Is sexuality innate? Are we born with it?

[FedererFan]

Do you believe that we are born with our sexuality? Actually, I guess my question is: Were men and women created by God for each other? Are men and women born with the drive to be attracted to one another (not an evolutionary drive to procreate)? If so, what about the fact that male and female were not created at the same time?

God created Adam by himself. Surely Adam did not have an innate sexuality when he was created. How could Adam be "heterosexual" if there was nothing else to be attracted to? God later created Eve to be Adam's helper or companion when he noticed Adam was lonely. So, I guess it could be argued that women are created with an innate sexuality since woman was created for man but men are not since it seems that Adam was created for God.

Or, would you argue that Adam was created with an innate sexuality that actually caused him to be lonely in the garden. If so, did God purposely give Adam sexuality and leave out Eve in the beginning, only waiting to "see" if Adam would get lonely (which makes little sense)? Or, did God create Adam with a sense of sexuality but God was unaware of it (that also doesn't make sense if you believe God knows all). Doesn't that lead one to believe that God made a mistake of some kind when he created Adam?

So, is sexuality really from God?

 

[arunma]

God created Adam to have companionship with Eve (which I can justify Biblically, if you like). But the issue is irrelevant, because in this fallen world our natural desires are usually sinful. It says,

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
​

In its immediate context, the author is talking about spiritual teachings versus naturalistic teachings about God. But the principle is almost universally applicable. Now, most men desire women. But some men desire other men. And there are also men who desire animals, feet, corpses, etc. Pornography even has a market for each of these.

It doesn't matter what people naturally want, because we are sinful and are naturally opposed to God. What matters is God's will for us, and he teaches that the proper context for sexuality is a marriage between two people of opposite sex. If you are not a believer in Christ, this will make little sense. And I would go so far as to say that a debate on homosexuality is rather fruitless, because if you are outside of Christ then you have a much more pressing issue to deal with: you are condemned to an eternity in hell.

Whether or not you believe that homosexuality is a sin, you know that you have sinned enough times in your life that you (like myself, and all other people) are not acceptable in God's sight, and cannot rightly be called his child. We can only become children of God by being adopted through faith in Jesus Christ. The Lord is always transforming the minds of believers so that we will conform to his will for us.

So to answer your question: is sexuality from God? Yes, it is. However, if you live your life marrying a person of the opposite sex, having kids, donating to charity, going to church, and living a good life, but do not love Jesus Christ, then you will die one day only to wake up in hell. Repent and believe in Jesus, and save your life from this.

 

[ProScribe]

Yes, human sexuality is a sacred gift of the Almighty Creator.

 

[FedererFan]

God created Adam to have companionship with Eve (which I can justify Biblically, if you like). But the issue is irrelevant, because in this fallen world our natural desires are usually sinful. It says,

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
​

In its immediate context, the author is talking about spiritual teachings versus naturalistic teachings about God. But the principle is almost universally applicable. Now, most men desire women. But some men desire other men. And there are also men who desire animals, feet, corpses, etc. Pornography even has a market for each of these.

I'm not sure why you believe the question is irrelevant. If it's because we can never really know or understand, that's not a question of relevancy but of ability.

It doesn't matter what people naturally want, because we are sinful and are naturally opposed to God. What matters is God's will for us, and he teaches that the proper context for sexuality is a marriage between two people of opposite sex. If you are not a believer in Christ, this will make little sense. And I would go so far as to say that a debate on homosexuality is rather fruitless, because if you are outside of Christ then you have a much more pressing issue to deal with: you are condemned to an eternity in hell.

I think it does matter what people naturally want. If God gave us the innate drive for sexuality with men or women that's quite different than if humans create such a drive in themselves. Wouldn't that deeply effect how you view sexuality?

Whether or not you believe that homosexuality is a sin, you know that you have sinned enough times in your life that you (like myself, and all other people) are not acceptable in God's sight, and cannot rightly be called his child. We can only become children of God by being adopted through faith in Jesus Christ. The Lord is always transforming the minds of believers so that we will conform to his will for us.

So to answer your question: is sexuality from God? Yes, it is. However, if you live your life marrying a person of the opposite sex, having kids, donating to charity, going to church, and living a good life, but do not love Jesus Christ, then you will die one day only to wake up in hell. Repent and believe in Jesus, and save your life from this.

My real question was/is: Did God originally create Adam with a sense of sexuality?

 

[FedererFan]

Yes, human sexuality is a sacred gift of the Almighty Creator.

But in what form? Is Adam's different than Eve's?

 

[ProScribe]

But in what form? Is Adam's different than Eve's?

Read the book of Genesis (Bereshit) and it will describe the creation account.

 

[FedererFan]

Read the book of Genesis (Bereshit) and it will describe the creation account.

I have. The creation account doesn't indicate if or when Adam and/or Eve were given their sexual nature. They presumably don't have sex until after they leave the garden, but that doesn't mean they didn't have the sense.

 

[ProScribe]

I have. The creation account doesn't indicate if or when Adam and/or Eve were given their sexual nature. They presumably don't have sex until after they leave the garden, but that doesn't mean they didn't have the sense.

Sure it does, let me look it up for you.

A plain reading of the (NIV) text says (Gen. 1.27) So God created man in his own image, the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

. .

 

[FedererFan]

Sure it does, let me look it up for you.

A plain reading of the (NIV) text says (Gen. 1.27) So God created man in his own image, the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

. .

How does that speak to their sexuality? Also, that is the first account. Are you of the opinion that they were created at the same time? I understood most Christians to believe the more detailed account where Eve was created from Adam's rib because Adam was lonely as the only human.

 

[ProScribe]

How does that speak to their sexuality? Also, that is the first account. Are you of the opinion that they were created at the same time? I understood most Christians to believe the more detailed account where Eve was created from Adam's rib because Adam was lonely as the only human.

I'm of the opinion of a unbiased plain reading of the Genesis (Bereshit) account of creation.

And again, human sexuality is a sacred gift of the Almighty Creator.

 

[alfrodull]

Do you believe that we are born with our sexuality? Actually, I guess my question is: Were men and women created by God for each other? Are men and women born with the drive to be attracted to one another (not an evolutionary drive to procreate)? If so, what about the fact that male and female were not created at the same time?

Your question is probably aimed at creationists, but here are my two cents.

You cannot separate sexuality from the evolutionary drive to procreate, because the former is a result of the latter. The question is whether this natural drive is seen as a good thing in the eyes of God or a thing that would ideally be repressed.

Genesis is filled with imagery involving fertility...Indeed, some even hold to the interpretation that the serpent or the original sin represent sex. It certainly wouldn't be the only creation myth to include some sort of sexual downfall. That, some of the Mosaic law, and the supposed lack of marriage in heaven indicate it may fall under the "bad" category.

On the other hand, God is depicted as having created Eve for Adam when he discovered he was lonely. This at the very least suggests that he condones a natural partnership, and his commands to become "one flesh" and to "go forth and multiply" imply more than that.

In the end I'm inclined to say that the Bible treats sexuality, like other natural drives, more or less neutrally. It can be a beautiful thing if acted upon wisely or a terrible thing if left unchecked.