I’d like to speak out on an issue of great controversy. I know that many people will not agree with me. But one great concern I have is with the Gnostic understanding of spirituality prevalent today in evangelical Christianity.
What is Gnosticism? The popular group was a half-Christian half-Platonic/pagan religion that appeared in the early church. They stressed among other things the complete distinction of spiritual and physical with physical matter being evil while spirits were always good.
Many Christians in the early centuries of the Christianity added Gnostic ideas to the faith. And soon many of these false teachings were translated into Christian doctrine. Augustine was one culprit who occasionally added Gnostic ideas to the faith; and unlike his predecessor Origen most of his ideas stuck with the western Church. Augustine was given a great standing among Christian community. Yet before, he had converted He was a teacher Neo-Platonism. (Confessions of St. Augustine)
One of the doctrines, which he was responsible for was the belief, which Catholics would adopt, stated that sex is the original sin. Many Christians would catch on to this view of sexuality. They would go on argue for the Immaculate Conception and perpetual virginity of Mary. Because they argued that since Mary was the mother of Jesus she had nothing do with sex, ever. Also, the Bible book “Song of Solomon” which was about sexual love between a young married couple was reinterpreted as a book of God’s Love for his people. This became a very awkward interpretation since God would have erotic desires and fantasies toward the church. Some theologians even argued that Adam did not have a penis when originally created.
Also the practice of Monasticism formed out of Egypt, a region popular for Neo-platonic and Gnostic philosophy. They practiced isolation and permanent celibacy. The Catholic Church at first was concerned but then decided to impose monasticism upon all church laity. Soon, this was a normative view of sex.
However, Catholicism has always struggled with hypocrisy as a result. Many Monks early on were guilty of castration (burning off their genitals). This was considered heretical by the early church since our sexual organs are part of our body which is created in the image of God. Many priests in the medieval times were known coming to prostitutes. In fact, many Catholic countries are well known for having an above average rate of prostitution. In the last century thousands of priest in America alone have resorted to Child molestation, homosexuality or both. And a recent poll in Ireland, showed that more 50% of active priest have been sexually active while priest.
The problem with this view of sex is that it does treat sexuality as a natural part of God’s universe. God not only created the process of sex, but made it a natural part of God’s universe
In fact, the Bible mentions sex as the very first commandment given to man.
Gen 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
The Bible contradicts many of the sexual teachings of Catholicism like imposed celibacy.
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
In the evangelical movement, we have moved away from many of these Catholic doctrines, and yet many beliefs and practices remain and are making a comeback.
In reaction to the secular sexual revolution churches and youth ministries are putting an emphases upon abstinence and remain a virgin before marriage. This I believe is the right thing to do. However, these movements have had a tendency to dominate youth ministries.
When I was a youth the subject of virginity was the dominant topic of my youth ministry experience even above evangelism. In fact, I don’t remember any Bible doctrines discussed in detail outside of this doctrine. There was discussion of believing, justification, eternal security, confessing our faith, prayer, worship, dependence on God and that was about it. The focus was on morality/virginity, getting saved, witnessing (and repeat)! This was not unique of my church either. This is what I have seen from the majority of youth ministries of which I have heard and of which I have ministered alongside.
As I went through Bible College the emphases on chastity multiplied. Now the emphases was not just waiting as far as sexual relations goes but no copulation or “making out”, and for many even kissing and dancing. There was a large movement in the dorms to be totally free from masturbation some of them nicknamed it “going on strike (!)”. Many rules have been added in light of sexual scares. Many argue that a man should never be left alone with a women or minors. I even knew one church that had a policy of firing ministers if they were found alone in the same room as someone from the opposite sex. (Remember, not necessarily in an awkward position, just sharing air space.) Now there are even some that argue that you should never date until you are married. I noticed that many of these types of people had a large emphasis on these subjects but when the subjects of Biblical interpretation were discussed it was deemed socially incorrect. For them spirituality is about emotion prayer and chastity.
The emphasis on virginity has become an even taller hurdle in our culture, not just because society has become covered sexual messages, but because the normal age has been stretched to even older averages. ( late 20’s to mid 30’s) as opposed to early 20’s. Remember how many celibacy advocates look up to Mary as their role model? Most scholars agree that she was between 13-15 when she had Jesus and was then married. ( Not to mention the fact that she several children. I waited for marriage until I was 26. That means I was a virgin longer than Mary!
The danger of this kind of sexual teaching is strong. Raising up high goals for a highly tempted society is a recipe for hypocrisy. I remember speaking with a young woman who was in a youth group that I had helped in leading years ago. She had felt compelled to leave the church because of the shame heaped upon her for getting pregnant. She told me very sincerely that she practiced her faith just the same as the rest of the youth. Her friends in the youth were preaching chastity but were sexually active with their boyfriends and girlfriends. Then one day she got pregnant the youth minister’s wife said some hurtful things according to her and she was so offended by the hypocrisy she left the church that her family and herself had went all her life. She has since married the father. It’s one thing to get after Christians over pre-marital sex but if only the pregnant are chastised, then you only have a condemnation of their children. This is a problem of hypocrisy. By the way Children are a blessing from God.
Psa 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psa 127:4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Psa 127:5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
This reaction to temptation I believe is feeding sin more than stopping it. I wonder if this wasn’t the starting point for ministers who have fallen in sexual sin such as Ted Haggard.
So how she would approach sexuality? First let us understand some issues.
First, we should understand what is biblical and what is not. The Bible does have rather high standards of sexuality, though not impossible ones.
The Bible teaches that we should not have sex outside of marriage. (The term fornication is sex outside of marriage.
