Two articles in the April 5 Augusta Chronicle illustrate why we are living in a culture of death producing the death of culture: "Love Thy Spouse" by James H. Burnett III and "Women over 40 have more choices for contraception."
The first article about the Rev. Paul Wirth's Relevant Church in Tampa, Fla., includes this comment: "A recent Sunday's challenge-themed sermon was sex, physical attraction, intimacy and more sex, in that order." To his credit, the Rev. Wirth confirms that sex is a good thing within the confines of marriage and that singles are not to have sex. However, he confuses "intimacy in marriage" with "improved sexual performance," claiming that the latter will produce the former and thereby decrease the 50 percent divorce rate. He misses the point.
Since the first article was about a church program, let's consider what God says, "Be fruitful and multiply," in Genesis 1: 27-29, and "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh," in Genesis 2: 24. God intends sexual intercourse in marriage to be unitive (total giving of self), pleasurable intimate oneness, (bonding) and procreative (making babies). The article emphasizes sexual pleasure but ignores procreation. Sex is sacred; it's not a mere sport.
The second article promotes artificial contraception, thus disobeying God's direction to become "one flesh" which means a total giving of self, with no artificial barriers. Artificial contraception results in sexual objectification of the spouse, selfishness, loss of respect, distrust, loss of true intimacy, unhappy marriages and divorce. Its backup is abortion, the ultimate selfish choice of murdering unborn babies.
Those keeping God in the equation and using natural family planning enjoy better spousal communication, genuine loving intimacy, better sex, mutual respect and a divorce rate of less than 5 percent.
Paul W. Rosenthal, Augusta
Comments
Actually the bottom line I believe is that sex is for the total completion of a man and woman in the bonds of marriage and that we are to procreate as God wants with no articifical contraception i.e. abortion. I firmly believe abortion is wrong as most are murdered as a method of birth control. Millions of babies have been slaughtered as a result of sex, indiscriminate sex. This is just as much mass murder as it would be to line up all our babies in one area, shoot them all and then throw them into the nearest landfill.
Yes christian 134, kinda like sending them to Iraq to get murdered and murder innocent civilians and children. Oh, I'm sorry, you support that kind of slaughter. Sex is a natural part of our instincts, and it's funny when these christian groups try to place some type of limits on it, whole having affairs throughout the congregation.
wow shivas, lent must have been extremely stressful this year. Do you ever go back and reread your posts?
I agree with justus4 (I'm nervous), this man's ideas and interpretations are just a little convoluted. Maybe because he's trying to fit them in a LTE. Who would want to take the sport out of sex? The parameters of personal responsibility should always be in place, but a little imagination can be a good thing.
Shivas your "handle so to speak" is somewhat lacking....The point being, this I have to believe you understand maybe just a tad, is not the same as war....but if your momma had aborted you we would not have the wonderous opportunity of conversing....
Artificial contraception is anything other than abstaining from intercourse. You only think these "ideas" (as opposed to facts) are convoluted because you can't understand what he's talking about, probably because you don't understand what sex actually is apart from a fun sport that carries the possibility of making a baby. If you had an appreciation for that baby as an eternal being, whether it makes it alive out of the womb or not, a being for which you, as its parent have some measure of eternal accountability, then you might come to believe that sex is far more important than you originally and possibly currently believe it to be. Artificial contraception is just another way that we "smart" humans have figured out for reducing our need to really care about other people and take responsibility for controlling our passions. If you don't understand that, your formation is about like most westerners: very primitive and self-centered, no matter how "nice" you are. Shivas and JUSTUS are perfect examples of humanistic self-absorption and arrogance: "Forget what God may have intended; I'll decide what's right and wrong for myself. I'm not even sure there is a God."
Something told me justus4 wouldn't understand this letter. I've got to give him credit for trying, though. Thanks for your input christian134 and Fiat Lux, what you had to say is in line with what I believe and I agree with the letter writer.
Wow - who knew that my parents, by utilizing artificial contraception, were being primitive and self-centered when they made sure they only had the number of children as they could take care of - in their case, 2. Here I thought they were being responsible all this time. Learn something new here every day.
One can hope, Critter, one can always hope. Did you ever stop to think maybe you were supposed to have another brother or sister and that something really important, possibly essential, is missing from your life because the gift that they might have been was refused for the sake of a certain standard of living?
What is sex without the sport? I just don't buy into this puritanical view of sex. There is an art to bedding women, and in this day and age women are intelligent enough to know what they are getting into. If two conssenting adults discuss each others expectations and agree that this is not a long term arrangement, why not? After all prostitution is not about paying for sex, it's really about paying her to leave afterward. Sex in and out of marriage both can be totally satisfying as long as both partners have an understanding of the others intent.
No, actually I'm quite grateful that they were responsible enough to make sure that my sister and I had a decent place to live, food, medical care, work ethic, and an education, which was more than their parents were able to do for them. And that was with both of my parents working full time jobs and having a business on the side. But to answer your question, no, I really have never felt that I was missing anyone from my life.
