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Sex provides an opportunity for a married couple to become intimate with one another.*"The goal of sex in marriage is spiritual union. Through the joining of two physical bodies in marital love comes a unique oneness of soul. Saint [[John Chrysostom]] instructs us:'Their intercourse accomplishes the joining of their bodies, and they are made one, just as when perfume is mixed with ointment" (''12th Homily on Colossians'').<ref>''Preserve Them, O Lord'' by Fr. John Mack. Ben Lomond, California, Conciliar Press: 1996. p. 119.</ref>*Abortion"Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, andlikewise also the wife to her husband" (I Cor. 7:3).*"Sexual relations provide an opportunity for the development of a spirit of [[martyr]]dom. This is the type of martyrdom that exhibits self-denial and submission to the other."<ref>''Preserve Them, O Lord'' by Fr. John Mack. Ben Lomond, California, Conciliar Press:*Birth control1996. p. 123.</ref>
:''The same God who said "Do And how become they one flesh? As if you should take the purest part of gold, and mingle it with the other gold; so in truth here also the women as it were receiving the richest part fused by pleasure, nourishes it and cherishes it, and throughout contributing her own share, restores it back to the man. And the child is a sort of bridge so that the three become on flesh, the child connecting, on either side, each to each… What then? When there is not fornicate" also saidchild, "Do will they not judgebe two? Not so, for their coming together has this effect; it diffuse and commingles the bodies of both.And as one who has poured ointment into oil has made the whole one; so in truth is it also here"(St. John Chrysostom, ''On Marriage and Family Life'').
:''"…each man should have his own wife There are many centuries of evidence showing how the concept [of a nuclear family] works in practice: pretty good, usually resulting in the survival and each woman her own husbandsuccess of a new generation, humankind’s first responsibility. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rightsBonuses of companionship, romantic love, pleasure and likewise the wife to her husbandjoy often appear as well. For the wife does not have authority over her own body In comparison, an ethic of sexual freedom, but where one in four pregnancies ends in abortion and the husband does; likewise the husband does not have authority over his own bodynumbers of children in single-parent homes keeps rising, but the wife doesfails this goal like clockwork. Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement Indicators for a set timesexually transmitted disease, divorce, abandonment, impoverishment of women and children, to devote yourselves to prayerunwed motherhood, and then come together again"'' (1 Corinthians 7:2abortion are at record levels; the heartbreak index is at an all-5)time high."<ref name="whymate" />
It is important good for one a child to understand have married parents, and sex within marriage best provides the child with this protection. "Marriage is not a license particularly important for unlimited marital relations, but an opportunity for asceticism. The ascetic character the rearing of children as they flourish best under the Christian life also covers the marital life long term care and nurture of the believerstheir father and mother."<ref>[http://www. According to Stnhclc. John Chrysostom marriage preserves purity, chastity, and even virginityorg/about/pdf/defenseofmarriage. doc A Letter from America's Religious Leaders in Defense of Marriage as a communion (DOC)] whose signers include His Eminence Archbishop [[Demetrios (Trakatellis) of persons is not restricted to the level America|Demetrios of matter and material sense; contrarily matter and material sense serve the communion America]], Primate of the person and Greek Orthodox Church in this wayAmerica, they acquire a spiritual content. and The prayers Most Blessed [[Herman (Swaiko) of the marriage service clearly address this pastoral issue. Washington and New York|Herman]], Archbishop of Washington and New York, Primate, The priest prays for the bed of the couple to remain ''"undefiledOrthodox Church in America."'' </ref>
==Barrenness==
Although children are a consequence of sexual relations, the inability to procreate does not necessarily mean that sex is no longer a good thing. In the Old Testament, barrenness was often seen as the result of sin. However, many Old Testament figures underwent barrenness, later to conceive through God's will.
=== Adultery =Temptation==''"Adultery refers to voluntary sexual intercourse between a married man and someone Just as with other than his wife or between a married woman and someone other than her husband"'' (''"Adultery"'' in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionarydesires of the flesh, Eleventh Editionthe temptation to sin sexually often presents itself. In these cases, Merriam-Websterthe mind must instruct the body as to the right course. "Do not follow your lusts, Increstrain your desires. If you allow yourself to satisfy your desires, 2003this will make you the laughing-stock of your enemies" ([[Wisdom of Sirach|Sirach]] 18:30-31).
[[Monastic rule]]s often include injunctions to fight against sexual temptation.
