Sexual Health, Integrity and Wholeness
by Rick Love
“Be assured, sex in one form or another is everybody’s battle, whether male or female, whether non-Christian or true believer. What was one of God’s most beautiful gifts to man – and when rightly used one of the sources of his greatest happiness – has become one of his greatest battlegrounds with evil” (Hession 1998:101).
Sexual sin has become progressively worse within evangelical Christian circles and among cross-cultural workers. With the massive deterioration of society’s sexual standards and the increasing ambiguity in evangelical thinking on the subject, this is to be expected. However, it cannot be ignored. I have written this article with the hope that it will help stem the tide of moral perversion and theological confusion. To embrace what Scripture teaches on this vital topic could lead believers into greater sexual wholeness and enhance their long-term fruitfulness.
I am writing this paper with the conviction that the points I’m making are founded upon eternal truth. These are God’s standards. Yet, I also purpose to communicate these divine standards in a divine manner — with compassion and grace.
Rather than writing a brief statement on a few major sexual sins, I felt it best to develop a brief but holistic position on biblical sexuality, that is, “What the Bible teaches about sex.” I am affirming the need for sexual purity in an age of moral perversity. However, I also know that sexual purity can still fall short of biblical standards. A person can be a virgin until marriage, yet still be unhealthy sexually. The Bible portrays healthy sexuality as more than just purity. There is a beauty, a joy and a God-centeredness to sex in marriage according to Scripture.
Whether single or married, healthy sexuality grows out of an understanding of God’s perspective on sex as described in His Word.
God’s Plan
The first two chapters of Genesis describe God’s perfect purposes for humankind and positive view of human sexuality.
· God created male and female in His image (Gen 1:27). Our sexuality or gender is a gift of God and in some ways reflects His very image.
· One purpose of marriage is to be fruitful and multiply (Gen 1:28). Procreation is an important purpose in sexual expression.
· God said that it was not good for man to be alone, so He created woman for companionship with man (Gen 2:18). Man and woman were called to become one in marriage (Gen 2:24). Relational intimacy is the context for sexual expression.
· Male and female were both naked and were not ashamed (Gen 2:25). Sex is something pure and good in the context of marriage.
Later revelation gives further support to the theology of sexuality outlined in Genesis 1-2. The Song of Songs portrays the beauty and joy of married sexual love, as does Proverbs: “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. May her breasts satisfy you at all times; may you be intoxicated always by her love.” (Proverbs 5:18-19)
The New Testament adds one further insight to sexual expression in marriage: mutuality. In the patriarchal, male-dominated society of New Testament times, it is amazing that mutuality of sexual expression is affirmed in marriage.
“The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer, and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” (1 Cor 7:3-5)
Satan’s Plot
The beauty of intimacy between God and humanity, and the intimacy between the man and the woman was soon shattered by Satan’s plot to sabotage it (Genesis 3). A consequence of his plot was the distortion and defilement of human sexuality. Where there was security, now there was shame. Where there was openness, now there is hiddenness.
Satan’s plot was to divorce sex from the intimacy of marriage. What was created to be both a physical and relational expression of oneness, became an act of mere physical pleasure – devoid of God and focused on self. To be sure, the physical pleasure of sex is alluring and even addicting. But sex outside of God’s boundaries has destructive spiritual, relational and physical repercussions. Romans chapter one says this loud and clear:
“For though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools; and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles. 1:24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the degrading of their bodies among themselves, 1:25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error.” (Rom 1:21-27)
This passage describes the progressive sexual perversion of humanity. Paul’s reflection on sexual immorality underscores one crucial forgotten factor in most discussions on the subject. Sexual immorality starts with a wrong view of God. Idolatry is the root of sexual immorality.
It is noteworthy that a sexually perverse environment has confronted the people of God throughout redemptive history. From the homosexuality of Sodom and Gomorrah, to the sexually degrading fertility rites of the Canaanites in the Old Testament, to the temple prostitutes of Corinth in the New Testament, God’s people have always been bombarded with sexual temptation. What we face in today’s world is nothing new.
