Flood of pornography breaching the church

[Beth O]

When I was reading through the article below I couldn't help but think of the Emergent Churches obsession with sex. Rob Bell writes a book called, "Sex God." We also hear of Churches with this promotion, "Come to our Church and Improve Your Sex Life." Do we become so desensitized to sex that we then later fall into pornography. The gift that God has given us, (sex within marriage) must be respected at a high level.

Entire article here: http://www.baptistpress.com/BPnews.asp?ID=26023

Small quote here:
"The flood of pornography in our culture has desensitized society and has contributed to the fact that our nation is wandering aimlessly in dangerous, uncharted territory," Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said in a statement e-mailed to the Southern Baptist TEXAN.

That flood has entered the church doors, leaving anecdotal and documented evidence that families and churches are being damaged, mostly by Christian men -– some of whom are ministers -- who succumb to what Land calls a cheap imitation of God-designed sex.

"Sexuality is a far bigger and more troubling issue in the church than any other moral issue," Land said.

The National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity reports that an estimated 2 million Internet users are addicted to pornography. Christian men are among them.

[grape on the vine]

When I was reading through the article below I couldn't help but think of the Emergent Churches obsession with sex. Rob Bell writes a book called, "Sex God." We also hear of Churches with this promotion, "Come to our Church and Improve Your Sex Life." Do we become so desensitized to sex that we then later fall into pornography. The gift that God has given us, (sex within marriage) must be respected at a high level.

Entire article here: http://www.baptistpress.com/BPnews.asp?ID=26023

Small quote here:
Just out of curiosity, do you think the subject of sex should not be approached in church, or perhaps approached in a different way? If so, how?
I really wish someone would have educated me beyond, "Don't do it 'til you're married. Its' a sin."

[Beth O]

"Don't do it 'til you're married. Its' a sin."

What more could possibly be said?

We are told this by our loving Father for our protection! Sex as God intended is a beautiful and wonderful thing!

I've been on the other side of this and it was horribly damaging to myself and others. and that's all I will say about that!

[grape on the vine]

What more could possibly be said?

We are told this by our loving Father for our protection! Sex as God intended is a beautiful and wonderful thing!

I've been on the other side of this and it was horribly damaging to myself and others. and that's all I will say about that!
Well, yes, I understand that's the message. But it lacks so much. It only tells us what not to do. There is nothing in such a message that pertains to what to do instead, how to do things right, evaluating whether one is even ready to face these things, the proper way to love someone, etc. It just leaves a lot of questions unanswered. I guess it would have been helpful to be given more than to be told only what not to do and have the subject treated as a taboo.

I'm still curious as to your answer to the other question.

[cinderellie]

There is a plethera of information on purity and modesty for teens, and for adults,the topic should be discussed in premarital classes and counseling.

[Beth O]

Well, yes, I understand that's the message. But it lacks so much. It only tells us what not to do. There is nothing in such a message that pertains to what to do instead, how to do things right, evaluating whether one is even ready to face these things, the proper way to love someone, etc. It just leaves a lot of questions unanswered. I guess it would have been helpful to be given more than to be told only what not to do and have the subject treated as a taboo.

I'm still curious as to your answer to the other question.

What we learn from the New Testament is that if you are able to re-main unmarried and celibate it is a good thing because your focus can be on serving the Lord in these perilous times. If you are unable to re-main celibate, it is better to marry.

I'm quite sure you don't want me to tell you exactly how to have an appropriate sexual relationship within marriage. I believe we all know how this is done. I suppose if you desire to have sex with someone, you better determine if you love that person enough to marry them for life?? If you don't love them enough, one of the fruits of the spirit is self control. It takes discipline. I know a trait that is lacking in many. I don't know for me this is not a difficult concept.

1 Corinthians 7:7-9 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

[grape on the vine]

What we learn from the New Testament is that if you are able to re-main unmarried and celibate it is a good thing because your focus can be on serving the Lord in these perilous times. If you are unable to re-main celibate, it is better to marry.

I'm quite sure you don't want me to tell you exactly how to have an appropriate sexual relationship within marriage. I believe we all know how this is done. I suppose if you desire to have sex with someone, you better determine if you love that person enough to marry them for life?? If you don't love them enough, one of the fruits of the spirit is self control. It takes discipline. I know a trait that is lacking in many. I don't know for me this is not a difficult concept.
I guess I wasn't acquainted with the subject in such a fortunate way. I don't think a lot of kids are unfortunately. Anyway, thanks for the response.

P.S. No way was I asking for detailed advise on how to have an appropriate sexual relationship. Haha, wow, would that would be inappropriate.

Just curious when, where, and how you would broach the subject. That's all. Again, thanks.

[Beth O]

I guess I wasn't acquainted with the subject in such a fortunate way. I don't think a lot of kids are unfortunately. Anyway, thanks for the response.

P.S. No way was I asking for detailed advise on how to have an appropriate sexual relationship. Haha, wow, would that would be inappropriate.

Just curious when, where, and how you would broach the subject. That's all. Again, thanks.

Actually you bring up a good point. when, where and how to broach the subject. I believe we as parents have a big responsibility to prepare our children for life. Unfortunately many leave this task up to the tv and friends of their children. I started talking about this subject to my kids as soon as they could understand and as soon as they started asking questions. My first daughter started asking questions at 8 :yikes I am already teaching my daughters the Biblical way to approach this subject. We talk a lot about how to make sure you have found the right person to be your partner for life. One flesh. We also talk about the consequences of pre-marital sex. We have also talked about abortion and how that is absolutely not an option!!!!

[grape on the vine]

Actually you bring up a good point. when, where and how to broach the subject. I believe we as parents have a big responsibility to prepare our children for life. Unfortunately many leave this task up to the tv and friends of their children. I started talking about this subject to my kids as soon as they could understand and as soon as they started asking questions. My first daughter started asking questions at 8 :yikes I am already teaching my daughters the Biblical way to approach this subject. We talk a lot about how to make sure you have found the right person to be your partner for life. One flesh. We also talk about the consequences of pre-marital sex. We have also talked about abortion and how that is absolutely not an option!!!!
I'm very much in agreement with this.
So what about those kids whose parents don't take this approach? Is it the Church's responsibility (not so much in the congregation sense, but maybe more in a sense of people who are close to the individual kid) to teach them what they "need" to know?

[romans224]

I'm quite sure you don't want me to tell you exactly how to have an appropriate sexual relationship within marriage. I believe we all know how this is done.

Actually many Christians couples do not know in regards of the right/wrong issues that has been put on marriage by the church. Sometimes I believe we the church can be way to conservative, but then sometimes we are to open as well. There really isn't much taught to husbands and wives what the true sexual intimacy between a man and a women is to be.