Pastor Wirth, 30 Days of Sex and His Radical Plan to Save Marriage

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the 50% of all marriages end in divorce with the largest percentage (53%) of those divorces being individuals between the ages of 20 and 29. In light of these dour statistics, Florida Pastor Paul Wirth from Relevant Church in Ybor City, Florida has a radical, reformist plan. He is urging his married parishioners to have sex everyday for 30 days, and his single parishioners to resist the urge for the same 30 days. Here's to you Pastor Wirth, I think you're onto something.

Some may question why a church pastor is making this his business. It's simple. Divorce hurts people. In fact, Pastor Wirth might have made this biblical reference, "For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce, 'for it covers one's garment with violence,' says the Lord of hosts." (Malachi 2:16). Pastor Wirth's solution, while non-conventional, is loving and gentle at its core. He is asking for couples to come back together and take time out for each other. I don't have to look much farther than my own marriage to see why this is a good idea.

My wife and I are a great example of why this will work. There are times, we'll call them "dry spells", that life, kids, jobs, and survival get in the way of intimacy and passion. It is during these times that we start grumbling at each other. The grumbling turns to nagging, and finally, the nagging turns to yelling. Eventually we will blow up in a full-blown argument over the minutia of our daily lives. The reality is, we want each other's attention; we want to be noticed, even if that means with yelling. The fighting leads to apologizing. The apologizing turns to hugging, and finally the hugging leads to... Well, you know, or at least Pastor Paul Wirth knows.

I am convinced this will work because, while there are plenty of good reasons to yell during sex, anger is not one of them. If a married couple makes a vow to end each day being the center of the other's world, it will make it difficult to hold a grudge, grumble, or nag. That deep need to be noticed and heard will be met on a very basic and emotional level. Pastor Paul Wirth says that studies demonstrate that " in 30 days you can develop a habit." If a married couple makes it a habit of focusing on each other intimately, then that habit can become a lifestyle. Once it is a lifestyle, the couple won't need to necessarily have sex to focus on each other, but they might find other ways of being intimate. That seems like a plan that can save a few marriages.

Way to go Pastor Paul Wirth. I for one am currently in negotiations to attempt this experience in my household. I hope and pray that your congregation can embrace this experience, and each other, in order to help turn the tides on depressing divorce statistics.