The Perks of Sexual Purity — Intimacy

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Title: The Perks of Sexual Purity — Intimacy ------------------- Date: 1/22/2002
Keywords: “intimacy” “purity”
Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation.

Passage: Hebrews 13:4*

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Questions

1. Why does God elevate sexual exclusivity in marriage to such a high place?

 

2. What are the consequences of sex outside of marriage for non-Christians? What about for Christians?

 

3. Do you consider porn use to be a form of marital infidelity?

 

Practical help

Pornography robs a marriage of intimacy. Just as an adulterous affair has a devastating impact on a marriage, porn use can be just as destructive for many of the same reasons. Comparisons, lack of interest, coolness, distance, broken trust, hurt and a total breakdown can all be part of the mess that pornography stirs up between spouses. Whether the focus is on fantasy sex with numerous partners or simply self-gratification, the focus is no longer on the well being of the porn user’s mate. Does this describe where you live? It can be a very lonely place.

God, in His love for you and your spouse, wants to heal the wounds left by porn use in your marriage and help you begin the process of rebuilding intimacy. He’s not just concerned with the physical relationship you could be sharing together, but He is after a much more complete and open communication at every level of your marriage. That’s the kind of intimacy you really need. He knows this because He made you that way. Sex is only part of the complete package, and smut is a poor substitute for intimacy.

Don’t let it go any farther. Cry out to God for help and guidance and seek the counsel from trusted friends for how to turn around. Your spouse may just be your most important ally. God has already broken the grip of porn in your life through the cross of Jesus and He wants to lead you into the daily experience of victory as you learn to depend upon Him. He will be working to build a marriage relationship of true intimacy.

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."