Rae, Moral Choices: Sexual ethics

Sexual Ethics

Rae, chapter 10

Tuesday 4 October 2011

The nature of discussion, even
Sexual Ethics
amongst Christians, about sexual
issues and ethics is such that some
offence might be caused. Please use
discretion before reading this
material

Rae, chapter 10


Sexual ethics is the discussion of
ethical issues raised by the variety
of sexual issues both within and
outside of marriage.
Consider what you might say in
each of the following situations,
- a young person approaches you
and talks about being unsure of
their sexual orientation, they do
not know what to do (or think)


- a soon to be married couple approach you to talk
about birth control. As Christians are they allowed to
use it, what can they use, do some methods prevent
embryo implantation?
- a gay couple whom you have befriended ask you to
bless their forthcoming marriage at a civil ceremony


- a student asks what you
think about masturbation,
does the Bible prohibit it?

- a couple who will soon be
married in church talk to
you about sex - they have
both been married before
and openly admit they are
having sex as they are
committed to each other
and the ceremony is not of
great signiﬁcance to them

Biblical teaching on sexual
relationships

The Bible talks a lot about sexual
relationships! God understands it
and has expressed boundaries for it
to be expressed within.
Key Passages: Genesis 2:18-25,
Leviticus 18, Song of Songs, 1
Corinthians 5-7 and some
selected passages in the epistles.


Genesis
2 complimentary accounts of
creation in Gen 1-2. Chapter 1 =
broad overview, 2 = creation of man
and woman and their relationship
to God.
2:18-25 shows marriage and sexual
relations for the first time. Rae says
this passage really fits in between
1:26 and 1:28
For a number of reasons Gen 2:24
is believed to be the first
institution of marriage:


Genesis image, a!er our
Then God said, "Let us make man in our
likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and
2 complimentary accounts of
over the birds of the heavens and1over the livestock and over a"
creation in Gen 1-2. Chapter =
the earth and over2every creeping man that creeps on the earth."
broad overview, = creation of thing
and woman and their relationship
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he
to God.
created him; male and female he created them.
2:18-25 shows marriage and sexual to them, "Be $uitful and
And God blessed them. And God said
relations for the first time. Rae says
multiply and fi" the earth and subdue it and have dominion over
this passage really fits in between
the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over
1:26 and 1:28
everyaliving thing reasons Gen 2:24 earth."
For number of that moves on the
2:24 Therefore a man sha" leave his father and his mother and
is believed to be the first
hold fast to his wife, and they sha" become one flesh.
institution of marriage:


- it is quoted in the NT making it
appear this was intended for married
couples
- use of the word leave= man/woman
intimately related, separated from
their family to form a new unit
- one ﬂesh includes sexual unity (not
exclusively) - but sex is limited to
marriage throughout scripture
Procreation - Gen 1:26 includes sex,
leaving, cleaving, one ﬂesh, all of
which is in the context of marriage
- and that was heterosexual in nature -
the nature of the extended family is
a cultural and economic issue.


The term “one ﬂesh” emphasises sexual
relations though including a couple having
spiritual and emotional onenness too -
another term was available if the author
did not want to emphasise the sexual
nature.
Ex 20:14 - “You sha! not commit adultery.” -
helps to protect the creation ideal for
family life - in fact most cultures have
something like this in their moral code,
protecting the marriage covenant.
OT prophets often use the idea of adultery
to describe Israels falling away from God,
breaking covenant.


Ironically religious prostitution was
often associated with idolatrous
worship in the OT world - Jer
3:6-10, Hosea 1-3.
In spite of the marriage ideal of Gen
1-2 polygamy, and having concubines
was practiced in Israel - such
marriages also solidiﬁed alliances with
foreign powers.
Rae suggests polygamy might have
been allowed to protect women - who
would not have worked in OT times,
and so needed provision and
protection should their husband die.


NT we see monogamy - Jesus
teaches on marriage, Matt
19:1-5, from Gen 1-2 - elders
are husband of one wife, 1 Tim
3:1-5
What should happen when
someone in a culture which
practices polygamy comes to
Christ?
Often a suggestion of taking
no further wives is proposed
and adopted. In succeeding
generations polygamy then
gradual is eradicated.


Ruth and levirate marriage
the custom of marriage by a man with his
brother's widow, such marriage required in
Biblical law if the deceased was childless.
Deut. 25:5–10.
A widow with no surviving children
faced problems - no support / no way to
carry on the line of the husband
(important for a link to property)
The book of Ruth shows this principle
of levirate marriage in action.
Ruth could have married a relative
closer than Boaz, but he declined - the
son of Ruth and Boaz is Obed,
grandfather of King David.