=== Masturbation =Sexual sin==''"Masturbation refers to the erotic stimulation especially of one's own genital organs commonly resulting in orgasm and achieved by manual or other bodily contact exclusive of sexual intercourseSexual [[sin]] may include adultery, fornication (including premarital sex), rape, incest, bestiality, prostitution, pornography, by instrumental manipulationmasturbation, occasionally by sexual fantasies, or and [[homosexuality|homosexual practices]]. These are condemned by various combinations of these agencies"'' (''"Masturbation"'' in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionarythe Church not for their own sake, Eleventh Edition, Merriam-Webster, Incbut to protect her members from harming themselves and others through inappropriate behaviors. Note that sexual sin is not regarded as especially different from other types of sin, 2003)to which all are susceptible.
"The libertines in Corinth—as some do today—argued that illicit sex (adultery and fornication) is as necessary for the body as eating, and both are irrelevant to the spiritual life. Paul contends the body belongs to God, and everything is relevant to the spiritual life. Therefore, dealing with sin means controlling our bodies."<ref>''The Orthodox Study Bible:New Testament and Psalms'', note on I Cor. 6:13, p. 385.</ref>
Sexual sin, just as any other sin, necessitates cleansing through the [[sacrament]] of [[confession]]. == References Confession and guidance==*Stanley SWhen one struggles with sexual issues, it is good to have a spiritual guide to assist in the struggle. Harakas The sacrament of confession not only provides the opportunity to shed past sins and to obtain guidance, ''Living but also to receive the grace of God through the sacrament. Marital fasting should also involve the Faith''guidance of a father confessor. ==See also==*[[Abortion]]*[[Birth control]]/[[Contraception]]*[[Chastity]]*[[Divorce]] ==Reference==<div class="small"><references /></div> ==External links==*[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf112.iv.xx.html Homily XIX: 1 Cor. vii. 1, Minneapolis, Minnesota2] by St. John Chrysostom*[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf113.iv.iv.x.html Homily on X.: Colossians, Xiii. 18–25] by St. John Chrysostom*[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf113.iv.iv. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, volxii. html Homily XII.: Colossians iv. 12, p13] by St. 304John Chrysostom*[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf113.iii.iv.xxi.html Homily XX.: Ephesians v. 22–24] by St. John Chrysostom*[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf109.xiv.ii.html Against Publishing the Errors of the Brethren], chapters 6-10 on Colossians Chapter 12barrenness and infertility, 5by St. John Chrysostom*[http://www.comeandseeicons.com/c/inp62.htm Orthodox Icon of the Conception of the Theotokos]*[http://www.oca.org/QA.asp?ID=230&SID=3 Church's view of masturbation] ([[OCA]])*[http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8076.asp For the Health of Body and Soul: An Eastern Orthodox Introduction to Bioethics] by Fr. [[Stanley S. Harakas]] ([[GOARCH]])*[http://www.frederica.com/writings/the-real-meaning-of-sex.html The Real Meaning of Sex] by [[Frederica Mathewes-Green]]*[http://www.frederica.com/writings/what-to-say-at-a-naked-party.html What to Say at a Naked Party] by Frederica Mathewes-Green*[http://www.frederica.com/writings/the-oneida-experiment.html The Oneida Experiment] by Frederica Mathewes-Green*[http://www.frederica.com/writings/lets-have-more-teen-pregnancy.html Let's Have More Teen Pregnancy] by Frederica Mathewes-Green*[http://www.frederica.com/writings/overthrown-by-eros.html Overthrown by Eros] by Frederica Mathewes-Green*[http://www.frederica.com/writings/born-that-way.html Born That Way] by Frederica Mathewes-Green*[http://realserver.goarch.org/ram/en/sexual_pur.ram Sexual Purity and Healthy Relationships (RAM)] video (GOARCH)*[http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles8/Morelli-Smart%20Marriage-XIII-The-Theology-of-Marriage-and-Sexuality.php Smart Marriage XIII: The Theology of Marriage and Sexuality] by Fr. George Morelli*[http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles6/MorelliHypersexuality.php "Sexual Addiction"—An Orthodox and Scientific View] by Fr. George Morelli Ph.D.*[http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles5/MorelliSexIsHoly.php Sex Is Holy: Psycho-Spiritual Reflections in a Secular World] by Rev. George Morelli*[http://atijournal.org/ATI_Vol4_No1.pdf There is No Sex in the Church] by Fr. Sergei Sveshnikov (ROCOR)
[[Category:Ethics]]