Reader comment on Chastity

An interesting comment, by reader, Rich, in response to this post by Ignorant Redneck Rants

Chastity does NOT mean NO SEX (despite the general and incorrect popular understanding).

Chasity as a concept, and derivatively and consequentially as a practice, minimally addreses BOTH how to have sex AND how NOT to have sex in accordance with God's will.

Each are challenging - albeit different.

For instance, should you in a moment of lust have sex with your wife with a condom and with the primary intent to, "get your rocks off," then you have deeply offended chastity.

The culture would say, "no way," as you had sex in marriage, so its OK.

Wrong.

You satiated your lust via your wife, treating her as a "piece of meat," (and this would remain true without the condom) without regard for her soul and also without regard for for God's participation and ultimate decision in the result of that sexual act.

This is so because the concept of Chastity assumes openess to God's will in the result any sexual union.

And God's will in regard to sex is the creation of new life - in His image and in His time.

We like to think sex is different because it feels good.

Its not.

We want the "feel good" while denying God His "feel good;" namely the creation of new life in His image.

As a second example, say you have decided not to have sex.

Nonetheless you masturbate.

In practicing mastubatory sex you have used and received the pleasure of God's gift of sexual ability.

You have also denied God any possibility (outside of miraculous action) of creating new life in His image.

As mentioned above the concept and practice of chastity addresses both a life with sexual acts, without sexual acts and perhaps, as appropriate, a mixture of the two.

But wherever you may be in life, the decision to create new life is God's alone.

When we act to thwart that possibility we offend chasity.

Thus all solo sex and same-sex sex acts of any kind are wrong as they close the door to cooperating with God in creating new life.

Ditto with sex in marriage that denies the opportunity for life.

We may make the above choices.

We have free will.

But such choice have adverse consequences.

Just ask the Shakers or those "surviving" abortion.

God could have created new human life without us.

He chose not to do so.

Instead He created us such that we may participate in the creation of new life with Him through the sex act.

But again, the ultimate decision in creating new life is God's.

If you think this isn't so, just witness the pain of a couple that cannot, despite all science, conceive.

So - be chaste - as God wants it done.