(Or Nope. Sorry, Nope. I Disagree with Your Purity Opinions)
Every now and then, I see stuff on the internet (*cough* I'm looking at you, Facebook *cough*) and foolishly click on it. This time, it was an article titled 5 Lies That Make Sexual Purity More Difficult, and I wondered what lies could there possibly be? Folks decide not to have sex until marriage. What's the lie in that?
I must say I was very pleasantly surprised at first. Before the shit hit the fan. (Yes, I'm taking a clear stand here. I have nothing against purity itself and people who decide for it. It's their choice, and I respect that. I just find the reasoning a bit... Well. Let's just say there's a reason for this post).
So, the beginning. The article actually says that yes, humans are sexual beings and that's good and wonderful and a part of us. A part God created just like the rest of us. (And, after all, we're perfect creations made in His image, right? Right.)
It was surprising to read something like that in an article about purity (which is sad, if you think about it. The surprise part). Something, you know, positive. Encouraging. I mean, there's somebody who probably wants to convince me not to have sex before marriage, and they're telling me sexuality is good? Awesome. Finally somebody reasonable.
That was pretty much the reason I read further. I kind of wish I hadn't, though, because things like this appeared:
Your married friends are free to have sex, but that doesn't mean they aren't struggling with porn, fantasy, images from the past, extramarital flirtations, and conflict over sex in marriage. Single or married, yielding your sexuality under the lordship of Christ will always be a battle.
Wait. Weren't you just telling me how sexuality is good and natural and all? And now you're telling me that something that is okay needs to be fought? Needs to be yielded? That's... somewhat contradictory, my dear.
It gets better.
in response to the vast number of Christian women who are reading Fifty Shades of Grey. I've heard from scores of strong Christian women who have indulged in "mommy porn," viewing it as nothing more than a guilty little pleasure. I've read the trilogy and am quiet astounded that a Christian can read this material without great conviction.
Let me get this straight. The author of the article read Fifty Shades of Grey to prove how it's unsuitable reading material. Kudos to the person who figures out why this makes my hypocrisy alarms blare...
Engaging with sexually stimulating movies, websites, romance novels and television shows is like willingly giving Satan a piece of your mind and your heart.
Wait, Satan is offering me porn? Where? Is it free? This bit just makes no sense at all. What does Satan have to do with this? It's just... No, I don't understand this. Is it supposed to tell me all the temptations come from Satan? But wait, I thought we were created with sexuality, right? So... Sexuality comes from God... But every bit of our culture that admits sexuality exists comes from Satan? Nope, sorry. Still note seeing it.
It goes on:
It may seem "harmless" but will lead you down a path that may ultimately compromise the potential of a pure sexual relationship in the future.
What pure sexual relationship? Oh, right, you mean that pure sexuality you're telling me to repress (even though you told me before it was natural. Remember that? Good times...). That pure sexuality that would probably feel very bad and dirty and forbidden after all that fear of "sinful" thoughts and repression? Nice definition of pure.
What do you battle? Memories from the past? Urges to act out sexually? Homosexual thoughts? No matter what horrible thoughts come into your mind, they do not have to define you. /.../ When we allow temptation or past failings to define us, we deny the power of Christ to make us "new creatures."
Horrible thoughts? Well, excuse me while I feel offended. Urges to act out sexuality? But... didn't you say sexuality is a part of us? A God-created part of us? And the "urges to act it out" are not? That would be like saying we were created to need food but eating or wanting to eat is bad.
Also, of course temptations don't define us. Nor does a single kind of thoughts or a single line of failures, whatever they may be. It's a part of being human. We're defined by everything we do and think and feel and are.
I'll just... leave this here now. Okay? Okay.
(Article cited and linked to on May 29, 2014)
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