OT law
Other parts of the OT law were
designed to protect the model of
Genesis 1-2. Including,
- prohibition of illicit sexual relations
- incest, homosexuality, adultery,
premarital sex, bestiality are all
prohibited
- Lev 18-20 suggests these all violate
the family structure of Gen 1-2
- Ex 19:6 - Rae suggests these would
keep the family intact and preserve
Israel from attack as a people under
God’s holy law.


Song of Songs
Rae says this celebrates the beauty of
sex within marriage - the lover and his
bride are described in detail. It adds all
sorts of details about what might be
enjoyed within sex and marriage - food,
drink, water, spices etc.
1:1-3:5 shows restraint prior to the
marriage - even within an obvious desire
for one another.
Courtship 1:1-3:5 - marriage &
consummation 3:6-5:1 - conﬂict 5:2-6:3 -
reconciliation 6:4-8:14.
The book only shows sex within
marriage.


New Testament
1 Thess 4:3 - It is God’s wi! that you
should be sanctiﬁed: that you should avoid
sexual immorality;
Eph 5:3 - But among you there must not be
even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any
kind of impurity, or of greed, because these
are improper for God’s holy people.
1 Cor 5:9 -I wrote to you in my letter not to
associate with sexua!y immoral people
Col 3:5 - Put to death, therefore, whatever
belongs to your earthly nature: sexual
immorality, impurity, lust,


Heb 13:4 - Marriage should be honored
by a!, and the marriage bed kept pure, for
God wi! judge the adulterer and a! the
sexua!y immoral.
1 Cor 5-7 develops these ideas more
fully - the Corinthian church seems
to be having some problems regarding
its view of sex:
3 theological reasons for avoiding
sexual immorality,
- God will raise the body to
immortality at the 2nd coming - 1
Cor 6:14 - the body is important and
should be treated well


- believers are one with Christ, so
they should never be one with anyone
other than their spouse, 1Cor
6:15-17,
- the believers body is a temple of
HSp, 1Cor 6:19, your testimony for
Christ should not be compromised as
ultimately it has been purchased for
God by Jesus and should be used t
honour him.
These three ideas give a trinitarian
view to a believers relationship with
God - and show all aspects of that
relationship can be damaged in this
area of sexual immorality.


Is Paul simply showing a homophobic
bias in his writings, as the patriarchs
seem anti-women? Was his message
simply a reﬂection of the culture of
the day and something we can reject?
Corinth at the time of Paul in fact
practiced great sexual diversity - 1
Cor 5-6 - so Paul did not reﬂect the
culture of the day but was running
counter to it - against it. His views
would seem to be theologically based
not culturally.


Singleness
In western nations increasing number of
homes are headed by single people -
marriage is seen by many as no longer a
good option. Sex in the Bible is reserved
for marriage but still the Bible talks
about singleness.
1 Cor 7 - aﬃrms being single, verses
25-35, Rae suggests such commands
might be in the light of persecution
facing the church at that time (see v26),
singleness thus reduces the possibility of
vulnerability to persecution through
family members.


29-31 suggests marriage will pass away
with the return of Christ - both
marriage and singleness have the
same eternal value.
vv. 32-35 suggests the ability of single
people serving the Lord with
undivided hearts - an advantage over
marriage.
The passage suggests marriage or
singleness are equally valid - there is
nothing wrong in either - your motive
for either is to be decided between
you and God, but morally neither
option is better or worse.


Homosexuality
What of the morality of a
homosexual / lesbian / bisexual
relationship?
Should marriage be allowed in such
instances?
Most cultures - including India - have
accepted the legitimacy of such
relationships and accept what is done
sexually is done in private away from
moral scrutiny.
Some people argue that it is
compatible to be a Christian and a
practicing homosexual - they believe
this ﬁts in with broad Bible teaching.


