Recognizing vs. Consuming Beauty
Sean and Drew have been coming to this gym for years, but the brothers have only recently started working out together. This new arrangement is great, though, if for no other [...]
Sex & Religion
The Novelty of Nudity
When I became a parent, I determined I would not raise children who would be ashamed of their bodies. Modesty, privacy, and self-respect were qualities I wanted to pass on to [...]
Sin of the Mouth – Is Oral Sex Sinful?
Sodomy. Not good, right? I mean, look how it turned out for Sodom. Their sin was “grievous” according to the outcry reported by the Lord, and He destroyed the [...]
1 Corinthians 6:9 – Idolaters (eidōlolatrēs)
Idolatry. The word just sounds rustic. Ancient. It brings to mind images of giant golden statues of animals surrounded by people in robes and other period attire. It [...]
Sinister & Malignant or Sexy & Mysterious – Part 1
Stigma & Menace S&M, or sadism and masochism, has developed a heavy reputation for creeps with superiority complexes, emotionally challenged women in leather, and a [...]
Is Porn Sinful?
As I’ve indicated on many subjects, I’m fairly liberal in my stance on sex in marriage. There are some immovable lines that cannot be crossed such as adultery, [...]
Adultery with Your Wife
Prior to writing the Latin Vulgate, St. Jerome was so haunted by sexual fantasies of “bands of dancing girls” he was unable to quench his own “fires of [...]
1 Corinthians 6:9 – Fornicators (pornos)
The first word Paul uses in his 1 Corinthians 6:9 list of kingdom-noninheritors is pornos, a word translated as “fornicators” in the NASB and KJV and as the [...]
Scripture on Masturbation
The dreaded “m” word. There are so many colloquial labels for the act. My personal favorite is used at my church’s men’s groups: “Taking matters [...]
An Evolution of Consent – Recognizing Nuance
Last week, I related the story of how Clara exposed me to the reality of my depravity: that long ago, I actually raped her. A product of my cultural upbringing and a couple [...]
1 Corinthians 6:9 – Summary
In Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, he offers a lot of tough but encouraging words of instruction regarding how to live life. Within these few chapters, he [...]
Procreation, Not Recreation – Is Sex for Procreation Only?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church reads, “A child does not come from outside as something added on to the mutual love of the spouses, but springs from the [...]
What is Lust?
The New Testament speaks pretty clearly on the subject of lust being unhealthy and/or sinful. The obvious go-to Scripture for this can be found in Matthew 5:28 where Jesus [...]
Mind Your Modesty
I don’t stick to what most people would consider “conventional Christian” views on wardrobe choices. Maybe you don’t, either. So to be clear, [...]
Should Christians Wear Bikinis
I recall hearing a story about the grade school daughter of some church leaders who attended a slumber party at a friend’s house. “Bring your swimsuit,” her [...]
Ramifications of Hebrews 13:4 – Free [Indeed] Sex
Previously, I wrote about the precise language used in Hebrews 13:4 that offers a clearly-drawn line in how we as married couples can honor or defile our marriage bed or the [...]
Perverse Submission
Some Christians have hangups about role play, bondage, and other arrangements wherein the man is in a submissive, weak, or helpless posture before the woman. This, they [...]
Green Light on the Red Light – Creative Sex in Marriage
#CreativeSex #marriage [...]
Can Christians Skinny Dip
In a previous post, I mentioned I saw no need for a universal injunction on Christians in bikinis. My wife and I can use discretion in the when and where, but in the right [...]
1 Corinthians 6:9 – Effeminate (malakos)
The word malakos in 1 Corinthians 6:9 is one of the more difficult to translate on the list. The NASB and KJV use “effeminate” while the NIV offers “male [...]