Human sexuality has for long been an integral issue in the society. Defining how Christians should lead their sexual lives has often been misinterpreted, and Christians have become among the people who mostly engage in sexual immoralities. Since the inception of the modern gay rights activism and movement, Christians have had divided opinions regarding the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality. Homosexuality refers to the sexual orientation in which an individual is attracted to members of their sex or gender. The world is divided on the issue of homosexuality where some view it as sinful and against the will of God while others argue that it is natural and morally acceptable. While the view involves those of Christians and non-Christians, the Bible stipulates guidelines on human sexuality, and it is only through the word of God, which is in the scriptures, that Christians should live and act.
The scriptures are against homosexuality. Genesis 19:1-26 narrates the destruction that Sodom and Gomorrah experienced and one of the greatest mass destructions that have been caused by God. Two angels had been sent to destroy the cities following the wickedness and immorality that happened. When the angels visited, and Lot hosted them, the wicked men of the city ambushed them “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out so that we can have sex with them” (Gen 19:5). They were homosexuals and therefore the reason for God’ wrath that made him rain down burning sulphur on them from heaven as stated in verse 24. Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, the scripture refers to homosexuality as an abomination and states that when a man lies with another, they both commit abomination and shall surely be put to death. This shows that Christians should not engage in homosexuality and those who do sin, of which the wages of sin is death.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Romans 1:18-28 explains why some people including Christians have argued that homosexuality is natural and therefore not immoral nor sinful. Following human’s disobedience to God’s rules even when they fully understood them, like the worship of idols, God gave men and women “over to shameful lusts” where even “women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones” (26). Christians should, therefore, understand that the alleged natural desires for humans to get intimate with people of their gender was not meant to be natural, but it is a form of punishment from God for disobeying him. They should therefore repent and receive redemption. God’s hatred for homosexuality is further demonstrated in 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 where he warns His people against associating with sexually immoral people, not even to eat with them. The scriptures further warn that the unrighteous and wrongdoers who include immoral sexual people will not inherit the kingdom of God in 1 Corinthians 6:9. The scriptures have already proven that homosexuality or men lying with men as women or women giving into unnatural relations is sexual immorality. Following this scriptural evidence of God’s wrath against sexual immorality which includes homosexuality, Christians should not be torn between condemning or supporting LGBT (Sue, 2004). They know it is Ungodly.
Sexual addiction, also referred to as hypersexuality is defined as the progressive intimacy disorder that is characterized by compulsive sexual acts and thoughts. Sexually addicted people engage in excessive sexual behaviour and after that feel distressed. Sexual addiction is a true addiction. Just like other addictions, sexual addiction is characterized by causes, symptoms, effects as well as withdrawal symptoms. The first symptoms that sexually addicted people experience include feeling immobilized as a result of sexual obsessions. Scientifically, it has also been proven that sexual addiction is a true addiction with common effects. The Departmental Management of the USDA, found out that around 45% of women and 38% of men who are sexually addicted develop venereal diseases as a result of their actions. Unwanted pregnancy is also categorized as a common side effect that occurs due to risky sexual behaviour that is triggered by sexual addiction. In a survey conducted by the Departmental Management of the USDA, about 70% of women who are sexually addicted admitted that they had experienced at least one unplanned for an unwanted pregnancy as a result of their addiction that led them to risky sexual behaviour. Additionally, the same way that other addictions affect an individual’s normal life, sexual addiction also does. It results to negative impacts such as the decline in social relationships and family engagements, decreased concentration hence poor productivity at work and other physical consequences such as sexual dysfunction and sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs) (Danos, 2002). Sexual addiction is as dangerous and as costly as any other type of addiction.
There are various forms of psychosocial treatments provided for sexually addicted people. There are various inpatient treatment programs for sex addicts that help the affected people identify their key triggers thus develop effective coping skills that reduce their urges. Medical approaches for sexual addiction include the psychodynamic therapy and cognitive therapy. Other therapies such as couples’ and family therapies are applied to restore trust and also address the particular issues that fuel sexual addiction. For effective sexual addiction treatment, victims require multifaceted approaches that address the co-occurring disorders and trauma (Danos, 2002). This is after research indicating that up to 60% of sexually addicted people also meet substance use disorders diagnostic criteria.
