Superfluity of Naughtiness

It will come as no great shock to my esteemed readers when they learn that I prefer to read from the King James Version of the bible.
I grew up with the daily habit of consuming the Word of God with my morning coffee, a habit which has continued into my current stage of life. This quiet time of prayer and contemplation is as necessary to my morning as is the caffeine which likewise invigorates my vitality and slowly raises my foggy sensibilities to something resembling a functional I.Q.

The King James Version is my favorite, not because of some conviction of its superior accuracy, but because of the beauty of my mother tongue which is represented on each page. I know God probably doesn't really speak Shakespearean English; He is way more likely to speak Hebrew, or some Heavenly utterances unique to His Realm. However, I find the antiquated English to be so full of poetic majesty that it seems most suited to the Voice of the Ultimate Regal Authority.

My favorite verse, in the KJV, is found in the book of James, chapter 1, verse 21. It reads as follows, "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls."
Say that several times to yourself. If it does not inspire you to virtuous living, I can't possibly imagine what will!
And yet, how few of us aspire to any departure from our preferred filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness. If indeed God is Holy, and He would see us strive to righteousness, why is it that even those who call themselves by the Name of "Christian" so seldom seek to set aside sin? Why are we not grieved by that which separates us from what we ought to be?

I had an invigorating conversation with some single friends on the topic of sex. (Oddly enough, I have never met a Christian woman who was particularly shy on this topic. Counter-intuitive, that.) These girls have a firm understanding of the bible and an authenticity I appreciate when discussing whatever topic may be before them. We explored the question of sex as a single Christian woman.

Sex outside of marriage is lustily encouraged within the culture in which I live. My King James Version calls it "fornication," and leaves no doubt whatsoever regarding God's view of such. It is to be avoided because God says that it hurts people. One does not have to look far to ascertain the truth of this matter. Our Creator has designed things to work in a certain way, and when we silly humans do things inside-out or up-side-down, we end up contorted and misshapen. Now, instead of grieving over the resultant damage, our culture has changed the standard. One who embraces this approach to sex is called "liberated" and so the damage is celebrated and encouraged. The fun of fornication is welcomed, even by "Christians" who choose to ignore all caveats in pursuit of immediate gratification.

Obviously, I speak of fornication from the arms of my husband. Bear in mind that I know well the struggle to maintain some semblance of purity as an unmarried woman. I was a single adult for a decade. I'll not stand and condemn a single soul for the struggle to deal with a healthy libido. There is, I think, great beauty in the struggle for purity. The difficulty accentuates the value. Wasn't it King David who said, "I shall not give to the Lord my God that which costs me nothing"?   To struggle, to fail, and yet to resume the fight....this sort of ragged determination has always defined the sorts of people who follow Christ.

Ah, but a Christian who heartily consumes the worlds dainties....who wipes her mouth and says "I have done no wrong"....she mars her beauty, misrepresents Christ, and settles into a defilement of God's Purpose.

A lofty condemnation from a self-righteous prig is worse, I think, than any of the more robust sins you might name. Pointing out the jagged edge of sin must always be motivated by a desire to rescue one who is beloved from injury, infection, and even death.