Sexuality and Christian Hope

​The hope of Christians reshapes their view on sex.
 
Some consider sex as an appetite, like their urge for food (1 Corinthians 6:13). Some consider sex as something dirty that should be avoided (1 Corinthians 7:1).
 
For Christians, God created sex and considered it as good. Via sex, two become one flesh, united not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, fully committed and giving totally to each other (1 Corinthians 6:16-18). So Christians should flee from sexual immorality and sex outside marriage, and instead give up their independence for intimacy with their spouse, just as God voluntarily sacrificed His independence and became a vulnerable human to have intimacy with us.
 
However, being single without romance and sex is fine too (1 Corinthians 7:27-31). Traditional culture emphasizes family. In the olden days, women were nobody if they were single. Nowadays, many believe life on earth is everything, so finding sex, romance and one’s true love are paramount. Christians hold different views. Whether married or single, Christians shouldn’t be too eager to change their status (1 Corinthians 7:27-31).
 
Christians’ views on sex, singleness, and marriage are based on their hope in the ultimate family, journey, and love.
 
Christians anchor their hope on the ultimate family of God, not on their spouses or children. The world in the present form is passing away; don’t be too attached to it (1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 10:29-20).
 
Marriages among imperfect couples are a long and hard journey (1 Corinthians 7:28). Even if you’ve married the perfect person, they will change.
 
A Christian’s hope isn’t confined by the worldly journey, but instead rests on the ultimate journey of helping their spouse to become holy and blameless (Ephesian 5:25-27).
 
Christians also hope for the ultimate love, to be united with God (1 Corinthians 6:17). When the Samaritan woman asked Christ for living water, Christ talked about her sex life (John 4:15-18). No man could satisfy her. Only Christ could. Christ is the ultimate lover we need.
 
Whether we are single or married, our hope should be in God. For those looking for a spouse, find one with the same focus. For the happily married, don’t make the other side your idol. For the unhappily married, put your hope in God.

Summarized from a Tim Keller’s sermon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaYKyRLjxzI


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性与基督徒的盼望
 
基督徒的盼望重塑了自己对性的看法。
 
有些人认为性的渴望就像对食物的胃口一样（哥林多前书 6:13）. 有些人却认为性是肮脏应该避免的（哥林多前书 7:1）。
 
对基督徒来说，上帝创造了性,认为它是美好的。夫妻两人通过性行为合而为一，不仅在身体上，而且在情感、理智和属灵上全心全意地投入，完全地给予对方（哥林多前书 6:16-18）。所以，基督徒应该逃离性的不道德和婚外性行为，放弃自我完全的独立，与配偶保持亲密的关系，就像上帝自愿地失去自己的独立, 成为脆弱的人来与我们建立亲密关系。
 
然而，没有浪漫和性生活的单身独处也很好（哥林多前书 7:27-31）。传统文化强调家庭，在过去单身的女性一无所有。如今，许多人认为世上的生命就是一切，对他们寻找性、浪漫和真爱变得至关重要。基督徒持有不同的观点，无论已婚还是单身，基督徒都不应该太急于改变身份（哥林多前书 7:27-31）。
 
基督徒对性、单身和婚姻的看法是因为他们的盼望基于那最终的家庭、旅程和爱情。
 
基督徒将盼望寄托在上帝最终的家庭，而不是自己的配偶或儿女身上。现今的世界正在消逝; 不要太执着于它（哥林多前书 7:29-31，马可福音10:29-20）。
 
两个不完美的人结为夫妻，他们之间的婚姻将是一段漫长而艰辛的旅程（哥林多前书 7:28）。即使你嫁给了完美的人，他们也会改变。
 
基督徒的盼希望并不局限于在世俗的旅程，而是建立在帮助他们的配偶变得圣洁和无可指责的终极旅程上（以弗所书 5:25-27）。
 
基督徒也盼望那最终的爱，就是与上帝的联合（哥林多前书 6:17）。当撒玛利亚妇人向基督求活水时，基督谈到了她的性生活（约翰福音 4：15-18）。没有男人能满足她，只有基督才能。基督是我们需要的终极爱人。
 
无论单身还是已婚，我们的盼望都应该在上帝身上。那些正在寻找配偶的人，当寻找与自己有同样关注的人。婚姻幸福的人，不要把对方当成偶像。婚姻不幸福的人，把盼望寄托在上帝身上吧。