gengwall

I’m curious what people think. This is slightly off topic but still related to 1 Cor 7:4.

I have long argued (mostly in vain) with my fellow Christian brothers about the bible’s teaching on “beauty”. I have contended that looking at women in terms of their beauty (what is really meant is “sexiness”) outside of marriage, even while single, is not only shallow but quite ungodly. Conversely, I have contended that the physical attraction mechanisms that do exist within us (and are especially “tuned in” in males) were originally designed to be expressed or acted on only within marriage.

Here is the 1 Cor 7 part. I have used 1 Cor 7 as part of my evidence that men should not be looking even glancingly in a sexual way at womenn other than their wife. I know Jesus talks about “visual adultary”, but many men say that Jesus’ words don;t count unless a man is thinking about actual sex with another woman. I disagree, partially based on 1 Cor 7 (as well as Job 31:1). Here is how the argument goes.

I believe that the authority over our spouses body extends beyond the exterior. I believe that we, and especially women, have authority over the hormonal responses, visual stimulations, mental image retention, and all other sexually related internal workings of our spouse. As such, I believe that anything purposely done by a man (or woman) to “kick into gear” their sexual biology, no matter how minor, violates their spouses authority over their body.

What do you think?