What Is Lasciviousness?

The Greek word behind the English term “lascivious” is aselgeia.

It occurs nine times in the New Testament. Twice it is rendered as “wantonness” (Rom. 13:13; 2 Pet. 2:18), and once it appears as “filthy” (2 Pet. 2:7). The other six times it is translated as “lascivious” (cf. Mk. 7:22; 2 Cor. 12:21; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 4:19; 1 Pet. 4:3; Jude 4).

Lasciviousness is a gross form of wickedness that has sexual overtones in many cases. It starts in a sinful heart (Mk. 7:21-22), and manifests itself in fleshly, carnal actions (Gal. 5:19). It can lead to a state of being “past feeling” (Eph. 4:19).

The word refers to several attitudes or actions. With reference to sexual matters, it embraces the concepts of excess, unbridled lust, debauchery, and sensuality. It suggests a disregard for public decency.

William Barclay says the word conveys the idea of a person “who is so far gone in lust and desire” that he or she ceases “to care what people say or think” (52). Josephus, the Jewish historian, once used the word to describe a man who indecently exposed himself to a crowd (Antiquities, 20.5.3).

J. H. Thayer connected the term with such things as “wanton (acts or) manners, filthy words, indecent bodily movements,” and “unchaste handling of males and females” (79-80). It is a comprehensive term for evil and perversion (Balz, 169).

For example, it describes the moral environment of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah (2 Pet. 2:7), and we hardly need to be reminded of the shameless practices characteristic of those communities.

The term aselgeia, however, can go beyond sexual sins and imply any form of excess. This extended meaning suggest someone who “knows no boundaries” in whatever form of evil he indulges (cf. Trench, 56-58).

Sexual Lasciviousness

In this discussion, however, we will limit ourselves to some applications in issues of sexuality — which seems to be a rather pressing matter in this age of sensuality and apparent insensitivity.

Pornography

The use of sexually explicit media materials is a form of lasciviousness. This would include pornographic visuals, such as live productions, books or magazines, movies or videos, audio tapes, etc. This is a growing problem in American society — even among some who profess Christianity.

The internet has removed pornography from seedy downtown parlors to being easily accessed from nearly every home in America. Counselors affirm that pornography is highly addictive, and numerous marriages have been ruined by people who have indulged in sexually explicit filth.

Statistical evidence indicates that sexual predators, child molesters, and even some murderers, like the infamous Ted Bundy, begin their nefarious careers by ingesting a diet of salacious materials.

Flirtation and Sexual Banter

Lasciviousness occurs frequently in workplaces, where men and women are constantly thrown together in close contact.

Flirting, suggestive touching, sexual innuendo, and bawdy humor would fall into this category. Immodest provocative clothing with skin tight apparel, the display of cleavage, or thigh-revealing skirts are also forms of lascivious conduct that very often lead to fornication and adultery.

The tempter, as well as the tempted, are guilty.

Internet Exhibitionism

Lascivious communications are common on many social media websites. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat ... the list is endless. Both young women and men are encouraged by the perception of fame and admiration to tease the world and promote the vilest forms of language and salacious photographs.

Amazingly, many who identify themselves as Christians, though they obviously have no understanding of the significance of that term participate in this form of lasciviousness without hardly a blush. Some teens use these sites innocently, but they are in a minefield of danger and evil influence.

Christian parents should supervise carefully what their youngsters are viewing, as they spend hours of their leisure time on the internet.

It is incomprehensible that many parents allow their sons and daughters to engage in various forms of lascivious conduct, be it how they dress, their chosen forms of visual entertainment, or profane language. Such actions are sweeping their youngsters down a road to destruction.

Those who take the Scriptures seriously will personally abstain from such practices and train their children in morally pure, respectable behavior.

The lascivious person will not be able to enter the kingdom of heaven (Gal. 5:19-21). To ignore the biblical warnings is the epitome of folly.