By now you’ve either seen it on the news or read about the 30 Day Sex Challenge issued by Pastor Paul Wirth of Relevant Church in Tampa. The challenge goes like this: Single men and women can’t have sex for 30 days, and married couples are urged to have it every day. Pastor Wirth says he hopes that in 30 days people can form "good habits".
Read the rest of the story HERE.
While I believe that the church should absolutely deal with the topic of sex in a Biblical fashion, my problem with this - is not only the titillation used to promote the topic, which is clearly over the top - but the implication of the challenge itself.
Encouraging married couples to have sex for thirty straight days may sound noble to some, but isn't that making sex the goal, instead of intimacy? Intimacy leading to sex will strengthen a marriage - but to robotically have sex with your spouse simply for the purpose of accepting a challenge - how romantic. The '30 day' bit seems to be a Television-ized version of sex born out of societies sex-crazed distortions and perversions.
Encouraging single Christians to abstain from sex for 30 days? Shouldn't that standard be uplifted 365 days a year? Also there is the implication of "if you can't form the good habit of abstinence after 30 days, oh well - at least you gave it a try." We're not talking about brushing and flossing your teeth here. These are issues that affect the souls of men and women. The standard of abstinence before marriage found clearly in God's Word doesn't change with our ability to keep it. Being obedient to the Word should go well beyond my whims of successful habit forming.
Eric,
ReplyDeleteI can't say this even sounds noble. Paul said enough about the subject, clearly enough, with decorum. This appeals to nothing but prurient interest-- it is over the top and across the line. Just walking through our society already makes one feel like he needs a shower, does the church have to join the in the manure spreading?
I think "manure spreading" is the perfect term for what this is bro!
ReplyDeleteFurther implied in the 30-day challenge is an encouragement to violate Leviticus 20:18
ReplyDeleteLeviticus 20:18 - "If a man has sexual relations with a woman during her menstrual period, both of them must be cut off from the community, for together they have exposed the source of her blood flow."
ReplyDeleteBesides that it's just GROSS!
ReplyDeleteYou didn't just delete that comment, did you?
ReplyDeleteBrad -
ReplyDeleteI did - did you want to respond to it?
It's funny how guys like that accuse me of being so terrible for posting things like this - and then procede to treat me in same way they say I shouldn't act.
I thought my article was stated pretty kindly...I suppose I could take "idiotic challenge" out ;^)
I love it when people try to chastise us with "that's why I left the A/G"...I guess that's supposed to make me feel guilty for standing up for what I believe?
ReplyDeleteNo, no. I've just perceived you growing somewhat more gracious with gainsayers in the past few months, and I was anxious to see another performance to check your progress ;).
ReplyDelete"Idiotic" is a bit strong, perhaps. He probably wasn't impressed with the manure language either.
I am, I must say, slightly put out by his characterizing me as one of your backlashing readers. I guess, however, we must be judged by the company we keep. ;)
Brad - as you remember - I used to argue and bicker with such people, but I pledged to not do that any more - and I'm proud to say - I'm keeping it ;^)
ReplyDeleteThat guys just wanted to be a smart-alek and push my buttons - I find it easier to hit the delete button in those cases.
I understand.
ReplyDeleteand btw, I don't know why he'd fear my "backlashing readers", I mean what's 3 or 4 hate emails during the course of a day?? ;^)
ReplyDeleteWe are a pretty rough crew.
ReplyDeleteBummer, that one even had a "relationship between the Old Testament/New Testament" challenge. Wish I didn't have a paper due tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteBrad - LOL, I guess she decided to pull the comment - so much for the Old Testament/New Testament challenge.
ReplyDeleteAnd for that other guy - I'm pretty sure the "difficulties" he has as pastor have little to do with my posting on this blog.
Oh, well, commenting on the comments is pretty fun ;^)
We both need to get lives.
ReplyDeleteGod help us.
ReplyDeleteA 30 day sex challenge, although it sounds cool on the surface, is not the answer to strengthening marriages. I was talking to my wife about this issue when I read it. She thought I had lost my mind. I showed her the story. I thought I had seen just about everything... Boy was I wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe church in the story has stepped way over the line. If you want to strengthen your marriage, try improving your communication. I have a beautiful 6 month old daughter, and I find that my marriage has become stronger with increased communication with my wife.
We are not promised a tomorrow, so I say make the most of each moment. I find some of the best times that I have with my wife are when we are sitting together and talking about our day's events, how fast out little angel is growing up, and our hopes and dreams for the future.
Here's an idea... What if a church that wanted to see stronnger marriages promoted a 30 day "Shut off the TV and Communicate with your Spouse" Challenge? We could encourage couples to spend at least an hour each evening for 30 days engaged in communication. Not just the superficial communications either. I would be willing to bet that one hour an evening would not be enough time, and couples would talk to each other for 2 to 3 hours an evening. Just a thought.
I remember reading about this when it happened. Interesting approach to say the least.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of sex and church stuff . . .
You may want to check out this new video from Covenant Eyes. I saw the link in your sidebar.
http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8453b946b88adca7fac7