By Scott Farhart, M.D.
The Bible’s prohibitions against our misusing our sexuality
are there to protect us, not to punish us.
are there to protect us, not to punish us.
As a Christian gynecologist, I have had the privilege of
treating thousands of women during the last two decades. Many of them have had
the courage to ask questions about one of the most private aspects of their
lives: their sexuality. The issues have ranged from the values of virginity to
sexually transmitted diseases; from wedding night romance to the challenges of
geriatric sexual relations; from birth control to plastic surgery.
treating thousands of women during the last two decades. Many of them have had
the courage to ask questions about one of the most private aspects of their
lives: their sexuality. The issues have ranged from the values of virginity to
sexually transmitted diseases; from wedding night romance to the challenges of
geriatric sexual relations; from birth control to plastic surgery.
The majority of couples struggle with these sensitive and
important issues of marriage in a spiritual vacuum. They wonder how their faith
in Christ and their human sexuality can peacefully coexist. Sensing that there
must be more to their sexual lives than they are experiencing but wondering if
God really approves of these secret desires, they ask themselves: Is sex the
forbidden fruit?
important issues of marriage in a spiritual vacuum. They wonder how their faith
in Christ and their human sexuality can peacefully coexist. Sensing that there
must be more to their sexual lives than they are experiencing but wondering if
God really approves of these secret desires, they ask themselves: Is sex the
forbidden fruit?
Sex Is God’s Idea
Of the many hundreds of questions I have been asked, the
fundamental theme remains: What does God think about sex? The answer I give is
the response I received from my pastor in my youth when I asked the same
question: It’s God’s idea!
fundamental theme remains: What does God think about sex? The answer I give is
the response I received from my pastor in my youth when I asked the same
question: It’s God’s idea!
God created the sexes and sexual intercourse. He instilled
the sexual drive into our bodies, knowing it would work its way into our
thoughts and minds. He is not ashamed of our sexuality, nor does He regret
creating it.
the sexual drive into our bodies, knowing it would work its way into our
thoughts and minds. He is not ashamed of our sexuality, nor does He regret
creating it.
From the second chapter of Genesis throughout the pages of
Scripture we can read about God’s plan for our sexuality. And from one passage
to the next, the theme is one of pleasure, joy and fulfillment within the
boundaries He has created.
Scripture we can read about God’s plan for our sexuality. And from one passage
to the next, the theme is one of pleasure, joy and fulfillment within the
boundaries He has created.
Yet many Christians mistakenly perceive that the few hedges
of protection God placed around our sexuality indicate that God is against sex.
The truth is, our sexuality is God’s gift to us, not just for reproduction, as
many in the church seem to believe, but also for intimacy and pleasure in the
comfort of marriage. And yes, He knows how much fun it is. He made it that way!
of protection God placed around our sexuality indicate that God is against sex.
The truth is, our sexuality is God’s gift to us, not just for reproduction, as
many in the church seem to believe, but also for intimacy and pleasure in the
comfort of marriage. And yes, He knows how much fun it is. He made it that way!
But for so long, the church has looked at the way the fallen
world has expressed itself sexually and closed its doors to all discussions of
sex, seemingly fearing that the influences of the secular world will corrupt
the holiness of the church.
world has expressed itself sexually and closed its doors to all discussions of
sex, seemingly fearing that the influences of the secular world will corrupt
the holiness of the church.
The sometimes irresponsible approach of the church to human
sexuality has left many sincere Christians sitting in their church pews each
Sunday wondering if God is for or against sex. Is God condemning them as they
struggle with questions for which they desperately need answers and for
feelings that threaten their very walk with Him? The answer is, absolutely not!
sexuality has left many sincere Christians sitting in their church pews each
Sunday wondering if God is for or against sex. Is God condemning them as they
struggle with questions for which they desperately need answers and for
feelings that threaten their very walk with Him? The answer is, absolutely not!
I can tell you on the authority of the Bible that God is
definitely interested in your sexual life—and not just so He can say, “Don’t do
that!” He longs for you to experience all He has created you for from the
beginning. Though we may not achieve what we would have had in the Garden of
Eden, we can surely take hold of a lot more than we currently enjoy, and we can
do it without the guilt and condemnation that has so often hounded the sincere
Christian.
definitely interested in your sexual life—and not just so He can say, “Don’t do
that!” He longs for you to experience all He has created you for from the
beginning. Though we may not achieve what we would have had in the Garden of
Eden, we can surely take hold of a lot more than we currently enjoy, and we can
do it without the guilt and condemnation that has so often hounded the sincere
Christian.
