"Every man who knocks on the door of a brothel is looking for God."
- G. K. Chesterton
Returning home from the desert several years ago, I watched a movie on the flight between England and Washington, D.C.
This movie's premise was that an interracial couple, white male/black female, had moved in next door to a police officer who was a 'moral enforcer' in the neighborhood.
When he looked out the window only to discover that his young daughter had watched his interracial neighbors having relations in their outdoor swimming pool - the 'neighborly' relationship went south from that point forward.
When we landed in Washington, I had a layover. As I browsed through the various magazines in the multiple bookstores and shops, I noticed on most of the covers that the women had their bodies were in various degrees of exposure.
In the last leg of the flight, I was placed on the aircraft next to a scantly clad, young woman. Her tight clothes were meant to accent and compliment her young body.
At the time, I had just come out of several months on a remote base in the desert; maybe I was more acutely aware of these things at that time than I would be now.
Yet, it seemed to me at the time, and it still resonates in my spirit, that western society has glorified sex in such a way that it is one of the only important things in life.
And in some societies, sadly including our own, millions have abandoned the sacred nature of the universe only to have exalted sexuality to a worshipful status - serving the act of intimate relations as a modern day idol.
One man made the observation that the the technological advance of a society or culture could be marked in progress by the number of various sexual and pornographic outlets.
The worshipful status of intimate relations, the godlike status of the beautiful and attractive, the down playing of any type of moral obligation with intimacy - all of it hearkens back to the Canaanites of old.
But sure as we live in the 21st Century, intimate relations were created for the glory of God and the enjoyment of His people; therefore, the act is not lord, God is the Lord of intimate relations.
While true, one other observation is quite obvious; we as the Church have failed in teaching
Many, both within the Church and without, believe God is a cosmic killjoy when it comes to intimate relations.
But the truth is that God is the originator and if we adhere to God's design, His boundaries when it comes to sex - we soon find a goodness and a level of intimacy that is not otherwise discovered.
The problem though, is the fact that even Christians have a difficult time accepting God's morality in their life to give them the fullest and satisfying life possible.
Repeated surveys by Christian and non-Christian entities both show that there is little difference between Christians and non-believers in pre-martial relations and cohabitation.
If a person's faith is real and their belief in God is true, then He must be Lord over this part of our lives as well.
I realize, as I am sure many others do as well, that the general view of western society is that intimate relations is just another part of our animalistic, evolutionary nature that has been repressed.
Yet, this isn't what history teaches.
Every tribe or culture from the ancient world has some type of sexual practices which are taboo.
This tells us that somehow, by our own instinct, intimate relations are much more than just a sexual act between people.
It is only in advanced cultures of today that sexuality and relations have been reduced to animalistic tendencies of just simple pleasure.
And this has created some problems for those who believe humans are nothing but advanced animals.
First, humans are vastly over-equipped for the task.
Only human females have enlarged breasts as a rule before pregnancy; and the male organ is larger than any other primate.
Another fact is that our activity continues long after child-bearing prime years; we don't go into heat like an animal, but we engage in the activity for different reasons - reasons unknown to any other living organism on the earth.
And we have relations more than any other creature on earth.
Secondly, humans prefer privacy for the act; animals tend to advertise their availability and willingness.
Whether the advertising happens through a special scent or through bold feathers like peacocks; humans don't advertise at certain times of the year - we try to make ourselves attractive to the opposite sex at all times.
If the point of sexual relations is fertilization like an animal in nature, we've got it all wrong because what we do for sex is a total waste of time.
But if relationship is the point - then we are unlike anything else in the universe and our sexual intimacy is unique and very important.
Also, this relationship looks beyond the act of intimacy and points to a relationship with our Creator.
In our time, there is a huge disconnect between sex and relationship.
As a result, when the sexual act is abused and taken out of context and misrepresented; the relationship to which it should point is askew.
Within the Body of Christ, attitudes about sex, sexual practices and divorce rates are about the same as those who do not claim Christ as their Lord.
While this is very tragic and sad, I believe the responsibility can be laid at the feet of the church itself.
Over the last 100 years, coinciding with the 'Progressive Movement,' we have allowed for the removal of the belief of the sacred nature of sex within the Church.
If intimate relations still retained the sacred nature which God created within it and we attached His meaning and morals to our actions behind closed doors, there would be a greater meaning attached to our sexual acts today.
Our acts wouldn't be just something that we do because it feels good; it would be an act with our spouses by which we glorified God in our marriages.
I realize that some who are reading these words have made mistakes in their lives with regards to sexual relations.
I want to remind you that Jesus showed great tenderness toward those with whom He met who had failed in sexual matters. In my opinion, the church should do the same.
But the Church's attitude begins with the individual offender first seeking God in repentance and then forgiving themselves.
And know - just because you messed up at another point in your life, that doesn't mean you have to continue to make that same mistake.
If we are going to glorify God and try to make this society a better place with a higher regard for the sanctity of marriage for our children - it should begin today, and begin with you and me.
Until next time, win one for the good guys.
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