Why are certain sexual acts considered a sin?

Question

I know Xianity believes only sex between a married man & woman is OK but the Bible also has plenty of examples where 'chosen' and 'just' men are shown to have concubines or to participate in incestual relations. So, why does Xianity have the beliefs about sex that it has now?

Answer 1

A little history lesson

Remember the Roman Empire. The Romans ruled the known western world for centuries and established law in all areas of modern day Europe and the Middle East. The Romans ruled with tyranny at most times and kept everyone in check. Then the Roman Empire fell and Rome was sacked by the Barbarians leaving the Western World without a strong government of any kind to keep law and order. The world fell into a chaos and it began what is known as The Dark Ages where not only was there no new art or engineering or science but the world continued to be out of control with no way to enforce any laws or order. Enter the Catholic Church which was by then a power that could bring some order to the Western World. Some of the acts which were occuring were incest and rapes and horrible sexual acts without consent. The church decided to create rules which made condemed anything but the most basic sexual behavior a sin and a crime against god. They condemeed even images of the naked body and strictly enforced all these rules. I was told by a music professor once that in those days a flute and a guitar(it wasn't a guitar but its predesesor) were not allowed to be played on stage at the same time because the flute was phallic and the guitar represented feminity due to it shape. All the rules and negative sexual beliefs we have come as a result of these years of teachings and opression by the church. In the old testament days it was very normal for a man to have concubines. The father or christianity and Islam had many and children by them. Sex was not considered dirty until the Catholic Church made it so in the early centuries of the last millenium.

Answer 2

Now do you mean certain sexual acts? Or marital practices? I'm not clear from your question. It seems you are asking about marital practices? Yes?

At certain moments throughout the history of mankind, God gave new instructions regarding marriage, due to his purpose. In other words, when Adam and Eve were first created (and close to absolute genetic perfection), their children marrying (or, say, son marrying a niece or second cousin) would have presented absolutely no problems. It was neccessary for propogation of our species.

At other times, in Israel, he allowed for more than one wife due to the fact that the nation needed to produce the Messiah.

When Jesus arrived, he made clear that new instructions were being sent forth, and that God's original intent should be respected, and that a husband should only have one wife. It only makes sense since he, the Messaiah had already arrived. Paul reaffirmed this when writing to Timothy, and he also let the Jewish Christians know that geneologies were no longer important, since the Christ had already arrived, and that's why those geneologies were in existence to begin with. To provide the Christs legal right to the line of the kingship, and the line of the priesthood (Through different lines, as the Gospels report).

It's not a matter of being a "good enough man". It was just a matter of what time period you lived in. Though at all times, the religious and ceremonial practices for accepting a woman as a legal wife or concubine (and giving her the rights thereof) were neccessary. The bride price had to be paid (still practiced in many cultures around the world) to show the father than he recognized that a woman was the dignified key to the success of any household. Then, he simply took her to his home, and perhaps a feast was held along the way. But if there was no marriage, no sex. Ever. If a man did, then he simply wasn't following gods law.

"Just loving" one another is not good enough in God's eyes to have sexual relations. Sex was created for 1) Enjoyment, and 2) Children. Marriage protects both parties, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and enhances sex.

Answer 3

the bible's been misinterpreted many times. here's what the bible really says about homosexuality and bisexuality! Most people, even priests and scholars, are unaware that the passages about homosexuality have been either misinterpreted or misunderstood.

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah? That's a warning against rape and inhospitality. The reason for Sodom's destruction is made clear in Ezekiel 16:48-50. According to Ezekiel, the sins of Sodom were pride, laziness, being inhospitable, neglecting the needs of the poor, greed, and idolatry (the worshipping of idols). Nothing about homosexuality is mentioned.

Leviticus? Those passages were part of the Holiness Code which has been done away with and is no longer binding to modern-day Christians.

1 Corinthians? Mistranslation - the word malakee in this passage is used elsewhere in the Bible to mean someone who lacks discipline or one who is morally weak, and never is it used in reference to sexuality or gender.

1 Timothy? Also a mistranslation. 1 Timothy was an admonishment against male prostitution, not committed, loving same sex relationships.

Romans? In the passage the Greek words physin and paraphysin have been translated to mean natural and unnatural respectively. Contrary to popular belief, the word paraphysin does not mean "to go against the laws of nature", but rather implies action which is uncharacteristic for that particular person. An example of the word paraphysin is used in Romans 11:24, where God acts in an uncharacteristic (paraphysin) way to accept the Gentiles. When the scripture is understood correctly, it seems to imply that it would be unnatural for a homosexual to live as a heterosexual and vice versa.

Answer 4

The bible also tells about a brother being murdered by his brother, but it isn't saying that's what we should all go and do. God never says that the perversions that take place in the bible are acceptable, but he leaves the examples there for us to see.

As for the men being "chosen" or seen as being "just" in the bible having concubines, God never says that those men are perfect. They sin and fall short just as everyone else does. David was a man after God's own heart, yet he had an affair and sinned in the eyes of God. The Psalms are filled with verses of him admitting his sin and begging for forgiveness from God.

Answer 5

Those things which you speak of were down under the law (the Old Covenant) but Jesus came and the old law was no more. Yet it is a sin according to the Bible for one to engage in acts with siblings and/or parents, premarital sex, sex with animals, and same sex sexual acts even masturbation.

Answer 6

Men wrote the bible and men interpret the bible. If you dig women, multiple wives are fine - you become a Mormon. If you hate women, then become a Purist. If you like children, become a Catholic priest. If you are in to self flaggelation... etc. Don't get so tied up in this fantasy. Be an atheist and make some decisions and take some responsibilities for your own actions for a change.

Answer 7

Becoming one with another entity is meant to be a spiritual experience, and a symbol of a higher union. Sexual intimacy is revealed to be reserved for a monogamous relationship. The patriarchs did not have this revelation yet.

Answer 8

It has been filtered through many hundreds of years of CRAP! (sorry!). I was raised Catholic and thankfully, came to my senses around age 13! Thus, I was able to reject the sex-negative beliefs and enjoy a healthy sex life to this day. Part of it is that the Pope didn't want priests having kids and giving church lands to them in their inheritance. There is also a LOT of stupid misinterpretation of Biblical text, both OT and NT, to serve the purposes of Xtianity.

Just do what you want and if you don't hurt anyone, you're cool. the main thing is: DON'T HURT KIDS!!! Ever...at all...for any reason!

Answer 9

It's quite simple...

Certain sexual activities and its circumstances are considered idolatry:
Colossians 3:5
Deaden, therefore, YOUR body members that are upon the earth as respects fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

So, now we know...

1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee from fornication. Every other sin that a man may commit is outside his body, but he that practices fornication is sinning against his own body.

Answer 10

Well little girl, you be right, in that Bible there be lots of that going on. Granny don think it be da Lord that say sex be bad. He wan us to have sex and enjoy life and make babies. Granny thinks it be men with their trousers too tight who made up them rules then say they from the Bible. Granny Bible maybe missin a few pages I guess, but I don't see no sayings from Jesus our Lord bout that. Granny