Trafford Publishing: Divine Sex: Liberating Sex from Religious Tradition

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Divine Sex: Liberating Sex from Religious Tradition

by Philo Thelos

328 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-1115; ISBN 1-55395-400-9; US$28.50, C$35.15, EUR22.90, £15.90

This modern re-examination of the Bible's references to sex strips away illegitimate religious tradition, to reveal that God views sexual pleasure as a blessing to humanity.

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about the book about the author sample excerpts or Table of Contents catalogue info

About the Book

Divine Sex examines every Biblical reference to human sexual practice. By using tools of modern scholarship, evidence is produced to show that the Bible does not actually say what generations of professional religionists have told us. The Bible does not forbid all sexual activity other than monogamous heterosexual intercourse. Instead it treats us to a wide range of God-approved, and sometimes even God-supplied, sexual possibilities that the church has never told us about. In fact, the most famous erotic poem in history, is actually a book of the Bible!

God is the Architect both of human sexuality, and of sexual pleasure. The passion, pleasure and possibilities of sex are His gift to humanity. Like any proud parent, Father God is pleased and honored when His kids delight in His gift/ God made sex to be fun. He is not embarrassed nor is He angered when we enjoy it. Sex as God designed it to be is truly Divine.

From polygamy and concubinage, to prostitution, to masturbation, to oral sex, to nudity - and all else besides - this study of what the Bible actually says, and does not say, will surprise, perhaps elate, and we believe will liberate the reader from the sex-stifling effects of church dogma.

Sex without religious baggage. Sex without guilt and shame. Sex as the Creator meant it to be. Divine Sex.

For more information on spiritual freedom visit the author's website, www.freedomguide.net

About the Author

The author is a Seminary graduate (B.Th.), licensed and ordained to the Pastorate by three Christian organizations, and a full time minister in the Christian Church for 36 years. His first 18 years of ministry were with the Church of Christ. Since 1984 he has ministered in both "mainline" Evangelical churces and independent Charismatic churches. He recently retired to devote his time to writing.

The author and his wife have been married 39 years, raising three daughters and enjoying 10 grandchildren. They both have devote themselves all their married life to religious work and promotion of the gospel of Christ.

For 36 years the author employed the modern tools of scholarly Biblical research, to an expository (contextual, verse by verse explanation) approach to both Bible study and preaching. Such study produced frequent discovery that the Bible does not say what he had been trained to believe about many things. In fact, he discovered quite frequently the Bible says the very opposite of what he had been taught. This was especially true regarding the subject of sex. Many modern sexual taboos are founded not on actual Biblical statements but rather, on human opinion and church tradition. The result of his study on human sexuality was so liberating for him and his wife, and for the few with whom he had the opportunity to share his findings, that he decided the information must be published. Hence this book.

The author says, "I believe that the average Christian will welcome this book. Not because they are sex-crazed perverts-in-waiting, but because they are honest people who share in common a natural, God-given passion for sex that has been choked off by centuries of ill-founded church traditions. They will know the truth of this book as it bears witness with their spirit."

Sample Excerpts or Table of Contents

FOREWORD

We want to ask some pointed questions about sex. These questions address practical issues of living on earth in the flesh, surrounded by men and women who are all sexual creatures and all of whom have a multitude of questions about their sexuality for which no one either has answers, or even dares to ask the questions. Most people will never ask these questions of another person simply because to ask them would raise doubt in the other person*s mind about the querist*s spirituality. These questions relate directly to issues of what is holy and what is not; what is acceptable and what is not. Some of these questions are asked because conventional sexual attitudes just don't make sense when applied to some real life situations. Especially when we compare contemporary sexual ethics with what is written very plainly on the pages of the Bible our reaction is "How can that be true?" Biblical sexual morality does not even resemble modern "Christian" sexual morality.

We began asking a few of these questions years ago because counseling sessions with people who were struggling with sexual issues usually ended with frustration on the part of everyone involved. Some of the counselee's questions we could not answer with strict Biblical integrity. What we had been trained to say simply did not match what we found in Scripture and we knew it. But we didn't have a better answer than the ones we had heard. Finding ministerial peers with whom to discuss these questions is almost impossible because we all know that we don't have real answers to some very crucial questions. Not many ministers will risk asking really difficult sexual questions of a peer because of the suspicion it raises about one's personal sexual practices or desires. But eventually the questions were too numerous to simply disregard any longer so we set out on a quest to find real Biblical answers. We think we have found them. Our questions may not be exactly the same as yours but these are important questions and we will risk asking them and risk even more in giving our own answers.

