By
Ayotunde Olayori Oguntade
olayorioguntade2017@gmail. com
+2348035725202
Lecturer, Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso
and
Oyeniyi Oluseun Oyedele
niyioyedele7@gmail.com
+2348056060262
PhD candidate, Department of Theology & Philosophy
Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso
Abstract
One of the contemporary challenges is how much the world has become sexually saturated. Explicit or implicit sex contents have filled up movies, music and the media space. Sex messages circulating in today’s world are also pushing some ideas and narratives contrary to the Christian perspective on sex which needs to be addressed in order for Christians to live right and make biblically appropriate moral decisions on sexual matters. It is against this background that this paper is written to engage in critical and reflective theological conversation about sex. In order to achieve this, this paper evaluates Augustine’s view on sexual matters and extracts certain values from it to develop theological principles of sex which can be useful for contemporary Christians. This paper argues that sex is a gift from God and should be used to serve the purposes of pleasure and procreation strictly within the confine of proper marriage between a man and a woman. The paper reveals that any form of misuse of sex whether within or outside of marriage is indecent. Therefore, the paper recommends that Christian couples should maintain discipline and discretion in regard to sexual conduct, there should be proper orientation on sex in Christian homes and the church should develop a bible based theology on sex.
Keywords:Augustine, Conversion, Ordination, Sex and Sexual matters, Theological Principles
Introduction
Today’s world is sexually saturated as one regularly confronts explicit or implicit sex messages in movies, music, advertisements, one-on-one conversations, and so on. It seems almost impossible for one to set out in the morning and return in the evening without coming in contact with some sex related contents. Contemporary print and electronic media keep portraying sexual behaviours as mere physical gratification or recreation which anyone can engage in without any deeper meaning other than satisfying human desires. In order to live right and make biblically appropriate moral decisions on sexual matters as Christians, there is the need to engage in critical and reflective theological conversation about sex.
A critical and reflective theological conversation about sex is necessary because throughout the Bible, there are passages that address the issue of sex stating what is appropriate and non-appropriate. Certain biblical terms like fornication, adultery, lust, immorality, and orgies are sex related. In addition, early Christians, apostles, and church fathers had to address the issue of sex during their time. One of such fathers whose sexual view is under consideration in this paper is Augustine of Hippo. This paper seeks to make an inquiry into Augustine’s view on sexual matters to formulate theological principles of sex for contemporary Christians. Augustine is worth studying because “he has a special place in the history of Christianity in the West, and through that place has left a permanent mark on the general consciousness of humanity” (Chadwick, 2009, p. 1). This paper gives a very brief biography of Augustine, presents and evaluates his view on sexual matters, and offers some theological viewpoints and recommendations that should guide Christians when faced with sexual decisions. This paper argues that sex is a good gift from God which is meant to serve the purposes of pleasure and procreation strictly within the confine of a proper marriage of a man and a woman.