Deﬁning Homosexual
1. A person who sexually prefers to be
with members of the same sex. Rae says
this applies to only 5% of people called
homosexual. 1-2% of the population are
homosexual in this way.
2. A bisexual person - attracted to either
gender.
3. A situational homosexual - having had
some homosexual experience but not
having a predominant homosexual
orientation - the person has a homosexual
relationship because needs are met
within it not because of gender - or a
preteenage exploration of sexuality,
possibly up to 30% of all teenagers

The Metropolitan Community Church
MCC are found all over the world and
oﬀer training and resources
supporting their views - the Bible is
balanced by reason, tradition and
experience
Rae cites this church as a group of
churches who claim to believe historic
Christianity and homosexual practice.
They interpret biblical texts in a way
that aﬃrms committed, loving
homosexual relationships.
Sodom & Gomorrah Gen 19-20 - not
relevant as what happened was gang
rape not consensual sex.


Paul, in the NT, addresses
perversions of homosexuality -
expressing dominance over
someone, temple prostitution.
They say that the mutual caring
homosexual relationships they
practice are not prohibited in the
NT. Jesus would not discriminate
against someone on the basis of
sexuality - it is like being a racist.


Myths about Homosexuality
All homosexuals are...
1. eﬀeminate
2. Promiscuous - they do have a
relatively high number of partners
(lesbians less so) - there are loving,
committed relationships
3. Following chose way of life - it may
be learned developmentally (not
genetic or chosen) - and might be a
place they found acceptance without
having to “hide” who they are
4. Artistic in nature - homosexuals are
found in all professions


Causes of Homosexuality
No single cause or clear pattern - and
great debate about a genetic link. Rae
suggests some developmental factors
(primarily for male homosexuals);
- an angry / absent father along with
close bonding to their mother, esp. if
the boy becomes an emotional
substitute for the husband
- the boy to man progression does not
take place with pleasure
- their introduction to sexuality - with
whom and was it pleasurable? If with
a male who enjoyed it then more
likely to take homosexual orientation.


Biblical response to homosexuality
Lev 18:22, 20:13 prohibit
homosexual sex - this does not get
greater condemnation than other
sexual sins in these two chapters.
Rom 1:24-27 - the key NT passage
This is part of Paul’s argument about
the universality of sin and judgement
and the need for justiﬁcation by
faith in Christ’s death on the cross.
Paul quotes the natural order being
man and woman - this is distorted by
sin and everyone has the potential
(as with all sin)


Biblical response to homosexuality
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of
Lev 18:22, 20:13 prohibit
their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of
homosexual sex - this does not get
their bodies with one another. They exchanged the
greater condemnation than other
truth about these two a lie, and worshiped and served
sexual sins in God for chapters.
created thingsthe key NT passage
Rom 1:24-27 - rather than the Creator—who is
forever praised. Amen.
This is part of Paul’s argument about
the universality of God gave them over to shameful
Because of this, sin and judgement
and the needtheir women exchanged natural sexual
lusts. Even for justiﬁcation by
faith in Christ’s death on the cross. the same way the men
relations for unnatural ones. In
Paul quotes the natural order being with women and
also abandoned natural relations
man and woman - this is distorted by
were inﬂamed with lust for one another. Men
sin and everyone has the potential
committed shameful acts with other men, and
(as with all sin)
received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

This passage has been interpreted in
various ways:
1. It refers to homosexual temple
prostitutes in idolatrous worship
ceremonies - see also Dt 23:17-18
2. Paul is condemning true homosexuals
who engage in sexual acts - debate here
is about the use of natural as
homosexuals claim this is natural for
them and it would refer to
heterosexuals performing homosexual
acts. The question becomes does this
apply regardless of your own sexual
orientation?


3. Paul is condemning perversions of
homosexuality and if a relationship is
committed and loving then it is ok -
the same might apply to
heterosexuals.
4. Paul is condemning all homosexual
behaviour - there is a universal truth
in creation order about all sexual
relations, “natural relations with
women” shows this - Rae suggests this
is the only option that does not read
something into the passage that is not
there.


Some say it is important to see a
diﬀerence between attraction and
action in this. This is paralleled in
marriage where being attracted to a
person other than your spouse is not sin,
acting on it is! Matt 5:27-32 -
It is argued that homosexual attraction is
not in itself a sin, but when the
attraction gives in to lust and sex then it
is - thus a Christian homosexual can
either practice abstinence or
heterosexual sex. Such a stance might
give a more accepting position for those
struggling with homosexuality.


