Are you sure you want to go there? IV

Yeah ... no, I'm not entirely sure I want to go here. So I'm doing this on a Saturday. Less readers, you know.

What does the Bible say about ... wait for it ... sex? I know. A lot of people might say, "Nothing good!" But if God is our Maker and if He designed sex for a reason and if He has something to say about it ... wouldn't it be in our best interests to find out what that is?

Contrary to the opinion of some today, the Bible isn't all over the place when it comes to the topic of sex. It is, in fact, abundantly clear. Expressed both in the positive and in the negative repeatedly and without wavering, the Bible is clear that sex is intended for marriage and only for marriage. When you think of the word "chastity", you probably think of celibacy. The first definition of "chaste", however, is this: "refraining from sexual intercourse that is regarded as contrary to morality or religion". Chastity, then, actually refers not to abstinence (alone), but to moral sexual relations. So what does the Bible say about sex? What are "moral sexual relations"?

Sex is first referenced in Genesis. "So God created Man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth'" (Gen 1:27-28). Note, first, the image: "In the image of God". Then note the command: "Be fruitful and multiply." That, my friends, is "sex". You see, as image bearers of God, humans are made to reflect God's creativity and dominion via procreation. The first, biblical purpose of sex, then, is procreation.

If we hold off briefly for a moment and look at the "second look" of Genesis 2, I think we can expand that slightly and come up with a clearer, more comprehensive, more satisfying purpose statement. In Genesis 2:24 we get God's definition of marriage: "A man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." Note the last phrase: "They shall become one flesh." That would be the second purpose of sex -- becoming one flesh. However, I think we can stick the two concepts together and come up with a more complete picture. The biblical purpose of sex is ... drum roll, please ... family building. This process of "family building" includes the making of two people -- man and woman -- into one flesh and the procreation that follows that union. In addition, as a family building process, it would continue to serve as a uniting element to the husband and wife, perpetuating that family.

Is sex, then, for pleasure or for ... purpose? Is it for fun or for duty? According to the text in the Song of Songs (or the Song of Solomon if you prefer), it would appear that biblical, marital sex is indeed enjoyable. So explicitly enjoyable are the exchanges in that book that some have suggested it be banned. In earlier times some rabbis argued that touching the book made you unclean while others suggested it was "the Holy of Holies" of biblical books. But taken at face value, there is no doubt that the book celebrates marital sex as a beautiful and pleasurable event.

Biblically, then, sex has a purpose, but in fulfilling that purpose it is certainly pleasurable.

What else does the Bible have to say on the subject? Well, as you would surely guess, there is a whole lot about avoiding sexual sin. The Bible is full of references to avoiding fornication (all sorts of sexual immorality) and adultery and even specifics like incest, homosexuality, and bestiality. The New Testament repeatedly warns believers to avoid sexual immorality. Here's a token example:

¹ Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. ³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, ⁵ not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; ⁶ that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. ⁷ For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness (1 Thess 4:1-7).

These are instructions on "how you ought to walk" to "please God". Heaviest on Paul's mind, then, is "abstain from sexual immorality." Okay, Paul, we got it. No, we don't. "Each of you know how to control his own body in holiniess and honor." Okay, okay, we get it. No, not yet. "Not in the passion of lust." Interesting ... because there are those who would argue that lust is perfectly okay in marriage, but Paul suggests otherwise. In summary, Paul says, "God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness."

You can search all you want and find all those "avoid sexual immorality" passages. I'll give you an instant summary here. Biblical chastity -- moral sexual relations -- occurs in marriage (Heb 13:4) where husband and wife give themselves to each other (1 Cor 7:3-4) for procreation (Gen 1:28) and unity (Gen 2:24) with lust controlled.

One more thought here. In 1 Cor 6:20 we are told, "glorify God in your body." The topic of the text is avoiding sexual immorality (1 Cor 6:13, 18). The command, then, is not about how you dress or what you eat. The command is about glorifying God in your sexual behavior. Sex, engaged in for personal pleasure or other motives and apart from biblical morality, does not glorify God. However, when we approach sex from a biblical perspective, using it for the purpose intended and controlling lust, we find ultimate satisfaction and God is glorified. Imagine that! God glorified in sex. Let that one sink in ...