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The Barb 8
Great Christia n No-
By Rev. John Gill
Scripture Reading Gen. 2:
21-25; II Samuel 11:2-4, 14-
17. Song of Solomon 17: 34-
40. Matthew 22:34-40.
From its very inception,
the institutional Christian
Church has been afraid to
take a positive, definitive
stand on,the subject of hu
man sexual relations. For
too long, the church has
spoken in negative narrow
terms. At times, communi
cation has been in the form
of baby talk, and Christian
men and women have been
told that sex is a no-no and
an evil.
We have asked our spiri
tual leaders for guidance
and direction. What we have
received is a group of in
dexes, rules, and dudge-
ments. Are we so weak in
our spiritual life and in our
Christian faith that we are
not able to make these deci -
sions on an individual ba
sis?
No--Sex
when they do, it is a des
tructive force. Promiscuity
does have another side,
however, and this describes
a wasteful element, one that
leads to lack of fullfill-
ment. Do I advocate pro
miscuity? No, for it is the
most complete type of sex
ual encounter. Do I con
demn promiscuity? No, for
it is not necessarily an evil.
I simply expose it for what
it is ... frequent sexual en
counters that lack a sense
of direction.
Before we can continue
with our discussion of sex,
we need to clear up certain
issues and terms related
to sex. Consider to begin
with, sex and promiscuity.
The first factor in promis
cuity deals frequency. This
element tells us nothing on
the depth of relationships;
it only describes the num
ber of sexual encounters. I
have known people who have
been very honest and open
and have shared sexual re
lationships frequently with
other individuals.
At the same time, there
are some persons who may
have sex very rarely, but
Another term that is
often coupled with sex is
fidelity. Here we speak of
physical fidelity, but should
remember that $
other types of fidelity- - vo
cational, spiritual, emo
tional are just as import- ;
ant as physical fidelty.
However it manifests it
self, fidelity is of two vary
ing natures: a beautiful kind
that springs from within
and one that is doomed be
cause it is imposed from
without. No demand by a hu
man being, no contract that
is legal in the eyes of the
law, has ever been able to
sucessfully create fidelity.
If it exists, fidelity rises
Ms*#!'
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH
800 NORTH HIGHLAND AVENUE, N.E.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30306
(404) 872-2246
i
REVEREND JOHN W. GILL
PASTOR
REVEREND JIM N. SNOW
ASSISTANT PASTOR
SUNDAY
Worship Services 2:00 P.M. and 6:30 P.M.
Movies * 7:30 P.M.
ALTERNATE WEDNESDAYS
Worship Services 8:00 P.M.
Rap Sessions 8:00 P.M.
out of a complete, total, ful
filling love Committment
between two individuals.
The third sex - related
subject is more general in
nature. It deals with the
idea of ^permissiveness.
Many people would say that
American society is in
grave danger of collapse
due to the fact that permis
siveness is very much a
part of our life style. Where
is the reason for fear? Per
missiveness is rather an
opportunity, for it provides
1. a chance to choose, and
2. the responsibility to do
so wisely.
Certainly, there is more
to sex than procreation. I
believe that we are more
than animals. We are human
men and women. We are
Children of God. There
must be more to sex than
propagation.
Let me share with you
now a possible definition of
sex-- the something more
that is in sex. Sex is the
coupling of human bodies
that is an honest and plea
surable sharing of physi
cal desires and emotional
interests — a communica
tion between human lives - -
a communication that
speaks of love, divinely'
ordered and ordained by
Almighty God.
When none of these fac
tors are present in sex, it
is unsatisfying, improper,
and dangerous activity.
This occurs when sex is
totally self-centered and
selfish; when sex destroys
another body or mind; when
sex is irresponsible and
lies. Remember the story of
David and Bathsheba from
the 11th chapter of 2nd Sam
uel. The self-centered/de
structive, and irresponsi
ble sex shared between
David and Bethsheba
brought about the death of
Uriah--a faithful husband
to his wife, and a loyal ser
vant to his king. When this
type of sex occurs do not
legitimize it by calling it
sex. When it so twisted and
misused by men and women,
it is emotional, mental, and
physical rape.
Sex can simply be the
fullfilling of physical needs.
When this occurs, biologi
cal desires are being satis
fied. Is this type of sex
wrong? No--if it is honest
open, and responsible. Is
this the most fulfilling type
•of sex? No. We are more
than flesh - - we are also
mind and spirit. There is
more to sex than a physi
cal climax.
All of us at one time or
another have experienced a
different type of sex-
When the
individuals involved are
communicating their deep
est feelings to one another,
a change takes place, and
two bodies start to become
two lives. The Song of So
lomon describes in physical
terms,a relationship that en
joys a foundation, of emo
tional depth. This emotion-
filled type of sexual shar
ing is more fulfilling be
cause the intercourse has
gone beyond the physical
into the area of the human.
The sex that is most sa
tisfying and most complete
is the sex that is closest
to the fulfilling love of God.
This type of sexual en
counter occurs when a hu
man’s emotional, physical,
and spiritual nature _ com -
bine into one total experi
ence of sharing.
Three different kinds of
sex--sex that fills the phy
sical need, sex that is phy
sical and emotional in
nature, and sex that fulfills
physically, emotionally,
and spiritually.
I pray three things,
That we are not threatened
by the sexual sharing of
brothers and sisters, for if
we are, we simply admit
that we are weak and inse
cure where we are at. I pray
that we will present as res
ponsible a picture as possi -
ble whereever we are in our
sexual sharing. For as
Christians, God expects
and accepts nothing less.
I also pray that God will be
present in any andall of our
sex relations, for sex is a
gift from God.
COMMENTS
To The Ed itor
Dear Editor ,
I have noticed marked
improvement in your news
paper and hope that you will
keep up the good works as
we sure need one in the gay
community.
The column that Bill
Smith writes is always of
interest and I don’t really
know how he gets around to
have all that information,
but he reports it well. I a-
gree with him that we all
should become more in
volved in politics, especial
ly when the laws affect our
lives in the gay community.
This is the only way for our
voice to be heard.
J.E.B.
Atlanta, Ga.
Dear J.E.B.,
We agree that Commis
sioner Smith contributes a
tremendous column to the
newspaper. Bill is a mem
ber of the Atlanta Commu
nity Relations Commission
and gives us first hand in
formation.
Editor
Dear Editor ,
The revues in the news
paper are very interesting
and I enjoyed the Hollywood
revue especially since I am
a resident of Florida.
I was fortunate enough to
attend one of the shows at
Club Hollywood and they
sure had some fine enter
tainment.
Mark
Vero Beach, Fla.
Dear Mark,
Thank you for your letter
We thought the entertain
ment was tops, too.
Editor
Chattanooga
Chatter
Cont’d. from page 2
Maybe she’ll just stay
like Cheerleader did.
The Cross Keys has
changed again - not in
management this time.
They just rearranged things
a bit and made it a cozier
little corner with the dance
floor and juke box divided
in a separate area. It’s
really nice, Jack and
Richard.
Lowella, we are just cu
rious to know if you know
who really cares? If you
figure it out let us know.
Oh yes, just two more
little bits. Is it true that
Chattanooga ’ s Fag had her -
self a good trick, but he
passed out on her , where
upon one of her best friends
took him away from her?
Which two Chattanooga
“girls” tried to make it
with a guy from Atlanta, but
chickened out? One of them
is the answer to the above
paragraph.
Gotta go now. Is what you
see always what you get?
Think about .
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