The Designed Parallel Between Human Sexuality and Man's Communion with a Living God

This isn't really an article about sex (sorry to disappoint some of you). It's about worship. That being said, this is the only time you'll ever hear me talk about sex-at least without extreme timidity and blushing-so lend me an attentive ear anyway. It means that the issue of worship for people today is so significant to me that I will address it only in the best way I know how, even if that means talking openly about sex.

It's been a common notion since creation that the natural world reflects the spiritual-that things that take place by design here on earth are intended by their Maker to speak of heavenly things. God says it himself, in Romans chapter one, stating that the things of the world so plainly reveal God that all men are without excuse if they do not acknowledge Him. Most often I have seen this particular passage taken in terms of the existence of God-the marvelous attributes of creation make it clear that there is a Creator. Among more charismatic circles of believers the thought is given greater depth by saying that everything natural reflects the supernatural. I'm not sure, having grown up charismatic, that I like the term supernatural any longer. The longer I have experienced God and walked among people who do not experience Him, the more I am convinced that the most natural thing in life is to dwell in spirit and in truth with the Living God. To live and move and have one's being in Him, and be aware of it, and fathom it. Call that supernatural, but it is part and parcel with nature, and man's nature, to experience it continuously. I suppose it is the supernatural being made natural by design. It is natural to be a created being and be capable of embracing the spiritual, namely, the Spirit of God.

In no situation is that experience more vitally brought about than in worship. Ideally, worship should be an ongoing act, thought, heart-throb in the lives of every person. It should not be a designated time (say, while singing the typical handful of songs in church) or a single inspired private moment during one's day. But however the circumstances of worship arise, there is an ultimate goal: to pursue God, to meet God, and to respond to God. I like the word "respond" in terms of worship. A church my family and I recently visited (Basilica in Canyon, TX) states as their purpose "to provide environments where people can genuinely respond to God." This really moved me, because that is such a significant part of worship. When we pursue God, He responds to us. He draws near and is present with us and interacts with us (speaks to us, ministers to us, loves us, heals us, and so much more, without end). And we in turn respond to God's presence and all He says and does with us. And He responds to our response, and so forth. It's cyclical. It doesn't have to ever end.

That pursuit of and response to God comes in many forms and I'm not going to tell you what worship should look like or how it should be performed. I just want to make things clear about how to make it genuine, real, actually worship and not just a carbon copy of what you've been told, or a bare act of going through the motions. I think the human relationship of love and sex and courtship is a prime indication of what worshiping God is meant to be like. Think about this: there should not be an experience between two humans that does not indicate an experience we can have with God. Throughout time and Scripture there is mention of the parent/child relationship as reflective of the relationship between God and man, as well as the master/servant, employer/employee, king/subjects, and more. The relationship between husband and wife is no less cited as indicative of our relationship with God. Perhaps more. There is, of course, Song of Solomon (a man and woman's desire for marriage and sexual intimacy is painted explicitly and is believed by many to reflect God's desire for us and our longing for and belonging to God). There's Hosea (the prophet's marriage to an unfaithful wife and his forgiveness and pursuit of her were prophetic indications of Israel and mankind turning away from God and being forgiven and drawn back to Him). The many times Paul mentions marriage he follows his words of wisdom up with using marriage to reveal the relationship of Christ and His followers (Romans 7, Ephesians 6, Colossians 3,4)

So let's talk about sex. No one, I think, will deny that sex was designed not only for reproduction and physical satisfaction, but also for the furthering of intimacy between two people who desire to be one, for the expression and reception of love, for the release of passion felt for another person, for the fulfillment of desire for that person. Sex misses the mark by miles if it is done only to satisfy physical urges. It gets stale if it becomes simply the means of creating a child, particularly if that circumstance persists unsuccessfully. Sex where there is no expression of love is heartbreaking. Sex where desire is not included is unsatisfying. Sex where there is no pursuit to touch the heart of the other person is selfish and empty. Sex should never be stoic. It should never be a matter of going through the motions. Such sex does exist and happens for everyone from time to time. But I think we all agree that it is flat, that its purpose is thwarted, that we miss out on something big. And goodness knows the person on the other end of the experience feels let down.

How then can we limit our understanding of worship to a simple act of song and meditation? It is not possible to call sex "good" when it does not engage both parties deeply, passionately, intimately. Likewise, worship is thwarted when both man and God are not engaged in unison in a mutual experience of one another. An experience based on man's desire for God and God's desire for man. Man's eager pursuit of God, and God's even more eager pursuit of man. Man's passion to meet with God and God's undying fervor to have all of our attention and focus for a lifetime and an eternity. He is a jealous God. God knows no bounds to His longing for us and will submit to no limitation to how much of our attention and focus He desires. God intends for us to have an undivided heart for Him (Psalm 86:11, Ezekiel 11:10, 1 Corinthians 7:35). If that is so, then there is no limit or measure to our pursuit of Him.

The word "pursuit" is really significant in worship too. David said, "My soul follows hard after You" (Psalm 63:8, KJV). To me, that defines "pursuit"-to follow hard the person, the interaction, the presence and experience of God, ceaselessly. Like a perpetual experience of courting, wooing, falling for a person. When I enter into a time of worship, I don't want to merely think about God. (Likewise, I wouldn't be too thrilled if my husband's idea of having sex was to merely sit and think about me.) I want to call out to Him to be near to me, to engage with me, to respond to the praise offering I give Him, the adoration and marvel I feel for Him. I want to lay myself at His feet and know that I am really at His feet. That He's there and He's receiving my worship. I pour my heart out in love to Him because I know He is listening and loving every word, thought, emotion. I want to hear His words, thoughts and emotions for me. I want to have an intimate, passionate, bare-naked and unashamed and un-hiding experience with my God. As close as I can possibly get and as far as I can possibly go.

Now, there are some areas where sex does not parallel worship. First of all, sex should always be private, not public. But the individual should have no inhibitions worshiping God both in private and in public (while exercising understanding and compassion for the people around and the good or bad effect it will have on them). Furthermore, sex doesn't serve its purpose unless it is between two united people. Worship, on the other hand, should be between you and God and also corporate. Throughout Scripture the heart of God is satisfied by groups of people uniting in the common purpose to worship and praise their one true God. Now, if a group in corporate worship looks like a giant God-orgy of chaos rather than a genuine response to God interacting with the people gathered there, that group may be responding to something other than God (often, themselves) or their response to God may be exaggerated rather than genuine.

In summary, I'll say again what I said earlier. "Intimate, passionate, bare-naked and unashamed and un-hiding...As close as I can possibly get and as far as I can possibly go." Worship is about desire, pursuit, and response, not just on man's side of the relationship, but on God's as well. There really are no limits to how deeply we can engage with Him. After all, heaven is before us. Worshiping God in His throne room will be worship and praise with all the fetters thrown off, without end. There's no reason to limit ourselves on earth to anything less than the most of God we can experience, the most of worship we can give. The Catholic iconic notion of heavenly worship that depicts us all sitting on clouds plucking little harps and looking devout is nothing like true worship. Refuse to have your earthly worship resemble such a misconception. Don't be stoic and reserved and mechanical. Don't be merely cognitive with it. Don't be fooled that you're having good worship by thinking really good thoughts about God, anymore than you would be that you're having good sex and having a deep moment with your spouse by merely thinking about him/her. Follow hard after God. And when He meets you in your pursuit, respond to Him, and engage with Him as deeply as you possibly can.