God’s command in the Bible is that Christians should save sexual intimacy for marriage. In a study conducted by the American Culture and Faith Institute, as many as 80% of single evangelical youths have had sex. Young adults between age 18 and 29 and who identify themselves as evangelicals are as sexually active as non-Christians. Majority of them are in sexual relationships and still believe that they meet the Christian threshold of being sexually moral (Soberanis, 2005). The high prevalence of irresponsible sexual behaviour demonstrates just how Christians have been on the frontline in disobeying God’s rules and perhaps the reason they are unable to attract non-believers to Christianity.
In my personal opinion, many factors have contributed to the choices made by Christians to engage in pre-marital sexual behaviour. The first factor is the society. Having observed the events of the modern society, sex before marriage is not portrayed as evil. When commercials and advertisements are run on televisions about having protected sex, they involve the unmarried youths. This gets the young people thinking that engaging in sex is not wrong, but engaging in unprotected sex is. Additional debates such as those involving the legalization of abortion have almost given the young people the green light to engage in sex. The consequences of sex are what the society seems two worry about and not who, when and why factors of the same (Edger, 2011). For instance, when Christians participate in legalize abortion and gay rights movements, the young Christians no longer have a guide to inform their decisions about sex.
The sexual behaviour among single Christians require interventions by the church. The church is the pillar of the society. Christians are the ambassadors of Christ whose role is to let the constitution of God through the Bible be known by the citizens of earth. When the church intervenes, it will guide the youth using the world of God and not the opinions of the world. The Bible itself recognizes that Christians are also human and may at some point desire to have sexual relationships even before they get married. Jesus Christ advised that if the unmarried can be unable to control themselves, then “they should marry for it is better to marry than to burn with passion” (I Corinthians 7:9). The church will also engage the youth with morally upright activities and keep them away from ways that are likely to draw them towards sexual immorality.
Children trafficking involves getting children from their protective environments for the purpose of preying on their vulnerability and exploiting them. The children are recruited, moved or transported to places where they are exploited through work and are at times sexually exploited. Child trafficking is another of slavery. Child trafficking has long lasting and extremely devastating effects on the children. Being made captives and made to work under harsh conditions executing tasks that are beyond their ages affect the mental as well as physical developments (Farrell, 2011). Emotionally, the children feel alienated and distressed since, in trafficking, they are often separated from the love and care of their family members.
Trafficked children are denied their right to education while their opportunity for both social and emotional developments are hindered. Trafficked children have been subjected to prolonged periods of sexual abuse while the labour imposed on them affects their health through physical injuries. Sexual exploitation exposes them to sexually transmitted illnesses and multiple pregnancies for young girls. Even after they are released or rescued from such captivity, most of the effects are long-lasting and affect the children for the rest of their lives even after they transit to adulthood (Farrell, 2011). However, it is unfortunate that some of the children get overwhelmed by illnesses and excessive labour and succumb to them before they become adults.
Being the pillars of the society, Churches and Christians have so much that they can do to save the future of children. While they may not have atomic energy and weapons to fight the perpetrators of these heinous acts, there is a way that they can intervene and change the situation. Christians should engage the traffickers and make it known to the purpose that made God create all of us. First, God created both Christian and non-Christians and had a purpose for us all. Showing the offenders what the love of Christ means through the Bible and presenting to them the expectations of God for His creation would make them realize their mistakes and desire to serve Christ. Christians should try to transform wrongdoers through the word of God. Transforming them right from their hearts would have long-lasting effects and would possibly change the same traffickers to advocates of children rights and anti-trafficking agents. This way, the safe future of our children would be guaranteed.
God, being the creator of everything in existence has the answers to all social problems that face the earth. However, people including Christians have more often than not opted to disobey or rather ignore God’s teachings through the scriptures and applied their understanding and interpretation of things. This in return has yielded a world full of sin and immoralities that affect the same people who perpetrate them. As the pillars of the world, the Church and Christians should arm themselves, put on the full armour of God and assume their roles as ambassadors of Christ. They should especially lead by example and live as God wants them to, and then be the fishers of men that they were called to be and strive to change the society to a Godly one.
References
Edger, K. (2011). Losing the bond with God: Sexual addiction and evangelical men . Santa Barbara, Calif: Praeger.
Farrell, C. (2011). Human trafficking . Edina, Minn: ABDO Pub.
Soberanis, A. R. (2005). Sex and the single Christian . Place of publication not identified: Xulon Press.
Suh, W. P. (2004). Sexual addiction: The thorn in my flesh . Lincoln, Neb: iUniverse