Consider God’s motivation for creating a companion for Adam
and His ultimate design for their relationship. During God’s creation process,
He said: “‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper
suitable for him’” (Gen. 2:18, NIV). Then, according to Scripture, “The Lord
God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her
to the man. The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my
flesh’…For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to
his wife, and they will become one flesh” (vv. 22-24).
and His ultimate design for their relationship. During God’s creation process,
He said: “‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper
suitable for him’” (Gen. 2:18, NIV). Then, according to Scripture, “The Lord
God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her
to the man. The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my
flesh’…For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to
his wife, and they will become one flesh” (vv. 22-24).
It was God who created a beautiful woman and brought her to
Adam as His precious gift to him. When Adam saw how Eve was made, he also
learned how his body fit together with hers. The two became one flesh, which is
how the rest of us got here!
Adam as His precious gift to him. When Adam saw how Eve was made, he also
learned how his body fit together with hers. The two became one flesh, which is
how the rest of us got here!
In fact, God’s first command to them was to “‘be fruitful
and increase in number’” (Gen. 1:28). In other words, God told them to have
intercourse; it was their first assignment as a couple!
and increase in number’” (Gen. 1:28). In other words, God told them to have
intercourse; it was their first assignment as a couple!
Boundaries for Sexual Activity
Clearly, God is the one who initiated sex as an activity to
be enjoyed between two people who are married to each other. However, He states
in His Word that it is not to be engaged in outside this parameter. Whole
chapters in the Old Testament are devoted to the regulation of sexual activity
(Lev. 18; 20).
be enjoyed between two people who are married to each other. However, He states
in His Word that it is not to be engaged in outside this parameter. Whole
chapters in the Old Testament are devoted to the regulation of sexual activity
(Lev. 18; 20).
In the pagan cultures that surrounded the people of Israel,
sexual activity between father and daughter, mother and son, brother and
sister, or men and animals was not uncommon. Homosexuality was also a problem.
So God established boundaries for His people and commanded them not to engage
in these types of sexual activity.
sexual activity between father and daughter, mother and son, brother and
sister, or men and animals was not uncommon. Homosexuality was also a problem.
So God established boundaries for His people and commanded them not to engage
in these types of sexual activity.
The few rules He established were designed to distinguish
the Israelites from the pagan cultures around them. But they were also a hedge
of protection around the sanctity of the family in places where sinful sexual
practices had destroyed the foundation of those cultures. God did not want the
nation of Israel to fall victim to the same fate.
the Israelites from the pagan cultures around them. But they were also a hedge
of protection around the sanctity of the family in places where sinful sexual
practices had destroyed the foundation of those cultures. God did not want the
nation of Israel to fall victim to the same fate.
But some Christians read chapters 18 and 20 of Leviticus, in
which the punishment for sexual sin is specified as death by stoning, and
conclude that God is fierce and vengeful, ready at any moment to strike them
down if they sin sexually. They forget that God is also a God of grace and
forgiveness. The boundaries still exist to protect us, but forgiveness is ours
for the asking because of Calvary.
which the punishment for sexual sin is specified as death by stoning, and
conclude that God is fierce and vengeful, ready at any moment to strike them
down if they sin sexually. They forget that God is also a God of grace and
forgiveness. The boundaries still exist to protect us, but forgiveness is ours
for the asking because of Calvary.
New Testament heroes reveal little information of their
marital lives to us. But Paul teaches us to present our bodies as living
sacrifices, holy unto God (Rom. 12:1). He reminds us that our body is the
temple of the Holy Spirit and that we must strive to honor God with it (1 Cor.
6:18).
marital lives to us. But Paul teaches us to present our bodies as living
sacrifices, holy unto God (Rom. 12:1). He reminds us that our body is the
temple of the Holy Spirit and that we must strive to honor God with it (1 Cor.
6:18).
So how does one honor God with his body, be an acceptable
temple for the Holy Spirit, live holy before God, and yet experience the joys
and delights of sexual union? Many of us have thought that when the Bible says
to present our bodies as living sacrifices, it really means sacrificing a
fulfilling and exciting sex life.
temple for the Holy Spirit, live holy before God, and yet experience the joys
and delights of sexual union? Many of us have thought that when the Bible says
to present our bodies as living sacrifices, it really means sacrificing a
fulfilling and exciting sex life.
