4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer (1 Timothy 4:1-5). When experienced properly, sex is an all-encompassing experience. Practically speaking, however, I am convinced it is much easier for the husband to divorce his wife than for the wife to divorce her husband. to proclaim the year of theLord's favor The translation and explanation which I favor can be found in Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1968), II, P. 523; The Twentieth Century New Testament (Moody Bible Institute), as cited in The New Testament from 26 Translations (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1967); and W. Robertson Nicoll, ed., The Expositors Greek Testament (Grand Rapids: Wm. What is the Christian partner to do if the unbeliever wishes to terminate the marriage? But in Corinth, mixed marriages are inevitable after Paul and others proclaim the gospel. What we do with our sexual desires and longings says a lot about what we believe about God. There is a sense in which our salvation was neither peaceful nor gentle. If sexual fulfillment (a definite good) is voluntarily set aside for the purpose of ministering to others, even as our Lord did, then celibacy is better. The most dangerous sin of all for the Christian is the sin which is willfully committed, on the presumption that God is obligated to forgive us. This is making love, rather than having sex; and mutual loving like this carries over into everyday life, spreading joy. Anna Sokol, the awakened instructor of Givin school dears to shaken . For example, Bruce cites from Jewish sources, where the wise men say, Whosoever multiplies conversation with a womanwill in the end inherit Gehenna. Or elsewhere, where Rab says to R. Judah as they are walking along a road and see a woman walking ahead of them, Hurry up and get in front of Gehenna (i.e. In Western culture, however, we have too many hang-ups about sex to follow such a path. If one Christian has no hesitancy to take another to court (6:lff. Those who like to read Pauls instructions as those of an eccentric bachelor dare not do so here. How then can a Christian be married to an unbeliever? This means that the two most sacred things in this universe are the birth of new life and the passing of old. Second, a marriage that merely exists, but which lacks the love, intimacy, and joy of a godly marriage, is an offense to the One who first instituted marriage in the Garden of Eden. Neither our Lord nor Paul ever encourage anyone to divorce. Among Christians, divorce should not even be considered as an option. 7:8-16) Introduction As I was driving home from a funeral, I happened to notice a billboard advertising the services of a lawyer or group of lawyers. Sex is often reduced to the completion of a sexual encounter but the journey to and through the act is just as important. They must remain single or be rejoined to their former mate. He's not just concerned about the "world out there" but invites you to come to Him as your Healer and Redeemer. Loud and Clear: Sandi Patty Speaks Life to the Voiceless in New Memoir, Error: There was an internal error submitting your form. This entails a search for the mystery beyond understanding or the Devine Mystery. If the unbeliever should wish to be rejoined to the believing partner, there is the question of whether or not that believer should now become unequally yoked to an unbeliever, and to have an unbeliever as the head of the home. The central insight of the sexual practices is that we can use sexuality as a gateway or portal into our energy body, with physical, psychological, and spiritual ramifications. In society, this means acknowledging, accepting and displaying confident masculine and feminine characteristics, without either provoking or submitting to erotic temptation. I take it that Paul assumes the unbeliever has divorced in order to remarry, and under these conditions, the Christian is clearly free to remarry, only in the Lord (verse 39). Paul makes no attempt to instruct the unbeliever; he only seeks to reassure the Christian whose mate wishes to dissolve the marriage. Paul has written in chapter 6 that the union of a Christian with a pagan prostitute has very serious spiritual implications (6:16ff.). To break the Sabbath was a capital crime because it symbolized the breaking of the covenant God made with Israel at Sinai. A question may now be in your mind: Is it never permissible to leave, even when the wife is in physical danger? It may be permissible, even advisable, for a wife to temporarily leave, so as not to expose herself or her children to physical harm from an abusive (often when drunk) husband and father. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. Related Reading: Pornography & Depression: The Mental Health Addiction Dangers. And I would point out that viewing Pauls teaching in verse 11 as an exception also encourages the divorce which Paul has just prohibited. It is the oldest ritual given to humanity and some of our most ancient forms of religion found their foundation in fertility. METHODOLOGY The study focuses on the Relationship between Sexuality, spirituality and well-being (hedonic and Eudaimonic) amongst adults in Mumbai. Each will have a stronger or weaker personal biological and psychological disposition affecting the degree to which we acknowledge and act upon this new capability. Seneca writes that women were married to be divorced and divorced to be married. Sexuality is our relationship to our body, to pleasure, to our sensuality, and to sex. These days, sex is much more celebrated as a joy of life. The story of the Abrahamic faiths revolves around the creation of a reproductive universe. Dr. Slattery: Oh, this is a critical step for both individuals and