Grey areas of Christian sexuality: Part one of two
In Christian circles when the discussion turns to sex, many believers are left wondering about those grey areasóopenly talking about it, using toys, alternate positions, acting out fantasy, masturbation, and so on.
Dr. Chuck Macknee, Human Sexuality expert and Trinity Western University professor explained that ìsometimes these areas are grey because there is no specific mention in ScriptureÖ [thus] leaving us to understand only what is [implied].î And although there is definite mention of lust in the Bible there is no mention of fantasy ìthe most universally practiced auto-erotic sexual behaviour.î So what is a Christian to do when there is no clear understanding of what is okay and what is not?
A look at early Christian history might be a good start for a Christian pondering over those grey areas of sexuality and why so often our religious culture is so closed-minded to it.
What one could call a legalistic restraint on sexual passion was most likely ìrooted in early Christianityís influence from dualismî during the Hellenistic period according to Macknee. At this time the spirit was seen as eternal and good, a separate entity from the mortal and evil body; thus the whole thought process of elevating things of the spirit and putting to death the things of the flesh crept into early Christianity.
Consequently our heritage is full of shunning sex and sexuality as something evil. ìEven Augustine thought that sex did not happen until after the fall and is a result of sin,î said Macknee, along with strange rules such as couples being unable to have large meals until they complete at least a week of cleansing. The end result: a distorted perception that sex and God donít mix, thereby twisting the whole experience of sexuality.
Macknee elaborated though that the distorted perception is quite strange because there are way more positive mentions of sex in the Bible. He shared sex was actually ìGodís favourite metaphor for His relationship with His people,î as illustrated by metaphorical use of the bride and the bridegroom in the New Testament and the whole question of ìwhoringî after other gods in the Old Testament, along with others. Overall there is this connection between the erotic and the spiritual within the Bible and life, which is in part why we struggle.
As for modern culture its role has been ìreduc[ing] sex just to the physical, taking out the spiritual… and emotionalî thus creating a truncated version of sex that makes it far less than what it is intended to be. In essence ìwe are fascinated by sex. Weíre curious. We want it, yet we are afraid of it and we donít know what to do with thatî in other words there is, according to Macknee, ambivalence because we desire God and sex because sex represents God.
Recent Comments