Sexual Theology: Biblical Insight on Sexuality

The thoughts and beliefs related to human sexuality and healthy sexuality are significantly different when comparing the views of man (secular) against those presented in the biblical concepts. As time continues to pass these two mindsets become increasingly further apart. One school of thought teaches respect, restraint and encourages a higher level of responsibility and appreciation to be placed on the topic, while the other has become a more relaxed, all-encompassing and somewhat impulsive and unapologetic approach. Our world has grown to put an emphasis on making everything convenient, which unfortunately involves values and rewards that are intended to take time reach. In order to know which path is the correct one, an individual has to truly be in touch with themselves on many levels, emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. Even in those instances it can be very difficult to discern what the most suitable method to utilize is. The purpose of this essay it to inform and advise on the appropriate path to follow by providing biblical insight on a subject that is rapidly being lost to the temptations of the flesh.

A flower is only as beautiful as the garden in which it blooms. Many times, we may see a flower that really catches your eye with its loveliness. The surroundings can really enhance or detract from the attractiveness of the flower. It may even appear to be the most beautiful thing that you have laid your eyes on. But we must ask ourselves, is this the best that this flower can look? Is there any way possible that this flower can go from good to golden? Why do florists have many different arrangements for flowers? The answer is simple, so that you will be willing to pay for an absolutely radiant flower.

In this sense God is the florist and we as God’s children are the flower. Throughout our lives life we find ourselves placed in different situations and relationships (flower arrangements) by your Lord and savior. As we grow stronger in faith and conviction in the gospel, God nips and trims away those things that take away from your happiness. At the same time God places alternatives in our path that can potentially improve our existence. At that point we have a choice to make. We can lean onto our own understanding and deal with deal with the consequences that follow. Or we can choose to be vigilant and sacrifice immediate pleasure and stay true to the calling that has been placed on our lives, which will result in us paying the price to become that Radiant flower. We are all beautiful flowers, but we have not reached our full potential of beauty because we are trying to do it on our own in our wrong garden.

Romans 3:23-24 states, “Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. Are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Zondervan, 1987). As a result of the fall of man we are all considered sinners as we are born into sin. Ironically, this is very similar to the events that occurred in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. It appears to be our curse to struggle with temptation when it comes to our needs and desires being met opposed to being patient and allowing them to grow and progress at their own pace. We have become accustomed to sacrificing our patience for the illusion of a reward in the form of immediate gratification. 1st John 1:17 states, “But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses [removes] us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]”. When we accept God as our Lord and Savior submit to his will, we may be forgiven for sins which will allow us to experience the great love that he originally envisioned for us to have. What we must remember is that God created sexuality to allow us to share himself and the love that he wanted us to be blessed with us.

The Bible illustrates the significance that God has put on sexuality and sex as being a priceless gift that we can share with our spouse as part of our commitment and covenant with God. Sex is considered to be sacred when we fully appreciate the value of our bodies and are blessed in the covenant with God. The bond that is created when we make love under those conditions allows our sexual union to be on a higher spiritual level. The bible speaks to this on numerous occasions but there is one that stands out in my mind more so than the rest. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 states, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God”.

God has placed a value on our lives that is much higher than many of us will take the time to discover or try to comprehend. Because we try to live for ourselves primarily and for God secondly, we constantly limit our opportunities to reach the blessings that God has in place for us to receive. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 states, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body”.

One of the consequences from the fall of man is for us to carry unnecessary burdens on our shoulders because we are not in congruence with the will of God. Galatians 5:19-21, states, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”. God created Eve from Adam’s body with the intention for the union of marriage to reunite man with his rib (used to create woman) to be made whole again which reestablishes the original being that God created in his image. In God’s design, man and woman were made to complement and to complete each other. God had no intentions of man or woman being alone in the world. God felt that they needed each other to fulfill each other’s need for companionship and emotional / physical intimacy. Proverbs 18:22 states, “He that finds a wife finds a good thing”.

