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James writes "to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion", to the Jews who are throughout the world. He has a lot to say about a lot of topics, but in chapter 4 he brings up the problem of infighting. Why do we have conflict? "The reason," he says, "is that you desire and do not have." So we fight to get what we want. Bad. Then, as if in disgust over the whole thing, he writes this: "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?" (James 4:4).

This is an odd concept on the face of it. Since "adultery" has a definition -- sexual relations between a married person and someone other than his or her lawful spouse -- how exactly does that work in spiritual terms? Let's see if we can figure this out.

First, Jesus defined adultery in a way that did not require sex. He said "I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28). Thus, "lustful intent" is the gold standard, not necessarily "sexual relations". Okay, so that clears up the sex question ... but what about the rest? I mean, what is "spiritual adultery"?

Well, one of the characteristics -- core concepts -- of "adultery" is "married". An unmarried person cannot commit adultery with an unmarried person. He or she can commit sexual immorality, but not adultery because adultery requires "married". In spiritual terms, who is "married"? Scripture uses the metaphor of "marriage" in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, Israel is referred to as the wife of God. Israel's idolatry is often referred to as adultery for that reason. Note that nations that were not the wife of God could not commit adultery in this way. There's was certainly sin, but it was not adultery. In the New Testament, the Church is the "bride of Christ". So it is Christians who are capable of committing spiritual adultery.

In what sense can Christians commit spiritual adultery? Well, if Christians are "the bride of Christ" and adultery requires "lustful intent", it follows that spiritual adultery would be a Christian with "lustful intent" for someone other than Christ. And there you go -- now we have an image of spiritual adultery. It's in this light, in fact, that James makes perfect sense when he refers to those "adulterous people". Their "lustful intent" was "friendship with the world".

Having figured out what it is, I would hope that the concept is actually a bit unnerving. You see, I doubt that any one of us could claim to be impervious to spiritual adultery. I don't think one of us could claim to be free of that sin. Welove to desire other gods. We love the television and the Internet, entertainment and fun, comfort and pleasure. We are much more comfortable with sinners than we are with Christ. Our first response, when we learn that a command is asking us to give up something in this world, is, "Is that so?", not "Yes, Lord!" Like the hymnist, we are "prone to wander". Rarely does our passion for Christ rival our passion for the world. We stand condemned, a wicked and adulterous generation.

I love Romans 8:1 -- "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." It is the core of my hope. It is my only hope. But I want to change. I want to love Christ more and the world less. I don't want to be classified as an enemy of God because I want to be a friend of the world. More of Him, less of me. That's where I want to go. I'm glad to have a spouse that forgives. I don't want to abuse it.

"Inspiration For You" from Randy Mitchell

The Connection between Love and Infatuation