18-20

Reflection:
Here are some of the hedonistic quotes that are the current mantra for many these days.

"Variety is the spice of life"
William Cowper

"Pleasure is the only thing one should live for, nothing ages like happiness"
Oscar Wilde

Traditional views on Hedonistic People will tell you that they are people who are prioritizing pleasure over other life values and moralities. They tend to see life as just one long string of pleasurable experiences. Or in the words of George Bernard Shaw;

"Life is not meant to be easy, my child; but take courage: it can be delightful"

So essentially they are people who live for the experience not the journey. Individuals who deride pleasure or pleasurable pain even if it means ignoring moral standards to do so. In the book review "Good Faith" by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons; they make a short list of popular beliefs and counter them with Biblical moral values.

The World
"To find yourself, look inside yourself"
The Bible
"To find yourself, discover the truth outside yourself, in Jesus.\"

The World
"People should not critisise someone else's life choices"
The Bible
"Loving others does not always mean staying silent"

The World
"Any kind of sexual expression between two consenting adults is fine:
The Bible
"God designed boundaries for sex and sexuality in order for humans to flourish"

As we can see how easily persuasive these liberal opinions can be. They can undermine someones moral compus. Making people think it was reasonable or acceptable. Yet each is able to weaken someones judgement and make them more succeptable to moral compromise. A danger for any growing Christian regarldess of how long they have been saved. To comrpomise ones faith so as to fit in with the world and avoid confrontation is and has always been one of the most dangerous experiences. This problem was around in the early Church. When many new groups accepted the influence from non Christians. The Apostle Paul warned against it in 1 Cirrinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals".

Living in a world that pushes and promotes such hedinistic views is a constant threat to Christians. They either stand firm in their faith or give way to the presure. One small seemingly convinient acceptable concesion can work like a small thread breaking in a larger cord. While the cord is still strong by the existance of all the oither threads; it won't take long for othwer single threads to break. Making the cord slowly become weak enough to completely break. Christians need to work hard to maintain what both David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons called "Good Faith". A faith that can stand firm in the same love that Jesus shows us while seeking to understand and connect with those around them. All without comromising their core beliefs.

 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I pray to you.
In a world full of agression and anger,
With Satan working against me,
I pray that my faith can withhold.

Lord, I believe in you; help my unbelief!
So that your strength can embolden me,
In all that I say and do for others,
So that your love and grace can shine.

Amen