Is Sex Dirty?

Published on 04/28/24 by Dr-Shirley-Cheng.

Is sex dirty? Some people view sexual love as dirty, but it, in fact, is a blessing from Yahweh God Almighty, our Creator.

However, while sex in itself is not dirty, it becomes polluted when it is not valued and when it is not shared in settings other than what it is intended for. Do you not agree that something good (like medicine) can be harmful if not used for which it is intended?

The Value of Sexual Relation and Its Intended Setting

Sexual relation, like any other gift from God, should be valued and esteemed. When we value something, we would do our best to care for it and share it with our loved ones. Thus, if we value sexual relations, we are to enjoy them with those we most care about.

As the Originator of sexual relations, Yahweh has reserved sexual relations for a man and a woman in marriage only: "Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well. Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares? Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you. Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe and a graceful deer--let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love. For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?" (Proverbs 5:15-20, WEB)

Sexual relations are designed to give pleasure to each marriage partner, not merely for self-gratification; the apostle Paul suggested: "Let the husband render to his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but the wife. Don't deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn't tempt you because of your lack of self-control." (I Corinthians 7:3-5, WEB)

We are to keep marriage holy: "Let marriage be held in honor (esteemed worthy, precious, of great price, and especially dear) in all things. And thus let the marriage bed be undefiled (kept undishonored); for God will judge and punish the unchaste [all guilty of sexual vice] and adulterous." (Hebrews 13:4, AMP)

The Dirty Sex

Any sexual relation practiced outside of marriage (between one man and one woman) in any form is fornication (sexual immorality) which is a sin (violation against God's laws). Such sexual sins include prostitution, incest, adultery, pre-marital sex, bestiality, homosexuality, cyber sex, sexting, phone sex, watching or reading porn, and other sexual acts outside of marriage.

The sexually immoral (fornicators) will not be a part of the Kingdom of God after our future resurrection: "Or don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God." (I Corinthians 6:9-10, WEB)

We are exhorted to "Flee sexual immorality! Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body." (I Corinthians 6:18)

Avoiding Sexual Immorality

A wrong action always starts with a wrong thought in the mind and wrong desire in the heart: "each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death [spiritual death]." (James 1:14-15, NIV)

For example, the act of adultery is usually a result of adulterous desires in the heart; this is why Jesus said, "Everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Matthew 5:28, WEB)

When we read or watch pornographic materials, it potentially cultivates adulterous desires, and that may eventually lead us to perform adulterous acts. Thus, to prevent ourselves from realizing our wrong desires and thoughts, we are to focus on only good thoughts in the first place: "whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8, WEB)

Therefore, writing, reading, viewing, participating, and condoning sexual activities outside of marriage are sins.

Keep Sex Clean and Holy

Is sex dirty? We know now that the answer is yes and no, depending on the circumstances. Sex itself is clean and sacred. We can fully enjoy it and keep it holy only in marriage between one man and one woman. Any sex outside of such marriage becomes dirty and should therefore be avoided.

Why Heed Sexual Moral Laws?

Why should we listen to what Yahweh said regarding sex? Why can't we do what we want? To help us answer these questions, we need to first answer this question: why should children listen to their parents? Children should pay attention to their parents for mainly two reasons: 1) it is for their own good (parents know what is best for their children), and 2) it is to return their parents love (children show respect and honor for their parents when they pay attention to their advice).

Likewise, as Yahweh is our Heavenly Father and our Creator and we are His creations, we should heed His laws for the same two reasons: for our own good and to return His love. To obey God is to show that we love Him above all others, even above our own selves. True love is sacrificial. If you love God, you would do what pleases Him by obeying His ordinances on sexual relations.