Gary Thomas is an author with the Center for Evangelical Spirituality. In his book, Pure Pleasure, he has a chapter entitled “Dangerous Pleasures.”

He introduces the chapter with this quote by A. J. Russell: “A man cannot be happy in a life of vice so long as he is conscious of moral scruples; conversely, he cannot be happy in a life of virtue so long as he compromises with vice.”

The chapter addresses pleasures such as sex, money, alcohol and food. Note Thomas’ observation:

“Sex, a potent force, needs to be contained and held accountable. It carries the potential to do great good—hold a family together, renew bonds of loyalty, create refreshing memories of intimacy, provide relief from the routines of life, create a brand new life—and the potential to bring great harm… Because pleasure motivates us, it possesses tremendous force. Such power must be held accountable, lest it become an evil tyrant. [For example] Money in the hands of a satisfied, God-honoring soul can do tremendous good. Money in the hands of a spiritually sick person can become a ferocious force of evil.” [1]

Thomas goes on to help us navigate life’s pleasures successfully. “Rather than absolutely denying us pleasure, God gives us the ability to enjoy dangerous pleasures within appropriate boundaries. David Powlison provides a helpful list of when such pleasures verge on becoming dangerous threats”

• All that gets obsessive (I’m always thinking about it)
• All that gets impulsive (Just do it)
• All that gets compulsive (I can’t help doing it)
• All that gets cancerous (expanding out of control, devouring)
• All that gets mutant (unstable, restless, bizarre, and inhuman, dehumanizing) [2]

The city of Corinth in Ancient Greece was infamous for abusing dangerous pleasures. In his first epistle to the church there, the apostle Paul gives several corrective guidelines, responding to some of their culturally permissive slogans.

“‘All things are lawful for me’, but all things are not helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me’, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Cor. 6:12)

“Therefore, if food [or any other behavior] makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble” (1 Cor. 8:13).

“‘All things are lawful for me’, but not all things are helpful; ‘all things are lawful for me’, but not all things edify” (1 Cor. 10:23).

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

Therefore, the answer to our prayer “deliver us from evil online” includes the wisdom to avoid legalism on the one hand, and license on the other. May we apply these insights to our attitude and behaviors concerning sex, money, alcohol and food by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians. 5:17,18).

Gary Thomas gives this summary: “to truly enjoy potentially dangerous pleasures without becoming their slave, we need to submit to a God greater than our pleasure.”

J.B.W.

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[1] Gary Thomas, Pure Pleasure, (Zondervan, 2009), 149.

[2] David Powlison, “Innocent Pleasures”, Journal of Biblical Counseling 23 (Fall 2005), 25.

[3] Gary Thomas, Pure Pleasure, 150.