Sex, God, and Marriage. Johann Arnold Christoph
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Sex, God, & Marriage
Johann Christoph Arnold
Plough Publishing House
Acclaim
Peter Kreeft, Boston College
Clear, compassionate, uncompromisingly Christian, and straight from (and to) the heart. . . . Pretty close, I think, to what Jesus would say if he were to write a book about sex today – and probably as socially acceptable as he was.
Joan Brown Campbell
A cogent, well-reasoned approach to today’s troubling questions. Some may disagree with this or that conclusion, but all will acknowledge Arnold’s sincerity and his contribution to these debates.
William H. Willimon, Duke Divinity School
Arnold writes simply, eloquently, and faithfully. His Sex, God, and Marriage is a relentless, biblical call for renewed Christian commitment. Advocates of accommodated, acculturated Christianity will find little comfort in these pages; struggling disciples, however, will be much encouraged.
William A. Dyrness, Fuller Theological Seminary
Striking for its clear and penetrating presentation of simple (and yet immensely profound) biblical truths about human sexuality. I wish everyone could read this call to cut through the complications of modern life by a holy and Christ-like life.
Molly Kelly, author, Saved Sex
I strongly recommend this book. . . . A wonderful resource for the promotion of chastity, health, and holiness.
Paul C. Vitz, New York University
To advocate an ideal of sexual purity is perhaps the last American taboo. . . . This book provides a wise spiritual guide on how, and why, to lead such a life.
Richard John Neuhaus, First Things
Human sexuality is here drawn fully into the life of discipleship. The result is both demanding and exhilarating, which is what disciples of Jesus should expect.
Bob Fryling, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Does a wonderful job of putting sex into the larger contexts of creation, the church, and marriage. Not everyone will agree with all of Arnold’s conclusions, but every mature believer will benefit from the convictions reflected in this book.
Paul Brand, M.D., author, Pain: The Gift Nobody Wants
A clear message for those who have seen the so-called freedom of sexual pleasure become a source of loneliness or pain. . . . This book will help young people to hold on to purity.
Charles E. Blake, Presiding Bishop, Church of God in Christ
Arnold’s bold statement on the meaning of marriage clarifies for the sometimes confused church a concept central to Christian teaching. In so doing Arnold provides help and guidance that extends beyond the church to the world at large and provides a rich resource for working with young people. We thank God for his life, witness, and work.
Alice von Hildebrand, Hunter College
Arnold’s beautiful presentation of the great virtue of purity should be in the hands of every educator and every teenager. It is a message that is desperately needed today, and I cannot recommend it strongly enough.
J. I. Packer, author, Knowing God
A clear vision of God’s ideal for marriage and family. Simple and short, but deep, this is one of the best books available to help us handle our sexuality in a way that honors God.
Francis Cardinal Arinze
Clear, incisive, and uplifting . . . this book should be very helpful in living the virtue of chastity, which is God’s will for all men and women.
Published by Plough Publishing House
Walden, New York
Robertsbridge, England
Elsmore, Australia
Copyright ©1996, 2015 by Plough Publishing House
All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations, unless indicated otherwise, are from
New International Version
© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Front cover photograph: Corbis Images
Pope Benedict xvi’s words on the cover are excerpted
from a personal letter he wrote to the author, December 1995.
To protect the privacy of individuals who contributed to this book,
several names have been changed.
Original Title: A Plea for Purity
Print isbn: 978-0-87486-650-6
Epub isbn: 978-0-87486-651-3
Mobi isbn: 978-0-87486-652-0
Pdf isbn: 978-0-87486-653-7
To my faithful wife, Verena, without whose help this book would not have been possible.
Foreword
by Mother Teresa
In this book we find a message needed today in every part of the world. To be pure, to remain pure, can only come at a price, the price of knowing God and of loving him enough to do his will. He will always give us the strength we need to keep purity as something beautiful for God. Purity is the fruit of prayer. If families pray together they will remain in unity and purity, and love each other as God loves each one of them.
Introduction
Everywhere today, people are searching for lasting and meaningful relationships. The myth of free love continues to be taken for granted by millions, and a new generation of young men and women has accepted the belief that sexual freedom is the key to fulfillment. But as desperately as people want to believe in the sexual revolution of the last few decades, it is clear to many of them that something has gone terribly wrong. Instead of bringing freedom, “sexual liberation” has left countless wounded and isolated souls. As we face the great anguish around us, it is more important than ever for all of us, young and old, to consider the direction of our lives and ask ourselves where we are headed.
The twenty-first century heralds the loss of the clear teachings of the New Testament on marriage and the relationship of the sexes. We have turned against God and rebelled against his order of creation, and we have justified our rebellion with human arguments. We have ignored the words of Jesus and scorned the voice of the Spirit. But we have found neither freedom nor fulfillment.
As a pastor I have counseled many people over the years, both single and married. For many of them, the sexual sphere is not an area of joy but one of frustration, confusion, and even despair. People look for unity of heart and soul with one another, but they are so blinded by the notion of romantic love that their deepest longings remain obscured. They may know that sexual union in marriage is a gift from God; that it should be the most intimate and rewarding relationship a man and a woman can share. But they wonder why it has become the source of such loneliness and pain for them and for so many others.
I am no social scientist. But if the findings of recent studies have made anything clear it is this: the fallout caused by our culture’s acceptance of casual sex is socially devastating. More than half of all marriages in the United States fail. Almost forty percent of America’s children