1Co 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
The Bible does teach that we should not lust either.
Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Now some people gather several misconceptions. First of all, Jesus did not say lust is the same as adultery. He said it was the same as adultery of the heart. Otherwise women would be divorcing their husbands because as soon as they lusted it in their head it would be ok to rip apart the family. However to lust is to perform adultery in our minds. Since we should not act out adultery we should not fantasize about having sex with others.
Many argue that singles must not copulate, nor kiss, nor masturbate. This is based off of the implication that we should not have sexual immorality.
Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
However, the Bible is not very specific as to what sexual uncleanness for a moral person entails. Therefore I think our convictions ought to be left up to the individual or at most the family. If one follows an implication of scripture that is unclear and it only affects just themselves or a few then it should only be the responsibility of a few. Basically the male and female and if they are young their parents.
Ironically, I believe the best interpretation of the implications of scripture is that we should not touch areas that cause sexual arousal and by staying away from lust we should not masturbate. However to preach about these subjects to the church is ultimately encouraging gossip. So I think sexuality should be left as matters that are to be private.
If you commit a private sin of conviction, I do not believe you have to discuss it with any one other than God and an offended party.
This brings us to the second point. We need to understand what are realms of responsibility are.
Some issues are up to the government, others the church, others the family, and others the individual. Some issues may involve several, but some don’t.
Unless you are committing a sex crime upon an individual, the government should not be concerned with you sex life. Unless you have committed a public (or made known to the public) sexual sin then the church doesn’t need to get involved. (Though ministers should be available for counseling) The family should get involve about the same although they will probably deal with these issues more commonly.
By the way in my experience those youth that have model families of sexual morality and usually better off than those who don’t, even if they go to church. We must remember that the family has a greater influence and more time with youth than churches. If the family sets the example then you have the best shot. However, no matter what it is the decision of the individual.
Thirdly, politic correctness is not biblical. While we should avoid the appearance of evil, but some appearance should not be assumed evil. When Jesus was alone with the woman at the well, appearing before Mary Magdalene at Golgotha he was not appearing to be evil. Nor was he appearing by gather little children to himself. This is not the problem of people who are accidentally alone, it is instead the problem of those who assume evil thoughts. It is not Godly to accuse people of misdeeds, this is gossip and slander.
Jud 1:10 But these speak evil(gossip) of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
Pro 10:18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
Fourth, we need to put sexual morality in its proper place. One of the greatest regrets about our obsession with sex is that it takes up valuable time away from our lives and focus on other morals. A classic example is Jessica Simpson. Simpson was formerly a Christian artist and her father was formerly a youth minister. Many praised her for waiting for marriage. However, people didn’t notice her reality show drunken binges and cursing. Nor did they pay attention to the fact that she married a non-Christian and that she had left Christian music for worldly music. Since then she has divorced her husband, and made more sexually explicit videos portraying the character of Daisy Duke. Daisy Duke used to be a sex symbol in the 70’s. Ironically, even though she did not have a public reputation for Christianity, she never resorted to dressing in a bikini, straddling a car dancing, all the while rubbing herself with car-wash soap for television.
The fact is that holiness should not focus on one activity but following all of God’s commands. Young Christians may know to wait for marriage (Whether or not they follow it.) But do they know about not being lazy (idleness)? The bible says we are not to even hang around with an idle man. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-11) How about hatred, in the same passage where he speaks on adultery, Jesus said that hatred is a sin, which could bring us to Hell? (Matt.5:22) We need to have a complete focus on all of God’s commandments, not just a few.
Fifth, we need to have a more practical viewpoint of sexuality. We need to let go of our subjective feelings based sexual morality and focus on its practical use. Sex is not about our personal sensations, it’s about family. God’s purpose of sex is in order to reproduce and bond the husband to the wife. If a young man is having trouble containing his sexual desires, then he needs to get married. If he is not ready to get married then he needs to get himself ready. If he needs money then he should go out, work overtime, and save up for a house. When he is tempted as a married man, he needs to make love to his wife and then focus on God.
Sixth, in order to have an effective competent sexual lifestyle we need to lower the sexual environment. We need to join in the fight to get pornography off out of the public square. Off the TV, Radio, Internet, and magazine racks. We must help the government realize that pornography is not speech, it is simply a form of prostitution designed to rip apart families. We must stay away from and boycott all sexual industries, strip clubs, adult toy & bookstores, peep shows and adult theaters. Stay away from adult magazines, books, videos and call lines. Churches and families need to make sure that the women and girls are not dressing too lascivious (smutty).
2Co 12:20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
2Co 12:21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
Seventh, another matter that has been going on which individuals and churches have ignored is that we need to be vigilant over our conversations. When we have lewd Jokes and intensely sexual conversations then we have provided a sexual environment that can be very tempting. As individuals families and churches we need to refocus on the content of our conversations. We should only speak on the subject if we have to.
Eigth we must remember sexuality in light of the cross. We will all have sin and almost always have some sexual sin. The goal in the gospel is not simply to have virgins who wait for marriage. The goal of the church and the gospel is to save our souls from Hell and give us new life in Christ. Sexual holiness is a defensive practice. But holy living must focus on positive practices, which bring Christ in the world, not only run away from the devil. Many of our fathers in the faith did not have perfect sex lives. David was considered a man after God’s own heart. Yet, he was guilty of both adultery and polygomy. Even the man in first Corintinthians who had sex with his father’s wife was eventually restored. We may bear many scars of sin, but this is the sin that Christ died to redeem us from.
Col 3:2-15 "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."
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