This Sunday, February 11th, at Every Nation Tallahasse, Pastor Adrian Crawford is going to talk about "The Morning After" in part two of our "Bringing Sexy Back...where it belongs" series. We had a great response from Part One, "Sex and the City", and I want to encourage you to download it from our free Podcast. I look forward to seeing you next Sunday. Until then, here is some things to think about in regards to different perspectives about sex.
The Secular World/Pop Culture view, as commonly expressed through media and even by many researches and educators, is that the purpse of sexuality is primarily pleasure. Pleasure is seen by most as the goal of all sexual expressions. If two consenting individuals desire to experience the pleasure of sexual relations in any particular form they choose and if it does not hurt anyone else, they should be free to connect and enjoy such pleasure.
When individuals make sexual encounters only a physical, pleasurable activity and remove the emotional, spiritual and relational components, they rob the sexual encounter of all its mystery and sacredness. If pleasure is the purpose and goal, then the other person is just an object to be used for sensual gratification. Every individual is a living soul created by God to be in relationship with Himself. Persons have great value and, when they become objects for sensual purposes, it is degrading.
The Godly/Christian perspective is that the purpose of sex is relational with pleasure being the by-product. The key difference concerns the priority of committed relationships. God created sex as the highest relational experience a couple can know in this world, a way for a man and a woman to bond and connect in a covenant marriage relationship. This relational covenant and connection is for creating a family built on the foundation of that relationship. In this connected and committed family, children can grow into healthy adults. The sexual relationship was designed to provide unity, love and pleasure for the husband and wife and to perserve this family unit. The purpose for sex was first and foremost relational with pleasure being the added bonus.
The secular world/pop culture perspective and the Christian perspective both produce logical, but different, attitudes and outcomes from sexual activities. If you chart the various aspects of these two perspectives, it looks like this:
The Secular World/Pop Culture Perspective:
1. Sex is for pleasure.
2. Sex focuses on the body.
3. Persons become objects to be used for pleasure.
4. Attitude is one of taking/using.
5. Consequences are destructive for both partners:
a. Partners feel used.
b. Partners feel guilt.
c. Self-esteem is lost.
Godly/Christian Perspective:
1. Sex is for intimate relationships in marriage.
2. Sex focuses on the person.
3. Persons are valued and experience intimacy with their partner.
4. Attitude is one of giving/receiving.
5. Consequences are enriching and healing for both partners:
a. Partners feel loved.
b. Partners feel affirmed.
c. Self-esteem is enhanced.
God's purpose/goal for sex is intimacy in the marriage relationship with pleasure being a wonderful by-product. Sex by God's design is about relationship much more than pleasure (Sex Matters - Waylon Ward).
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