A BFZ SEX TALK- GOOD FIRE, BAD FIRE

Dear Kids,

Let’s start our discussion about sex with God. I think you’ll agree that’s the most logical place to start. After all, sex finds its very genesis in the person of the Creator. He is the inventor and the origin of sex. The world will try to tell you that God is against sex, and that the church’s attitude toward sex is one of prudish disapproval, but that is patently false. Sex was God’s idea in the first place. What God hates is man’s perversion of what he called “good.” Man’s appetite for sex, as well as the feelings of sexual longing and pleasure which are experienced during sex, were created by God. Marriage was created in part to fulfill those longings. God is responsible for making sex what it is- pleasurable, and emotionally satisfying. Man is responsible for perverting that gift and making it sinful.

This reminds me of a story. While I was a police officer, I responded once to a report of a structure fire in a residential area. It was a winter day, and I can remember that as I arrived on scene the homeowner was busily trying to put out the raging inferno by shoveling snow into the house through a window he had broken on the first floor. It wasn’t enough, and despite his best efforts flames began shooting out the upstairs windows and creeping up along the walls. I helped with traffic control while the firemen went to work. Within an hour they had put the fire out, but the house was a total loss. After the fire had been extinguished I went up to one of the exhausted firemen to see if I could get him a gatorade or something from the store. I remember that he put one sooty paw on my shoulder, and with his other hand he pointed to the smoke curling from a neighbor’s chimney. “See that,“ he said still pointing toward the chimney, “that’s a good fire.” Then pointing at the charred remains of the house he said simply, “Bad fire.”

Good fire. Bad fire. Sex is like that too. Sex within marriage is like a fire in a fireplace- it’s productive. It’s awesome! Sex outside of marriage is like a structure fire- it’s destructive. The blaze of such a fire may be exciting for a time and, yes, even intense, but ultimately it ends in destruction. Like a bad fire, sexual sin can also consume a home and brings lives to ruin. Outside of marriage sex is uncontained, and once it rages to ash all that is left is bitter aftermath. Good fire. Bad fire.

As I write, the whole nation is focused on a scandal involving Rep. Anthony Weiner (D- NY) who initially denied, but has since admitted to, sending lewd messages and photos to a number of women on-line. The investigation into Weiner’s conduct has now spread to include allegations that he may have engaged in inappropriate communications with underage girls. Today the leadership of the democratic party made various statements demanding that Weiner resign his position as a congressmen. To make matters worse, Rep. Weiner is newly married to a beautiful woman, and it has been reported that she is pregnant with their first child. Proverbs chapter 5 speaks about the perils of sexual sin, and I can’t help but think of verse 14 from that chapter every time I see Weiner’s face on the television. It reads, “I was on the verge of total ruin, in the midst of the assembly and congregation.” I feel a profound pity for Anthony Weiner. It now appears that he may have thrown away a promising career in public service. He has also dashed to pieces his reputation, the esteem of his peers, and the trust between him and his spouse. His shame is horrifyingly public. His home and all that he has worked for are on fire, and for what? A cheap, tawdry thrill.

Good fire. Bad fire.

Your Loving Father