Sex-dampening meds

[Waiting for the Verdict]

Is it ethical to use meds that dampen or eliminate one's sex drive? For Christians, why don't all Christian males who are not married take such drugs, if they will help them with their "thought life"?

 

[ChristianCenturion]

Is it ethical to use meds that dampen or eliminate one's sex drive? For Christians, why don't all Christian males who are not married take such drugs, if they will help them with their "thought life"?

I believe one reason would be that time and effort would reap rewards in the long run if self-control is developed instead of relying on a short-sighted fix.

2 Peter 1:3-9
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Galatians 5:22-23
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

 

[Waiting for the Verdict]

I believe one reason would be that time and effort would reap rewards in the long run if self-control is developed instead of relying on a short-sighted fix.

2 Peter 1:3-9
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Galatians 5:22-23
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Realistically, though, most men never fully control their sex urges. You know that, I know that. If these meds can keep men from fantasizing at all, isn't it biblically mandated for men to use whatever method neccessary to prevent them from sinning?

 

[ChristianCenturion]

Realistically, though, most men never fully control their sex urges. You know that, I know that. If these meds can keep men from fantasizing at all, isn't it biblically mandated for men to use whatever method neccessary to prevent them from sinning?

Measuring the hope one has by looking only at the failures of others is not realistically, it is defeatism. Besides, God isn't limited to what man considers mankind's limit.

As for your speculation about what is a Biblical mandate, I believe I have already provided a Biblical reference.

He leads, we follow
We strive, He enables
If we stumble, He has provided Grace
If we persevere and produce good fruit, He deserves the glory

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Matthew 6:8-13
8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11Give us this day our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

 

[beechy]

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

And why can't that way out be a drug which dampens one's sex drive?

 

[cerad]

Is it ethical to use meds that dampen or eliminate one's sex drive? For Christians, why don't all Christian males who are not married take such drugs, if they will help them with their "thought life"?

Bit off topic but why limit your target users to "Christian males"? Don't females have urges as well?

 

[Waiting for the Verdict]

Measuring the hope one has by looking only at the failures of others is not realistically, it is defeatism. Besides, God isn't limited to what man considers mankind's limit.

As for your speculation about what is a Biblical mandate, I believe I have already provided a Biblical reference.

He leads, we follow
We strive, He enables
If we stumble, He has provided Grace
If we persevere and produce good fruit, He deserves the glory

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Matthew 6:8-13
8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11Give us this day our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

CC, do you honestly know of any Christian male who does not fantasize sexually about women? I don't, and I was far far more sexually repressed than any other evangelical male I knew. I get nothing from the verses you quote. God can help you till heaven comes home, but if you're not willing to stop fantasizing about women (or men), it isn't going to matter. Do you know of even one Christian man who does not sexually fantasize about women, or mastrubate?

 

[Waiting for the Verdict]

Bit off topic but why limit your target users to "Christian males"? Don't females have urges as well?

Of course women do. But its generally not Christian women who are cheating on their mates, or looking at porn, etc., at least in my experience. And I don't want to hold Christian women up to this standard, since Christian men already have such ridicilous expectations of their enslaved Vestal Virgins.
Sorry if I sound a bit cynical. I just think all the expectations for purity are put on women within evangelicalism, even though its the men who are primarily acting out.

 

[ChristianCenturion]

And why can't that way out be a drug which dampens one's sex drive?

And why should self-control and perseverance be discounted when God gave us the knowledge that those are good?

I believe I had already mentioned a short-sighted fix vs. development and a value of being in control of a person's own desire.
Why stop at sexual desire?
Why not grasp at a quick fix for one's own covetousness, selfishness, hate, jealousy, and so many more desires that can be in contradiction to God's will?
Just how many quick fixes does a person have to become a slave to and who is supposed to pay for it all?
Who pays when the quick fix isn't there, fails or another problem reveals itself once the one is pacified temporarily?

Given the choice of being dependent on a Father in heaven who gives good gifts to those who ask Him or a creation, I'll choose God. Accepting His wisdom about self-control and perseverance has produced good fruit many times over and spills over to satisfy other needs as well.

 

[Waiting for the Verdict]

And why should self-control and perseverance be discounted when God gave us the knowledge that those are good?

I believe I had already mentioned a short-sighted fix vs. development and a value of being in control of a person's own desire.
Why stop at sexual desire?
Why not grasp at a quick fix for one's own covetousness, selfishness, hate, jealousy, and so many more desires that can be in contradiction to God's will?
Just how many quick fixes does a person have to become a slave to and who is supposed to pay for it all?
Who pays when the quick fix isn't there, fails or another problem reveals itself once the one is pacified temporarily?

Given the choice of being dependent on a Father in heaven who gives good gifts to those who ask Him or a creation, I'll choose God. Accepting His wisdom about self-control and perseverance has produced good fruit many times over and spills over to satisfy other needs as well.

You're still not answering the question. Our primary duty, according to Christianity, is to obey God. It does not matter whether we are using a "quick fix" or not - if that fix can stop us from sinning, we should use it, as long as it is not a sin itself. And my whole point is that it is utterly impossible for a man to be fully in control of his sexual desires, without medication. It is a physiological impossibility. Have you known any man who actually was? Please answer that. If not, then why don't you use the products of nature that God has given you, in order to dampen one's sex drive? Is God going to accept the excuse "Oh Lord, I was trying to learn self-control", for why you didn't try to control your sex drive by every means possible, biblical and medical?

 

[ChristianCenturion]

CC, do you honestly know of any Christian male who does not fantasize sexually about women? I don't, and I was far far more sexually repressed than any other evangelical male I knew. I get nothing from the verses you quote. God can help you till heaven comes home, but if you're not willing to stop fantasizing about women (or men), it isn't going to matter. Do you know of even one Christian man who does not sexually fantasize about women, or mastrubate?