communities. This same perspective is carried on in verses 8 and 9, where Paul reiterates the potential benefit of remaining single and yet urges single saints to marry rather than to burn. And so, Paul instructs, let younger widows marry. in 1971. If you are in the flow of expressive sex, then you know that God must have a hand in it. Neither partner is ever free from sin; but there are divorces that are the result of righteousness, and not of sin, at least on the part of the believing partner. Length: 1500 words Sources: all primary and secondary sources assigned after week 5, as well as five key sources assigned between weeks 1 and 5. What about those who have already divorced? I cannot believe Paul is saying, in effect, Dont ever divorce; but if you do anyway, then dont remarry unless it is to your estranged mate.. Classic understandings of spirituality distill it into three elements: relationships, values, and life purpose. But too often the violence which seems to justify the wifes separation is the result of provocation on the part of the abused partner. The only differences between liberal and conservative Jews on divorce are over the reasons for a divorce. We tend to consider the main purpose of sex as pleasure, rather than either procreation or spiritual development. 10 And straightening up, Jesus said to her, Woman, where are they? get in front of that woman so that, out of sight, she may also be out of mind). F. F. Bruce, I and II Corinthians (Grand Rapids: Wm. Is it any wonder that division takes place within marriages? What God has joined, let no man separate. Either option has its benefits and blessings. Trust is essential. If you are expressed creatively, you are going to be expressed sexually. But a segment of the church goes so far as to view divorce as the spiritual thing to do. God intended a man and a woman to be joined together as one flesh for life. 83 There are qualifications and exceptions to this principle, but this is the guiding principle, and exceptions are just thatexceptions. If such action is considered spiritual, does this provide an easy (even spiritual) out for those who are weary of their marriage? They somehow are able to embrace a man living immorally with his fathers wife (chapter 5), and Paul finds it necessary to prove that having sexual relations with a prostitute is wrong (chapter 6). Similarly, it is not possible to enjoy the company of yourself without the growth of your relationships with others. For one to forsake his or her mate is to portray a false message of Christs faithfulness to His bride, and the faithfulness of the bride to Christ. If youre gearing up for a sexual encounter that questions your values, life purpose, or relationships, you should stop. Even as it does, each individual must take a look at their own sexuality and how it fits into their values and belief system. We aim for fidelity in pair-bond relationships, but acknowledge this more as an ideal than a genuine goal. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. If the disobedient partner divorces and marries another, I believe both Paul and our Lord would agree that the innocent party (or at least the offended party) has the freedom to remarry for two reasons: (1) the marital union has already been broken by the other partys adultery, and (2) remarriage to the partner who initiates the divorce is impossible once that partner has married another (Deuteronomy 24). Modern spiritual movements include sex-positive attitudes that respect the sacred act of sexuality. Sex is sacred in truth and due to its connective energy between two people is often cited as a spiritual experience. Why is "forgiving yourself" so difficult related to sexual sin in the past? But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn (1 Corinthians 7:8-9). We all know rejection, disappointment, and loneliness. Paul challenges every single person to be content in their single state. Surely you dont think that a fight over the divorce will save the lost, do you? 86. Jesus does not correct His disciples for reaching this conclusion. If the unbeliever insists upon leaving the marriage, we must not seek to preserve the union by force, knowing that it is God who saves, and that He does so in peace. Bruce, for example, takes this position (p. 70). Divorce is like a death certificateit pronounces someone to be legally dead. For them, the question of does religion have a role to play in sex may seem ludicrous. Someone is sure to object to my contention that Paul makes no exceptions in this passage. To be supported by the church, they would rightly feel obliged to make a pledge to stay single (not unlike the vow a nun takes in the Catholic church). verses 12-13). He does not speak with apostolic authority, and those who do not follow his advice are not regarded as disobedient to a divine command. Dr. Slattery: Giving yourself sexually is simply one aspect of sexual intimacy. Some go to considerable lengths to find scriptural grounds for infant baptism,84 a most difficult feat. Published by W Publishing Group, and imprint of Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN. We seem to accept that: "anything goes, as long as it does not harm anyone." Paul is saying that his teaching here is apostolic instruction, with full apostolic authority. Not to be copied without Publishers prior written approval. They, on their part, are not to sever the marital union. (UK), is the author of the Psychology of Spirituality and a psychiatrist in Sussex, England. Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? While religion has historically been restrictive when it comes to sex, this is not always the case. Third, Paul speaks as an apostle of Jesus Christ, but of matters on which our Lord did not give instruction in verses 12-16: But to the rest I say, not the Lord, (verse 12). The Connection between Sexuality & Spirituality There is an association between the demonstration of sex, orgasm, and love. It is, in part, because God ordained the institution of marriage, and He did so as a permanent union of a man and a woman, a union which no one should separate. Our enemy loves to work in the shadows. Alan G. Walker. When our children are taught sex education in the public schools, at best they are told, Dont have premarital sex, but if you do, use a condom. We argue that advocating the use of condoms is accepting and even advocating premarital sex. If you remember the story in the Book of Numbers (15:32-36), a man was caught gathering wood for the fire on the Sabbath. Those who chose to abstain from sex until marriage for proper reasons will likely find it to be a magical experience with their spouse. If divorce is only regarded as the lesser of two evils in Corinth, that is bad enough. Verses 12-20 give the biblical basis for sexual morality, and specifically why sexual immorality is wrong for the believer. Divorce is not a license for the wicked to sin by forsaking their vows and their mate; it is a protection for the innocent partner, making legal provision for their remarriage. How does this relate sex to spirituality? Is Sexuality and spirituality compactible? The Most Common Lies People Tell in Their Sex Lives, What Straight Men Can Learn About Sex From Lesbian Women. So what should they do now? This also includes the power we have to influence or manipulate others into having sex with us. It may appear that this is exactly what Paul does when he writes, 10 But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband 11 (but if she does leave, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband),, Some view this parenthetical statement in verse 11 as a kind of exception to what was written in verse 10 and the latter part of verse 11. There is benefit for all if he remains. I take it then that the unbelieving husband or wife participates in what might be called the fringe benefits of the salvation of the believing mate.85 If the unbelieving partner were not sanctified by the marital union with the Christian, there would be serious consequences for the children resulting from the union. Set aside much more time than you actually need for sex and devote that time to each other. Sex addiction, like other forms of use disorders, is often the result of deeper emotional distress. Both appear to be happening in this text in Lukes Gospel: 57 And as they were going along the road, someone said to Him, I will follow You wherever You go. 58 And Jesus said to him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. 59 And He said to another, Follow Me. But he said, Permit me first to go and bury my father. 60 But He said to him, Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home. 62 But Jesus said to him, No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:57-62). We are mostly aiming then to gratify "our" needs, "our" desires; which, of course, once satisfied, soon recur and we find we need to trouble our partner again, or be quick in finding another. Jesus does want men and women to be His disciples, to follow Him. Thats not meant in a religious way, per se, but as a purer energy, sex provides a direct link to the divine. Linda Marks. I agree. In the NASB, the first term is translated leave, with a marginal note which indicates the literal meaning is depart from. The same term occurs at the beginning of verse 11. We encourage users who wish to comment on our material to do so through our CBN Facebook page. The same is true of purposing to stay single. If this is a person that you have decided to spend your life with, that has to include serving and lifting them up. Mating energy and spirituality are intimately related. The reverse side of this is a culture of sexuality that can be purely pleasure-oriented. 7 For ground that drinks the rain which often falls upon it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; 8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned (Hebrews 6:4-8). We are here to help and encourage you! He is not just prohibiting one mate from packing up and leaving the other. While divorce is often a sin, a sub-standard marriage is likewise a sin. Site by Design by Insight. Unfortunately, society often reduces sex to the mere act of orgasm. They find human outlets for their physical sexual desiresmanipulative seduction, child molestation, sexual abuse, sexual addiction, prostitution, human traffickingit wears all kinds of ugly masks. He repeatedly states that what is good for the husband is good for the wife, and vice-versa. What kind of invitations do you extend and why? The sexual life force behind humanity is an overwhelming spirit. At the core of this interplay between sexuality and spirituality is desire and longing. Spirituality and Sexuality: The Healthy Connection PETER B. ANDERSON AND MAL MORGAN ABSTRACT: This article offers an appraisal of the relationship between the spiritual and sexual dimensions of our health. There is a great deal of difference between entering into a marriage with an unbelieverand staying in a marriage where ones mate is an unbeliever. Again, the issue is an intention and in setting aside time to intentionally grow the relationship of sexuality and spirituality with your partner. Sex therapist Gina Ogden had known for years that sexuality and spirituality are connected. God made it possible for you to know. Related Topics: Basics for Christians, Cultural Issues, Temptation, Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. 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