Sex Negativity

[NateBlack]

I think a lot of sex in the media, especially the glbt media, is simply reflective of how sex-negative our culture is.

Why does sex sell? Because it's controversial, subversive, counter-culture, etc. Also, because humans (mostly men) are very sex-motivated.

But associating sex with clothes, jewelry, cars, luxury, etc... it just devalues sex.

So... Yeah, I think sex should be used less in advertising. Absolutley. Not because sex is bad, but because it's just cheapening sex to sell a product.

But do I think the glbt community needs to be concerned with sanitizing our media, conversations, parades, etc., for the sake of uncomfortable straight people? No. They might use examples of the woman walking in the pride parade wearing nothing but saran wrap and a [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] to try and create prejudice against us... but as long as we continue distancing ourselves from her and thus shaming her, we, OURSELVES, give weight to the prejudicial arguements.

I'm gay. I have sex with a man. No matter how "yuppie" or "mainstream" I look and act, there will always be "that" thought in the back of some people's minds... reducing me to the act of sex. My mom prefers that I not talk about anything "gay." I can't tell her about what my boyfriend & I are thinking about doing. I can't talk to her about going to a friend's wedding. And on... and on. Giving in to her demands for a "gay-free" conversation does nothing but support her prejudice and create feelings of unworthiness in me. My mom knows that if she wants to be in relationship with me, it's all or nothing. And that is the stance that I think glbt people everywhere should take... with their families, jobs, governments, etc.

And, something to think about... as Christians, we are to love unconditionally. We are to live our lives with compassion. Our shaming and condemning the more "risque" or vulgar among us does not resemble Christ.

The other thing for glbt people to consider is that by taking on the shame and sex-negativity that the extreme right is heaping on us, we are not holding them responsible for their part in creating much of the "mess" in our community.

How many glbt people were disowned by their families and churches and are now struggling with depression, lonliness, suicidal thoughts, risky and/or addictive sex, drug and/or alcohol abuse?

When we truly honor sex as a gift from God that enables us to become one with our partners... we will stop supporting the commercialization of sex... we will stop condemning those who have different sexual orientations... we will stop condemning those who have problems with risky and/or addictive sex.

So, yeah... seeing the woman in saran wrap and a [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] might make us uncomfortable or angry... but consider where she's been. Remember God's heart for her. Remember that she is your family.

 

[knightlight72]

And, something to think about... as Christians, we are to love unconditionally.

So then you're saying you should accept your Mom as she is, even if she feels that she should not accept sin as good?

 

[levi501]

lol, I love the line of thinking that suggests you are persecuting the persecutor by asking them to stop...

 

[knightlight72]

lol, I love the line of thinking that suggests you are persecuting the persecutor by asking them to stop...

Stop what?

 

[NateBlack]

So then you're saying you should accept your Mom as she is, even if she feels that she should not accept sin as good?

I do accept my mom, warts and all. Do I let her create the rules for our relationship... rules that allow for her prejudice to go unchallenged? No.

I know she's as human as I am... as equally capable of being unkind or being wonderful. And... I know she truly wants to be like Christ.

By not letting her get away with causing harm to me, I am supporting her in her committment to be like Christ.

I do it firmly, lovingly and consistently.

 

[knightlight72]

I do accept my mom, warts and all. Do I let her create the rules for our relationship... rules that allow for her prejudice to go unchallenged? No.

I know she's as human as I am... as equally capable of being unkind or being wonderful. And... I know she truly wants to be like Christ.

By not letting her get away with causing harm to me, I am supporting her in her committment to be like Christ.

I do it firmly, lovingly and consistently.

You accept your Mom, but don't accept her prejudice? But the reverse of this is, Your Mom loves you, but doesn't accept your prejudice?

Sometimes we cannot see the forest because of the trees.

 

[katautumn]

I think the core problem is that people want to reduce homosexuality to some sort of wildly promiscuous lifestyle choice instead of seeing it for what it is. Gays and lesbians are people just like everybody else. They experience the same emotions in relationships, only their's are toward members of the same sex.

