Sex: God’s Invention

Columnist Abigail Van Buren once received a letter that read, “Dear Abby, I’m in love and I’m having an affair with two different women. I can’t marry them both. Please tell me what to do, but don’t give me any of that morality stuff.” Her answer was awesome: “The only difference between humans and animals is morality. Please write to a veterinarian.”

God invented sex. The sexual impulse is God-given. Therefore, it must be God-governed. Otherwise, it will become distorted and destructive. Fire is beautiful in a fireplace, but remove it from those safe confines, and it has the potential for total devastation.

The Bible unapologetically reveals that God is in favor of sex, but within the limits He has set for it—a marriage of one man and one woman for one lifetime. To build a wall of safety around this marriage relationship, the Bible declares that sexual immorality is wrong (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

Unfortunately, mankind has taken sexual intimacy and perverted it, so that it is almost solely governed by personal preference and passion. Some people say, “What’s wrong with that? Lots of people get away with premarital or extramarital sex and seem just fine.” But they overlook the end results of their choices (see Proverbs 5:4). Once ignited, the spark of lust grows into a forest fire that isn’t extinguished nearly as easily or quietly as it began.

The Growing Problem of Sexual Addiction

Lust has the potential to spark several types of sexual addictions. Illicit sex, biblically known as fornication, is sex outside the marriage covenant. In its addictive form, it is known as nymphomania. Adultery, according to Google, is “voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse.” Pornography is a visual stimulus that enhances sexual desires.

Pornography in particular is addicting. According to research by Dr. Judith Reisman, pornography has a specific effect on the brain, including restructuring it and releasing brain-altering chemicals (endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, etc.) that can lead to addiction.

As with many types of addiction, what comes out in our behavior begins in our hearts. At the core of sexual sin is lust, an intense desire or craving driven by a longing for what is forbidden. Lust is a considerable problem, but it’s also a conquerable problem: with God’s help, it can be overcome. The apostle Paul shared the proper response we should have to all sexual sin: “Flee sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18).

I’ve heard people say, “Christianity is so negative: all those thou shalt-nots. It’s so restrictive.” On the contrary, God gives commands because He wants to protect you and your relationships—including your relationship with Him. A sign on a door that reads Do Not Enter—Explosives is there to keep you from being blown to smithereens. In the same way, God’s design for sex and marriage is there to protect you.

For Further Thought

Why does God have the right to set boundaries on sexual intimacy? How can being aware of this help you combat sexual immorality, either for yourself or to encourage someone else? If this is an area of temptation for you, confide in a trusted Christian friend or counselor to pray with you through this issue.