What Does Sex Have to Do With God Anyway?
I'm not sure we often hear the words 'sex' and 'God' in the same discussion much! But we probably should, since God has clearly told us that everything we do should be for His glory. But, what in the world does that even mean?
Maybe the glory of God aspect is missing from these discussions because a whole bunch of us have decided that God's primary interest is in our earthly happiness. After all, doesn't our very own Declaration of Independence tell us that God, our Creator, has endowed us with an unalienable right to pursue happiness (in equal measure with life and liberty)?
Maybe the glory of God aspect is missing from these discussions because a whole bunch of us have decided that God's primary interest is in our earthly happiness. After all, doesn't our very own Declaration of Independence tell us that God, our Creator, has endowed us with an unalienable right to pursue happiness (in equal measure with life and liberty)?
Yet, scripture (which you might thing would trump the Declaration of
Independence), we find that our 'happiness'--at least while we
still live on this earth--was not intended to be the supreme ambition of
man---God's glory is. (1 Corinthians
10:31)
In fact, as any true believer knows, the whole point of the cross was to redeem mankind who had fallen 'short' of God's glory (Romans 3:23). For all have sinned, etc.
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
In fact, as any true believer knows, the whole point of the cross was to redeem mankind who had fallen 'short' of God's glory (Romans 3:23). For all have sinned, etc.
But, what, pray tell, is God's glory?
That's a question too few are asking these days. Not those in the pulpits nor those in the pews spend much time thinking about it.
But, a thorough search through the entirety of scripture clearly reveals that God's glorification is God's passionate purpose and the entire point of human history. We were made by and for Him.
The glory of God encapsulates all of God's character, including everything related to his nature, his name, and his holiness. His truth, love, mercy, righteousness, justice, kindness, and on and on. In other words, everything that is in line with Who He Is and what His purposes are.
That's a question too few are asking these days. Not those in the pulpits nor those in the pews spend much time thinking about it.
But, a thorough search through the entirety of scripture clearly reveals that God's glorification is God's passionate purpose and the entire point of human history. We were made by and for Him.
The glory of God encapsulates all of God's character, including everything related to his nature, his name, and his holiness. His truth, love, mercy, righteousness, justice, kindness, and on and on. In other words, everything that is in line with Who He Is and what His purposes are.
And that brings us to the topic and reason for sex.
God's original and irreversible purpose and pattern in His creation of man was for one man and one woman to be united in a family unit from which offspring could and would occur.
This was a pattern not only for the family unit, but would also later represent Christ and His relationship with His bride, the church (Ephesians 5:22-33). His purposes are part and parcel of His glory. The law given to Moses codified it, and Jesus validated Moses's authority in writing down the code.
God's original and irreversible purpose and pattern in His creation of man was for one man and one woman to be united in a family unit from which offspring could and would occur.
This was a pattern not only for the family unit, but would also later represent Christ and His relationship with His bride, the church (Ephesians 5:22-33). His purposes are part and parcel of His glory. The law given to Moses codified it, and Jesus validated Moses's authority in writing down the code.
Paul, one of our Lord's directly-appointed apostles (the only
valid kind, btw), instructed the Corinthian brethren that although they had once
been involved in ungodly behaviors (including homosexuality), that they should no longer be so involved:
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
Homosexual behaviors (which most, if not all, same-sex
marriages include) are choices...not necessities of life.
Yes, to indulge in them may produce some temporary pleasure or 'happiness'. But, if that is the case, so, too, do many other behaviors: extra-marital sex, pedophilia, polygamous relationships, pornography, etc.
Where does one draw the line between same-sex marriages and all of the other sexual activities? Is it not just a slippery slope by degrees...none bearing the glory of God? This verse comes to mind: "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" [Matthew 16:26]
Yes, to indulge in them may produce some temporary pleasure or 'happiness'. But, if that is the case, so, too, do many other behaviors: extra-marital sex, pedophilia, polygamous relationships, pornography, etc.
Where does one draw the line between same-sex marriages and all of the other sexual activities? Is it not just a slippery slope by degrees...none bearing the glory of God? This verse comes to mind: "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" [Matthew 16:26]
Does not another apostle, John, tell us that these temporal,
worldly pleasures do not glorify God because they are not "of
God"?
And does not James, our Lord's half-brother, tell us that we can't have it both ways?
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (1 John 2:16)
And does not James, our Lord's half-brother, tell us that we can't have it both ways?
"You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." (James 4:4)
So, who then are we trying to please with our acceptance and
validation of same-sex marriages? Man or
God? Isn't obliterating God's pattern falling short of God's glory?
Isn't that the same thing that Christ died to deliver us from?
It's a discussion we all should have -- and not leave God out of it any longer.
