“Detoxing sexual sins (Pt. 1)”
SERMON TITLE: HEART DETOX - DETOXING sexual sins (Pt. 1)
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 2:19-25
Passage
Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. (Genesis 2:19-25)
Introduction
Though the church may often focus on and explore topics of theology, prayer, solitude, etc. - the intersection of sexuality and spirituality is often spoken about in hushed tones. In today’s sermon, we’ll look at Part 1 of examining engrained assumptions we may have on the topic of sexual sins and how to broaden our understanding of a life of sexual wholeness.
Definitions
What is spirituality? Debra Hirsch (author of Redeeming Sex) defines sexuality in connection with spirituality - “a vast longing that drives us beyond ourselves in an attempt to connect with, to probe and to understand our world. Beyond that, it is the inner compulsion to connect with the eternal other, that is God. Essentially, it is a longing to know and be known by God on physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual levels.”
What is sexuality? Similarly, Hirsch describes sexuality as “a deep desire and longing that drives us beyond ourselves, in an attempt to connect with, to understand that which is other than ourselves. Essentially, it is a longing to know and be known by others on physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual levels.”
What is sexual wholeness? Rich Villodas defined it as “the prayerful integration of our spirituality and sexuality, resulting in deep satisfying relationships with others that roots out shame, cultivates vulnerability and leads to healthy bonding.”
In the church, we’ve mainly used two approaches around difficult topics:
The starvation diet: We tend to approach certain topics with shame and a fear of vulnerability in talking about it. There's no space, no emotional capacity to talk about our bodies, our longings, our passions, and our deep desire for connection with others. With so much shame wrapped around our bodies and so much shame wrapped around the conversation of sexuality, what actually happens is - people suppress it, they repress it, and they starve.
The fast-food diet: This approach is centred on self-indulgence. The self justifies and thrives off a lack of boundaries. Passions and longings are fulfilled in any way one desires to have them satisfied and met.
When we look at the first two humans in the beginning of creation, they were naked and unashamed (Gen 2:25). Sexuality was initially deemed a part of God’s good creation but shame unceasingly seeks to mire a process with intended effects to glorify God.
Sexuality is part of God’s good creation: As the author and creator of sexuality and sexual intimacy, God created sexuality as good - to be enjoyed and to be maintained.
There is a distinction between genital sexuality and social sexuality: Social sexuality refers to being made in the image of God and being made for human connection. Social sexuality is most deeply expressed and experienced in intimate relationships. Genital sexuality is a more granular form of social sexuality. It is what we express with our bodies - a full covenant of love and union with another, a self-giving love. This type of unconditional love is most aptly expressed in a marriage, where safety and a context strong enough to protect it upholds it.
Shame is a power that we must regularly grapple with: Though mistakes and frustrations on our part may lead to us experiencing shame, we have grace and mercy in Christ’s work on the cross. We are no longer enslaved by sin for God’s invitation into freedom is still available for us.
Sermon reflection questions
When you were growing up, how were you educated on sexuality and its relationship with spirituality?
In your opinion, what is your past experience with using either the starvation or the fast-food diet approach in broaching challenging topics with a faith lens? Why did these approaches work or not work?
How is your life marked by sexual wholeness? If it is not, what do you need to do to face your shame and bring it before God?
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