Sometimes a word is dirty just by association.

A good example would be the term “sensualism,” a human condition precipitated by any kind of gratification to the senses—that is, by touch, sight, hearing, smell or taste.  The senses are a good thing, of course, having been created by God as part of the human makeup.

It’s just that they were never meant to heavily influence deliberated choices.

But don’t expect anyone to encourage you to discipline yourself against experiencing things sensually—unless it’s a dietitian.  The world revolves around the marketing of wanton pleasure on demand.  Anything sensual is good, and the more often, the better.

That must be why four different Biblical authors of the New Testament cautioned their readers against making provisions in their lives for sensuality.  Eight times, the word translated as “sensuality” was the Greek noun ἀσέλγεια [âsélgeia], referring to licentiousness, wantonness, sensuality, indecency, or vice.  Most of the uses of ἀσέλγεια were included as part of a list of sexually immoral practices.

On the other hand, everything sensual isn’t unclean for Jesus Christ’s disciples.  No lasting, intimate relationship can exist outside of the very necessary sensual realm of human sexuality that grows out of a legitimate covenantal marriage.  Nor can one absorb the beauty of a landscape, the voices of happy grandchildren, or the aroma of a pot luck dinner without the miracle of sensory awareness.

So, experiencing sensuality may or may not always qualify as sinful behavior.  But I can be sure that it’ll point me in that direction.

I simply cannot become mature living a lifestyle of unchecked sensual stimulation.  If I learn to engage every daily task or challenge using my senses rather than my rational faculties, it’s only a matter of time before I start choosing the path of least resistance.

Nor am I able to worship and experience the presence of the Lord exclusively through my senses.  Some congregations which claim to belong to Christ attempt to build and sustain membership by tapping in to the sensually triggered temperaments of visitors. This practice is utterly reprehensible and clearly distorts the intent of corporate Biblical worship. [see: 1Cor. 14]

Things that are sensual often invoke pleasure.  Pleasure is good.  But it cannot exist in constancy and continue to serve that purpose.

Sensualism isn’t the guy I want to hang out with all the time.  Nor is it the old friend I go see a lot to relive the good times.  It is, rather, that welcomed friend who knocks on my door from time to time.

But I’m never afraid to show him the door.