Sex and the Bible, Reprise


Abstract:
It is interesting that although the Bible fairly drips with sexual subjects, details the social effects of sexuality and covenant through circumcision, pregnancy, romance, and child-rearing, and although it has inspired some stunning erotic art, we are able to preach and study it without ever using the word “penis.”

Body:
By far, the most common google search that leads people to this website is “Sex and the Bible” (or in the Bible). When I say “by far,” I mean by a factor of 10. If you’ve landed here looking for the post on Ruth and Boaz, it is here. I’d also recommend, if you are interested in the topic of “vulgar” subjects in the Bible, you might take a look at my post on Eglon for a sample of how the Bible gets censored from the pulpit and in Bible translation.

People may search for sex in the Bible for a variety of reasons.

1. They might be curious, plain and simple. I’ll call this motivation intellectual curiosity.
2. They might be looking for direction about a sexual decision they face. I’ll call this spiritual guidance.
3. They might look up “dirty” passages the way kids look up “dirty” words in a dictionary. Humor and stimulation seems an appropriate term.
4. They are looking to justify an opinion they already hold or a course of action they have already decided upon. Prooftexting. I’d much rather have a conversation with someone who is reading the Bible for puerile reasons than someone who is prooftexting. Someone who is horny may still open to the Holy Spirit. Someone who has their mind made up is much less so.

I’m sure there are other motivations, as well.

It is interesting that although the Bible fairly drips with sexual subjects, details the social effects of sexuality and covenant through circumcision, pregnancy, romance, and child-rearing, and although it has inspired some stunning erotic art, we are able to preach and study it without ever using the word “penis.” Or even the phrase “having sex.”

In English, we don’t even have a non-obscene word for copulation. All we have are euphemisms: make love, have sex with, sexual intercourse. A synonym for “intercourse” is “traffic,” but “sex trafficking” means something entirely different. The only verb we have for IT is the F-word, considered the most obscene word in our langauge.

I can only think of one other subject that is so taboo: the name of God. Interesting, these similarities between the sacred and profane.

Sex and religion have always been closely related. The two most powerful forces in human experience are sex and death. Fertility was important to ancient people because life was so tenuous. So, naturally, they worshiped natural forces, or divine forces that controlled them.

The Hebrew Bible is the story of God’s interaction with God’s people. God constantly has to delineate worship of natural forces from worship of God’s self. So, God outlaws sacred prostitution. But that doesn’t stop Judah and Samson from visiting prostitutes, nor does it stop God from using prostitutes as chosen messengers and rescuers.

God seems to delight in human sexuality. When the mysterious stranger tells Abe and Sarah that they will have children, Sarah asks, “shall I know pleasure again?” Just a few chapters later, we read about Rachel and Leah bargaining for conjugal rights with herbal aphrodisiacs.

For anyone looking for sexual guidance from the Bible, let me offer my sincere condolences. You won’t find much guidance. I know, you’ve heard plenty of pastors and pundits talk about “sex within the bounds of marriage.” And if I were to offer pastoral advice, I’d say the same. Nobody ever died from lack of sex, or from being faithful to one partner for life. Concerning personal sexual morality, it is probably best to err on the conservative side, for your spiritual and physical health. In spite of what marriage detractors say, faithful marriage is a beautiful thing.

But I cannot be intellectually honest without saying that the authors of the Bible do not think of sexuality and marriage the same way we do. The concept of “sexuality” hasn’t even been around that long - just over a hundred years. And Biblical marriage - well, that’s a tricky business. For those motivated by spiritual guidance, all I can say is - you already know what God requires of you: do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with your God.

Oh, and I wouldn’t look too closely to the Song of Songs for guidance. The most erotic passage in it is a description of a failed sexual encounter.

For those looking for humor and stimulation - have you read this passage?

Posted: Sun - January 1, 2006 at 10:07 PM           |

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