Let me begin by quoting the demon Screwtape on the subject:
“Never forget that when we are dealing with any pleasure in its healthy and normal and satisfying form, we are, in a sense, on the Enemy’s (God’s) ground…He [God] made the pleasure: all our research so far has not enabled us to produce one. All we can do is to encourage the humans to take the pleasures which our Enemy [God] has produced, at times, or in ways, or in degrees, which He [God] has forbidden. ”
~C.S. Lewis from The Screwtape Letters
Sex is good. Sex existed in the Garden of Eden before sin, therefore it is good not sinful. God created sex and saw that it was good. That is what the Bible says about sex. We also know that Satan wants to take this good and encourage us to use it in times, ways and degrees that are not good.
The youth group at my church, Grace Baptist, is just finishing up at three week series on Sex and Dating. This topic is so hard to teach in a God honoring way that students will benefit from.
In this series I want students to know a few things. First, that God created sex and created it for His glory and our good. Sex, in marriage glorifies God and is a source of joy for us. Secondly, I want students to know that God's plan for sex is the only truly satisfying plan. All sex outside of wedlock is sin and can lead to our detriment. Thirdly, God has sufficient grace for all our sins, even sexual sins.
The Bible says sex was created for the purpose of unity (Genesis 2:24), intimacy (Song of Solomon 1:13, 2:3, 2:6, 4:5), procreation (Genesis 1:28), companionship (Song of Solomon 3:1), pleasure (Song of Solomon 1:2) and His glory. Christians, let's not forget to tell this side of the story. Often when we talk about sex we present a list of dos and don'ts. I think we hurt our presentation of God honoring sexuality if we limit it to dos and don'ts.
That being said the Bible clearly says sex is for marriage only (Hebrews 13:4, 1 Corinthians 7, etc). I'm so glad I waited until marriage for sex, and this was by the grace of God not my own strength. Sex outside marriage often ends in pain and heartbreak. How many babies have been aborted because of the sin of pre-marital sex? How many marriages have dissolved because of adultery? How many hearts have been broken because the unity that sex enhances was thrown away after a short fling? How many kids don't live with both mom and dad because they were conceived out of marriage? God's plan for sex protects us from this. And as one who waited until I was married at age 26 to have sex, I don't feel that I've missed anything good by waiting.
For those of you that have erred in this, remember our God is gracious. Christ didn't bear the weight of all sins except sexual on the cross. No! He died for them all. He's offering you forgiveness of all sins. Take His forgiveness today. Don't let Satan convince you that you're no longer "good enough" because of sexual sin. He loves to this. He loves to entice us to sin and then encourage us to shy away from the throne of grace because of that same sin. Christ loves you and died for every last one of your sins.
For those of you waiting for marriage, hold on. You can do it! God promises that with Him you can withstand the temptation of pre-marital sex.
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
For those of you that are married:
"May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
A loving doe, a graceful deer...
may her breasts satisfy you always,
may you ever be captivated by her love."
Proverbs 5:18-19
Sex is good... when done God's way. Give yourself fully to God including your sexuality today.
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
ReplyDeleteDoes the "way out" include masturbation?
That is an excellent question. I don't know if I can point to a Bible verse that refutes masturbation as a way out.
ReplyDeleteHowever, in my life I found that masturbation was not a way out at all. It never left me with anything other than guilt. That guilt was something I had to share with my wife. I have only been with my wife, but in my mind I had not been faithful. Jesus says to look at a woman with lust is to commit adultery. To look at a woman with lust is to commit sexual immorality, too. This is an incredibly high standard, but it is the one God has set. When you masturbate you have to look at a woman with lust and view her as a means to fulfilling your sexual desire. (Unless you could masturbate without lusting, but I don't think that's possible.)
I would say if you have masturbated, that you are not evil by any means. I also believe that God's best for you includes not masturbating. There is a way out of even masturbation. When we masturbate we know that to be true, but we choose self-gratification over persevering through something that is difficult but not impossible.
Also, remember that God's grace covers a multitude of sins.
I hope that answers that question. That is a question that is probably better answered by men smarter than I am.