I am writing in response to Brian Johnson’s March 27th editorial entitled, “Birds, Bees, and Plenty of Sex.” In this article, Johnson casts off all restraints concerning sex and implores Iowa State University to “have lots of sex with lots of people.” In addition, he implies that the Biblical view of sex (abstinence for the unmarried and monogamy for the married) becomes a “prison” leading to complacency.

Johnson says that sex and love “always walk hand in hand.” Yes, sex and love should walk hand in hand, but unfortunately, they usually don’t. In fact, the very type of sex that Johnson advocates is completely void of any love at all. Sex can be an expression of love or an expression of selfish lust. Do not be fooled — the sex that Brian Johnson embraces only carries the appearance of love. This masquerade of “love” is quickly unmasked whenever pregnancy, STD’s, or even commitment enters the picture.

I would like to propose that sex can indeed be a beautiful expression of love when it is used within the context for which it was created. Genesis 2:24 says, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” The Bible is clear that the very God that created sexual beings, as well as sex itself, has the wisdom to know how this blessing can best be cherished and enjoyed. When God commands us, “Do not commit adultery [any sexual relation outside of the context of marriage],” He is not towering over sex like an angry father (as Johnson would have you believe). Rather, He is commanding us to live in a way that will glorify Him and satisfy us. “The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing” (Proverbs 10:28, emphasis mine).

This truth is best expressed by Elizabeth Elliot when she says, “There is dullness, monotony, sheer boredom in all of life when virginity and purity are no longer protected and prized. By trying to grab fulfillment everywhere, we find it nowhere.” To clarify the distinct difference between the Johnson/Biblical views of sex, let me illustrate with two characters, Joe Active and Sam Chaste.

Joe Active spends his college life living out Johnson’s philosophy that “Sex is the best answer and always has been.” In a true heroic spirit, he has sex with many women, and because “Sex is love and love is sex,” he “loves” many women as well. On his wedding night, Joe confidently stands before his new wife and declares, “I love you so much that I have spent my entire life preparing for this night. In strength and wisdom, I have seized every opportunity to have sex, and now you are blessed to be married to a man as experienced as I.”

In actuality, Joe has not done anything my dog can’t do. An animal can have sex with many partners, but I would not call them “heroes” or “strong.” What Joe should have said on his wedding night was this: “I love you like all those other women I’ve slept with, and what we are about to do is nothing that they haven’t experienced as well. I have given a piece of me to each of these women, so I hope you like leftovers. In addition, no matter how hard I try not to, my mind will continually be comparing you and your body to every other woman I’ve ever slept with.”

Sam Chaste, on the other hand, believes that God, the Creator of sex, actually knows what He’s talking about when He says, “…be careful to obey so that it may go well with you…” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Sam decides that although it will be tough, he will remain pure and save his body for only his wife to enjoy. On his wedding night, he is able to stand before his new wife and say, “I love you. In fact, I love you so much that I have patiently waited my entire life for you. I have saved my body solely for you.”

This man is the real hero.

Men and women of Iowa State University, do not be swayed by the “opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge” (I Timothy 6:20). You have heard the arguments, and I believe you know what is true. Let us be a campus and generation that is characterized by integrity and commitment to true love.

Anything less is foolishness.

Brian Gunst

Sophomore

Computer Engineering

[email protected]