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.
While it may feel like God's request to wait is proof that He wants to deny you what is good, nothing could be further from the truth.
When it comes to God's view of sex, many of us have mistaken God's serious approach to the subject as negativity. God does take sex very seriously. But the picture He gives us of sexuality is more intense, vibrant, and well . . . sexy . . . than any view taught by the culture. In fact, sticking to God's plan for sexuality leads to sex that is 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!
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 (1 Cor. 7:5). The clear message is that God created sex for our enjoyment and His glory.
Look Again
There is 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 (a.k.a. sin).
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 My design is so wonderful that it's worth protecting." He wants us to enjoy sex, but He asks us to wait until we are married. While it may feel like God's request to wait is proof that He wants to deny you what is good, nothing could be further from the truth.
Jeremiah 29:11 makes this promise: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Psalm 31:19 says, "Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you."
Trusting the Giver
If you're struggling to understand God's plan for sex, the real question might not be, "Why is God anti-sex?" but rather, "Is God really good?"
I hate to sound like a broken record, but what I said in yesterday's post about romance bears repeating.
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.
God loves to give us good gifts. He doesn't withhold good gifts (including sex) to harm or frustrate us. The boundaries He places on sex are for our protection, not our deprivation.
God isn't against sex. He's so for it that He wants you to experience it 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.
Let's Keep Reading
For more on God's plan for sex, check out these posts from our archives:
"God's Truth on Your Secret Sexual Sin"
"Friends with Benefits Scientifically Impossible"
PS: Much of this blog was taken from the book The Bare Facts that I wrote with Josh McDowell.