Yesterday we launched a series on the subject of sex. Our goal is to tackle your tough questions armed with God's Word! One question I've often wondered is, why is God so negative about sex? You wanna know the answer? He isn't! Here's what we wrote about this question in the book The Bare Facts:
As our culture increasingly promotes sex without boundaries, God's view of sex seems more and more radical. Since the culture's message is progressively pro-sex, many people interpret God's message about sexuality to be anti-sex. Nothing could be further from the truth. When it comes to God's view of sex, many people, including Christians, have mistaken God's serious approach to the subject to be negativity toward the subject. God does take sex very seriously. But the picture He gives of sexuality is more intense, vibrant and well ... sexy ... than the view taught by the culture. In fact, sticking to God's plan for sexuality leads to sex that is far more fulfilling than the sexual experiences supported by the world. How do we know that God is pro-sex? Because of the dynamic picture of sex He paints in His Word. In Proverbs, the writer speaks about a physical encounter that is satisfying and intoxicating (Prov. 5:19). There's no anti-sex message here! But there's more. The Song of Solomon is full of steamy descriptions of love scenes between a man and a woman. The book tells the story of two lovers totally immersed in satisfying each other. The lovemaking poetry is vivid and exciting, and God included it in His Holy Word. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul recommends sex between married couples often. The clear message is that God created sex for our enjoyment and His glory. In fact, there's not a single verse in the Bible that calls sex "sinful" or "dirty." The verses that are often quoted to paint sex in a negative light aren't about sex at all. They are about the misuse of sex outside of God's design. God designed sex as a gift to be shared between a husband and a wife. As the original designer, God created the sexual experience to be the most exciting and satisfying. God's message about sex isn't, "Don't do it because it is sinful or wrong." His message is, "Wait—because sex according to this design is so wonderful it is worth protecting." . . . God's plan for sex is clearly outlined in the Scriptures. He wants us to enjoy sex, but He asks us to wait until we are married. The world teaches that God's request to wait is proof that He wants to deny what's good for us. But nothing could be further from the truth. . . . Psalm 31:19 says, "How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you." God's desire is to give us good things. The boundaries He places on sex are for our protection, not our deprivation. The world may see limits on sexuality as negative, but the opposite is true. God isn't against sex. He's so for it that He wants every man and woman to experience sex according to His original design. If we choose to believe God when He promises He has good things in store for us. We can freely embrace His plan for sex knowing He desires us to experience sex at its best.
I love answering this question because the clear answer is that God isn't negative about sex! Instead He wants us to stick to His plan so that we can experience the blessings He intended. What evidence can you find in God's Word to prove that God is pro-sex when we stick to His guidelines? Leave us a comment and tell us what you've found. Then be sure to check back next week as we tackle another question about this delicate subject using God's Word as our guide!