Myths about Love & Sex — part 2

How should mature Christians answer some of the common beliefs of a sexually charged culture? By exposing them as myths!

9781576835104As stated in a previous post, excellent help can be found in “How to Stay Christian in College” (Navpress, 1999) by Prof. J. Budziszewski. In chapter 6 he smartly raises and demolishes several common myths young people hold about love and sex. Let me cite the first, and his reply…

MYTH NUMBER TWO: LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND SEX YOU HAVE TO EXPERIENCE IT.

It may indeed be true that some things must be experienced to properly understand them, but is this true of “everything”? Budziszewski says,

“But other things in this life aren’t like that at all. Drug addiction is one, suicide is another. Nobody would say that you have to be a drug addict to become wise about drugs; nobody would say that you have to commit suicide in order to find out whether it’s a good idea. In fact, in these cases, experience is the one thing that keeps you from being able to choose wisely about them. Over the centuries, the human race has discovered quite a number of cases like this — behaviors that impair instead of enhance the ability to choose wisely, experiences that subtract from rather than add to understanding. That’s one of the reason they’ve been called sins and vices, and that people have been warned away from them instead of encouraged to try them. Sex outside of marriage is one of these cases.” (p.82)

Score: Truth = 2, Myth = 0.

More to follow….
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Simple thoughts on a spectacular thing

4896_103270385068_637930068_2531260_4855171_sMarriage is a spectacular thing! Having just marked my 25th Wedding Anniversary only reinforces this! And it spectacular far beyond my abilities to describe in writing (especially in a short blog post! But I do have a couple simple thoughts, that might encourage or edify others…

GOSPEL MYSTERY. When our Pastor, Dr Dick Sisson preached from Ephesians 5 at our wedding, he began by stating his wonder: how can a boy from Wisconsin win the heart of a girl from Boston? How do those “so different”(!) come together to enjoy the covenant relationship of marriage?? This mystery is a picture for us of the gospel itself — a picture of how men come to be in a relationship with God through Christ Jesus! In Ephesians 5 we read this (emphasis added)…

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her….
31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

Profound indeed! But by the common grace of God men and women do get married — and, by saving grace, men and women can be redeemed by Christ and enter into a covenant relationship with God! I am so thankful for BOTH graces at work in me and in my marriage.

pdb at Castle Hill Lighthouse, Newport, RI

pdb at Castle Hill Lighthouse, Newport, RI

STRENGTH TO CLEAVE. 25 years is a long time. Where does one find the inner strength to maintain a marriage? When I stood with my bride on our wedding day, and repeated my vows to her before God, I added a verse of Scripture (Psalm 73:26, my life’s verse) that has since proven true time and time again:

My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

My strength to be a husband comes from God. He is faithful to those who call upon Him, trust Him and serve Him.

I thank God for all that I have learned while being married to Laurel — about the joys of marriage, the real nature of love, and, the significance of grace. God is very good.

yours (and Laurel’s) by divine mercy,
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