Why is the OT filled with examples of men practicing polygamy and having sex with concubines and slaves? Why don't we ever read even one line of correction from God about this practice? If this practice is so bad how could God bless such men as Abraham, Jacob, David and others and use them mightily for His purposes, and develop special relationships with them? These men loved God and would have done anything He told them. Why didn't God tell them He didn't like their multiple sexual relationships? If David could have sex with a hundred wives, concubines and slaves and still go to Heaven, why do you and I go to Hell if we have sex with even one other woman than our wife?

How could God simply turn His head and appear to not know that some of His servants, like Jacob and Samson, consorted with prostitutes? God never hesitated to punish or at least to rebuke the evil behavior of His servants. Why not once does he indicate that He is even slightly concerned about prostitution? Why is there no Biblical law against prostitution per se? Why didn't Solomon punish the two prostitutes who fought over one baby?

Can't a man even look at a beautiful woman and be aware that she is sexually desirable without committing "adultery in his heart?" If not, is sexual attraction not a legitimate part of the dating/mating process?

When does nudity become sinful? We laugh at small children running naked and even comment on how "cute" they are. When does it stop being "cute" and become "shameful?" And exactly why does this change occur? And how do we prove it by the Bible?

What is the great difference between sex as animals practice it and sex as humans practice it? God is not concerned - to any degree - about how animals practice sex. Why is He concerned about how humans do it? Specifically, what is there about the function of a human penis or a vagina that concerns God more than the animal equivalents? What is there about human sexual climax that makes more difference to God than animal climax? Neither of these is an issue at all in the animal realm. Animal sex organs function exactly as humans do and animals climax the same as humans do. Why do we suppose there is a difference with God? Does the difference exists only in our imagination? Have humans somehow contrived the idea that God has placed human sexuality in a totally different realm than animal sexuality, and has created special rules to govern it that have no counterpart in the animal "instinct?" What we know of animal sexual practices we attribute to animal "instinct" which we believe was created by God. But some sexual practices that are "normal" in the animal realm are Divinely forbidden to humans. So we believe that God created animals with a "natural instinct" to copulate with many different mates, for example, but forbids humans to do the same thing. What sense does that make? Does the Bible really teach this to be true? In the animal kingdom it is universally common that one male services an unlimited number of females. That "instinct" came from God, Who did not change that instinct when He created humans, for polygamy was natural to humanity from the earliest time and God never corrected it. What Divine law establishes that God frowns upon the human practice of what He created as a natural instinct within all segments of the animal kingdom?

What is there about the physical act of sex, for either animals or humans, that causes God to have any concern about how, or with whom (and how many) it is performed? If we tried to parallel in the human realm what we observe in the animal realm what conclusions might we reach in light of what Scripture actually does say and what it does not say? For example, seeing that animal "polygamy" parallels human polygamy as revealed in Scripture, and finding no Divine correction of that practice for humans, what can we conclude except that God approved of polygamy in both realms? Sin does not account for polygamy in animals because animals cannot sin. They do what they do because they are created that way. If the instinct for polygamy is in animals it is there because GOD PUT IT THERE! We must draw the same conclusion about polygamous instincts in humans. God placed that instinct in man just as He did in animals and when it appears on the human scene in Gen. 4:23, it appears naturally, without a fuss made about it. It is probable that other examples of polygamy existed at that time. Lamech's polygamy is introduced as nothing unusual.

It appears obvious to us after looking at all the Scriptures that reference human sexuality that with God the issue has nothing to do with biological function of human sex organs and climaxes, but with human relationships of faithfulness, responsibility, etc. What distinguishes animal sex from human sex in God's eyes, is not who is having sex with whom, how often, and what do they do. God is ultimately concerned that people honor the rights and needs of other people in the sexual area as in all other areas. The regulations God placed upon sex are not just plucked from thin air. Each serves to protect people from abusing others and being abused in sexual activities. There is nothing inherently dirty or sinful about any sex practice whether done by animal or human. What makes any sex act sinful is the evil effect it has upon other people.

