Sex in the Church

A detailed Summary of Sex in the Church

The purpose of this paper is to examine sexuality in the church: the attitudes of the congregation regarding sexuality, how/if it is taught in the church, and how the church deals and should deal with the issue of sexual immorality. The information for this paper comes from the interviews of three trusted church officials and from the Bible (NIV). Hopefully this paper will present differing information and offer helpful, experienced and biblical views on the topic of sexuality in the church. The following are the opinions of these officials as they were expressed to me.

In order to better understand the teaching of sexuality in the church, it is important to determine the attitude of the church or the majority of it's members regarding the issue of sexuality. When the three officials were asked if there were problems among the members Åregarding how, when or if sex is ever discussed in church the responses were 1: no, 2: I'm sure there is, nothing that's ever come up, it's never really been discussed. I assume that there is some concern but it's not talked about much... and 3: I assume there would be but it would be dependent on where it was done, whether it was a small or large class... etc. The

Interview 3: Much of the same things. Perhaps it would be more important to focus on sex in the marriage and the relationship.

Next, it is important to examine how or if sexuality is taught in the church. All three officials offered that they knew of some classes that their church or other churches had offered. One class was directed at teenagers, one at newly weds and one at newly weds and older married couples. It was apparent that the newly wed and married couple seminar was effective and that perhaps the class directed at teens was n ot as adequate. Each official expressed that the majority of their education on the topic of sexuality came from junior high and high school friends. There was a feeling of mystery and if their friends were the only people who would talk about sexuality then that's where the education would come from, whether that was good and healthy or not. " Teenagers don't have anyone to talk to about it but their high school friends, who probably won't offer a biblical aspect of sexuality, but if they're talking about it that's who to ask." Some questions were even left unanswered until college. When growing up one gentleman thought that "sex is only to be talked about by married people". There wasn't the option to ask questions, especially not of someone from the church because he "shouldn't have been interested". Two of the men said that their parents were also not open to talking about such topics as sexuality and what was happening to their bodies as they matured. There is a need for young people to understand what t he Bible has to say about sexuality. There is also a need for the questions to be answered by a mature, understanding, experienced adult and not by some thirteen to sixteen year old jock-porno star in the locker room. Each person was asked "If you were given the opportunity to teach a teen/college age class at church on the topic of sexuality, what are some important and effective things that you would make a point to include in the class?" These were the following (paraphrased) responses:

3. Are there problems among members of the church regarding how, when or if sex is ever discussed in church?

Interview 2: I would talk frankly, absolutely straight-up, no mystery. I wouldn't necessarily mention body parts or anything but I think it's important to talk about it. I think teen/college age students need to hear that sex outside of marriage is destructive. It's not only wrong but it breaks down the relationship. There is a worldly deceit that sex is the ultimate intimate act - it is IF you're married!!! The ac t of sex without the commitment of marriage breaks down the relationship. I would also say that sexual immorality is wrong because it does not honor Christ, not just that it's dirty but that "... your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;" (1 Corinthians 6: 19). When the sin becomes personal in the relationship with Christ it is more important or it means more to the sinner. People are more affected when they know that they are hurting their relationship with God and it makes the decision to stay pure more meaningful.

9. a) If you were given the opportunity to teach a teen/college age class at church on the topic of sexuality, what are some important and effective things that you would make a point to include in the class? b) Would your approach differ if your audience was newly weds and older married couples?

" Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each others burdens, and i n this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Gal. 6:1)

Some common words found in the essay are:
NIV Hopefully, Holy Spirit, God Matt, Christ Gal, ASexuality Church, sexual immorality, topic sexuality, teen/college age, church officials, sexuality church, newly weds, newly weds married, weds married, married couples, weds married couples, sex marriage, issue sexual, issue sexual immorality, sex outside marriage, questions left unanswered,

Approximate Word count = 2711
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous