The Gift

15Do you not know that oyour bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins sagainst his own body.
1 Corinthians 6: 15 - 18 NKJV

I'm about to go where few christian writers have gone.  Indeed, there are a few subjects in this religion which you would assume would be out of bounds.  I mean, some things you just don't talk about, right?  I'm ignoring all of the warning signs and red flags and diving right in.  So, as a christian, how do feel about...sex?  I'm not speaking in terms of our human desires here, that will come soon enough.  How is it that you see sex as a christian?  Well, I'll tell you how we're SUPPOSED to see it.  Sex is  part of that relationship which occurs between a husband and wife.  So, in order to have sex, you need a husband and a wife, right?  Sure, but I'm betting that if you were to ask more than a few christians out there you would be surprised at just how many have experienced sex outside of the boundries of marriage.  How can that be?  Has God somehow relaxed His moral code?  Not really, it is we who have gone astray in this case.  I will say that sex, as it was meant to be, is not a bad thing.  Sex, as our heavenly Father intended it, is neither dirty or a sin.  Yet, that is exactly how most christians view it.  All too often we see sex through the eyes of the "thou shalt not" commandment and not for the real reason our heavenly Father instituted it into our lives.  I'm guessing that God wanted His creation to prosper, as we're told in the creation story {Genesis 1:28}.  Indeed, God tells us to "be fruitful and multiply."  God WANTS us to enjoy sex!  That is, in its original, organic form.  This is the gift which God has given a man and a woman who make the decision to live their lives together.  Wait, what about the rest of us?  Are sexual desires only reserved for those who are married?  Unfortunately this has never been the case.  We're all too familiar with the case of King David, a man after Gods own heart.  Unfortunately, David followed his own desires and commited adultry with another mans wife.  Now, this really isn't too uncommon in todays world, but back then they had ways of dealing with those caught in adultry.  Let's just say that David should have been lucky he stayed alive.  However, God had other plans for His friend.  He does for us as well. 

1Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
1 Corinthians 7: 1 - 5 nKJV

There are times that I have considered myself a mere hypocrite for even discussing this topic.  Of course, you would have to have seen the road I have traveled in order to even understand that.  In my day, I was a man who was addicted not only to pornography, but to frequent visits to Portlands strip club scene as well.  Like King David before me, I followed my own desires into behaviors which were of no benefit to me.  I sacraficed what was meant to be a gift for m own personal pleasure.  I mention this for the simple fact that sexual desires are not simply confined to the marriage relationship.  As we were created in our Lords very image, we are all which He is {Genesis 1:27}.  We are created not to be seperate or independent from our heavenly Father, but to be one in Him {John 17:23}.  It is in this union by which we should live our lives.  So, how are we to respond to sexual desires outside of the marriage relationship.  Well, as one who strayed down the wrong path many times I would say...very carefully.  Remember that the object of our attention is indeed someones wife, daughter, husband or son.  Our modern culture will glorify those who follow their desires.  We're bombarded each day by messages that it's perfectly fine to give in to our own desires.  But wait, who's desires are they really?  The apostle Paul gives us a clue in Galations.  Paul makes the claim that he himself has died, replaced by Christ Jesus {Galations 2:20}.  As Paul tells us, "it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me."  Knowing this is key to knowing who we truly are.  As I said, we are neither seperate nor independent from God.  We never have been.  I can honestly say that my desires, are His own.  So, when we follow what we perceive to be our own desires, are they truly ours alone?  Definately not.  I would say that as we encounter our own sexual desires that we should view them in the perspective which they were meant to be, as the desire of Christ Jesus for us.  What does that mean for the single christian?  Well, it means that those desires you feel are real and authentic.  It also means that He is showing you His desire for you.   I no longer see my transgressions as that noose around my neck.  Christ does not desire bad things for me.  That is not part of His gift for us.

~Scott~