Another example why, at least I'm convinced as much, our vigilance as Christians should be directed within not without. Too bad no sharing here of Ms. Zielinski's discussion re Christian carnality with say, her daughter, husband, mother, father,... Like the old Marxists use to say, a velvet revolution is preferable to bloodshed.

I liked the David Scherer quote: “As sexual beings, our creativity and passion are not separate from the mystical or contemplative, but expressions of the mutual interpenetration, co-equality and co-intimacy that exist between spirit and body…sexual love can be viewed as a type of infused contemplation. Here there is fusion—an intimate dance of spirit and body… Whether sexual intimacy is lived out through physical intercourse, spiritual love, or unimagined expressions of human creativity, it overflows from our core of goodness and generosity in loving imitation of how God loves. “
I was particularly interested in what was meant by “sexual energy” I remember Jacob telling me that some celibate Monks found that they could use their “sexual energy” to serve God more fully, but I not sure I get it. I know marriage (and I suppose I should also say committed sexual relationships in general) require a lot of energy; energy that is not required when you’re single. But, as far as the energy, I’m not sure if I would call it “sexual energy” or just energy in general. Jacob, said the monk gave some interesting examples; I think I’ll ask him about it tonight. Personally, as a woman I find that men and woman bring different “energy” to relationships and I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s sexual, but I’m sure sexuality plays into it somehow. Being a bit of a tomboy back in the day I found most my buddies were boys; I was surely not aware of sexual energy but then again sex was not as interesting as climbing trees.

First, let me note that I have entered the fray, or, rather more accurately, started the fray, here:

http://www.cultureisnotoptional.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?t=1371&s=catapult

I pray that that dicussion may be good. Quite nervous about it really.

Heidi, I like that quote too. Though, I might nuance this statement a bit "our core of goodness and generosity in loving imitation of how God loves." I do believe that we have some common grace type of goodness in us, but I think that part of our problem in this area is that that fundamentally our core is not good. Sadly, even the redeemed, and presumably progressively becoming more holy core of believers does not seem to be making much of a difference in this area.

Oh, and we singles may not require energy in maintaining sexual relationships, but we sure do in simply dealing with our sexuality, or perhaps perseverance is the more apt term. Oh, and we also need energy for getting to the point where sexual relationship may indeed even be a possibility (i.e. i.e. marriage ;)

Perserverance. True enough!