Am I the last person in the world to hear about the Ashley Madison Agency? While sitting in my dentist’s office today (forgive me if I get any of these minute details wrong, but like I said I was in the dentist’s office trying to listen to the TV above the sounds of phones ringing, drills buzzing, people talking, and toilets flushing), I saw a news clip about a commercial that was scheduled to air during the Superbowl. This ad was pulled in many states, but not in my home state of Texas. No, Siree! Here in the lonestar state, just about anything goes!

Ashley Madison is an online dating club. OK, nothing too shocking yet. I have several friends who have met their spouses on EHarmony or Match.com. “So what’s the big deal?” you ask. The big deal is that Ashley Madison is a dating site, not for singles, but for MARRIED people! The commercial was shocking and offensive. But maybe that’s the reaction they wanted.

Apparently I am the last person to hear about this agency because it has been discussed by many news and entertainment moguls, including Larry King, Ellen, Dr. Phil, Tyra Banks, Howard Stern and 20/20.

As I watched this story unfold, I asked myself several questions. Why would we intentionally try to destroy marriages? Why are we glorifying something (adultery) that is so clearly offensive to God? Why do people prey on other people’s families? 

This afternoon I decided to go to the Ashley Madison website to see if this thing was legit. Unfortunately, it is. The tag line on the top of their website reads, “Life is short. Have an affair.” This agency approaches adultery and deceit with such casualty and callousness that it makes me nauseous.

Unfortunately, adultery is nothing new. It might be more talked about and out in the open in today’s society, but adultery has existed for thousands of years. Abraham betrayed his marriage vows with Sarah by sleeping with Hagar. David had an affair with Bathsheba. Many men went to the temple and engaged in temple prostitution as an act of “worship” in Old Testament times. So adultery is not a new sin. The betrayal still exists, and so do the ramifications.

Exodus 20:14 is clear: “You shall not commit adultery.” “Living your best life” is a popular mantra today. Indeed, God does want us to live our best life. But living our best life means living in His will. And adultery is not God’s will for His children.

Adultery destroys so much. It destroys marriages, families, hope, love, and trust. But most of all, it destroys a covenant made between man and God. Proverbs 6:32 says, “But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.”

If you have committed adultery or feel trapped in an affair, I encourage you to seek wise counsel from your pastor. God always wants forgiveness and reconciliation. Come clean with your spouse and pray for forgiveness.

For everyone reading this, steer clear of the Ashley Madison Agency and any group which celebrates the destruction of marriage. I’ll get off my soapbox now, but not before I pray that the Lord will protect us all from such wolves in sheep’s clothing.