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Christian Sexuality and Marriage
By daniel | April 4, 2005
It's a matter of focus. Like so many other things, a lot is determined by what it is that you are staring at. In the realm of marriage and sexuality, the contemporary Christian church has taught us to focus on the what-not-to-dos, instead of the to-dos.
Follow me here. If I stare at the inappropriate actions that I should not take, even focusing on why I shouldn't do those behaviors, I'm still focusing on the negative. If I'm always thinking about not committing adultery, then even my thoughts during good and God-given marital sex will have a tint and hue of “this isn't committing adultery,” instead of the appropriate, “what a good gift from God.”
See the shift in thinking? It might be hard to see since we're saturated with it.
What has the church given a single person to think about sexuality? Certainly not the whole story — all I ever heard as a single guy was what I shouldn't do. Imagine the change when you try and bring the kingdom and Jesus total, positive plan to the table. A single person could be proactively seeking the good of the marriages in the community, even (gasp) the good of the sex lives of those marriages around him. He could protect himself from impurity, knowing that even something small in him could poison the community's atmosphere, hindering even the good sex life and marriage of another. EVEN if the single is never married, it's not about him, or necessarily any married couples he is able to be useful to (even if they aren't aware). Instead of being about them, it's about Jesus, and His name, reflected in all of their lives — their life together.
Woah — I just made marital sex (the good gift from God) sound like something practical for even single people! Let's not focus on what isn't useful. Whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report – think on these things.
Topics: Spirituality - Thoughts |
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