Sex, Pornography, and
Homosexuality - What does God think about it all?
A. Abraham
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1. INTRODUCTION
2. EXPLICIT SEX
MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE?
3. GOD'S VIEW ON SEX
4. PORNOGRAPHY AND
HOMOSEXUALITY
5. NOBODY IS PERFECT
6. CONCLUSION
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1. INTRODUCTION
Well, before we begin
learning about God's view regarding these important subjects we need to set
things in perspective. The only way to find out about what the Almighty One thinks is for him to tell us. Unless God the creator
reveals himself to us, his creation, we shall never find out anything that goes
beyond speculation about him. Thankfully, he has spoken through nature, his
prophets and lastly personally through Jesus! Those words were faithfully
recorded in the Bible. On www.biblicalchristianity.freeserve.co.uk you will
find lots of information to strengthen your faith in the reliability and
uniqueness of the Bible. It also describes how to find peace with God. Since it
is logical to believe that the author of life would speak to us, his creation, it
is most reasonable to search in the Bible for answers to our questions. They
who deny the mother of all books to have any say on their lives are left with
only one alternative: To listen to themselves. That is exactly what is
happening to an increasing measure in today's societies. One only needs to look
at the devastating results of trying to be one's own god, to realise that this
alternative is just no good. Murder, divorce, rape, robbery, adultery,
abuse, selfishness, and much more follows in its destructive path. Since God
has created us, of course he has something to say about the theme of sex which
is so central to many peoples lives today. His
perspective will be explored in this booklet and it promises to be surprising
for many.
2. EXPLICIT SEX
MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE?
Some have objected and
said: 'The Bible can not be from God because some of its contents mention
sexual sin such as rape and incest. It also describes the beauty of sex.'
While there is indeed explicit sex in the Bible, that
is what one would expect of a book that contains God's thoughts on his
creation. The Bible has rightly been called 'an instruction manual for human
beings.' As in all good guidelines produced by manufacturers it also has
sections called 'trouble shouting.' We much prefer producers of products
writing honestly about possible problems that can occur and how to handle them,
than avoidance of the subject altogether. God tells us in the Bible how
beautiful sex can be within the boundaries of marriage and how devastating it
will turn out when his words are ignored. Moreover, we learn what to do when in
trouble and we are guaranteed a way to cope.
3. GOD'S VIEW ON SEX
Once God had created
everything, that includes sex, we read the following reassuring words in
Genesis, the first book of the Bible, chapter 1, verse 30:
'And God saw
everything which he had made and it was very good.'
Adam and Eve, the first two
people on earth, must have had a wonderful sex life. And so have today's
practising Christians according to research published recently in the news
paper 'USA Today', dated
Aha! Call it the revenge
of the church ladies
By
William R. Mattox.
Jr, a freelance writer living in northern
'Sigmund Freud said they
suffer from an 'obsessional neurosis' accompanied by
guilt, suppressed emotions and repressed sexuality. Former Saturday Night Live
comedian Dana Carvey satirized them as uptight prudes
who believe sex is downright dirty. But several major research studies show
that church ladies (and the men who sleep with them) are among the most
sexually satisfied people on the face of the Earth. Now, isn't that
special? Researchers at the
Yet, It
is important to note that the most reputable studies on sexual satisfaction,
including the
Instead, at least four
other factors appear to be responsible for the link between spiritual
commitment and sexual fulfillment. First, church
ladies appear to benefit from their lack of sexual experience prior to
marriage. That's right, several studies (including
the Redbook survey) show that women who engage in early sexual activity and
those who have had multiple partners are less apt to express satisfaction with
their sex lives than women who entered marriage with little or no sexual
baggage. Now, this does not mean that virgin brides typically experience total
sexual satisfaction the first time they consummate their marriages, or that
sexual baggage is impossible to unload. But it does mean that saving sex for
marriage pays considerable dividends. As David Larson of the National
Institute for Healthcare Research reports, 'Couples not involved before
marriage and faithful during marriage appear to be more satisfied with their
current sex life than those who were involved sexually before marriage.'
