Society and Sexuality I. Introduction A. Our society is a highly sexualized society 1. It is difficult to live within this country and not be bombarded by sexuality 2. The television, movies...even the magazine rack at the grocery store! B. The message does not conform to Biblical values 1. Society is very permissive of pre-marital sex, with many tolerating homosexuality 2. While adultery still has a stigma, people still engage in it, and serial monogamy appears to be the rule, not the exception C. The results are evident 1. Divorce rates are above 50%; adultery rates are about the same 2. The most impressionable members of society-- children-- are engaging in much sex 3. Recent statistics show approximately 33% of 9th graders have had sex, and that rises roughly 10% by each grade 4. Probably no more than 25% of children have had no sexual experience whatsoever by graduating high school, and that number is reduced to under 10% after graduating from college D. Is this a new thing? How did this come about? E. Let us spend some time analyzing society and sexuality and the truths of the Bible versus the worldly wisdom of society II. Society and Sexuality: History A. A look back into history shows that society has never really advocated for the entirety of Biblical truth about sexuality B. Ancient History 1. Overall, the ancients placed far more emphasis on male pleasure 2. Females were expected to either be honorable wives at home bearing legitimate children or prostitutes/ female "companions" for pleasure 3. This distinction was so fixed that Herodotus (5th cent. BCE Greek historian) feels compelled to note that the downfall of one Candaules of Sardis began when he "happened to become enamored with his own wife" (Histories, I.8) 4. Wives were just for having children, not "fun" C. Medieval History 1. Medievalism requires a distinction between the poor and the well-to-do/ clergy of Catholicism 2. The poor tended to experiment in their teens and whomever a boy got pregnant was his wife; otherwise, little is known of them 3. The rest of society tended to be influenced by Augustine's teachings a. ca. 400 CE b. Augustine taught that the only legitimate reason for sex was procreation c. This teaching is more culturally based than Biblically based d. After all, if you look at sexuality though the ancient eyes, "pleasure" sex was with other women, sex for procreation is with your wife e. if you are attempting, as Augustine is, to end extramarital pandering, then the only form of sex left is sex for procreation with one's wife 4. This teaching continues within the Roman Catholic institution 5. Sex according to the Bible and nature, however, is not done for the purpose of procreation, but to cement the marital relationship a. Genesis 2:24: the 2 become 1 flesh b. nature shows that sex is for far more than procreation, but the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual union of a man with his wife D. Modern History 1. Various trends after the Renaissance came and went, with some periods more sexually permissive, others more restrictive 2. Puritanism vs. 18th century France, for instance 3. Our current sexual mores are defined by the Puritan heritage as expressed through Victorian sensibilities vs. modern sexual liberation movements a. the Victorian sensibility of the 19th/early 20th centuries publically frowned upon sex, yet the underground lifestyle was extremely promiscuous b. the 1920s saw the first opening from Victorianism, although the 1950s re-introduced a form of Victorian sensibility 4. Our modern culture, however, is still suffering from the various sexual reformations since the 1960s a. the 1960s brought "sexual liberation" for women b. the 1970s brought "free love" c. the 1980s brought forth sexual excess d. the 1990s/2000s have brought forth the mainstreaming of various forms of sexuality E. All of these historical periods have tended to vacillate between sexual promiscuity or sexual repression F. Balance has been lacking! G. Regardless, our current society tends to be on the promiscuous side; how has this come about? H. Let us analyze the societal factors driving this sexual explosion III. Social Factors Driving Sexuality A. There are many social factors driving our beliefs about sexuality B. Science 1. Under the presently popular evolutionary hypothesis, all actions of man are rationalized in terms of natural development 2. While science has demonstrated the vast differences between human and animal sexuality, science continues to attempt to animalize human sexuality 3. While admitting that human sexuality is designed to solidify a pair-bond, science rationalizes infidelity a. after all, the female is attempting to get the best caretaker but also the best genes to pass along in her children! b. a man may attempt to care well for some children but will not pass up the opportunity to "spread his seed" and foster other children! 4. Pre-marital sex, of course, is of no concern to science, since relationships are boiled down to sexual desire anyway 5. With this rationalizing capability, and the promulgation of these principles in our society, why do we expect anyone to think of themselves as doing anything but acting on animalistic impulses? C. Feminism 1. While the feminist movement in America has done some things to better the position of women in society, it is also the source of great evil to females, albeit cloaked in "progress" 2. As opposed to magnifying woman and her natural characteristics, feminism in many ways attempts to masculinize women and goad women to act like men 3. When it comes to sexuality, therefore, a woman can now be "liberated" thanks to feminism and engage in promiscuity 4. What has feminism done? To use the ancient paradigm, they have taken the modern woman out of the "child-bearing wifey at home" paradigm and put her into the female companion that, despite whatever intelligence and other characteristics she may have, is programmed for male pleasure! a. would any previous society have the oft-repeated statement, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?" b. This promiscuity is far more damaging to women than it helps! 