It's not just "abstain from sin or else" because even if you abstain from sin completely, that's still not good enough according to your religion - you're born with original sin. Faith in Christ is the cornerstone of Christianity. So yes, it really is "Believe! Or else!"
Nobody is arguing that sex isn't a big industry or that views haven't shifted and as a result a lot more people are having casual sex and doing so in ways that many (most even) may consider deviant. Nobody is arguing that pornography isn't more readily accessible and more "diverse" for lack of a better term.
But what does this have to do with point at hand? Namely that there exist people who are so terrified of losing control at the mere presence of a woman in situations completely devoid of sexual tension – like getting a ride home because the car is in the shop – that they won't even allow themselves to be alone with one.
Adam and Eve chose to defy God, align with unrighteousness and were punished (because God also demands justice).
That sinful act permanently stained/flawed their human physical form bringing decay and eventual death to Adam and Eve and all humanity that descended from them. The human body was now in a perpetual state of decay and would die. All life then and thereafter would now be subject to death because of Adam's unrighteousness. Further their sinful act spiritually corrupted them giving them full knowledge of good and evil and a proclivity for sin (some define this as a sinful nature).....they were spiritually dead in sin. The guilt of their sin also passed spiritually from generation to generation. Since we all descend from a fallen man that fallen form (physical and spiritual) is passed on. Our physical selves are now temporary and in decay and upon our eventual death our eternal souls will be separated from the temporary husk as we enter eternity. Then the spiritual man is facing God's judgment and our eternity (not this temporary existence) is what is truly at stake. Everyone will die, but how everyone spends their eternity is crucial and that is contingent upon our decision about sin. The only remedy for our sin is Jesus Christ.
What it appears you're attempting to do is twist the circumstances by having the "remedy for sin" (belief in Christ's salvific work) replace "the act of sin" (our selfish choices to defy God's law) and align it with the "punishment for sin" (separation from God). You make "belief" (more specifically "lack of belief") the cause and the "or else" (punishment) the effect; unfortunately it isn't correct. The "or else" is a response to those that remain in sin and that do not turn to the remedy for sin (aka belief in Christ). Yet, there isn't a need for belief in Christ's salvific work or God's righteous judgment if there isn't active engagement in sin. And there in lies the rub....sin. People deny it, justify it, run from it, etc....never wanting to be held accountable for it. Your simple statement "belief or else" removes our accountability for sin...it removes sin altogether. That's why I say "abstain from sin or else". Yet I still get it "belief or else", but I think it misses the mark.
Who are these folks that are terrified of losing control in front of women? Are you referring to sex addicts? Believers should choose a righteous path and if adulterous behavior was a problem for some in the past they should take steps to avoid sinful circumstances, but they should also seek the Lord in prayer and ask for help in deliverance from that particular sin. Should they never ride in a car alone with a woman? I really couldn't say....there isn't a universal in that regard.
