In our age and time hugging is almost the official way of greeting. Hugging in itself has been evolving and what we have now isn’t fit to be described as hugging. It’s almost like caressing. Some years back opposite sex greeting was arm length. Then as time went the distance between the two people involved continued to reduce. We reached a point where a hand shake was not enough. We started hugging. So now we not only hug, but we hug tightly, rub each others backs and even ladies are lifted up. Mind you, this is not an 10 seconds activity like it used to be. It’s graduated to minutes!
But is this really right? Do we treat our bodies and the bodies of those we hug with absolute purity by doing sensual hugs especially if there are no blood relations between the parties involved? My opinion is no. Recently my lady friends and I had a conversation concerning the same. A good number of us were comfortable with tight hugs. At the end of the discussion everyone’s opinion became their preference. Later on in the night I thought we should have given the discussion a biblical perspective. On I went into searching scripture.
I’ll begin with Paul’s exhortation to Timothy. “Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.” 2 Timothy 1:5 (NLT) I wonder whether those sensual hugs are anything within the description of ‘all purity’ that Paul talks about.
Christ came that all may be redeemed. Everyone who has trusted in Christ has been redeemed, bought at a price. Therefore you belong to Christ since he has bought you. Your body is not your own. You therefore don’t want to do with it that which doesn’t please your master.
Just to make sure I am not exaggerating, I sought opinion from certain Christian brothers. One of them told me, “My view: a way of satisfying lustful desires. Leaves me feeling like I just caressed someone.It’s horrible for a Christian.” Another brother said tight hugging doesn’t leave him the same. Stirs up emotions in him.
You may think you are okay, and you never get affected. But you may be guilty of defrauding a brother or a sister. Probably that brother you just hugged went away with lustful desires and ended up sinning. May be you aroused in him sexual desires that cannot be righteously satisfied. You are guilty of the sin of defraud! Ladies laying your burst on his chest could leave him not the same!
I understand times have really changed. But truth doesn’t. God’s standard of morality are the same. We therefore cannot continue to live ignorantly. We have to be aware of every sin that could so easily entangle us, and therefore avoid it.
I am not against hugging. I am against sensual hugging between opposite sex individuals who are not married, before you start throwing stones at me! Treat your body and that of your brother or sister with absolute purity!
It’s the journey of sexual purity! Our standards have to be very high. Every loop hole that could lead to immorality has to be sealed!
What do you think? Are you of my opinion and conviction?
I support you fully! Like i always say :what we have on our chest ladies sio matunda, that everyone should feel!! The walk of purity is very deliberate & sacrificial.
I will help my brothers stay pure 😉
Sorry readers. I noticed that I used sensational instead of sensual. I’ll change that once I log in.
i was guilty of tight hugs bt i read 1cor8:9,where paul explains about food,i realized i might not feel a thing afta the hug cz for me its harmless bt i had to consider the other person involve,
I love the part,time may change but truth doesn’t.very well written.
God cannot compromise His standards
I am with you on opinion, and more on conviction.
Thank you for being blunt with the truth. May purity win over immorality.
I’d also ask that you clarify to me, is it defrauding someone or debauching them?
Thanks Timothy. It is defraud. Arousing desires that cannot be righteously satisfied.
“You cannot simultaneously pursue purity and explore the bpundaries of sin,” Joshua Harris in I Kissed Dating Goodbye.
Sure Bonnie! I made that quote the caption for this link.
that’s great we are still learning…God bless you greatly… great lady
well said Mary! It is a slow fade, one thing leading to another. Keep writing; we will keep reading and sharing the truths with others.
Very well said..I agree with you Mary from the first word to the last. Our bodies are the temples for the glory of God.
A weighty topic handled in God’s intelligent way by the servant Wairimu, I like how you have said it openly. I wish you could have said you are against hugging because” there is no question of how far is far” we can do things in Christianity. we just have to be pure. Great read there. God bless.
Very true… I can’t add a word.
My rule of thumb for guys who are not my hubby: quick side hugs. It was my rule before I got married as well. This generation is pushing things further and further, it’s something I want to train my kids not to do. Set the standards high. Hubby and I only held hands before we got married and our first kiss was at the alter on our wedding day. I am praying God will help us guide our kids to have the same high standards. Thanks for sharing!
Wow! Awesome and inspiring. Am still single. When I get married I want to say the same thing as you!
I have never even thought about if hugging was really sinful or not. Thanks for sharing
i never even thought about that – but then again, since i don’t hug people as a whole….
I think hugging is sometimes abused and can make the receiver uncomfortable. However, if we are not comfortable, we must speak up rather than endure the discomfort. I don’t think it is compulsory to greet by hugging. We can politely extend our hands if that is what makes us more comfortable.
‘defraud’
this one got me by surprise n left a series of thots so challenging indeed…
amazing indeed,keep writing
Well…
Thanks Mary…. deep.Pure truth. Pursuit of purity.
Hating sin and even the appearance of it!!!
Wow I like… Young people should know this
This is the best blog I have read this year thus far. Nothing can be further from the truth, young people need to be informed regardless of that they are not willing to be informed.
Keep up the courage
Thanks Gibson. As the Lord leads!
Hitting the nail on the head looks like a calling here….. You just addressed the root of our generation sexual sin…. it all starts with a hug then it moves to a tight one and things unfold… Truth is not relative
Thanks. Sure, we only have absolute truths.
You’ve articulated your opinion so nicely, somebody would think differently.
My question: how far is too far?
Truth is absolute and not relative. Spot on. Even if we do not like it. Even if it walks naked . It is the truth.
My take: the heart of man is desperately wicked and will try to turn the truth of God into a lie
True truth well divided!
I must confess that I I’m a victim of this hugs!
I will have to cut it off before it is a slow fade.
Just for clarification, what could be said of them dating?.Can they still hug this particular way?
Coz, I think someone could be that they are sharing their affection 😉.
May I get our views please.
Thanks.
Hey Thomas! Thanks for reading. When two are dating, they are still to relate within the confines of scripture (like brother and sister with absolute purity). Scripture only talks of wives having authority over husbands’ body and vice versa in the context of marriage. (1 Cor 7:4) Therefore, a dating relationship doesn’t qualify acting as though you have authority over your girlfriend’s body. (through expecting sexual satisfaction) As mentioned in the post, it could easily result defraud (arousing sexual feelings that cannot be righteously satisfied) one another leading to sin.
Amazing 👌.Thanks!
Sure. The effect of this evolved hugging justifies .
Thanks for reading.