I think it's easier to hate something you're told you are supposed to hate if you distance yourself from it emotionally. In other words, if some Christians wish to accuse gay people of merely choosing to act upon some sort of perverted, carnal lust then it's easier to spew your hatred. If they had to confront the fact that gays and lesbians are human beings like everyone else, it would be much more difficult to espouse the mentality that they have been instructed to.

 

[NateBlack]

You accept your Mom, but don't accept her prejudice? But the reverse of this is, Your Mom loves you, but doesn't accept your prejudice?

Sometimes we cannot see the forest because of the trees.

No, what I said was I accept her, warts and all... AND... I don't let her establish rules for our relationship that diminish my self worth or reinforce her prejudice.

If I need to restate this again to make it clear, I'm more than willing.

 

[Kgreg]

Then there's always the concept of repentance from immoral homosexual sex.

Romans 1

 

[CCGirl]

I have never understood why some people can not understand that homosexual relationships are based on exactly the same things that heterosexuals base theirs on! Why do some people think same sex relationships are only based on sex, or lust as they sometimes say?

 

[faster_jackrabbit]

You accept your Mom, but don't accept her prejudice? But the reverse of this is, Your Mom loves you, but doesn't accept your prejudice?

What prejudice is being shown toward her? Please be precise.

Sometimes we cannot see the forest because of the trees.

Absolutely. You apparently can't in this case.

 

[faster_jackrabbit]

Then there's always the concept of repentance from immoral homosexual sex.

Show exactly how it is immoral. Give an actual reason, as opposed to god/jesus/bible don't like it.

 

[NateBlack]

Then there's always the concept of repentance from immoral homosexual sex.

Romans 1

I have repented of my immoral homosexual sex. Have you repented of your immoral heterosexual sex?

Good Lord...

 

[Kgreg]

Show exactly how it is immoral. Give an actual reason, as opposed to god/jesus/bible don't like it.

You are not a Christian so it really doesn't matter what you do.

Nate Black claims to be a Christian so it very much matters whether he repents of his sins, or not.

 

[Kgreg]

I have repented of my immoral homosexual sex. Have you repented of your immoral heterosexual sex?

Good Lord...

All homosexual sex is immoral. Please read the first chapter of Romans. It's actually very clear. Yes, I have repented of homosexual sex. When will you?

 

[NateBlack]

You are not a Christian so it really doesn't matter what you do.

Nate Black claims to be a Christian so it very much matters whether he repents of his sins, or not.

See my previous post...

Sex inside of a committed, monogamous relationship is just as "right" for gay people as it is for straight people. You are free to label any other sex immoral.

 

[Kgreg]

See my previous post...

Sex inside of a committed, monogamous relationship is just as "right" for gay people as it is for straight people. You are free to label any other sex immoral.

Nate, God's word is clear. There is no place in His Word where He's said that it's not sin to have homosexual sex, committed, monogamous relationship, or not.

 

[Caylin]

Nate, God's word is clear. There is no place in His Word where He's said that it's not sin to have homosexual sex, committed, monogamous relationship, or not.

There also isn't a place where it says driving a car or using a computer is a sin either.

 

[Kgreg]

There also isn't a place where it says driving a car or using a computer is a sin either.

Dracon, if you are not a Christian, it doesn't matter what you do, but for Nate, it does matter.

 

[NateBlack]

21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

I do glorify & give thanks to God. I continually nuture my relationship with God with daily prayer, reading... weekly church attendance, ministry leadership, volunteering and community service. I do not worship idols that look like men or animals.

24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Nope, no idol worship here. This doesn't apply to me.

26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

First, this all ties into "abandoning God" and idol worship, both of which I have not done. Second, the emphasis is on the word "natural." A straight man giving up his natural orientation to have sex with a man is un-natural. A gay man giving up his natural orientation to have sex with a woman is un-natural.

28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.

I'm actually applying to attend a theological seminary in order to prepare for ordained ministry. That's hardly "not thinking it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God."

29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

These things are not present in my life. And when the more common ones, like greed or arrogance, do show up... I take correction, repent and move on.

Question: Do you affirm that people who do these things deserve death?