Sex Education in Christianity: A Biblical Approach

Tweet

Parents must take the time to talk to your children about sex, or they’ll learn about it from the street, so here is a look at sex education from a biblical viewpoint.

Sex Education

Sex education can be intimidating for parents, yet God created sex as a completely natural aspect of human life. Even so, parents frequently delay talking about sex because they can’t seem to find the right time or find the right words, so parents keep putting it off, but this is getting them nowhere. Talking about sex should be completely natural as it lies in the core of human existence. After all, that is how your children were brought into this world, so as soon as they get curious about sex, take the time to talk to them about it.

According to the CDC, 98% of the teenagers received formal sex education before they turned 18. Such a high rate suggests that sexuality should be taught correctly, and it should begin early and be within the context of a biblical approach.

Sex and Marriage

Here are some critical pointers with references to Scripture that talk about sex, marriage, and associated topics to help us better understand the biblical format about the reasons why God created sex.

1. Marriage and Marital Significance

First Corinthians 7:2 – But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

The Bible promotes being honest with your spouse and having an exclusive relationship. According to the Pew Research Center, cohabitation is on the rise while marriage has significantly declined since the last decade. People with strong religious affiliations now find it acceptable for couples to live together, even if they don’t plan on getting married. An estimated 74% of Catholics say it’s acceptable to live together without being married.

2. Ethical and Societal Implications

Leviticus 18:20 – And you shall not lie sexually with your neighbor’s wife and so make yourself unclean with her.

Since the Bible promotes exclusivity in relationships, it also discusses the ethical and societal implications of not remaining faithful. It clearly points to having, not only the religious consequences of cheating on your spouse, but moral and ethical dilemmas that would end up having them questioning their own life’s choices. It’s important to emphasize that the Bible teaches that we are to be committed for life and only to our spouse, and any sex outside of marriage is sin.

3. Slavery and Freedom

Leviticus 19:20 – If a man lies sexually with a woman who is a slave, assigned to another man and not yet ransomed or given her freedom, a distinction shall be made. They shall not be put to death, because she was not free.

This might not pertain to the modern-day standards of living, but it was undoubtedly true for how people used to lives years ago and are still living today. It is essential to teach the meaning of slavery and the differences between the times then, and the times we live in now.

Divorce and Adultery

Matthew 5:32 – But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

According to recent statistics on divorce, rates for both marriages and divorces have gone down in the US. Although the former is questionable, the latter is a good thing, but somehow we cannot simply deny the fact that the two are interrelated. When that many do not marry, they do not divorce either, however, the focal point here is to understand that divorce is just not the end of a relationship or marriage per se. If there is no divorce for biblical reasons, it may lead to severe religious and moral dilemmas in one’s life.

4. Sexual Immorality

Matthew 15:19 – For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

The Bible emphasizes the evil and counts sexual immorality amongst those which are major evils or sins. These are among the worst that human beings are capable of committing. It focuses on sexual desire and making people realize that committing sexual immorality of any form may lead them to commit many more atrocities without realizing that they’ve strayed away from the goodness of God, and are now living in disobedience. Sin has a way of deceiving us.

5. Homosexuality

1 Corinthians 6:9 – Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality.

The Bible, no matter how modern it may be perceived, is not in favor of homosexuality. According to statistics published on Statista about homosexuality, one in a hundred women and two in a hundred men identify themselves as homosexual, but many of these people would still mutually identify as religious, perhaps each to his or her own faith, but the Bible does is crystal clear on this subject. Even though homosexuality, like all sexual immorality, is an abomination to God, it does not warrant violence on those who practice it. The Bible teaches us to do what is right and not sin, but children should still know that it does exist in the world. Even though most of the world has now generally accepted homosexuality, children still must be taught that it is wrong.

Conclusion

James 4:17 – So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him, it is sin.

The Bible is a guide, given to us by God, and intended to show us how to live a fulfilled, wholesome life more than anything, but it is critical for parents to teach their children about sex and about the importance of doing the right thing according to the Bible. If they feel something is sin, then it may be sin. Warn your children about their right to privacy over their own bodies, and the limited rights that anyone else has, stranger, family, or friend, and they can always come to you (the parent) about anything at all, especially when it comes to questions about sex. Keep an open door…or a “safe room” where they can talk about anything without fear of reproof or correction.

Author Bio: Claudia Jeffrey is currently working as an Editorial Manager at Crowd Writer, house of “do my assignment for me” needs. She is a modern church-goer who identifies as a regular follower of the Biblical teachings. She has studied religious aspects out of interest and shares her expertise online through her blog forum.

Here is some related reading for you: What Does the Bible Teach About Sex Outside of Marriage?s?

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: Biblical sex education, Sex Education