What Christians Need is a 'Flee' Infestation
- Aug 7
- 6 min read
“Flee sexual immorality!” (1 Corinthians 6:18), “Flee from idolatry.” (1 Corinthians 10:14), “Flee from these things…” (1 Timothy 6:11), “Flee from youthful passions…” (2 Timothy 2:22)
Obviously, the Apostle Paul had a big case of “flees.”
“Flees,” not fleas.
Although the former can be as irritating, if not more so, than the latter.
I say that because I’ve had to deal with both subjects—fleas and “flees.”
When my beloved Corgi-Pomeranian, Tobias Winston Pembroke Underfoot, moved with my wife and me to Florida, he was initially hit with a flea infestation. For some strange reason, little bumps also began forming on our ankles. Those bumps started to itch, and we could see little specks hopping and skipping around our feet.
Yup. The little buggers had invaded our home territory.
It was an all-out war. Jeanne and I were about ready to use total chemical warfare to fumigate our home and utterly destroy the enemy forces when someone recommended a great remedy. All we had to do was apply anti-flea drops to Toby as directed, and the live critters would soon die. As for the eggs in the carpet and furniture fabric, once they hatched and hitched a ride on Ol’ Toby, they too would soon shuffle off this mortal canine coil, having not ingested dog nor human blood and spawned a new brood of eggs.
Triumph.
But now I have to deal with another flea infestation. Er, I mean, “flees.”
And yes, they are just as irritating. But at least these “flees” are good for us all.
Flee sexual immorality.
Paul wrote this to his congregation in Corinth, the hotbed of “hot beds.” Think Sin City on steroids, energy drinks, and triple espressos all mixed. Yup, Sexual Immorality Central.
So, Paul rolls into Sin Town with the Good News of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, and begins to plant a messianic congregation among the Corinthian Jews and the God-fearers, Gentiles who join the Jewish faith without undergoing full conversion (which would make them Jews and no longer Gentiles).
But Jew or Gentile, they, like all of us, had the same sex drive with which we must contend if we’re going to keep ourselves squarely within our Creator’s guardrails. Why guardrails for sex? Because the Lord knows that an unrestrained sex drive is highly destructive. Do I really need to be more specific? Yes.
Sexual immorality destroys us internally and externally—spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, and relationally. I want to thank Grok.com for the following research:
Sexual immorality, like all sins against the Lord, creates a sense of separation from God as we turn and run from Him due to our rightful knowledge of our guilt, shame, and conviction. It grieves the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) and hinders intimacy in prayer, worship, and our desire/ability to engage with Scripture. Determined patterns can lead to a dulled spiritual sensitivity or a “seared conscience” (1 Timothy 4:2), in which discernment weakens and resistance crumbles.
Sexual immorality damages ourselves (see “Sins Against His Own Body,” 1 Corinthians 6:18). That which I create belongs to me. Our bodies were created by God and gifted to us. Therefore, we’re mere stewards of our bodies, and commissioned to master them in God’s service. Sexual immorality treats it as disposable or merges it with other bodies outside of God’s design and commands (1 Corinthians 6:15-17).
Sexual immorality often leads to objectification of self and others, warping our God-given identity as image-bearers. Sexual immorality can result in a fragmented self-worth, where value becomes tied to sexual desirability or performance rather than being “in Christ.”
Sexual immorality often leads to desensitization. Repeated sexual immorality causes conviction to lose its power deeply, escalates harmful behaviors, and creates bondage (see John 8:34, “everyone who sins is a slave to sin”).
Sexual immorality carries an emotional and psychological toll. It leads to shame cycles where temporary pleasure is followed by deeper emptiness, anxiety, or depression. These symptoms can compound into secrecy, isolation, and hypocrisy. You know, like appearing “fine” in church while struggling internally. Sexual immorality also creates a distorted view of intimacy, contributing to unhealthy relationships. Private sin does affect current or future relationships by eroding trust, creating unrealistic comparisons and expectations, or preventing a full commitment without baggage. And don’t ignore the danger of an addiction to the pleasure factor!