What is there about the physical act of sex that makes it a spiritual or moral issue for humans? Animals do the act with no moral implication. So it is not the act that is immoral but something else. What is that? At what point does the physical act of sex take on spiritual dimensions for the human? It seems obvious to us that Biblically, the crucial issue with God is the manner in which we relate to the person we have sex with. God's law restricts the physical act for humans so that we do not trespass on other people's private, exclusive property, i.e. their control of their own person. God requires that we do not take forcibly what others either cannot or will not voluntarily give, as in child abuse and rape. It is a sin to take from someone's person such an intimate gift without giving something in return. God's sex laws all relate to the issue of treating other people with absolute fairness, consideration and concern for their well being. There is nothing inherent in the sex act for either animals or humans that makes it a moral issue. It is a moral issue for humans because we are spiritual beings, and how we treat others is a spiritual matter.

If it is a moral issue, what makes any sex act a "sin?" Since the Bible itself says "where there is no law there is no sin" and "sin is transgression of the law" then nothing can legitimately define any sex act as sin except God's law!

If no law exists concerning masturbation can that act be sinful? The answer is "NO!"
If no law exists concerning oral sex can that act be sinful? The answer is "NO!"
Must we "let every man be convinced in his own mind" (Rom. 14:5) in aspects of sexuality where God has not legislated? And must we also "not judge one another any more" in those areas (Rom. 14:13)? Must we not also allow each person to "have their own conviction before God" and live by the rule that "happy is the man who does not condemn himself in what he approves," (Rom. 14:22)? The answer in every case is "YES!"

Nothing is sinful because "it just seems to be wrong." Subjective opinions, even if followed by the masses, can never establish a thing as sinful, otherwise sin becomes whatever people think sin to be. Sin is only what God says it is. If God does not prohibit it, it isn't sin. Most of us rightfully reject the opinions of those who have moral convictions about such things as the "sinfulness" of Christmas, playing cards, movies, makeup, jewelry, women cutting their hair, or wearing head coverings, etc. Why then do we submit to human opinion about sexual matters concerning which God has made no law? Can we be free to practice those things if it can be done in a way that will not affect others in a harmful way? Yes we can!

Why is it unthinkable to watch humans copulate? God sees animals have sex every day and pays no attention to it. God also sees humans having sex everyday and pays no attention to it except for those situations in which humans do it in disregard of the welfare of others. Humans can watch the sex act between animals, show it on nature programs on TV, etc. with no second thoughts about watching it. How did we derive the conclusion that it is sinful to watch humans enjoy sex but not sinful to watch animals do exactly the same thing? What makes the difference?

We make much of masturbation in these studies, because it is the sexual practice people most often ask us about. In fact it is almost the only practice people will risk asking about. If masturbation is sinful where is the Biblical law that says so. How can a sexual practice that involves no one but the practitioner, be evil? And when does that evil begin? Has the small child sinned when (s)he discovers that touching the genitals feels good? When they discover that playing with their sex organs produces sexual climax, have they sinned? Is the "sinfulness" of masturbation determined by one's age? by how often one touches one's genitals? how much pleasure one derives from the practice? If it is sinful how do we actually know that, and what exactly is it that makes it a sin?

When children discover the differences between male and female anatomy and naturally touch the parts of another person's body that are different from their own, is it sin? If that is not "lust" at what point does it become "lust?" If they continue to "experiment" this way and a boy has an erection while touching a girls breast or vagina, has he sinned? Has the girl sinned? If the girl is fascinated with the boy's erection and touches it, has she sinned? If she strokes it and the boy climaxes, is it sin? If the boy touches her clitoris and she allows him to do so until she has a climax, have they both sinned? If any of these experiences are sin, how exactly do we prove that? If one or more of them is sin but the others are not, how do we know the difference?

At what point do we conclude that "natural curiosity" becomes sinful, or that experiencing sexual pleasure is sinful? Why do we think it becomes sinful? What Bible teaching * that is God's Law * makes it sinful? Most parents accept that in children, sexual curiosity and experimentation is normal. If so, at what point does it become abnormal? Is it an age thing? Is it the point at which it causes arousal? If we teach little Johnny that it is wrong for him to look at neighbor Suzie's crotch and he must never again let her see his penis, what Bible verses do we use? It is our parental right to tell them we do not want them to do such things and forbid them to do so. But if it is only a parental preference, do we dare teach them that God disapproves, or shame them or create fear in them regarding a natural physical act?

How do we come to Bible/God honoring conclusions on issues like these:

A woman displays her body for the admiration and even sexual excitement of a man. What is her moral and spiritual condition? Is she a sinner because of that act?

If a man looks at a beautiful woman, is sexually aroused and is moved to ask the woman for a date, has he sinned? Is a man's delight in a woman's sexuality legitimate as part of his desire to marry her? Is sexual stimulation a natural part of the courting process?

