Sexuality Archives - Life Hope

Can men be pregnant?

Ian Denness — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 02:37:35 +0000

How has this question arisen?

Apple released a new emoji earlier this year for a pregnant man. As well, the leader of the opposition in Australia stated that he wasn’t ‘woke’, and that men couldn’t be pregnant, even though the official and celebrated position of his political party, Labor, is that men can be pregnant.

In 2014, according to Medicare, 54 men claimed rebates for medical services related to their pregnancy.

Then I understood the context. Those FTM/Female-to-male transgender persons, who still had a uterus, could become pregnant, and therefore declare that in the census.

I believe that God cares for each one of us at the very core of our being, even deeper than our sexuality, at the level of our soul.

Jesus did also. That’s why, at great personal cost, he gave his very life for us, to bring us to God.

At the same time, he also made statements about his creation. This is one that may challenge some of us.

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female…'”

Matthew 19:4 (NIV)(http://www.laridian.com)

What do you think?

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Can love be lust? Can love be pure?

Ian Denness — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 07:52:57 +0000

Depends on how you define “love”

That word has about as broad a use in society as the word “Christian”!

The scope goes from the cheap “made with love” label of a mechanically manufactured biscuit, to the sublime relationship between some couples of self-giving kindness and faithfulness. In between are the rest of us with our use, or misuse, of the word…

In the past, “to make love” related to having sex, with or without the pure love component.

When “love” is really sexual immorality, combined with only impure “lust”, then could we call it false “love”?

If a short, or even longer term relationship is spoken about in the terms of love, when it really is only lust, then that would seem to be using someone for one’s own fun. The other person doesn’t matter. It’s all about me. We normally call that selfish and manipulating behaviour.

God made love

It’s interesting the way the Bible uses the word love. In English, we have one word, but in the original Greek of the New Testament, there are 4 different words!

Storge = family-type love

Eros = sensual or romantic love

Phileo = close friend love

Agape = self-giving sacrificial love

Can love be pure? Sure can! Mostly this last one, wouldn’t you agree?

It turns out, that word is the one that’s used to describe the love of Jesus for us. In giving himself up for us on the cross, he set us up to escape the wrath of God against our rebellion. But only if we want it. He’s a true gentleman, and doesn’t force anyone to accept it, if they don’t want to…

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

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Is Sex the new and highest religion?

Ian Denness — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 01:27:04 +0000

Our culture has elevated sex

Sex is great, and such a gift to us! In its rightful place…

We all know that it also can devastate in the wrong circumstances. Coercion, trafficking, rape for a start…

What about sexual faithfulness? Is that higher or lower in this religion?

What about love and kindness to the other person during, before, and after sex? Is that higher or lower in this religion?

Elevating sex itself to this high level of worship could also be seen as extreme self-centredness and selfishness, couldn’t it? The ultimate of ‘me-first’. You, and all the others, I really don’t care about.

Then there is lust, versus love…

What’s your reaction to this topic?

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Should sexual identity be regarded as the main core identity of a person?

Ian Denness — Sat, 02 Oct 2021 01:12:00 +0000

Surely there is more to my life and identity than just my sexuality?

We can do better than that, can’t we?

What if I didn’t live in such an affluent country? Food, drinks, freedom, individualism, and employment as given ‘entitlements’?

What if I didn’t have as much education, and was not able to ‘call the shots’ in my life so easily as I do now? Would that make a difference?

Is it because of privileges like these that make it possible to have my sexuality as the main defining identity in my life?

I’m interested in what others think, and how you got there.

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In this ‘Sexular Age’, should sexual identity trump everything else?

Ian Denness — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 01:41:00 +0000

What should trump everything else?

We all make priorities in our lives.

Instinctively, we choose what is most important and what is less, and then seek to live with as little inconsistency as possible.

Would life, or love, faithfulness, choice, God, Atheism, or coffee, or whatever, be the priority that trumps all else in the core of your being? Or would it just be your sexual identity?

What about serving others, kindness, family, safety, meaning, morality, or faithfulness?

What is your reasoning for your decision?

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Flee from sexual immorality! Good or Bad?

Ian Denness — Sat, 21 Aug 2021 07:09:09 +0000

The Sexolution

The sexual revolution has been going for many years now. Over the years, that has included free sex, multiple sexual partners, freedom to do whatever, but also increased chance of STIs, less marriage, less commitment to long-term faithfulness.

What are the results overall? Victory or defeat? That’s how you usually measure a revolution’s effect.

Are people more sexually fulfilled?

What do you think? How do you measure those results? Happy lives or the opposite? Contented, fulfilled, satisfied lives, happy to live faithfully with their partner/spouse? Less cheating and more faithfulness? What do we call the opposite of that – frustrated, unfulfilled, dissatisfied…?

Results

In my opinion, those last words could be applied to many today as far as their perceptions of the end results of their sex lives are concerned. Many would say they are shattered – their dreams, their being disillusioned with the opposite sex, as well as their loss of self-respect and inner peace. This could be combined with having no long-term companionship, living alone, no lasting happy marriage to their best friend, as well as no children to celebrate life and achievements with.

Such a shame! Does that have to be the result, or could it have been different?

Joseph, an example

The Bible says to “flee sexual immorality”. Joseph is the classic example of that. This is a different Joseph to Mary’s husband. He had been sold as a slave by his jealous brothers and taken to Egypt. While there, he was warmly and persistently invited to go to bed with his owner’s wife, but in the end, when literally cornered, he fled, and got out of there, rather than make the most of a good opportunity – (Genesis 39).

In our society, it is so easy to take part in sexual immorality. You can see from the poll on the blackboard above, what the majority thought at the Market. From my stall there I can see a big sign opposite, outside a club – “Let’s meet in bed!” Will those who act on that end up long-term having a happy life, or the opposite?

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

Hebrews 12:14 (http://www.laridian.com)

What do you think?

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