“A lot of teenagers develop their sexuality with pornography, and then find that relational sex isn’t as satisfying, Weiss said. Porn gives them a “very strong chemical hit,” and alters ways of thinking about sex, somewhat like the classic “ring the bell, feed the dog” stimulus-response mechanism. Addicts thus learn to become sexually attached to objects, and have trouble getting the same kind of satisfaction from sex in a relationship, he [Mark Schwartz] said.”

Well, here we are at a very conservative Baptist church and there is a post on pornography and sexual addiction.  Pornography is a real issue the church must address and God gave us sex.  A preacher at my alma mater once declared, “sex is good!”  However, it is only good when enjoyed within God’s boundaries.  Isn’t that the case with everything?  Think of these good things and their corresponding sins:  food-gluttony; money-greed or theft; self image-pride and arrogance.  Concerning sex, it can be a great gift from God, but I often feel as if the boundaries for it are lost in the world at large and even the church.   

The quote above is from a CNN article on sexual addiction that is pointing out how many young folk are hindering and even ruining their chances at meaningful relationships in the future.  I believe it was Karl Barth who said depravity is the only empirically verifiable doctrine (everyone can see evil exists).  The world can see there is a problem with how people are approaching sexual activity, but it cannot ultimately understand the heart of the problem or the ultimate solution.  Without understanding that God has created sex for a specific context–marriage–and that we have a bend in our hearts so that we take all of God’s good gifts and abuse them to a perverse end, the world will not be able to offer these sex addicts, or any other addict, any real relief.  All the world can see is that it is dangerous, not how perverse this twist is.  We were created to enjoy marriage and we as sinners give that up for a picture and a fantasy?  The only worse exchange than this in history was giving up a right relationship with God for a lie that we can be our own God.

The gospel is the only thing that can heal, bring forgiveness to, and correct what all can see as dangerous behavior.  The gospel is God revealing to man what God’s right order is and should be.  It is God becoming man to die for our perversion of and rebellion against that right order.  The gospel tells us that God sends his Spirit to empower us to repent and live within God’s right rule where life will truly be enjoyed. 

If you are a yute (see My Cousin Vinny), please realize that your purity and innocence is a precious gift from God that once lost is never fully recovered.  You can be forgiven, but you experiences are a part of who you are.  Your sin has consequences.  God’s order for you is to be patient and disciplined as you wait for God’s provision of a partner.  If we were still in the Eden stage, you probably would not be expected to wait as long as our Western world prescribes.  Don’t date Jesus, worship him as the God who saved you and trust he will send the one you should date, court, whatever.

If you are married, this is just as critical.  The temptation does not get any easier, and the stakes are as high because you are with the person God has provided for you.  You can ruin that relationship with where you let you eyes and mind go.  Your satisfaction and enjoyment are at stake.  Love your spouse purely as Christ loved the church.

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