Spirituality and Sexuality: body and soul together

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In the opening remarks, the speaker of the forum tells about the disquiet of the subject to many of us, whether be it clergy or layman. To speak about sexuality and spirituality seems to be taboo to many of the culture not only to the Christianity. However, the literatures and the ancient remain such as statues and temples, somehow seem to tell different story.

I am confident that human sexuality was there from the very beginning of the creation. I also believed that it was created for good purpose. I agreed to the notion that “sex” is more than just for procreation. It is for love, intimacy, relationship, and “entertains” our humanness. Or in other word to quince our desire for pleasure. Humankind have been and always will be seeks for all these love, intimacy, relationship, and pleasures. Now the question of sex being bad or sinful came to fore when Hellenistic philosophy intruded into the simple faith Christianity. Ever since this happened, the church has been constantly confronted by the issue.

Notwithstanding it mean for good, it becomes immorality when it is misuse. Sex is immoral not because it is originated from humankind. Sex is immoral and wrong because devalue humanity. When there is immorality, there is also hatred, envy and jealous. If there is such, the very purpose of sex failed. Anything is good and not necessarily bad when it is within the limit and border.

Above all, the Scripture tells us to be away from immorality and going further not even to stay with them. The numerous New Testament references concerning immorality are:

              Matt. 5:32/19:9 - "divorces. except for the cause of unchastity/immorality"
              Matt. 15:19/Mk. 7:21 -"out of the heart come adulteries, fornications
              Acts 15:20,29; 21:25 - "abstain from idols and from fornication"
              I Cor. 5:1 - "there is immorality among you..."
              I Cor. 6:13 - "the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord"
              I Cor. 6:18 - "flee immorality.. the immoral man sins against his own body"
              I Cor. 7:2 - "because of immoralities, each man have his own wife"
              I Cor. 10:8 - "nor let us act immorally"
              II Cor. 12:21 - "not repented of impurity, immorality, sensuality"
              Gal. 5:19 - "deeds of the flesh are immorality, impurity, sensuality"
              Eph. 5:3 - "do not let immorality or impurity be named among you"
              Col. 3:5 - "consider the members of your body to be dead to immorality, impurity, passion,. which amounts to idolatry"
              I Thess. 4:3 - "the will of God is your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality"
              Rev. 2:14,20,21; 9:21; 14:8; 17:2,4; 18:3,9; 19:2

When there is so much teaching, one can not ignore the warning of the Scripture. The subject should be taught cautiously. It is written so that it is profitable for the body of Christ. We should tell the truth always. However, we should also tell them the limitation and border, the consequences if misuses the liberty. If we are not able to tell them clearly on the subject, it will bring only confusion. Truth come along with risk.  

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