| Oct 29 @ 8:25 AM |
Explaining Christian Sexual Morality
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yashaenka
Posts: 8,236
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to a Non-Believing World http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/tough/tough8.html
Michael A. Covington – Beech Haven Baptist Church – December 5, 1999
1. Christian sexual morality is mostly positive, not negative.
Alongside an assortment of "thou shalt nots," the Bible is pervaded by a positive teaching that men and women were created for each other and that marriage is holy and blessed (Gen. 2:24, 1 Cor. 11:11, Mark 10:6-9).
So the criterion of all sexual behavior is not merely whether it violates a "thou shalt not" – it’s also whether it’s on track relative to God’s plan.
Does this mean that only married people are first-class citizens of God’s kingdom? No. (That’s a Mormon doctrine, not a Christian one.) There are many reasons why it might be God’s will for a particular person not to marry. Don’t consider yourself inferior if you aren’t married. God may have special plans for you. Many great saints have been single people. (1 Cor 7:32-33)
2. Modern American culture seriously misunderstands sex.
a. Today’s movies and TV are very cynical about marriage and the family. Many people have never seen a happy marriage but have seen TV stereotypes that are shallow, sappy, and boring.
b. In today’s popular culture, sexual intercourse has nothing to do with marriage, family, or childbearing; pregnancy is viewed as a misfortune that you catch like the chickenpox. (Before we teach people morality we may have to teach them biology!)
3. Christian values are not the same thing as "traditional values"!
"Traditional values" deal mainly with keeping society stable and avoiding scandal. It is "traditional" to tolerate a certain amount of adultery, premarital sex, etc., as long as it doesn’t rock the boat (and as long as respectable men, not respectable women, are doing it... the old double standard).
There is also a new double standard that says a person’s sex life is so "private" that it never reflects on his or her character. (I have heard this said in defense of Clinton and Lewinsky.) (Then whose character does it reflect on?)
God doesn’t operate that way. He sees your whole character and expects purity and honesty of everyone.
"Traditional values" often include hatred for people you consider repulsive. Christians are not allowed to hate anyone; the Christian approach to people who are trapped in serious sexual sin is to reach out to them and bring the good news of the Gospel (cf. Jesus and the woman caught in adultery).
4. Basic principles of Christian sexual morality, expressed so that a non-believer can understand them
(1) God knew what he was doing when He created both men and women. Neither one is unnecessary or contemptible. Both are created for each other (complementarity).
(2) Like geese, people are meant to mate for life. Marriage, as a lifelong commitment, brings more happiness and benefit than any series of shorter relationships.
Many people seem to spend their youth trying to guarantee that they will never be happily married.
(3) Intimacy requires commitment.
On a superficial level, most people understand this. You probably wouldn’t kiss someone unless you’re attracted to them and feel some affection toward them.
Well... Going all the way with physical intimacy requires you to also go all the way with commitment.
(4) Sexual intercourse has two effects: to bond a couple together and to pro-create children. If you want to, you can train yourself so that it no longer has the bonding effect on you, and then it’s just a source of physical pleasure. But when you do this, you have made yourself less of a human being and have cut off a source of lifelong happiness.
5. Some misconceptions
Misconception: "Sex is dirty and is something God allows only grudgingly."
This is often believed by religious people who mistake frigidity or prudishness for Godliness.
It is associated with the heretical doctrine that Adam and Eve’s sin was premature sexual intercourse. (Complete nonsense as far as the Bible is concerned, but it’s a legend that won’t die out. If I recall correctly, Rev. Moon teaches it as doctrine.)
People with a fear of their own sexual nature often want to identify with movements (including Christianity) that put some kind of limits on sexual behavior. This is not healthy spirituality.
Another class of people who consider sex to be dirty is those who have dirtied it for themselves, those who have fallen into sin and don’t know how to get out.
Misconception: "Sexual morality should change with the times."
This has been the secular gospel for about 35 years – but will someone please tell me what new conditions justify abandoning old moral laws?
Not the invention of contraceptives; they’ve been known (though uncommon) for centuries, and certainly for decades before the "sexual revolution."
What it boils down to is that when people say "morality should change with the times" they mean "morality should change to agree with my plans for Saturday night."
If you look at objective conditions, the risk of sexually transmitted disease is higher than it has ever been before, and that should warrant a stricter standard of chastity, if you want to "update" anything! Interesting Wot?
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| Oct 29 @ 8:59 AM |
Explaining Christian Sexual Morality |
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ColdinWisconsin
Posts: 9,987
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Sexual intercourse has two effects: to bond a couple together and to pro-create children.
uhmmm...Make that three would ya. Let's not forget about the orgasm.  Or is that not something that is accomplished when one is a Christian?
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| Oct 29 @ 9:07 AM |
Explaining Christian Sexual Morality
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yashaenka
Posts: 8,236
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Maybe that is from the invisible Holy Ghost a ghost with holes in it just what we needed. 
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| Oct 29 @ 9:16 AM |
Explaining Christian Sexual Morality |
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iam01
Posts: 6,270
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Or is that not something that is accomplished when one is a Christian? I've found Catholics have no problem with this. The wildest girls in high school were always the Catholic girls. All that repression makes for a nice sling shot effect. Wearing dresses made for easy access too. So many nice memories.
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| Oct 29 @ 9:39 AM |
Explaining Christian Sexual Morality
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yashaenka
Posts: 8,236
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Catholic girls were selfish they wanted you to their selves like mother like daughter whereas the Mormon girls were more open the more the better.
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| Oct 29 @ 9:40 AM |
Explaining Christian Sexual Morality |
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Deborah551
Posts: 1,015
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(1) God knew what he was doing when He created both men and women. Neither one is unnecessary or contemptible. Both are created for each other (complementarity). Did God know what he was doing when he created the hermorphadites?
I tried to find a website I could post here about hermorphadites, but all I found was porn crap so if anyone can find one and link it here, I'd appreciate it. Anyway, the point is that there are people who have both male and female parts. Now, can a hermorphadite marry him/herself? Maybe he/she could wear a wedding dress on half her body and a tuxedo on the other half? Who was the hermorphadite created for....him/herself or perhaps he/she should marry another hermorphadite? Please don't tell me that this is rare, the fact it happens at all proves that the definition of one man for one woman is all washed up as far as morality goes. Otherwise, God never would have created a hermorphadite to begin with. I'm sure the Christians will just ignore this as they usually do ignore it when I bring up the hermorphadites.
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| Oct 29 @ 9:48 AM |
Explaining Christian Sexual Morality
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iam01
Posts: 6,270
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Did God know what he was doing when he created the hermorphadites? I guess it was his way to tell us to literally go f*** ourselves.
Its a real medical condition and some are indeterminate or neuter. The chromosomes can tell us what actual gender the are if the despite appearance of the organs. Gender reassignment surgery is usually done at a very young age.
Greek myths and many tribes have a special place for people like these. Sometimes the Shaman plays both a male and female role in ritual. Some consider God both male and female.
Lets just put it this way. Religious people are moronic. They don't know science and they reject scientific facts. They live in a fairy tale world of imaginary beings and animals. Dealing with sexual issues is a big problem for them but their bigger issue is the mentality of ignorance they embrace.
[Edited on 10/29/2009 10:26 AM]
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| Oct 29 @ 10:17 AM |
Explaining Christian Sexual Morality |
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Deborah551
Posts: 1,015
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You know, I've heard a lot of sermons from ministers about marriage between men and women, but I've never heard one about hermorphadites and who they are supposed to marry. Trying to figure God out is so confusing. 
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| Oct 29 @ 10:29 AM |
Explaining Christian Sexual Morality
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iam01
Posts: 6,270
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Trying to figure God out is so confusing. The answer is to look at those who create god. Look at their history, culture and behavior. Barbaric people have barbaric gods. Bigoted people have bigoted gods. The god of Abraham fits that bill. Look at other cultures and you see an embrace of things the desert god people reject.
Joseph Campbell is probably the most sane and most learned person to have put the research together to show common threads and major differences. JC studied and wrote about pretty much every myth on the planet.
He sure didn't like Christians much even though he had a great deal of respect for the Christ myth which includes the gnostics.
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| Oct 29 @ 10:33 AM |
Explaining Christian Sexual Morality |
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Deborah551
Posts: 1,015
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Well, my tongue was in my cheek when I said it Iam.
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| Oct 29 @ 1:55 PM |
Explaining Christian Sexual Morality
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kattsmeow
Posts: 22,625
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 I seem to have no problems,,neither does my husband.
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| Oct 29 @ 3:49 PM |
Explaining Christian Sexual Morality |
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dizzydoll
Posts: 589
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Well, my tongue was in my cheek when I said it Iam
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| Oct 29 @ 3:52 PM |
Explaining Christian Sexual Morality
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CPUfan
Posts: 7,983
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What have tongues and cheeks to do with sexual morality? 
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| Oct 29 @ 6:57 PM |
Explaining Christian Sexual Morality |
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southernlass
Posts: 2,211
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Christian morality is really no different than any other morality. We attempt to use discretion in our sexual habits in that we aren't promiscuous and ideally marry if we're in love and determining to become sexual in the relationship.
We attempt to follow the dictates of the bible, but these are perceived in an individual fashion. For example, as a Christian, I don't think God would approve of a couple viewing pornography so I'm not going to marry a Christian who approves of it or views porn.
On the other hand, I'm a very passionate person and I'm not the least bit "hung up" regarding my sexuality, though I have noted that there are those who are within the Christian religion. I think there are a host of explanations for this as I find that there are many who are uncomfortable with sexuality who are of other religions or no religion at all.
What people have experienced in their lives, positive and negative, impacts their sexual perspectives.
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| Oct 31 @ 1:31 AM |
Explaining Christian Sexual Morality
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bunnybiz
Posts: 4,758
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Deb,
I found a link for you on hermorphadites. The have changed the name. It is called intersex now.
http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersexuality
I just saw Dr. Oz has he talk to a mother of a son that was intersex. She did not allow the doctors to do any surgery. She is going to let her son decide if/when he wants to. He is mostly male. There also was an expert in the field and she is intersex too. She was able to have children. It was an interesting show. Human beings are human no matter what and should be treated with respect and dignity and love.
You know that 6 weeks fetus is both male and female then the chromosomes decide the gender. KJV could show some light about this but it is hidden. Male and female were both made in the image of God. First was man and he was made in the image of God (male and female) think about it. Now it is said the woman was made from the rib... but rib translated means chamber or private chamber. How is it the Adam knew and he knew when he saw Eve she came from him. He recognized what was missing from him she now had. So is it possible that Adam was the first hermorphadite....
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| Oct 31 @ 8:48 AM |
Explaining Christian Sexual Morality |
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yashaenka
Posts: 8,236
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Morality is in the eye of the beholder but then there are many types of Christian around the world and even here would that suggest there is a difference in their morality and levels of morality.
Morality is and was man made for the purpose of trying to live in harmony is not that why the Jews wrote so many rules [commandments] as guidelines.
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| Oct 31 @ 8:32 PM |
Explaining Christian Sexual Morality
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Thor1960303
Posts: 3,345
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Did God know what he was doing when he created the hermorphadites?
I discussed hermaphrodites and religion
HERE
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