The topic will never be fully understood as long as people will continue to look as sex as "anything goes as long as I feel good and it also helps if the partner participates" reasoning. The whole concept is wrong whether or not it is part of your belief. After all our human extistance has come about because of a good and loving God who created us to worship and glorify Him in all our ways. Without God there would be no existence....Give some thought as to the very fragile beings we truly are and then give some more thought to right and wrong. Sex outside of marriage is wrong and abortion is wrong. No matter the rationalization of humans the outcome is still the same.....
What century is Rosenthal living in?
Actually, was not God's first commandment "Go forth and multiply?" ... Anywho, for a real understanding of Love, Sex, and what the meaning of all of it is, check out "Theology of the Body". You will never be the same: http://www.christopherwest.com/theologyofthebody.asp
God's intent was never to have sex just for the sake of having sex ML. If you will start out in Genesis and work your way through you will get a clearer picture. Unfortunately one verse doesn't give way all the rest of the Bible and God's commandments....:-)
christian134, your views are archaic and unrealistic. The time for man to worship a "god" has passed. It is now time for man to look for the real reasons why things happen. I think there once was a time when man needed someone to blame everything on when we all had a limited understanding of the world. We are beyond that now. People can live good lives without neccessarily worshiping a "god".
I'm so happy someone finally spoke up about the evils of these "contraceptives" available today. Having a choice is not what God intended, He already has a divine plan for all of us and it is not for us to question His wisdom. Think of all the poor children prevented from feeling God's love by the use of condoms, IUDs, and the most horrible of all, the "birth control" pill. More like a murder control pill if you ask me. All of those soldiers for God's army that will never take up arms against the heathens that strive to bring down the church, you'll all be sorry when they're needed.
Some of you guys should talk to the islamic jihad. Your views are similar. Especially Christianand Proud. Soldiers for God?
I may be archaic and unrealistic aftbrn but I am on my way to heaven one day of that I know for sure.....Until then I will still try to tell others of God's love,promises and forgiveness ....But back to the topic of the letter today abortion is still wrong as well as sex outside the marriage....
Christian134, the letter rightly points out that ALL contraception is evil and should be banned. How can true Christians that love God stand by while all of those wonderful, perfect children are prevented from experiencing the joyous life in store for them? People ought to be ashamed of themselves for trying to circumvent God's plan by having sex and avoiding the creation of one of those little angels. Republicant, those islamist types certainly don't disobey their god by killing little innocents. And their army is growing every day. When are we going to start the Christian jihad to defend this great Christian land?
Are you people completely insane? Contraception evil? Christian jihad? It would be laughable if I didn't think you all actually believed what you were saying.
Wow, I become happier every day with my decision to move away from Augusta, which is still apparently caught in the 1800's.
Christianandproud, those jihadis actually do kill children. Google it. Or watch Fox news, as I am sure you do. If you want something banned, ban it from your own lives. The christians had their jihad. Called it the Crusades. It is more responsible for the Jihad than anything we have done. This land is no more Christian than it is Scientologist. If you go so far as to ban contraception, then by that logic, abstinence is sinful as well. How many babies does one deny existence by not fulfilling your biological imperative to reproduce?
This has nothing to do with logic, this is about God's Word. Mr. Rosenthal has it right, sex is sacred. All good Christians agree with him on that point, even if they sit shamefully silent instead of supporting him. Good Christians know that God's plan for us doesn't involve artificial contraception or abortion. All those precious little babies have a right to life, even before conception. Anybody who can't see that is no follower of the Almighty.
If you want people to not practice any form of contraception, are you in favor of government assistance for the families? After all, if you use the concept that procreation is the only valid reason to have sex and all contraception is evil, then what do you do for the families that have literally more mouths than they can feed, clothe, or provide medical care for? Or do we just go back to letting the mendicants catch as catch can and claim it's all God's will?
Obviously this and whatever brand of christianity follow no logic whatsoever. Anytime blind faith replaces logic, you might as well be insane.
Man is th eonly animal that truly can enjoy sex. All other animals do it by instinct. I don't believe God gave man/woman the ability to enjoy sex not to have and enjoy it and contraception to prevent unwanted babies is needed now more than ever.
Of course it is all god's will. Who are these people to decide how many children they can raise? They shouldn't even think about things like that, God will provide. He takes care of those who truly Believe. Good Christians know this and good Christians would never use an artificial means to prevent God's will. Sex for procreation, and abstinence otherwise. That is what the church wants for us all.
Geez Shivas, you just can't get any more stupid. Those we send to Iraq signed up to go. Babies have no choice whether to sighn up for murder or not.
(corrected typo)Geez Shivas, you just can't get any more stupid. Those we send to Iraq signed up to go. Babies have no choice whether to sign up for murder or not.
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