Sex and Spirituality

The recent controversy regarding Sarah Palin, the Republican Vice Presidential Nominee, and her pregnant unmarried daughter, has again sparked the national debate about whether sex education and abstinence programs should be taught in schools. In light of the ongoing controversy, I would like to dedicate a series of blogs under the label SEX AND SPIRITUALITY, to deal with the issue of sex from a natural and spiritual level, and to learn more about this act, which is practiced by all of creation.

Sex is a natural act that is practiced by all creatures, whether plant or animal, for the purposes of reproduction and the continuation of the species. It is an act which God has created to ensure the continuation of the various species of plants and animals He has created, and to prevent extinction. In the book of Genesis we read where God told the birds and sea creatures to "be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1: 22), in order to populate the earth. Without sexual reproduction, all life on this planet would eventually become extinct, as the living members die off. Sex therefore is ESSENTIAL to the continuation of life on Earth.

In God's creation of man, His command to man was no less than His command to the plants and animals. In Genesis 1: 27-28, we read where God COMMANDED Adam and Eve to engage in sexual reproduction, and He BLESSED them with the gift of sex! It says:

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him: male and female created he them. 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 original plan was for Adam and Eve to have many children, who in turn would have many children, and so on, until the whole earth was inhabited by man, along with the various species of plants and animals. In addition, man had the responsiblity of "replenishing the earth," which was to make sure that the resources of the earth which were used up were replaced, and to "subdue" the earth, which was to take responsibility and authority for the care of all living creatures on earth. The end result and blessing of sex would have been a world that was populated by a people who lived at one and in peace with God and nature. Alas however, sin and death entered into the world in the garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3). Consequently, sex took on a secondary function which, in addition to populating the earth, sex was also used to REPLACE those members of the race which had died. Thus we can see that sex was, and still is important for the continuation and survival of the human race.

In additon to reproduction, sex was created for a man and his wife to enjoy as a social activity, and for pleasure. In Proverbs 5: 18-19 we read:

"Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as a loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love."

King Solomon also enjoyed the sexual pleasures of his wife, and this is well documented in the book Song of Solomon. In this book we can read about the intimate desires expressed between king Solomon and his wife, who was Pharoah's daughter (1 Kings 7:8; Song 7: 1). In Song of Solomon 7: 10-12, Solomon's wife expressed her deep desire for her husband when she said,

"I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards: let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grapes appear, and the pomengrantes bud forth: there will I give thee my loves."

What a powerful statement of desire and intimacy, expressed in poetic terms within the pages of the Bible! Who knew, that the Bible endorsed sex as a pleasurable activity to be practiced between a man and a woman in marriage! Some would have us believe that sex was only for reproduction, but here is living proof that was sex was also created for pleasure. In the book of Hebrews we read that "marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13: 4). The sexual act in marriage is therefore not a dirty thing and unclean, but is actually a pure act, which is blessed by God. It is also a holy act, which is set apart by God for special use within the confines of marriage, but is only deemed unholy if practiced outside of marriage.

Yes, the debate about sex continues, and will continue as long as man is on earth. We need however to understand that sex is a natural part of life, is essential for life, and is a gift given to us by our Creator, for a blessing. Keep checking back for more blogs pertaining to this subject, under the label SEX AND SPIRITUALITY. I will be tackling more material pertaining to sex such as functionality and sex (from a physical therapy perspective), and also controversial topics such as birth control, sexual immorality, and sexual diseases. Have a great day!