A man is aroused by the physical/sexual beauty of a married woman. Is this arousal sin? That is, if a man is sexually excited by the beauty of a married woman, yet has no desire and forms no intention to take her away from her husband, has he sinned? Where is the sin * in the look? in the sexual excitement? What Biblical word or phrase describes this act as sin? Is being sexually aroused the same as desiring to possess a person? Isn't there a difference between looking with delight at a thing versus "lusting" after it? "Lusting" is the desire to possess for oneself what belongs to another. If the looking does not have that "lust" quality then it is not sinful. So if a man looks at a woman, married or unmarried, or if a woman looks at a man, married or unmarried, and delight in the sight, is it sin?

If a man is sexually aroused by a picture of a naked woman is it sin? If so, based on what Scripture? Is it possible
for a woman to admire a sexually attractive man without wanting to go to bed with him? Is it possible for a woman to look at a man in a swimsuit and be sexually aroused by his body, without sinning? If she accidentally observed a naked man and enjoyed the sight did she sin? If she looked at a photograph of a nude man and was aroused did she sin?

What if King David stood on his balcony, saw Bathsheba bathing naked, became sexually aroused, but did not ask her to come to his bed? Would he be guilty of sin? If so, what was the sin; seeing her naked body? sexual arousal? Suppose he stood and watched until she finished bathing. Knowing she was married, he had no desire to have sex with her and no intention of ever making physical contact with her. Did he sin by watching her and admiring her sexual beauty?

What if Bathsheba knew he was watching and deliberately let him watch. Did she sin? Did she commit adultery even though she did not have sex with him nor even desire to do so? What if her husband went up on the roof, found Bathsheba bathing, bathed with her, then had sex with her on the roof and David watched the whole thing. Did David sin? Did they sin because someone saw them? If they were aware that David was watching, did they sin?

Suppose the table was turned on David, and he was bathing on his roof, and Bathsheba happened to walk out on her roof, saw him, and watched him. Did she sin? What if David knew she was there and did not cover himself. Did he sin? What if either or both of them was aroused sexually such that they masturbated. Did they sin? The issue is actually very simple. The Bible specifically says that to look with the desire to possess what belongs to another is sin. But to simply look with sexual arousal is in no way condemned in the Scriptures. God specifies one as sin. Why did He not specify the other as sin? The obvious answer is that it is not sin to look where there is no intention to steal a mate from a spouse.

The related question: is sexual arousal inherently sinful if it is experienced in any context other than that of sexual activity between a married couple? May a person intentionally arouse oneself and enjoy sexual orgasm via masturbation as long as that person does not entertain adultery in his/her mind?

Suppose a woman likes working around the house naked. She is naked while vacuuming the living room and her male neighbor walks across the front of the house to ask for a cup of flour. As he approaches the window he glances in and sees her naked back to him. He stops and backs up a bit to hide himself around the corner but watches as long as she vacuums the living room. Has he sinned in watching her? If he had an erection was that sin? If he was so stimulated that he went back into his house and masturbated, was that sin? At what point was there sin, if at any point, and what Biblically establishes it as sin?

Consider a real life, personal situation. Years ago, while living in another city, we had a group of young men to the house for some reason. It was evening and while we men were visiting in the den my wife walked in wearing her nightgown and asked if we wanted anything. We said no and she left. Later, one of the men, a friend, commented on how beautiful she looked and said seeing her in her nightgown began to arouse him sexually and he said "I had to shift my legs around and Œfix myself'," that is, he had to hide a growing erection.

Did he sin because he had a natural sexual reaction to the sight of a beautiful woman? Did she sin because she was beautiful and appeared before those men dressed such (in an opaque gown, very discreet as I recall) that at least one of them was sexually aroused and perhaps the others too?

Was there sin in the natural, God-created biological stimulation that happens when a man looks at a woman? Since the man did not want to take her away from me and have her for himself he did not "lust after her in his heart." There was no "adultery" involved in his looking and sexual arousal. If sin was involved, who sinned and exactly what act constituted that sin according to the Bible? Multitudes of questions could be asked covering many imaginary scenarios. One reason for asking such pointed questions is to demonstrate that we respond automatically to answer most, if not all the above questions by saying such things are "sinful." But why do we react that way. Do we react on the basis of God's laws or on the basis of preconceptions that arise from cultural standards and church traditions? If the basis of our response is not Scripture we have no legitimate basis at all. If Scripture does not make a thing sin then we need not have any guilt about admitting the acceptability of a thing and we must not condemn one who approves it.

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