We find ourselves envying those television and movie “role
models” who seem to enjoy sex with guiltless abandon. Some of us escape into
the fantasy world of romance novels, soap operas or worse, pornographic videos,
to become spectators of a dark and lonely life from which we have been set
free. This dilemma seems especially difficult for those of us who carry
memories of a pre-conversion sexual life that was fulfilling.
models” who seem to enjoy sex with guiltless abandon. Some of us escape into
the fantasy world of romance novels, soap operas or worse, pornographic videos,
to become spectators of a dark and lonely life from which we have been set
free. This dilemma seems especially difficult for those of us who carry
memories of a pre-conversion sexual life that was fulfilling.
Though the secular world has, admittedly, pushed the
envelope of sexual exploration to extremes, we as a church have been robbed of
our inheritance in Christ. The lack of proper scriptural interpretation and
explanation of God’s true design for marriage hinders a mutually satisfying
intimacy with our spouse.
envelope of sexual exploration to extremes, we as a church have been robbed of
our inheritance in Christ. The lack of proper scriptural interpretation and
explanation of God’s true design for marriage hinders a mutually satisfying
intimacy with our spouse.
We have had too few champions from the pulpit to encourage
us to reclaim what has been stolen from us. Much preaching that touches the
topic of sexuality has emphasized the sins of sex with little, if any,
reference to the joy of sex that God ordained.
us to reclaim what has been stolen from us. Much preaching that touches the
topic of sexuality has emphasized the sins of sex with little, if any,
reference to the joy of sex that God ordained.
A New Look at Biblical and Medical Truths
Thankfully, a new generation of spiritual leaders is
dedicated to reclaiming the sexually broken and to teaching young adults a
godly pattern for beginning their marriages. We are living with an epidemic of
divorce, adultery, fornication, sexually transmitted diseases and pornography.
dedicated to reclaiming the sexually broken and to teaching young adults a
godly pattern for beginning their marriages. We are living with an epidemic of
divorce, adultery, fornication, sexually transmitted diseases and pornography.
Yet God has given wonderful promises in His Word to all who
would hear and be set free by its truth. And, perhaps surprisingly, the Bible
reveals beautiful examples of the pleasures that proper sexual expression
should bring to our lives.
would hear and be set free by its truth. And, perhaps surprisingly, the Bible
reveals beautiful examples of the pleasures that proper sexual expression
should bring to our lives.
The Song of Solomon is undoubtedly the largest and most
detailed biblical example of the beauty of sexual life God intended us to
share. But it is by no means the only example. The Book of Proverbs warns
against adultery while extolling the pleasures of intimacy in your own house:
detailed biblical example of the beauty of sexual life God intended us to
share. But it is by no means the only example. The Book of Proverbs warns
against adultery while extolling the pleasures of intimacy in your own house:
“Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your
own well. … Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. May
your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A
loving doe, a graceful deer—may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be
captivated by her love” (Prov. 5:15, 17-19).
own well. … Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. May
your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A
loving doe, a graceful deer—may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be
captivated by her love” (Prov. 5:15, 17-19).
This passage contains a simple instruction about enjoying
sexuality in a healthy way. In the New Testament, Jesus quotes from the Book of
Genesis regarding God’s intention for marriage:
sexuality in a healthy way. In the New Testament, Jesus quotes from the Book of
Genesis regarding God’s intention for marriage:
“But at the beginning of creation God made them male and
female. ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united
to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but
one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Mark
10:6-9).
female. ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united
to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but
one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Mark
10:6-9).
Jesus reminds us that from the very beginning it was God’s
intention that man and woman come together sexually and become one flesh, a
condition that occurs only in intercourse. This drive to unite is so strong
that a man will leave the comforts of home and all that is familiar to begin a
new life with his wife. This bond is so important to God that He commands that
no man separate it.
intention that man and woman come together sexually and become one flesh, a
condition that occurs only in intercourse. This drive to unite is so strong
that a man will leave the comforts of home and all that is familiar to begin a
new life with his wife. This bond is so important to God that He commands that
no man separate it.
The undeniable truth is that God wants you to have great and
satisfying sex; it’s His idea. By following specific and appropriate
boundaries, we can have a life and marriage that are not only satisfying to us
but also pleasing to the One who made us.
satisfying sex; it’s His idea. By following specific and appropriate
boundaries, we can have a life and marriage that are not only satisfying to us
but also pleasing to the One who made us.
Scott Farhart, M.D., the author of Intimate and Unashamed,
from which this article is adapted.
from which this article is adapted.
© Charisma News
