God's Design for Passion & IntimacySample

What’s OK in The Bedroom? Part 2

Question #1: Does God clearly say “no”?
God doesn’t say, “no” to many things. Ironically, when He does we tend to rationalize our way out of it. Our human nature is to push against anything that appears to limit our freedom. However, God doesn’t say “no” arbitrarily. His commands regarding sexuality are based on His wisdom and divine plan.

There are some things the Bible is very clear about—particularly related to sex. These things probably won’t surprise you, but they also are not totally PC. Here’s a list compiled by my friend and theologian, Dr. Jody Dillow. Sexual purity is a huge theme of the call to holiness in New Testament teaching. Each of these prohibitions is expressed in the New Testament and is not simply part of the Old Testament law.

1. Fornication: Fornication is immoral sex.
2. Adultery: Adultery is sex with someone who is not your spouse.
3. Homosexuality: The Bible is very clear that for a man to have sex with a man or a woman to have sex with a woman is wrong in God’s eyes.
4. Impurity: This refers to moral or sexual uncleanness.
5. Orgies: This means sexual relations with different couples.
6. Prostitution: Prostitution, which is paying for sex, is morally wrong and condemned throughout Scripture.
7. Lustful passions: Lustful passion does not refer to the powerful, God-given sexual desire for each other enjoyed by a married man and woman. Instead, it refers to an unrestrained, indiscriminate sexual desire for men or women other than the person’s marriage partner.
8. Sodomy: In the Old Testament, sodomy refers to men lying with men. The English word means male homosexual intercourse or intercourse with animals.
9. Obscenity and Coarse Jokes: This does not rule out sexual humor in the privacy of marriage, but rather inappropriate sexual comments in a public setting.
10. Incest: Incest, or sex with family members or relatives, is specifically forbidden in Scripture.

If you are wondering if something is okay with God, first ask: is it on this list? If God has clearly said “no,” it is wrong.


Questions to ponder:
Does anything on this list surprise you? Why do we tend to protest when God forbids something?