Practically, one of the best ways we can model the gospel is by putting other people’s needs above ours.
We MUST avoid falling into the sinful habit of rationalizing our lust.
If you first view people from an ANR perspective, rather than the way God sees them, you’re not living out the gospel.
If you have illicit ANR-centric conversations, you’re not living out the gospel.
The enemy has probably deceived a believer and is in control of their heart if they want to selfishly push their ANR agenda onto others, especially nonbelievers, or believers they don’t know/trust well.
Look, I’m by no means an authority on sexual purity or knowing where Christians should draw the line in sexual conversation, and I try to be cautious in my use of absolutes, but I honestly don’t have a good gauge of the wisdom of discussing CN with nonbelievers, and the best contexts for such discussion.
It’s a question I’ve struggled with, as one of the core reasons for this blog’s existence is to challenge assumptions amongst Christians regarding sexuality and the open discussion thereof.
But I must confess that ANR-centric conversations with the wrong people have gotten me into trouble before. Needless to say, extreme caution is appropriate.
That makes me more resolute in my determination to live out the gospel, and avoid ANR one-sidedness.
While there are contexts that make it permissible, and it’s not inherently sinful to talk about sex with nonbelievers, our conversation must be held in light of the gospel, no easy feat, considering the insatiable cravings of the flesh.
While you may be dying to discover a person’s ANR-friendliness, such conversation may not be best for that person in light of eternity.
Philippians 2 exhorts:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Further reading:
The Mind of Christ: Looking Out for the Interests of Others by John Piper
Footnotes:
- Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
- Philippians 2:7 Or the form
Christ-centered ANR 