5. While the middle- and upper-class women may feel benefited by their newfound "liberation," feminism has caused plenty of suffering by de-legitimizing marriage and marital roles in society, leading to one-parent households across the USA 6. Feminism has done much to denigrate the integrity of women everywhere D. Entertainment 1. In regards to entertainment, it is best to ask the questions, "does art imitate life? Or does life imitate art?" 2. While Hollywood may want to assert that their art is imitating life, modern America seems to be more of an imitation of its art! 3. Never before has there been such pervasive and intrusive influences than the television and the computer a. while both can provide some benefits, the capability of abuse is vast b. generations of Americans from coast to coast are directly impacted by what they see on TV and the Internet and believe that what they see is "normal" c. from these sources one could easily receive the impression that everyone is having sex, everyone is tolerant of any sexual deviancy that others engage in, and that not having sex/being tolerant is evil and wrong 4. These influences create, and then perpetuate, sexuality where it may not have existed otherwise 5. Fashions, chats about promiscuity, etc...all due to influence of entertainment! E. Advertisements 1. It is said that Calvin Klein expressed the thought that "sex sells" 2. This seems to be the mantra of modern advertising a. it does make some sense b. Americans are divided over politics, religion, lifestyles, etc., but the vast majority of us are sexual creatures and respond favorably to "sexy" ads 3. Because of its success, either real or perceived, sex is used to sell just about everything a. the obvious: lingerie, etc. b. gum, vehicles, etc. 4. Sex is used to push magazines based on "sexy" cover shoots, both for males and for females 5. While it may seem harmless, these advertisements increase the bombardment of sexual images to everyone and objectifies women 6. Is it "empowering" to show off flesh and be turned into a sex object, and not a female with more than a body? F. While there are certainly other factors, these are the main ones driving modern sexuality G. Consequences of these factors 1. Sex is reduced to animalistic terms: the joining of body parts 2. Males and females are both degraded a. females: objectified into sex objects b. males: treated as if simply animals and cannot "help themselves" 3. Reduction of stigma of either sexual promiscuity or deviancy 4. Beginning adversity to moral, Biblically-based sexuality IV. Consequences of Modern Society's View of Sexuality A. Society does not like talking about the consequences of its view of sexuality B. Denigration of sex itself 1. Sex was designed to be so much more than the joining of body parts, yet in our society, that is how it's presented 2. The emotions and the mind are inconsequential: sexual gain and sexual "empowerment" cannot involve such things 3. Can sex ever provide all of its benefits to such people? C. Denigration of Humans 1. This sexuality brings man to an animalistic state 2. Human superiority based on mind and emotion is removed 3. We're "nothing but mammals!" So we should act like them D. Emotional Trauma 1. No one wants to speak about the emotional trauma felt especially by young girls who lose their virginity before they ought to! 2. It can be quite traumatic and painful emotionally 3. But such is inconsequential when the goal is sexual "empowerment!" E. What does the Bible say about all of this? V. The Bible Condemns Society A. The Bible is clear: a man and a woman are designed to be married and enjoy sex within the marital relationship to cement their bond (Genesis 2:24, Hebrews 13:4) B. Everything else is condemned! 1. Pre-marital sex is deemed fornication and condemned (Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Corinthians 7:1-4) 2. Sex outside of marriage is adultery and condemned (Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Corinthians 6:15-16) 3. Sex between members of the same gender is homosexuality and condemned (Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10) 4. Any actions or presentations designed, either consciously or unconsciously, to promote sexual urges is condemned as lasciviousness and sensuality (Galatians 5:19-21) C. This society is condemned for its reversals of Biblical truth to serve its own lusts D. In a way, almost every society is to be condemned for perverting the truth about sexuality! E. The prevalence of discussion of sexuality and sexual deviancy in the New Testament ought to illustrate for us the difficulties that exist in being people of God! F. We must cling to 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 and 1 John 2:15-17, recognizing that the world is condemned by its lusts and we have been bought with a price! VI. Conclusion A. We have seen that society has perverted sexuality B. We have seen that every society has in some way perverted God's intent for sexuality C. The world is not to be our standard for proper sexuality and clean living: God, through His Word, is! D. It is hard to stand firm in the midst of the perversity and debauchery, but stand we must! E. If you have never stood with Christ, we would encourage you to do so today. Obey Him, and be cleansed! F. Perhaps you have stood with Christ, but have drifted into the debauchery of the world, or perhaps you require encouragement to continue to stand. If we can help you in any way, let us do so as we stand and sing!