Do Not

Don’t Kiss.

Don’t Touch.

Don’t lick.

Do not what?

While Marc and I got donuts this morning, we were talking about how Christians do not like to talk about sex until it’s time for pre-marital counseling.

It’s like Christians are afraid of sex or something.

It’s such a mind trip to go from memorizing Song of Solomon 2:7, 3:5, and 8:4 that says, “DO NOT arouse or awaken love until it so desires” to think about marriage because they’re the ONLY verses I remember from the erotic love poem found in the Bible.

Even though Solomon is right, we’re the ones to blame for taking the verses partly out of context. The truth is God designed us as sexual beings to experience true intimacy between a husband and a wife.

When I was in the editing process for “Not Another Dating Book,” my editor made me rewrite this one part where I wrote about sex negatively.

I felt so embarrassed.

It’s like my Baptist Sunday School teachers won or something.

My generation grew up hearing the words “do not” so many times, it’s no wonder why so many 20-somethings have left the church. One thing I can tell you for sure: Christians need to start talking about sex in relationships a WHOLE lot sooner than marriage.

Maybe then we wouldn’t have so many broken relationships.

I am proud to say that I waited for my wedding night, but that is SO not what helps me sleep at night. Jesus didn’t say a spirit of judgmentalism will get you into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus was more harsh on the religious leaders and Pharisees of that day than anyone else.

When I’m about to go to sleep–that is when my burden becomes alive again. My heart aches for my generation. For their needs, hurt, and pain.

I want to be known as a person who loved deeply and from the heart (1 Peter 1:22).

That I prayed and took the time to care about others.

That I helped process their pain and cry with them.

That I was a good friend.

Try doing those for a while and you’ll realize with me what a miserable Christian you are and how much you desperately need God’s help to not judge. Christianity is not a list of rules. It’s about Christ’s love for His bride–the church.

Yes, it’s finally my turn to awaken love.

Yes, it’s finally my turn to be a bride.

But, I think I had it all backwards.

I was already God’s bride.

I already had his approval.

I already was His beloved and He was mine.

Hey church, it’s time we start celebrating what’s right.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8, NIV).