But God’s people are called to resist sexual temptation. They are called to purity and chastity. In fact, “It has been said, and said truly, that the one completely new virtue which Christianity brought into the world was chastity. Christianity came into a world where sexual immorality was not only condoned, but was regarded as normal and essential to the ordinary working life” (William Barclay quoted in Murphy 1992:119).
Sexual Purity and Beyond
The persistent battle against sexual temptation rages. But the battle can be won, healthy biblical sexuality can be experienced, purity of life can be attained. This is not something only experienced by “super saints.” For example, Paul says some of the Corinthians were entangled and in bondage to various forms of sexual sin. But through Christ they had been transformed:
“Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers–none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor 6:9-11)
By emphasizing transformational ministry, peacemaking, and accountability, Satan’s plot can be overthrown and God’s plan fulfilled. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians summarizes the centrality of this plan: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication . . . For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity but in sanctification” (1 Thess 4:3, 7).
Numerous forms of sexual immorality have knocked Christian workers out of the race: massage parlors, fornication, adultery, prostitution and homosexuality. Yet, there are sexual sins that may not force one off the field, but are nevertheless harmful. Two of the most insidious of these secret sexual sins are masturbation and pornography.
Masturbation
Masturbation is having sex with yourself. There are differing views on masturbation within the evangelical world. For some, it is a harmless way to gain sexual release. Others view it as sub-normal, but not sinful. I view masturbation as sin for the following reasons:
1. Jesus said that to lust for someone in our minds is to commit the sin of adultery (Matt 5:28). It is virtually impossible to masturbate and maintain a pure thought life.
2. We are to glorify God in our body. Masturbation is a solitary sexual indulgence that defiles our holy temple (1 Cor 6:18-20).
3. Sex was created for marriage and is to be other-centered, whereas masturbation is a completely self-centered act. If married, masturbation robs the spouse of what is rightfully his or hers.
4. Masturbation increases sexual appetite and makes a person susceptible to other sexually immoral activities.
For the sake of ministry, a pure conscience, and a healthy marriage (if married) I believe the most loving thing I can do for my brothers and sisters is to call for abstinence from all forms of sexual immorality, including masturbation. John White in Eros Redeemed summarizes my conviction: “Masturbation is sin . . . Masturbation is to make a god of my bodily sensations, and there is but one God. To make a god of my sensations is to become an idolater.” (1993: 124,126)
Pornography
I also recognize the entrapping power of pornography, especially for men.
The satanic tentacles of sexual sin have inroads into the privacy of our own homes through the Internet. Our homes, once a sanctuary and a refuge, can easily become a battleground.
Romantic novels provide a similar type of seductive and corrupting force among women. These novels shape a self-centered fantasy just as addicting. While not appearing to be as sinful as pornographic pictures, these novels can nevertheless be just as harmful.
Isolation, weariness and loneliness makes people susceptible to these forms of sexual immorality. Therefore, one huge key to victory is to walk in the light regarding these issues. We need to commit ourselves to others who will encourage us, ask hard questions and hold us accountable.
Conclusion
This article has been written with the desire to help encourage believers toward a healthy, Biblical perspective on sexual issues. We all need help in this area. For “sex even in thebest and purest is a smoldering fire, and to play with it is like pouring kerosine on a fire” (Hession 1998:9).
Sexual purity involves the normal “put off” and “put on” of transformational ministry (Eph 4:25-32; Col 3:5-14). First, singles and married couples alike must flee sexual temptation. We must make war against every inroad of sexual temptation in our lives (Matt 5:28-30). Second, we must pursue righteousness and purity of heart (1 Tim 1:5; 2 Tim 2:22). Third, we need brothers and sisters who will hold us accountable to both flee sexual temptation and pursue righteousness (Heb 10:24-25; James 5:16).
Healthy sexuality can never just focus on the negative commands related to sexual purity. Abstaining is not enough. We must just as intensely pursue the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22-23; 1 Tim 6:11) and walk in the light with our brothers and sisters (1 John 1:5-10).
“Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Cor 6:18-20)
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