Sex and the People of God

You know Adam and Eve, right? Okay, not personally, but the story of the first couple who manage to mess up on the whole paradise thing, and who eventually procreate is close to the beginning of the "in the beginning" book of Genesis in our bible. There is also the direction to "be fruitful and multiply" which is about the only biblical commandment we have actually followed through on.

Multiplying is apparently okay for people of faith. We Protestants trace our spiritual lineage to Martin Luther who was a priest before leaving Roman Catholicism. He eventually married a former nun and they had six children, which is a fairly strong statement about procreation. It is a bit shocking to read Luther on sex. He says that if a man can't satisfy his wife she should look elsewhere.

Why then are Protestants so uncomfortable, generally speaking, about acknowledging sexuality, particularly during Sunday worship? This past Sunday I spoke about the Sabbath and mentioned that Sabbath-keeping for Orthodox Jews includes encouragement to engage in sex as a celebration of marital intimacy. Eyebrows rose as though folk had just received an injection of botox. Did he just use the word "sex" in a sermon, as though it might be something to be celebrated? I chuckled and commented on their stunned silence and then there was some nervous laughter.

I laughed during the day when I recalled the startled looks in that moment. For some it may have been the first admission that church people engage in sexual activity and maybe even enjoy it. That's the ambivalence of our approach to sexuality. These days we affirm that sex is good, a gift of God, as long as we don't admit to doing it. Luther also said that there is something of sin in sex, but keep encouraged people to keep on doing it!

Now, in some megachurches in the States the pastors have actually gone in the other direction encouraging their folk to engage in sex more often. One actually brought in a bed which he perched on while delivering his message. While I like visuals this will never happen at Bridge St!



Were you brought up with mixed messages about sexuality? Did you ever hear sex mentioned in a positive way in church? Can you live with the occasional reference to sex without tarring and feathering the minister?