May 2, 2014 – Psalm 45

Click here to read Numbers 45 on BibleGateway.com

[Today’s post is for adults only. Parental guidance is suggested. In fact, more parental guidance would be good in general in our world.]

Ok, today let’s confront an issue that is rampant in our culture: the lack of sex. “Wait a minute,” you say, “our culture is saturated with sex. What we need is more good ole Bible based agape love. Not more of that icky naked stuff. Jesus would never have gone for that.” There’s some truth to that, for sure, but we need to be careful not to throw the booty out with the bath water.

WAIT, THAT’S IN THE BIBLE?

One of the key characteristics of the Bible compared to other religious texts is the unflinching portrayal of reality. The Bible admits that flattery sometimes works, that leaders and kings play favorites, and the rich oppress the poor if they can get away with it. This is not to say the Bible approves of these of things, but it clearly reflects reality. After all, who knows us better than the Creator?

Along with that, the Bible mentions sex at a frequency that some pastors and teachers may be uncomfortable with. The origin of the 12 tribes? A little polygamy, a little male prostitution, and a little incest are all included. Abraham, David, and Judah all could trace the major troubles of their life to sex. As far back as Adam, the two-becoming-one-flesh is central to God’s plan for mankind. And let’s not even get started with Solomon and his racy books.

The problem is that sex and sexuality have been so distorted in our culture, that as a Church we’ve decided it’s best to just ignore it as best we can, except maybe a marriage retreat once a year or so. The idea that couples should enjoy themselves sexually as part of their worship strikes us as odd, and probably somewhat self-serving.

NOT THE LEAST JOT OR TITTLE SHOULD BE CHANGED

Unfortunately, this means that we have to try to avoid all the times the Bible talks about our sexualness. We take verses and say “no, this is really about God’s love, not man-woman love. That would be too racy for God.”(the same God who has descriptions of entrails falling out in the Holy Word apparently thinks that a breast is too disturbing for his people to read). Song of Songs is sometimes portrayed as a metaphor between God and Israel or Christ and the Church. Our reading of Psalm 45 today is similarly regarded as metaphorical, rather than simply a celebration of the marriage of king to his beautiful princess bride.

Why are we so afraid to accept that God created sex for his creations to enjoy? Why do we allow the perversion of the world to rob us of what God created? When was the last time you finished your prayer time with your spouse with a roll in the hay? Does that strike you as inappropriate or crass? Why? When was the last time you heard a sermon on Godly sexual fulfillment? Does that seem out of place at church? Why?

There’s a hesitancy in us regarding sex, but we are sexual beings. We are what God made us – yes there is corruption because of the Fall, but the Bible is full of celebration of human sexuality. Let’s not shy away from it, let’s not pretend that that’s not part of who we are, part of how God designed us. Let’s seek instead to understand how to express sexuality in a pure holy way that is pleasing to Christ.

Let’s try to understand that the Bible is not asking to remove part of our humanity, but to express it fully in the manner that God intended.  Let’s not let culture determine how we read the Bible and the Author’s message to us.  The Enemy seeks to rob us of all the good gifts that God gives; why should this one be any different? Why should we let the Enemy make evil what God intends for good?  To have life and that life to the full; isn’t that what Christ promises and  intends for us?

Plus, smooching is fun.