Christian Nookie: Can Sex Every Day For 30 Days Strengthen a Christian Marriage?

Sex. It's that little word the blue haired old ladies in the front pew whisper behind their hands. It is a word for which more euphemisms have been created than any other word in the English language. Many have been conditioned to consider it vulgar and dirty. But, is there a place for sex in church?

A pastor in Ybor City, Florida seems to think so. He has issued a challenge to his married parishioners in an effort to combat divorce. "Have sex everyday for 30 days."

Now this might seem like a radical departure to some. The church encouraging lots of sex? But a closer examination of the Bible reveals some interesting facts about the original church's positive view of sex in a marital relationship.

Go ahead, dust off your bible and have a look.

Start with the Song of Solomon (Song of Songs). There are two people who are into each other. Actually, the undertone of the book is a very loving, appreciative joy in sexuality between a man and his wife. You might also note, she is appreciative in kind. The message seems clear: God encourages husbands and wives to appreciate each other sexually. You might say he designed us to enjoy that aspect of our spouses.

Now have a look in 1 Corinthians 7:3-7. Here, one of Jesus's main men, Paul, is very clear that husbands and wives should deprive each other only by agreement for short periods of time to pray. He doesn't want Christians being tempted into sin. I don't think he was thinking about neglecting the laundry when he originally penned those words. Paul was talking about sex and sexual temptation.

There are more examples, but the bottom line is God created sex between a husband and wife, and he's ok with it.

Now, let's be really clear here. Sexual temptation is not the only reason for divorce in our country. Divorces are caused by needs not being met. They are caused by people not communicating what they need in respectful, caring ways. They are caused by people being hard-hearted to the needs of their partners. They are caused by disrespect and lack of loving interactions.

The idea that having sex is going to cause a marriage to stay together longer is simply inadequate. However, the intimate moments before and after having shared in each other's bodies, the closeness, the mutual giving and fulfillment, those things just might lend themselves to more communication, more needs being met, more caring, more respect, more quality time in each other's arms.

When you get right down to it. Sex is not a sin. We were created to enjoy our partners. It's a heck of a lot more wholesome than cable! Shoot, it couldn't hurt anything to try...

Excuse me. I have to go talk to my wife.