Journal: Reformation and Revival
Volume: RAR 05:4 (Fall 1996)
Article: Excellence in Christian Living: Sex Ethics à la First Thessalonians 4:3-8
Author: Robert W. Yarbrough

RAR 5:4 (Fall 1996) p. 67

Excellence in Christian Living: Sex Ethics à la First Thessalonians 4:3-8

Robert W. Yarbrough

“Excellence.” It may eventually replace “self esteem” as the buzzword of choice. Fish that glossy Delta or American Airlines magazine out of the seat pocket in front of you and you’re sure to be exhorted to attend a workshop dedicated to “excellence” in business. A well-known conservative radio host broadcasts on the E. I. B. Network—”Excellence in Broadcasting.” Attend a parents orientation as your child enters college; you are sure to hear “excellence” (another buzzword) affirmed repeatedly.

The same holds true at the level of primary education. Your child’s teacher may not be able to articulate a coherent philosophy of education, but she or he will assure you that the educational outcomes (third buzzword; use one and others spring up like toadstools) will result in “excellence” for your child. I have a theory: the actual mass of excellence present in a given situation is inversely proportional to the number of times “excellence” is used to describe that situation. But for now let us content ourselves with the observation that our popular culture exalts “excellence,” at least in name.

Since we are all part of that culture, we cannot avoid being pulled along with the current at least a little. And there is no need to be paranoid about the concept of excellence itself; both Scripture and common sense urge us to high standards in our character, relationships, and work. Call it what you will—quality, goodness, integrity, rectitude—excellence in its best sense is the stuff of honest and decent living.

The problem lies in the word’s misuse and resultant cheapening. And the problem is not just “out there” in popular culture. It is all too common in the church. This is especially true when it comes to that area which is all-determinative

RAR 5:4 (Fall 1996) p. 68

for who we are and how we live our lives: our sexual identity and expression. We face a problem in the area of sex ethics.1

A Modern Ancient Problem

“It’s not immoral to have sex before marriage in our church.... In our church, they have you read the Scripture and then you can interpret it the way you want to.” That was the testimony of a pregnant-out-of-wedlock teenager as recorded in a recent interview for a national women’s magazine.2

Her evangelical pastor protested, “Huh? We talk about chastity before marriage as God’s plan. She would have been taught that. Quite explicitly.” But somehow she didn’t get the messa...