Could this also be part of the cure
for homosexuality? We need to
distinguish between a cure for the
behaviour and the desire - a cure of
being content apart from the
behaviour. So an alcoholic has not
necessarily lost the desire for alcohol
but have learned to be content apart
from drinking it. Similarly a
homosexual might still be attracted
but not acting on that desire.
What this does provide is a place for
homosexuals who are struggling to try
and ﬁnd some form of grace form
God (within church acceptance)


Responses to Homosexuality in
addition to Scripture
Arguing in a secular setting against
homosexuality is hard - and 3 lines
have been taken;
1. Public health - there is a
statistical link of transmission of
AIDS and homosexual activity - there
is a strong link here (especially in
unprotected homosexual sex or IV
drug use) though there is also
transmission within the heterosexual
community.
One might argue this is more about
unprotected sex than anything else.


2. Historical argument - no civilisation has survived the
destruction of the traditional family unit. Homosexuality
undermines this idea. To ensure society ﬂourishes we should
encourage the family and discourage anything that acts
against it. (In all probability there are historical exceptions to
this, to which the homosexual community might appeal.


3. An argument from Immanuel Kant’s
philosophy, based on reason alone. Kant
formulated his moral duties in terms of a
“principle of universalizability” - saying if
a moral rule can be made a universal rule
then, and only then, can it be called a
valid moral rule.
So telling the truth is such a rule as it is
necessary to a functioning society - no
truth telling would mean little meaningful
communication as you would not know if
you were being told the truth and so
social relations would be severely
damaged. Q: What would happen if no
one held to the moral rule in question?


If this reasoning is applied to homosexuality - what if no one
obeyed the moral rule prohibiting homosexuality?
Procreation would decline unless alternative technologies
were developed and used extensively, the existence of the
next generation might be at stake.
Many do not adhere to, or agree with, Kant’s moral system.


Same-sex marriage

This is legal in some countries and is
considered the same as heterosexual
marriage. There is a signiﬁcant move
in the USA and other countries to
legalise this.
Arguing for is the idea of fairness -
beneﬁts and designation being
withheld is unfair. Historically other
areas of discrimination have been
changed by law - this should be too.


Opponents - it is not unfair to
say marriage is man and woman.
In the USA almost all beneﬁts
are available to all couples
regardless of orientation.
Thus it has been asked what the
agenda is with regard to this
issue? Some say it is social and
moral validation of their
lifestyle - a symbolic aﬃrmation
- this is what opponents are
trying to stop, the approval of
relationships which they think
are morally problematic.


A second argument is made by
opponents: Those in favour of same
sex marriage often talk about it being
decided on the grounds of personal
autonomy, value based decisions in
life are usually free from the
judgment of the law, in cases of sexual
preference and relationship type this
should be the case - it is a decision
made by consenting adults.


So what of polygamy or incest? Some
people argue for consenting adult-
A secondrelationships made by
children argument is or for bestiality
opponents: Those in favour of same
(relationships with animals) - are they
permissible ifoften talk about it being
sex marriage based on a person’s
informed desires?
decided on the grounds of personal
The question is what else will be
autonomy, value based decisions in
permitted if same sex marriage is
life are usually free from the
allowed?
judgment of the countries which allow
Some European law, in cases of sexual
preference and relationship type this
same sex marriage also already allow
multiple marriages -as monogamy.
should be the case it is a decision
Law scholars are already speaking of
made by consenting adults.
the connection of same sex marriage
and multiple marriages.


Polyamory is another word used
for polygamy.
An example from the
Netherlands in 2005 is where
Victor de Bruijn, who was already
married, took another “wife” -
though it was not technically a
marriage. Both of the women are
bisexual and he is straight.


Birth control
Is it acceptable at all - and if it is what types
are biblically acceptable?
For Roman Catholics artiﬁcial birth control
is not allowed - for all other Christians it is.
Most religious believers and culture in
general say it is acceptable and desirable.
Additionally it seems no division is made
between permanent and non-permanent
methods of birth control - though wisdom
might need to be exercised with regard to
the latter.
The only biblical example of birth control is
coitus interruptus of Onan in Gen 38:9-10.


Previously we discussed that making it
mandatory for couple to produce children
requires reading into the bible text “be
fruitful and multiply” - sex as a unifying
action, can in itself, be suﬃcient.
Gen 1:27 “ﬁll the earth” - is it full now?
The Bible does not tell us how many
children to have. So birth control might
be argued to avoid over population, good
stewardship, timing of having children.
In opposition it is said children are a gift
from God - and should not be refused -
does this mean you have to have as many
children as possible, or that birth control
is not allowed?.