Finally, sexual immorality affects the world around us, not just us. It “weakens witness and community — many Christians describe feeling like ‘impostors’ in church, leading to hidden shame that isolates them from the very support (fellowship, confession, accountability in James 5:16) that could bring restoration.” (Grok.com)
All of the above is why we must flee sexual immorality.
Flee from idolatry. Corinth was a pagan dumpster fire. Paul repeatedly addresses topics related to Corinth’s rampant idolatry and the issues and concerns it raised among the congregation. Without getting into the weeds about Corinth’s idolatry and its impact on the messianic community, let me make this easy.
We belong to Jesus alone.
Yes, idolatry is as overt as participating in someone else’s non-biblical religion, blending our faith with another (called syncretism, e.g., Chrislam/Christianity and Islam), or dabbling in any occult practice. Generally speaking, idolatry is when we give our time, talent, treasure, focus, effort, attention, and affections to anything more than we do to the Lord.
Idolatry breaks fellowship with our One, True God and hardens our hearts, making us unresponsive to Him. It grieves and quenches the Holy Spirit’s work (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19), and it robs worship, prayer, and the scriptures of their power in our lives.
Idolatry creates spiritual bondages and enslavement that will affect every area of our lives.
Idolatry distorts our identity, priorities, and fruitfulness because we’ve cut ourselves off from Jesus, from whom we gain our true identity, whose Spirit motivates our priorities, and who is our only source for living a productive, godly life.
Idolatry produces emptiness and dissatisfaction, and our misplaced trust in God opens us up to fear and instability, leading to increasing sin and self-deception.
Idolatry will keep us from God’s kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5).
Getting hot enough for you?
All of the above is why we must flee any form of idolatry.
Flee from youthful passions (2 Timothy 2:22). Youthful passions? “Isn’t that category a bit broad, Apostle Paul?” Well, gotquestions.org gives us ideas about what Paul is referring to.
“The Greek phrase for ‘evil desires of youth’ (or ‘youthful passions/lusts,’ neōterikas epithymias) refers to strong cravings or impulses especially associated with immaturity or younger adulthood. In context, Paul addresses Timothy (a relatively young leader in his 30s) amid false teaching, quarrels, and the need for godly maturity in ministry (2 Timothy 2:14–26). Commentaries note it includes but is not limited to sexual desires; it especially highlights impulsive passions like pride, ambition, impatience, love of debate, and self-assertion that fuel strife.” (https://www.gotquestions.org/flee-youthful-lusts.html)
Flee from these things. What things? Here are some examples from Paul’s previous letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 6): embracing false doctrine, rejecting Jesus’ sound teaching, and teaching that properly promotes godliness (6:3), disputes and arguments over these things, and thinking that godliness is a way to material gain. (6:4-5) out of greed or love of money. All of these things reflect our turning from God, a form of idolatry, because it focuses on the biggest idol of them all—the “I” in idol.
All of the above is why we must flee any form of youthful passions or ungodly behavior.
That said, I know how irritating these “flees” are because we’d rather wallow in sin that’s fun and pleasurable, if only for a moment.
But is a momentary sin really worth an eternity of painful, hopeless separation from the Lord we failed?
The Good News. By fleeing from sexual immorality, idolatry, youthful passions, and everything else, we’re submitting ourselves to God and turning the tables on our enemy. By leaning into the Lord, we’re drawing near to the Holy One, in whose presence evil cannot exist.
That leads us to the best “fleeing” of all. “Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
If we fail to flee, we fail.
But if we flee from sin and flee to the Father, we make Satan flee.
Those are the kinds of “flees” I would love to entertain all day, every day, in my home and life.
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Shining the Light of God’s Truth on the Road Ahead
Pastor Jay Christianson
The Truth Barista, Frothy Thoughts