Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is): Sexual Purity in a Lust-Saturated World

Si quieres uno libro que es biblico y directo contra la temptacion de la lujaria este libro es perfecto. No esta tan explicito que jovencitos no pueden leer.

What I appreciate about Not Even a Hint is that the author's stance on sexuality is utterly biblical; it is rooted in grace. Joshua Harris acknowledges and even celebrates the fact that God made us as sexual beings. He doesn't trample on attraction as a sin. He thanks God for his goodness in making men and women to be drawn to one another in complimentary ways and points to the precious gift of marriage as God's intended setting for the fullest expression of our sexuality.Joshua also reminds us of the Bible's clear teaching that lust (which he defines as "craving sexually what God has forbidden") in any form is a sin, which, like all sins, must be punished by the God who created us. The good news of the gospel then -- that Jesus Christ has paid in full for all of our sins by taking our punishment on the Cross, and that He rose from the dead to give us new life in Himself -- provides the foundation for this book. We can work to put lust to death -- work with all of our hearts and all of the strength we have in Christ -- because Christ has set us free already from sin's penalty, which is death. And because Christ's Spirit now is at work within us, we have true hope for progress against our sin in this life and the promise of perfection in the next!The words "not even a hint," which Joshua took from the NIV transaltion of the Bible, do not set up a legalistic and impossible standard designed to bring us to despair. Instead, the book's title (and text!) points us to the bar set by Christ Himself, who is both our Savior and the only hope we have for change. And what a hope!Joshua Harris has done a courageous thing in writing this book. Those of us who have been helped by his biblical foundation and practical counsel commend him!

Most of the reviewers have hit upon some of the main things that makes this great. Yet some reviewers accuse Josh Harris of borderline legalism because of the steps he has personally taken to properly handle his lust problem (and some examples from others who are fighting this sin). As a young man who, like Harris, is weak in this area, struggling with legalistic attitudes on one side and full-blown licentiousness on the other, this book has been a breath of fresh air, a glass of cool, clear water. While it does offer practical advice, Harris is not so arrogant as to claim that this is the one-size-fits-all practical guide to lust.First, he points out a group of young people who would fast if one of the group looked at internet pornography. Instead of praising this method, Harris is disappointed and points out that One has already paid the punishment for every sin we have and will commit. To make other people "pay" for your sin is to deny the sufficiency of the atonement of Christ. He says: "If you were to use the practical ideas I'm about to share with you as a legalistic set of guidelines, not only would it be displeasing to God, but you wouldn't change. Your behavior might change for a while, but your heart wouldn't change." (p. 50) And regarding his friend that stayed outside the video store, was he saying it was right for everyone to do so? By no means! His friend had recognized the areas that caused him to lose sight of Christ, and for that time in his life, video stores were a struggle. This is vastly different than telling everyone, "So, like my friend, you shouldn't go into video stores, either."This is exactly it: Have we really tasted of God to the degree that we want nothing less than satisfaction in Him? What I loved most was his chapter on the sword of the Spirit, adapted from John Piper's book, Future Grace. Truly, the only way to break the power of lust in our lives is to taste and see that the LORD is good (Psalm 34:8). When you taste of the Fountain of Living Waters, the broken cisterns of lust cannot compare (Jer 2:12-13). This chapter alone is worth the price of the book.Overall, if you struggle with lust in one form or another as I do, I would, along with John Piper, commend this book for your soul. It correctly identifies how we can turn our fight against lust into legalism, and also how we tend to treat it as "no big deal." So let us also lay aside *every* weight, and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Heb. 12:1), because the pure in heart, dear reader, the pure in heart will see GOD (Matt 5:8).

I'm so thankful for this book. When I read this book I didn't finish with a weight of condemnation but a greater love for the cross and the Saviour. Josh clearly makes it not about sex but about LUST the sin of putting your desire in something other then God. I know in my own heart I often respond to lust in my life to think that I can't even notice a pretty girl.. "It's not lust to be attracted to someone or notice that he or she is good looking." Its all about letting creation point you back to the creator, not yourself.Thank you Joshua. After my first experience with I kissed dating goodbye I knew we had a gifted author in the making. Each book he has written continues to direct me more and more back to the cross and to the life of Jesus and what he accomplished.I recommend this book to everyone, no matter what stage of life you are in.

This is a powerful book on dealing with sexual temptation. Joshua Harris does a fantastic job of setting every man's battle in its proper biblical and theological context. He is not soft on sin, but neither does he lead one to discouragement or despair. He understands that a right relationship with God is by grace through faith alone, but he knows that the faith which justifies also sanctifies. He is candid and honest, yet remains discreet, writing a book which is appropriate for and targeted to both men and women. He avoids setting hard and fast rules, advocating that we develop "a custom-tailored plan" for fighting against lust, but he provides plenty of practical ideas about how to make progress. He addresses sensitive issues (like masturbation) as well as cultural issues (like media and dress). Best of all, he encourages open accountability ("lone rangers are dead rangers") and provides an excellent chapter on how to fight the lying promises of lust with the true and satisfying promises of God. Drawing on the wisdom of John Piper's Future Grace, and C. J. Mahaney's The Cross-centered Life, this is one of the best books on sanctification I've seen, and the best book on the particular subject of sexual temptation I've ever read. I highly recommend this to both men and women, single or married. Thanks, Josh for sharing your heart with us.