What methods of birth control are
acceptable?
Contraceptives are generally
accepted - these prevent
conception e.g. condoms
What of arbortiofacient methods -
these prevent implantation or
cause the expulsion of the fetus
from the uterus. IUD’s and RU486
come into this category - and if we
consider the human status of the
fetus both have to be considered
unacceptable.
The birth control pill is more
controversial -


The birth control pill is more
controversial - it is very commonly
used around the world. It has a
contraceptive affect - whereby the
sperm is prevented from reaching
and fertilising the egg. It is
questioned if it has an effect in
thickening the lining of the uterus
causing an inhospitable
environment for implantation of a
fertilised egg. Rae suggests that
there is no medical consensus at
present on whether this second
effect takes place.


Masturbation
Dictionary: the stimulation or
manipulation of one's own
genitals,especia!y to orgasm; sexual self-
gratiﬁcation.
Rae: An area on which the Bible
is almost entirely silent
Onan, Gen 38, was guilty of coitus
interruptus - not masturbation.
This is required for collecting
sperm sample for techniques of
reproductive technologies.
Some couples do it during/post
pregnancy, nursing small children,
post menopause.


The problem for single people (or
married) is the sexual fantasy
which accompanies this act.
Lust is biblically equated with
adultery - Matt 5:27-29 - and so
it is what is done with the mind
that becomes a major problem
here.
Is it possible to masturbate
without having sinful sexual
fantasies?
Your answer determines if it is
permissible.


Sex change and transgender

Transgender, Rae deﬁnes as - “a person
whose gender identity is at variance with
their sex at birth” - ranging from
transvestites to transexuals.
Another issue that the Bible is silent
on - probably as the technology to
produce such change was not available
and not anticipated in Bible writers
times. Some biblical principles might
be applied though,
- trusting God’s providence with
regard to the gender you are born with


- a child can be born with ambiguous
gender, hermaphroditism, this is a
genetic abnormality and parents then
choose gender and surgery and
hormone therapy are used. (This
could be mistaken and so surgery
could be allowed to correct this later).
However this is different to someone
who is unwilling to accept their
gender as a given in life.
Although the words gender and sex both
have the sense ‘the state of being male or
female,’ they are typica!y used in slightly
different ways: sex tends to refer to
biological differences, while gender tends to
refer to cultural or social ones.

Premarital sex and abstinence

Sexual immorality = porneia - from
which we get pornography = generally
all forbidden sexual relations.
The NT is speciﬁc and clear on this
issue - Eph 5:3, Col 3:5, 1 Thess
4:3, Heb 13:4
Song of Songs - sex is for marriage -
shown in much of the imagery used
there.
Full sexual enjoyment is reserved for
within marriage.


Sexual purity and safe sex
Society is full of sexual images and of
messages which are highly sexual in nature
- to talk in any other way is often greeted
with disdain.
Safe sex is talked of - the use of condoms
is encouraged though failure rates of 15%
are recorded and of HIV in up to 33%.
Self control - urges can be controlled with
regard to sex in the same way as for any
other temptation - though the accepted
pattern in society is to simply say
teenagers will do it, so help them - this
seems animalistic in its way of treating
young people.


Winning the battle for sexual purity
What can a young person do to
maintain sexual purity?
1. Avoid tempting situations - 1 Cor
6:18 Flee from sexual immorality,
1 Pet 5:8 resist the devil
Make the right choices, be
accountable.
2. Realise sex is not the glue in a
relationship, it does not hold things
together (it is a dessert!) - added to
which the media portrays sex in a
very diﬀerent light to reality. Rae says
in marriage sex is the 2nd most
argued about thing - money is 1st!


3. Examine, and think clearly about, the
damage pre-marital sex can do to a
relationship - when a couple start having
sex it often dominates at the expense of
other aspects of the relationship, ones
that are in fact very important and will
add to sexual enjoyment later on.
Relational harmony and contentment in
marriage leads to more enjoyable sex.
Sex before marriage leads to guilt, pain
and frustration is the relationship fails,
loss of direction in the relationship (as
sex dominates), and mistrust.


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Restoring sexual purity
We might morally agree on what is to be
desired in sexual activity - but what if we
have previously failed?
Rae suggests SoS 4:12-5:1 deals with the
idea of a lack of sexual control. Using the
metaphor of a spoiled garden he suggests,
- accept the problem
- restore it to its original beauty
- talk to God about it, accept his counsel
about how to restore things
- accept God’s forgiveness
- follow God’s plan for restoration.
Gd is good and gracious - he forgives and
restores

Rae, Moral Choices: Sexual ethics

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