Damaging the Spirit

 Catarina Migliorini, a Brazilian student made international news when she placed her virginity up for public auction.  The final bid was for $780,000 by an unknown Japanese man whose name is given as Natsu.  At the same time, the girl is being filmed for a documentary which will interview her both before and after “the  act.”

Catarina is being called a prostitute with the only difference being her virgin status commands a high price.  It doesn’t hurt that she is a beautiful young woman who sometimes dresses immodestly.  Her virginity is all the more captivating as a result.  The Brazilian girl takes umbrage at the accusation.  She argues that she intends to donate most of the money to a local charity and she is only doing this one time.  Well of course she is only selling herself once.  The second time won’t command nearly so much money.  The question is, if she could draw this kind of price every opportunity, would she stop at one?  She claims that she is no more a prostitute for having sold herself a single instance than a person who takes one picture is a photographer.

Yes, Catarina but you diminish the significance of your deed.  Photography is not in the same league as sexual immorality.   Consider whether someone who commits murder is now a murderer?  Of course they are, even if they only murdered this one time.

What fascinates me about this is the inability of mankind to detect the relationship between our bodies and our spirits.  Physical actions resonate with the spirit and one cannot be disentangled from the other.  This transaction will scar the girl spiritually.  It could sear her conscience but it certainly will affect her relationship and attitude towards other men (even if the difference is subtle.)  No doubt it will scar Natsu as well but I suspect this is not his first time.  He has collected a pile of scars by now, I bet.  Further, odds are she will have a bad memory some day.  Some women have no choice about their first sexual encounter.  It is forced on them.  They would gladly erase that experience and replace it with their wedding night if they could.  Catarina has sold it willingly for cash.

A woman who offers herself as a virgin to the man she loves and gives all of herself to him in lifelong commitment  has presented something worth much more than $780,000.  It can be offered only once and the world knows that this is immensely valuable. Some will say Natsu is only getting the girls body and not her soul.  I am saying that the body/soul/spirit connection is stronger than we think and much more important than all the money in existence.

I can’t explain how this connection works.  I only know it’s true because I have experienced it many times during my lifetime.  Much of the discomfort and dissatisfaction we feel with life is because of the inner damage our actions have caused.  Thankfully God can and will repair us better than new if we trust Him.  I pray for Catarina and Natsu because they are both going to need Him very soon.

I Corinthians 616 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “The two shall become one flesh.” 17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. (NASB)

 

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