Question: "What does the Bible say about sex addiction?"
Answer:
The concept of sex addiction being a psychological disorder similar to
other obsessive-compulsive disorders, or similar to other addictions,
such as alcoholism or illicit drug use, is a recent development.
Previously, a man (or woman) who was promiscuous was said to be immoral
and filled with lust. The issue now is that something the Bible says is a
sin, promiscuous sex outside of marriage, is being labeled as a
psychological disorder. For some, this is an excuse, an explaining away
of a clear sin. So, is there such a thing as sex addiction, and if so,
what does the Bible say about it?
First, let it be said that sex outside of marriage is always a sin (Acts 15:20; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:13, 18; 10:8; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Jude 7).
There is never a time when it is right to have sex outside of marriage.
With that said, it is important to note that sex is indeed addicting. A
person who engages in sexual intercourse regularly will almost always
become psychologically and physiologically addicted to it. Sex between a
husband and his wife in marriage is "pure" (Hebrews 13:4)
and is the God-ordained way of releasing the tension of a "sex
addiction." Should a married couple allow themselves to become addicted
to the point that sex becomes an obsession, a hindrance to other aspects
of life? Of course not. Is it wrong for a husband and wife to desire
regular sex with each other? Absolutely not. Sex in marriage is not
sinful. A husband and his wife are biblically allowed to have sex as
often as they want, in the spirit of mutual consent (1 Corinthians 7:5).
Sin itself is addicting. Most, if not all, sins are addicting if engaged
in regularly. Lying, drinking in excess, smoking, gluttony, rage,
pornography, etc., can all become habitual. Ultimately, all of us, in
our fallen bodies, have a sin addiction. Immoral sex, just as other
sins, can lead to "ever-increasing wickedness" (Romans 6:19).
Just as illicit drug use leads to increasingly potent amounts of the
drug being needed to achieve the same "high," so can immoral sex lead to
increasingly frequent and "wild" intercourse in order to receive the
same satisfaction. Yes, there is such a thing as sex addiction. A person
truly can become psychologically and physiologically addicted to
frequent, wild, experimental, and even obscenely immoral sex.
The fact that sex is addicting, and the biblical truth that sin is
addicting, combined, lead to the conclusion that sex addiction does
indeed exist. The fact that sex addiction exists, though, does not
change the fact that it is sin. It is very important to recognize sex
addiction as a sin, not to excuse it away as a psychological disorder.
At the same time, we should not minimize the powerful hold sex addiction
can have on a person. As with all sin addictions, the only true cure
for sex addiction is Jesus Christ. We have all sinned and fallen short
of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Because of our sin, we all deserve the judgment of eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus, who was God in human form, paid the eternal/infinite penalty for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).
If we fully trust His sacrifice on our behalf as the full payment for
our sin, receiving Him as Savior in faith, He promises that all of our
sins are forgiven. Then, God makes us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and begins the process of conforming us to His will (Romans 12:1-2),
including enabling us to overcome sin and break any sin addictions we
have. "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of
death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 7:24-25).
Recommended Resources:
Sex, Food, and God: Breaking Free from Temptations, Compulsions, and Addictions by David Eckman and Logos Bible Software.
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