Human sexuality in God’s eyes is based on many specific and unwavering principles. God created sexuality to display the value of intimate loving relationships that he intended for men and women to share with each other by complementing each other and becoming one. Genesis 1:24 states, “A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. This describes the union that Adam and Eve shared that was full of compassion, excitement and totally free from any shame or guilt. Our sexualities were intended to be representative of God's creative power. Our bodies were not meant to be obstacles to our spirituality, but should be recognized as being heavenly as ordained by the Bible. Those are pleasures that we may never truly know or experience due to the fall of man.

Everything changed when Adam and Eve both ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil that they God had previously forbidden them to do. The sin that Adam and Eve committed not only fractured their connection with God but with each other as well. Instead of having a sacred covenant with God and all the things that he had created, they had to endure alienation from all of God’s creatures as well as each other. God’s goal was a lifelong pledge of faithfulness and true love to be shared between a husband and his wife. The purpose is for man and woman to have the ability to express and enjoy God’s two major purposes for sex; intimacy and creating life. Sex has the capability of creating a sense of “oneness”, which can be described as relationship that is significantly different from all others as it is a much deeper bond that involves physical, emotional and spiritual desires being fulfilled.

The one-flesh union of sex is an illustration of how two kindred spirits are brought together to create and begin a shared life. The Rosenau & Wilson text describes this when it discusses the concept of the relationship continuum bridge. This is a guide through intimate relationships that covers connecting, coupling and covenanting relationships. Connecting relationships are looked upon as the time that the foundation of the relationship is being created. Coupling relationships are an extension of the connecting stage in which considering, confirming and committing to the relationship are explored, which also coincides with a higher level of sexuality that begins to grow with the couple. Covenanting relationships are the ideal design that God had in mind when he created woman for man. This is when true sex and lovemaking consummates oneness between soulmates. Sex is not considered to be a sin unless it goes against the values and principles that God has assigned to it. Sexual intercourse between a husband and his wife preordained to demonstrate God’s love for us which is untainted, precious, and cannot be easily broken.

The concept of the relationship continuum bridge is also scientifically supported which speaks to its validity. According to Psychologist Bernard Murstein, relationships evolve in a standard progression of stages. The stimulus stage, value stage and the role stage. The stimulus stage is when initial interest is formed and there is an attraction to the other person. The value stage is when both individuals have similar likes and interests are explored. The role stage is when titles are assigned to the participants of the relationship.

When we lean and trust on our own understanding we are doomed to repeat the mistakes like the ones that Adam and Eve did, which has cursed us all. Just as God did with them, he allows us to make the choice of living life by our terms or by choosing to live in his grace. When we live for our own pleasure it pales in comparison to what God has in store for us. One of life’s greatest lessons comes when God allows us to suffer and struggle when we attempt to exist outside of his plans for us. True learning can come with a very hefty price tag attached to it. Often times what is considered as natural consequences determines how much that expense will be for us to pay. If we allow ourselves to see past our own designs on relationships and their purpose to serve us we may be able to see what God had and still has in store for us.

We must first establish a relationship with God and truly give the covenant the appreciation that it deserves, which should be greater than any earthly relationships that we have had. Serving God’s will should always be the central point of everything that we strive for in life. 1 Corinthians 13:3-13, as it provides guidance and promotes the ingredients for a healthy relationship. Hopefully in time we will all come to the realization that for us to live our best life we have to be on one accord with God. We must go to Christ as individuals to establish a relationship with our Lord and Savior. Once we have that intimate relationship with our Savior we are encouraged to continue sharing our spiritual growth and experiences thus improving our relationships with others.

I Corinthians 12:27 states, “Now you (collectively) are Christ’s body and (individually) you are members of it, each part severally and distinct (each with its own place and function)”. This scripture gives a very vivid example of the covenant that God has planned for us. As individuals we must be steadfast and dedicated to living by faith and gracefully allowing God to lead our lives. By allowing him to lead us a father does his children we can learn and grow to display the value that he has assigned to each of us. As we establish a relationship with our mates we must continue to live the same lifestyle but adjusting it to compensate for our relationship with our spouse. By applying those same principles to our relationship with others two individuals work to become one. As the word says, then we collectively are representative of the body of Christ. God intended us to all work together to create what should have been heaven on Earth. Even with our disobedience, self-serving and defiant ways God still gives us the opportunity to still be able to achieve the great gifts and blessings (that include sex and sexuality) as he intended for it to be.