50 Whats?
50 Whats?
Nope not light bulbs… Shades of Grey. So right now there is a pile of media attention being doled out over the recent book by E.L. James that is now on the big screen. So what’s the big deal? Why the outcry? I don’t know and I don’t really care. I haven’t read the book and won’t see the movie. (my personal choice) So this blog will not be about whether or not the book or movie is appropriate or whether or not our readers should entertain their minds with 50 Shades of Grey. We at Trinity and Humanity blog do indeed trust that our readers are mature enough to make such decisions on their own. Still, E.L. James is the target of a good bit of criticism from both Christians and non-Christians alike.
As I stated earlier, I am not qualified to talk about the book so I won’t. What I can speak to is the conversation that has been pushed to the fore as a result of James’ literary work. The conversation is about sex… *gasp*! Yes, sex. Hmmm… makes us uncomfortable sometimes doesn’t it. Why? What is it about us, especially Christians, that gets a bit nervous inside when we hear the word sex?
Let’s start here… in John 1:3 we read that nothing was made that was made that was not made by Jesus. God created everything! Did God give us sex? Yep, and thank you Jesus! Sex is good. Sex is wonderful. Sex is intended by God to be enjoyed in the specific context of marriage and in that context it is awesome! Regular other-centered sex between a husband and wife is even thought to reduce the risk of heart disease and to produce all sorts of other health benefits.
Faith Winn: Future Rocker!
So here is the question: Why doesn’t the Church talk about sex MORE? I once had a conversation with a group of buddies where we were discussing the merits (or lack thereof) of classic Rock-n-Roll music. You see, as a guitarist, I really appreciate the skill of people like Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, EVH, and other lead guitarists from the classic rock era. So I play a fair amount of Pink Floyd, Led Zep, and Van Halen, as best I can, on the guitar. As you may know many of those songs are about sex. So for me, a married man, I can appreciate those songs in the context of my marriage to the most amazing woman on the planet!
At last, here is the final question and point. If God created mountains, babies, blue skies, rain, and flowers… and the Church has no problem writing songs about those topics and if God also created sex, why does the Church ignore it in our music and entertainment? Also if the Church is going to ignore one of the most wonderful gifts we’ve been given by the blessed Trinity, why as Christians are we so shocked that people will go elsewhere to talk about it.
A final challenge to Christian musicians: If it’s not career suicide, do us a favor and write us a good Rock-n-Roll song about sex within the context of a mutually other-centered marriage. Until then watch your ears… Led Zeppelin is on loud at my house and I am not ashamed!
~Bill Winn
Trinity and Humanity 
Bill, I appreciate what you have stated in this post. I agree with you fully about how God gave us sex to enjoy in our marriages. This is a wonderful discussion, and I look forward to reading more about what you say.
Thanks Ted! It is indeed a discussion the Church needs to have… our young people especially need to hear it!
Sex is very good and I would even say that sex, inside an other-centered, mutual self-giving marriage gets better and better with age. This would seem to contradict the media lies that we see and hear on a daily basis that “better sex” comes from finding “new and better pleasure”. Great sex comes from fully sharing oneself with another in a mutual embrace of trust, love, knowing and intimacy which is only possible through a marriage in which two people have fully submitted in love to one another. As Christians (and non-Christians) we receive this love in, through and by the mutual other-centeredness that has always existed between Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the Trinity. Sex at it’s very best gives us a small glimpse of the incredible joy that flows in and out of the Trinity.
Beloved, thank you for such an incredible comment. Do you have a blog? You should!
Of course I enjoyed your article, BUT I enjoyed looking at your beautiful guitarist MORE!
Bill, you’ve hit an important point here and done it well. I don’t know how ready we might be to sing such a song in a worship service but surely, someone out there has written one???
Further, I want to share this with a pastor friend or two. Might help them in their preaching, whaddayathink?
Mark, share away! I sincerely hope that what Trinity and Humanity is trying to do here is making a play for the pulpits too.
Yes, it should! And my blog, http://freshgrace.blogspot.com/2015/02/god-always-makes-first-move.html has had an impact too among my facebook friends.