LOVE AND MARRIAGE

I CORINTHIANS 7:1-6; GENESIS 2:18-25

 

ERRORS TO AVOID:

   MAKING MARRIAGE EVERYTHING …

   THINKING TOO LITTLE OF MARRIAGE …

 

HOW CULTURE VIEWS SEX:

   SEX IS AN APPETITE …

   SEX IS A NECESSARY EVIL …

   SEX IS SELF-EXPRESSION …

 

PREMISE: SEX IS THE SUM TOTAL OF BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT.

 

“IN PERSON CENTERD SEX ONE IS INTIMATELY AND EMOTIONALLY ENGAGED WITH THE OTHER IN A WAY THAT CREATES A DEEP CONNECTION AND INTERDEPENDANCE. IN CONTRAST TO THIS, BODY CENTERED SEX INVOLVES BEING ENGAGED WITH THE OTHER FOR THE MERE PLEASURE ONE GAIN’S FROM THE ENCOUNTER. THOUGH PASSION AND PLEASURE ARE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF SEXUAL ENGAGEMENT, VITAL SEX IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A BODILY RELEASE EXPRESSED THROUGH AN ORGASIM.”

AUTHENTIC HUMAN SEXUALITY

 

CREATION AND SEX, GEN.2:18-25

 

“IN A COMMITTED LOVING COVENANTAL RELATIONSHIP SEX IS SACRAMENTAL, PART OF THE COUPLES EUCHARIST. IT IS THEN A PRIVILIGED VEHICLE OF GRACE, AN EXTRAORDINARY SOURCE OF INTERGRATION FOR THE SOUL, A DEEP WELL OF GRATITUDE AND SOMETHING THAT WILL THROUGH IT’S OWN INTERDYNAMIC OPEN BOTH PERSONS IN A WAY THAT PERHAPS NOTHING ELSE CAN TO BECOMING A LIFE GIVING GRACIOUS AND BLESSED ADULT. CONVERSELY SEX THAT IS DEVOID OF THOSE CONDITIONS WILL NORMALLY BRING ABOUT THE OPPOSITE AFFECT, IT WILL HARDEN THE SOUL, TRIVIALIZE IT AND WORK AT DISINTGRATING ITS UNITY. IT WILL AS WELL NOT OPEN THOSE ENGAGING IN IT TO REAL COMMUNITY AND BLESSING BUT INSTEAD HELP ALIENATE THEM FROM REAL COMMUNITY.”

RONALD ROLHEISER, THE HOLY LONGING

 

“SEX IS A METHOD THAT GOD INVENTED TO DO WHOLE LIFE ENTRUSTMENT AND SELF-GIVING, IT SHOULD NOT SURPRISE US THAT SEX MAKES US FEEL DEEPLY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER PERSON EVEN WHEN USED WRONGLY. SEX MAKES YOU FEEL PERSONALLY INTERWOVEN TO ANOTHER HUMAN BEING AS YOU ARE LITERALLY PHYSICALLY JOINED. THEREFORE, IF YOU HAVE SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE YOU WILL HAVE TO PARDON YOURSELF AGAINST SEXES POWER TO SOFTEN YOUR HEART TOWARD ANOTHER PERSON AND MAKE YOU MORE TRUSTING.”

TIMOTHY/CATHY KELLER, THE MEANING OF MARRIAGE

 

CORINTH AND SEX, I COR.7:1-6

 

DESIRE, 1-2

 

3 PARTS OF A MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP THAT MIRROR GOD’S RELATIONSHIP WITH US:

   FIRST, MARRIAGE IS THE COMPLETE FUSION OF PERSONS …

   SECOND, EXCLUSIVITY… – “NO OTHER”

   THIRD, UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE …

 

DUTY, 3-4

 

DEPRIVING, 5-6

 

“IT IS PAINFUL TO SLEEP ALONE BUT IT IS EVEN MORE PAINFUL TO SLEEP ALONE WHEN YOU ARE NOT SLEEPING ALONE.”

 

APPLICATION:

   LAW

   GRACE