It's a discussion we all should have -- and not leave God out of it any longer.
And THE WORD became flesh and dwelt among us! Language is beautiful indwelt by God. Great post, Jan!
ReplyDelete"Homosexual behaviors (which most, if not all, same-sex marriages include) are choices...not necessities of life. Yes, to indulge in them may produce some temporal pleasure or 'happiness'...but if that is the case, so, too, do many other behaviors--extra-marital sex, pedophilia, polygamous relationships, pornography, etc." You are grasping at low bearing fruit here. You are making a false analogy of homosexuality by implying it is like any other earthly pleasure. Sam Harris does this when he talks about "well being", and any Philosophy Grad Student can pick up on this fallacy. How do we know that homosexuality is a choice? Neuroscience has already told us that all of our putative choices have already been made prior to our acknowledgment. Do we really have freedom of choice at all?
ReplyDeleteThe point being here, however, is a Biblical one, not a philosophical one. If one doesn't believe in God, nor His inherent Glory, then this argument has no validity for that person anyway. Neuroscience is on a path of discovery about how the brain works that is a long way from the finish line. I wouldn't base my eternal future on it just yet.
ReplyDeleteI hate to respond to my own comment, but another 'thought' showed up that is begging to be let out. If, in fact, as the neuroscientist(s) report, we have no control over our thoughts (which then lead to having no control over our behavioral choices), then how can convictions be handed down by any of our legal systems to inflict due punishment upon those who 'had no choice in the matter' of what they did? Be it murder, rape, or theft, or what have you. Why would a husband be upset if his spouse had relations with every other man on the block, in his presence yet...if it wasn't 'her' idea at all, just some decision she had no control over? Even if our thoughts do come to our conscious minds unbidden from somewhere deep inside our brains before we 'think' them (and perhaps some of them do, but from where is a whole 'nuther topic!), our conscious mind still has to make a decision, a choice if you will, whether to act upon them or not.
ReplyDeleteBreathing sufficiently oxygenated air is not optional for life, neither is the consumption of food or water, and avoiding poisonous substances, but participating in any form of sexual behavior is not essential for an individual's survival, and certainly not the only source of happiness (back to the original blog topic). Conjugal (heterosexual) sex is essential to society's long-term survival, but not to any one particular individual's within it. There is an innate drive toward sex in most of us, for sure, put there by our Creator, but being formed in God's own image accounts for the parameters He placed around this function, and that is what is not being considered by most these days. Which is my main point.
The whole basis of our legal system implies freedom of choice, which also implies responsibility. You are quite right in pointing this out, it is a very important caveat of our discourse all the way from our courtrooms to our bedrooms.
DeleteBreathing is not an option, it is necessary. Food is necessary to live as well as consumption of water. If sex is not necessary, I am not sure why the world is so fixated on it? Whether we are shaming behaviour or condoning non-mainstream forms of sexual behaviour, these behaviours are not necessary but they are certainly prevalent. Mainstream sex is necessary for long term survival, but homosexuality is in abundance in nature.
Back to personal responsibility, my main point would be that although we do not have control over our choices, we are still obliged to be responsible. If we do not, then we are subject to perhaps a Darwinistic form of ethics, and neither you nor me want to subscribe.
I did not say sex was 'never' necessary. It is, of course, necessary at some point, and with some people, for procreation of the human species! (Although the Laboratory seems to be fast removing that obstacle). But, it is one of those behaviors that INDIVIDUALS can postpone or abandon and still survive. An individual cannot survive without breathing and eating...at least not for long, but can and often does survive without sex even indefinitely.
ReplyDeleteThe 'animals do it' argument begs closer examination, too, because some animals eat their young as well. Are we truly 'just animals' as the evolutionist would have us believe? Then, for sure...go for it! Let's just do whatever the current society around us allows. Which, by the way, is exactly what we see happening. Without God, there truly is no absolute standard of right and wrong. It is all subjective. Or, phrased another way, morality is either subject to a Supreme God who made us and all that is, or some other man-made god, or consensus. That is the real issue.
Which brings us back to my point. We are a society in conflict. Those who hold a biblical worldview and base their moral guidelines upon that worldview are now in direct opposition to those who hold that society should be free to make up its own mind (by consensus) as to what is 'moral' or not. The secular humanist worldview. My arguments against same-sex marriage will always proceed from the biblical worldview. It just seems that in this supposedly very 'tolerant' society we are in today, there is very little 'tolerance' for the biblical worldview. It's not enough that we just live and let live between the two worldviews. No, one must be silenced completely, and the other applauded. The stage is indeed being set for the final performance. Because at no other time in history does what happens on one side of the world instantaneously affect those on the other side. The issues will no longer be just within national borders. It is about to become global in ways we've only heretofore fantasized about.