Second, churchgoers appear
to benefit from a commitment to marital fidelity and marital permanence.
In fact, most major studies show a strong correlation between monogamous
marriage and sexual satisfaction. And sex therapist Mary Ann Mayo says this
connection is particularly strong for women, since 'their sexual responsiveness
is greatly affected by the relational context in which lovemaking takes place.'
Mayo says that a mutual
commitment to lifelong marriage not only makes it easier for women to 'let
themselves go' sexually, but It also tends to encourage constructive 'pillow
talk' about sex between spouses. Indeed, Redbook found that highly religious
women are more likely than other women to communicate with their husbands about
sex.
Third, church ladles
typically enjoy far greater sexual freedom. A 1982 UCLA study found that sexual
satisfaction is positively affected by 'the absence of sexual anxiety.' And
part of the reason church ladies have more fun is that they don't have to
worry about many of the fears commonly associated with sexual promiscuity, such
as the fear of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, fear of rejection,
fear of out-of-wedlock pregnancy or fear of getting caught.
Moreover, church ladies
tend to be free from the guilt associated with violating one's own sexual
standards - a factor that a
And church ladies seem to
benefit from the belief that sexual pleasure is not the be-all and end-all of
human existence, or even the key to a happy marriage. While sexual fulfillment certainly contributes to marital satisfaction,
Mayo says that sexual enjoyment is more commonly a by-product of a stable,
happy union rather than the primary cause of it.
Several studies looking at
the flip side of sexual satisfaction (sexual dysfunction) appear to bear this
out. For example, a new study published this week in the Journal of the
American Medical Association found a strong correlation between marital
discord and sexual dysfunction. And a 1993 study in the Journal of Sex
Research found that losing one's job is more likely to trigger sexual dysfunction
among unhappily married men than among happily married men.
Finally, church ladies
appear to benefit from the belief that God created sex. A 1993 research
review by psychologist Timothy Kelly found that frequency of church attendance
positively affects sexual satisfaction above and beyond one's commitment to
traditional sexual morality.
Similarly, the
controversial 1993 Janus Report on Sexual Behavior found the non-religious 'have a tendency to focus
on the more technical or physical performance aspects of sex, while the
religious pay more attention to the mystic and symbolic dimensions of one's
sexuality.'
Put another way,
churchgoers are apt to delight in the Edenesque
pleasure of 'being naked and not ashamed' of celebrating the
'transcendent intimacy' found only in the marriage bed.
Interestingly, the Bible
encourages such exultation. Not only does it contain an entire book ('The Song
of Songs') that celebrates marital intimacy, but it also contains other
passages that say things like, 'Rejoice in the wife of your youth. ...
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times, be exhilarated always with her love.'
(Proverbs 5:18-19)
Now, these religious
teachings are apt to come as a shock to those who believe God is a cosmic
killjoy when it comes to sexuality. But if one wants to know why church ladies
are having so much fun, my best guess is that their husbands are actually
taking these biblical passages quite literally.' (end
of 'USA Today' article)
What went wrong?
As we have seen so far,
there is nothing wrong with sex as such. God created it and like
everything else he brought into being, it was very good. But then came what
theologians call 'the fall'. Adam and Eve rebelled against God by going
against his command (see Genesis, chapter 3) and so it has been ever since. God
created sex to be enjoyed within the marriage relationship. (Genesis 2:24)
People decided to have sex without permanent commitment. What followed is
history, sexual abuse, lies, polygamy, adultery, etc.