Please do not drag me into a comparison based on your life.

But as for your focus that again looks to failures, it would seem to be just more reasons to call upon and be dependent on God.

Here is something that might seem a bit simplistic, but resolves your question:

If you find that you are doing something that you aren't supposed to do, stop and do something that you ought to do.

 

[ChristianCenturion]

You're still not answering the question. Our primary duty, according to Christianity, is to obey God. It does not matter whether we are using a "quick fix" or not - if that fix can stop us from sinning, we should use it, as long as it is not a sin itself. And my whole point is that it is utterly impossible for a man to be fully in control of his sexual desires, without medication. It is a physiological impossibility. Have you known any man who actually was? Please answer that. If not, then why don't you use the products of nature that God has given you, in order to dampen one's sex drive? Is God going to accept the excuse "Oh Lord, I was trying to learn self-control", for why you didn't try to control your sex drive by every means possible, biblical and medical?

I have provided a few answers.
It is beyond my control if there is any unwillingness to accept them as I accept them or an insistence that something is impossible in contrast to my knowing otherwise.

 

[Waiting for the Verdict]

Please do not drag me into a comparison based on your life.

But as for your focus that again looks to failures, it would seem to be just more reasons to call upon and be dependent on God.

Here is something that might seem a bit simplistic, but resolves your question:

If you find that you are doing something that you aren't supposed to do, stop and do something that you ought to do.

I'm not dragging you into my life. But you know CC, that you do not have a perfect thought life. It is physiologically impossible for you to have one. I don't need to know you to know that. And I'm not basing that comparison on my life, but the lives of the literallly-hundreds of Christian men I've known who do not maintain a pure life.

Besides, there is indeed a Biblical mandate to use the tools of nature in order to stop sexual drives. Does not God say to cut off one's hand if it causes you to sin (sexual reference obvious here)? How is cutting off one's sex drive different when one uses meds, then when one uses the surgery of a knife? Not only are sex-dampening drugs allowed by the Bible, they are MANDATED by it.

 

[beechy]

And why should self-control and perseverance be discounted when God gave us the knowledge that those are good?

Who said self-control and perseverance were to be discounted? If someone is clinically depressed and you give her Zoloft to help get her back on track, that doesn't mean she doesn't have any responsibility to try and help herself get and stay well beyond popping the pill.

I believe I had already mentioned a short-sighted fix vs. development and a value of being in control of a person's own desire.

Why can't a person work on his self control, and use a drug to augment that effort?

Why stop at sexual desire?

Because that was the question posed by the OP.

Just how many quick fixes does a person have to become a slave to and who is supposed to pay for it all?

Are you assuming the drug will be addictive? And let's assume that the people who use the drugs pay for them.

Given the choice of being dependent on a Father in heaven who gives good gifts to those who ask Him or a creation, I'll choose God. Accepting His wisdom about self-control and perseverance has produced good fruit many times over and spills over to satisfy other needs as well.

Are you one of those people who also don't believe in gastric bypass surgery? Do you think it is unethical to elect a medical solution to a problem you assume can be overcome through self control and perseverance? Like depression? Or ADD? Or obsessive compulsive disorder? Or do you think all of those problems are somehow different?

 

[Waiting for the Verdict]

I have provided a few answers.
It is beyond my control if there is any unwillingness to accept them as I accept them or an insistence that something is impossible in contrast to my knowing otherwise.

So is your own thought life totally pure?

 

[.Sabre.]

If someone does something that is a problem in his/her life, they should find a way to stop it. These meds might help men with self-control issues because often willpower alone is not enough.

 

[Waiting for the Verdict]

If someone does something that is a problem in his/her life, they should find a way to stop it. These meds might help men with self-control issues because often willpower alone is not enough.

True. My point is is that such meds, if Christians are to be consistent, are not only reccommended but required in the light of scripture. At least if one is approaching the bible from a literalist perspective.

 

[ChristianCenturion]

I'm not dragging you into my life. But you know CC, that you do not have a perfect thought life. It is physiologically impossible for you to have one. I don't need to know you to know that. And I'm not basing that comparison on my life, but the lives of the literallly-hundreds of Christian men I've known who do not maintain a pure life.

There certainly seems to be a difference here, doesn't there?

I'll break things down here in hope that something is seen for you or a reader:

I don't need to claim to have obtained or have been made perfect. The focus was and is to press forward.

Yours, on the other hand, condemns anyone who may have been tempted or has failed at any single point.

One of our views has grace, repentance and forgiveness.

The other does not and is pointing to a creation of man for a fix to a person's own desire.

Besides, there is indeed a Biblical mandate to use the tools of nature in order to stop sexual drives. Does not God say to cut off one's hand if it causes you to sin (sexual reference obvious here)? How is cutting off one's sex drive different when one uses meds, then when one uses the surgery of a knife? Not only are sex-dampening drugs allowed by the Bible, they are MANDATED by it.

I find it not entirely impossible that sexual reference be forced into that verse, but just FYI - there are other sins that would apply to the hand - theft, murder, etc.

If what you took out of that verse is to literally mutilate the body made in God's image because the "right eye" or "right hand" is to be blamed for the sin, then I believe you may have missed the whole "it is better" point of that scripture.

 

[ChristianCenturion]

True. My point is is that such meds, if Christians are to be consistent, are not only reccommended but required in the light of scripture. At least if one is approaching the bible from a literalist perspective.

Just so you know, there is a difference between literal and literalistic.

 

[ChristianCenturion]

If someone does something that is a problem in his/her life, they should find a way to stop it. These meds might help men with self-control issues because often willpower alone is not enough.

If I had thought willpower alone was all that is needed, I wouldn't have mentioned God.