Years ago in a Bible class discussion about lust of the flesh, our teacher made a valid point about men and women who are not married to each other avoiding “alone time” together, especially if one is there to comfort the other during a difficult time. Satan knows how to use such seemingly innocent situations to his advantage by tempting Christians into fornication or adultery.

One of the students in the class took the teacher’s point to an illogical extreme. He also said women shouldn’t comfort other women while alone because they might be tempted into a homosexual encounter. It was the most bizarre comment I’ve ever heard in a Bible class.

Bizarre like the “Christian Side Hug,” an idea that is either a sick satire or a seriously misguided attempt at discouraging lust. In either case, the concept has spawned this viral rap video that is bringing reproach upon the name of Christ:

I thought I was a prude until I watched that video. I’m a proponent of “group dating” and other tactics designed to keep a safe distance between hormonal young Christians (because I remember what it was like to be one), but if a man cannot casually hug a woman without being sexually aroused, he probably shouldn’t be hugging at all.

Ridding the world of “frontal hugs” in order to deter spontaneous lust is over the top. More to the spiritual point, it’s Pharisaical.

The Pharisees, the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, loved to bind heavy burdens on their fellow Jews where God had imposed no such rules. Jesus repeatedly condemned them for building such hedges.

The Christian Side Hug is nothing more than a Pharisee Hug. If a man chooses to hug only from the side, that’s fine. But pushing the idea in ridiculous rap videos that preach about leaving room for the Holy Spirit in hugs is borderline blasphemous.