4. PORNOGRAPHY AND
HOMOSEXUALITY
'The word pornography is
derived from a Greek term meaning 'the writings of harlots or prostitutes.' Closely
related, and in legal terms virtually identical, is obscenity, which is
'behaviour or material that is immoral and designed to produce lust' (
'For there is a
revelation of the wrath of God from heaven against all the wrongdoing and evil
thoughts of men who keep down what is true by wrongdoing; Because the knowledge
of God may be seen in them, God having made it clear to them. For from
the first making of the world, those things of God which the eye is unable
to see, that is, his eternal power and existence, are fully made clear, he
having given the knowledge of them through the things which he has made,
so that men have no reason for wrongdoing: Because, having the knowledge of
God, they did not give glory to God as God, and did not give praise, but
their minds were full of foolish things, and their hearts, being without sense,
were made dark. Seeming to be wise, they were in fact foolish, And by
them the glory of the eternal God was changed and made into the image of man
who is not eternal, and of birds and beasts and things which go on the earth. For
this reason God gave them up to the evil desires of their hearts, working shame
in their bodies with one another: Because by them the true word of God was
changed into that which is false, and they gave worship and honour to the thing
which is made, and not to him who made it, to whom be blessing for ever. So be
it. For this reason God gave them up to evil passions, and their women were
changing the natural use into one which is unnatural: And in the same way the
men gave up the natural use of the woman and were burning in their desire for
one another, men doing shame with men, and getting in their bodies the right
reward of their evil-doing. And because they had not the mind to keep God
in their knowledge, God gave them up to an evil mind, to do those things
which are not right.' (Romans 1:18-28)
5. NOBODY IS PERFECT
Dear reader
wait, before you blow up with rage or fall into despair! Let me quote you another passage
that applies to me and everybody else equally:
'...and one man is
not different from another, For all have done wrong and are far from the
glory of God; And they may have righteousness put to their credit, freely,
by his grace, through the salvation which is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has
put forward as the sign of his mercy, through faith, by his blood, to make
clear his righteousness when, in his pity, God let the sins of earlier times go
without punishment,...' (Romans 3:22-25)
God is Holy,
therefore he can not have fellowship with sinners be they what we may call 'big
or small' sinners. Any kind of sin will, according to God's law, bring death,
the separation from God, the very Giver of Life:
'For the wages of sin is
death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.'
(Romans 6:23)
Let me illustrate this most
important truth, firstly with a question: There are two glasses, one filled
half with water and half with a poison called arsenic, the other one having
just one drop of arsenic in an otherwise filled glass of drinking water. Which
one do you think will cause death to the one who drinks it? Of course both
will lead to certain death once drunk, simply because arsenic is deadly
whether consumed as a drop or as half a glass.
Furthermore, imagine
sitting together with me in a test at school. 50% are needed to pass it. Let us
assume you would be badly prepared for whatever reason and only score 10%. I
for once would be much better by scoring 49%. What would you say if I came to you
after the result are known boasting, 'look I am much more excellent than you
are!' Surely you will quickly silence me by saying, 'but you were not good
enough either, you failed too!'
Let me encourage you, we
both need Jesus desperately:
Jesus said to him, 'I am
the true and living way: no one comes to the Father but by me.' (John
14:6)
Only by putting our faith
in Jesus who fulfilled God's perfect standard by being sinless and by being
willing to pay the death punishment on the cross on our behalf, we shall be
accepted by God and have eternal life in heaven. According to the Bible
everyone, even the vilest offender who prays to God for forgiveness of his sin
and to give him new life in Jesus will be saved:
'Come to me, all you
who are troubled and weighted down with care, and I will give you rest.'
(Matthew 11:28)
Out of thankfulness those
who came to him will leave their lives of sin and make it their goal to please
God, not to get saved but because they are already saved. Wow! If that's
not good news then I don't know what is!!
6. CONCLUSION
Sex is great but only
within the boundaries of marriage. Pornography, homosexuality, adultery and
every other form of perversion are directly and indirectly a result of sin. Far
from condemning people who are entangled in those addictive practices, true
Christians will reach out with understanding. They love sinners but hate the
sins. They re-echo the words Jesus spoke to a women caught in adultery after
her accusers had all left realizing they were sinners too:
'Woman, where are they?
Has no-one condemned you?' 'No-one, sir,' she said. 'Then neither do I
condemn you,' Jesus declared. 'Go now and leave your life of sin.' (John
8:10-11)
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Copyright © 2001, 2003 by Rev. Andrew Abraham. This publication may be reproduced in part or in full in any form or by any means under the condition that credit is given to the author and that he is notified via contact form.