Sex crazed?

Almost daily our local newspaper carries reports of crimes of a sexual nature. Today's edition reported three sex crimes in just our local area; a 60 year old township leader accused of sexually assaulting a 19 year old woman, a father of high school age kids encouraging students to party at his home where he built a room called 'the cave' in which he encouraged teens to have sex, and a 21 year old female student teacher engaging in sexual contact with a boy in her 6th grade class. Anybody who has spent 10 minutes on the Internet knows that pornography is just a click away and is one of the 'net's big money makers. At a Christian men's conference I attended a couple of weeks ago, two sessions were devoted to the whole issue of sexual temptation that so easily turns into self-destructive behavior for far too many men. So, what's up with this? Are we a sex-crazed society?

Yes, and I blame, in part, the Church for a sorry, incomplete teaching about this part of human nature. The extent of the message that many Christians have heard is "Don't!" Sex, if spoken of at all, is usually wrapped in dire warnings of disease, debauchery, and disgust! Have we forgotten that God created us as sexual beings and that He made this part of our humanity a powerful bonding experience? Read the Song of Solomon lately? It is an erotic poem, part of the Holy Scripture. In it, God celebrates the love of a man and a woman including their physical longings for each other. Genesis reminds us, 'male and female, He created them.' Our Creator invested the pleasure of sexuality with the power of procreativity, linking the two in a way that keeps a man and woman together to raise the children they bring into the world.

Yes, our sexuality is a powerful drive and if not properly understood, given the right context, and governed with self-discipline; it will control us and lead us into all kinds of deviant and destructive behaviors. That is why the Word is not vague in telling God's people to avoid filthiness, to run from promiscuity, and to stay in love with their spouse! Could the Scripture be more explicit than this? "Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. ... Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love." (Proverbs 5:18-20, NLT)

To simply proclaim prohibition will set up God's people for failure! We need to celebrate marriage, teach men and women how to really love each other including physical intimacy that is life-long and satisfying. The Word directs us to keep intimacy alive in our marriages, a very practical instruction. In a frank recognition of our sexuality, Paul wrote these inspired words: "It's good for a man to have a wife, and for a woman to have a husband. Sexual drives are strong, but marriage is strong enough to contain them and provide for a balanced and fulfilling sexual life in a world of sexual disorder. The marriage bed must be a place of mutuality-the husband seeking to satisfy his wife, the wife seeking to satisfy her husband. Marriage is not a place to "stand up for your rights." Marriage is a decision to serve the other, whether in bed or out." (1 Corinthians 7:1-4, The Message)

Husband, are you loving your wife? Are you continuing to woo her with your words, your attention, your gentleness? "Husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. ... As the Scriptures say, "A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." (Ephesians 5:28, 31, NLT) Wife, are you responsive to your husband, returning his love and finding your fulfillment in him?

Admittedly, we live in a fallen world that tries to steal away God's gifts. The world, the flesh, and the Devil conspire to rob us of the joy of intimacy, to make us slaves of that part of us which we must master! But, even our sexuality can be made holy! Yes, it should. Along with our whole being, we must bring this part of our lives to Christ and ask Him to teach us how to be whole and holy. When Christians reclaim sexuality from the gutter, restore it to a place of honorable celebration within the context of their marriage, they will find themselves equipped to deal with a sex-crazed culture, able to say, "Yes" to God's plan and "No" to that which would lead to sin and death.

As you go out today, remember your high and holy calling. Here's a word from the Word to take with you. "Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes-these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God." (Ephesians 5:1-5, NLT)

"Carefully determine what pleases the Lord." (Ephesians 5:10, NLT)