Look but Don't Touch?

Who has not heard a friend, or an acquaintance make such a statement as the one above? The idea of looking ...but not touching is a common practice by the world at large. Even some Christians have been seduced into this kind of thinking. Usually, we hear this statement made just after an attractive person of the opposite sex walks by. Such attitudes should not be that surprising when one considers how pop culture seems to center around the arousing of lusts and the condoning of illicit and deviant sexual relations.

The kind of attitude expressed when making the statement – go ahead...look...but don’t touch…is a very dangerous statement and is indicative of an attitude that needs to be improved upon spiritually. This is especially true of the person who claims to be serving God. Paul commanded the Roman brethren to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom. 12:1-2) The Christian must come out of worldly thinking and desires. He must transform himself from the way of unrighteousness into a new person with a godly frame of mind!

The idea of looking...but not touching...indicates that one is not too concerned with "cleaning up" his thoughts. The one who comes to Christ must learn to elevate his thoughts from carnal lusts and desires. Jesus taught that Christianity is a religion of the heart (mind.) One must change his heart so that his actions will be pure. Solomon said for so as one thinks in his heart...so is he. (Prov. 23:7) In the book of Luke we read of the teachings of Jesus concerning the necessity of putting one’s heart in the right condition. For every tree is known by its own fruit...a good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Lk. 6:44-45) What makes up the "abundance" of your heart?

The idea of looking...but not touching… also indicates a willingness to "dumb down" sin. It is an attempt to minimize something that is contrary to the way of God. Such statements are nothing more than the ploy of the devil! The more Satan can fill a persons heart with lusts and the desire to sin, the greater the chance that the person will actually commit the thing which is contrary to God’s law. Could this by why Peter wrote encouraging the Christian to be sober, vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. (1 Pet. 5:8) The devil wants you to minimize sin. He wants you to lust after what God has specifically forbidden. When lusts plant themselves in our mind they have opportunity to develop into sin. Sin brings forth eternal death! (James 1:13-15)

The practice of looking...but not touching...will cause one to lose his soul. We must learn to put away such rationalization. The Christian is to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. To fill our mind up with the "trash" of the world will place our soul in jeopardy of hellfire. Paul wrote: the works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissentions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like, of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal. 5:19-21) Notice many of the things listed in this passage list are not only physical acts that God forbids, but our attitudes about sinful things as well! One may never physically commit fornication, but he can lose his soul for the lust that is in his heart!

Perhaps there are other statements such as look...but don’t touch that deal with questionable activities. We must refrain from using such logic, as it is simply a mere tool of the devil to steer us away from the fold of God. Remember,...we must seek to have a pure heart so our actions will be pure. We must not "dumb down" sin or minimize it’s effects. We must remember an attitude of toleration toward sin will cause our souls to be lost! How is your heart?