Mark Driscoll: Bible Shows Sex Is a Gift From God in 6 Ways
Christian leader Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Seattle, Wash., continues to not shy away from hot-button topics by recently naming the six ways in which the Bible shows that sex is a gift from God.
Driscoll, who along with his wife, Grace, have been on tour across the U.S. talking about their recently released book, Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship, and Life Together, published a blog post and video clip on Tuesday about his most recent discussion on sex from a biblical standpoint.
The book addresses issues that both Christians in general and pastors specifically are often hesitant to openly discuss - and his recent post does the same.
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He rhetorically asks about the way he addresses sex within a Christian context as seen in the video clip, "Is this appropriate?" And he answers, "The number one consumer of porn is 12- to 17-year-old boys. The average 16-year-old has already had sex with someone. If we don't get our information from the Word of God we will get it somewhere else, and it will not lead to life, it will lead to death."
Driscoll said he believes that the Bible gives six ways in which sex is a gift from God.
"In my experience as a pastor, people tend to consider sex in one of three ways: 1) as a god to be worshiped, 2) as something gross that's shameful to discuss, or 3) as a glorious gift from God for a husband and wife to enjoy," he wrote.
He said that in the book, Real Marriage, he and his wife share that the Bible "teaches that sex is a gift from God that should be stewarded and enjoyed by a husband and wife in such a way that is glorious to Him and good for our marriages.
"As a gift from God to married couples, Scripture shows us how sex provides six glorious benefits," he continued.
He writes that one of the gifts from God is that sex is for pleasure.
"Throughout the most erotic book in the Bible, the Song of Songs, children are never mentioned, as the primary focus of the book is simply marital passion and pleasure," he wrote.
Number two on his list, although he did not prioritize, is that sex is for creating children.
"While sex isn't solely for procreation, children are repeatedly considered a blessing throughout Scripture (Psalm 127:3–5). God created sex for a husband and wife to conceive children at their moment of deepest connection (Genesis 1:28)."
Also, on the list of gifts are that sex is for oneness, knowledge, protection, and comfort.
In addressing the opposition from some in the Christian community as to his approach to discussing sex from the pulpit, Driscoll wrote last month, "You try to write a book on marriage and sex with your wife and next thing you know there are a lot of ants crashing your picnic."
The Driscoll's book and subsequent speaking tour coincides at a time when other some other pastors are trying to reclaim sex as a gift that God created.
Ed Young, pastor of Fellowship Church and author of the new book Sexperiment, has emphasized that "God thought up sex."
"It was His idea. And it's not just about procreation; it's about recreation and enjoyment (within the context of marriage)," he stated earlier, adding that Christians should be the "sexperts."
Though many view sex as just a physical routine, Young has stressed that it is a gift from God that is "emotional, physical, psychological, and above all, spiritual."
Driscoll concluded his blog post by writing, "It is our prayer that you and your spouse would see sex as a gift from God. A gift to be stewarded. A gift to be guarded. A gift to be enjoyed. And a gift to be shared together for God's glory and your good."
