Is There Any Hidden Danger Behind “Protected Sex”?
The
debate on the subject of using or not using condoms for prophylactic
prevention of sexually transmitted infections as well as for
contraception has always sparked mixed, sharp reactions. Both
proponents and opponents continue to candidly state their arguments
for and against condom use respectively. As a corollary to this, a
controversy exists over whether promoting condoms or abstinence is
preferable to fight the global HIV/AIDs pandemic and unintended
pregnancies.
As
early as the sixteenth century, condoms were used to protect against
sexually transmitted infections, which could be evidence that
non-marital sexual promiscuity was key in facilitating the
innovation. However, it was not until the eighteenth century that
condoms were used as contraceptives. In 1843, the condom technology
underwent a key innovation upon the discovery of the vulcanization of
rubber by Goodyear and Hancock. The use of vulcanized rubber, as
opposed to animal tissue, lowered costs and improved condom quality.
Thereafter, the condom rapidly gained credence and the latex condom,
which descended from the vulcanized rubber condom took the world by
storm in the nineteenth century.
According
to pro-condom lobbyists, condoms are safe and effective because they
block contact with body fluids that cause pregnancy and sexually
transmitted infections. The condom, they argue, when used as a form
of birth control is cheap, easy to access and dispose, and has
minimal side effects. They also maintain that condoms are effective
against viral infections such as HIV, human papilloma virus (HPV),
herpes simplex virus, hepatitis B, and cytomegalovirus which are
transmitted by urethral fluids, semen and genital sores. Besides
that, they strongly believe that condoms can help safeguard fertility
by preventing transmission of sexually transmitted infections that
cause infertility such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. Although they
admit that condoms are not absolutely effective, they always lay
great stress on the correct and consistent use of condoms.
On
the other hand, some condom-use opponents strongly advocate for
abstinence until marriage, insisting that it is the only viable
method of preventing disease and pregnancy. Others publicly attack
the efficacy of condoms and argue that their widespread distribution
aggravates rather than attenuates the problem of sexually transmitted
infections. They maintain that condom use lulls people into a false
sense of security thus promoting more acts of risky sex by making
individuals less fearful of grievous consequences. Condom opponents,
some of whom include religious leaders, often blame condom-use
promotion under the rubric of safe sex, for giving the impression
that pre-marital sex or irresponsible sex is acceptable thus
resulting into societal moral decadence.
It
is therefore not surprising that condom proponents and opponents have
always been at loggerheads over its use, with the latter striving to
stymie alleged public health efforts towards increased condom use in
the world. For instance during the World War I, the American Social
Hygiene Association forced the American Armed Expeditionary Forces to
adopt a chastity campaign, making them the only troops in Europe that
were not provided with condoms. This led to a 70 per cent sexually
transmitted infections' rate. However, by 1919, the U.S Army was
spending a million dollars annually on prevention of venereal
diseases, including distributing condoms, the pragmatics having won
over moral scruples.
But
is there any hidden danger behind the so called safe sex? Spiritually
speaking, yes. In fact, there is more spiritual harm than physical
harm in sexual immorality. Let's delve into the Scriptures for a
while to confirm whether the above statement is true or not. First, it is of
utmost importance to understand that:
“........the
body [is] not for fornication, but for the Lord;
and the Lord for the body.”(1 Corinthians 6:13, KJV).
Unless
otherwise, choosing to have sex with someone is a personal decision.
Unfortunately, most people are unaware that the effects of any
sexually immoral act go beyond what they see, hear or even feel.
Their feet normally hasten to commit sexual sin oblivious that the
consequences transcend the physical realm. Anyone who joins himself
or herself to another person, regardless of whether protection is
used or not, becomes one body with that individual.
“Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”(1 Corinthians 6:13, NIV).
Apostle
Paul, who wrote the first and second epistle to Corinthians knew
perfectly well the dangers of sexual error and that's why he warned
them to flee fornication.
“Flee
from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are
outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own
body.”(1
Corinthians 6:18, NIV).
Since
sexual sin directly affects one's own body which is the temple of the
Holy Spirit, anyone who defiles his or her body in the name of
protected or unprotected sex chases the Holy Spirit and thus God's
presence out of his or her life. The Holy Spirit stays away from that
person as long as he or she continues to sin sexually. To better
illustrate this, let's look at how the Devil orchestrated the fall of
Samson in the Book of Judges chapter 16.
When
Samson, filled with God's Spirit, went to Gaza and slept with a
harlot, little did he know he had committed the greatest mistake ever
which would ultimately cost him his life. Before then, God was very
much present in his life. However, His presence left him the moment
he defiled himself by sleeping with the prostitute. It is worthwhile
to realize that when he took the doors of the city's gate, and the
two posts and went away with them, bar and all, putting them upon his
shoulders, he was merely using the physical strength derived from his
hair. Note that it didn't take long after Samson got intimate with a
harlot, that he fell in love with Delilah (Delilah didn't fall in
love with him), the woman who would ultimately cause his destruction.
By
sinning sexually, Samson breached the security he previously enjoyed
from God which gave Satan an opportunity to enter his life through
Delilah. Unaware that Delilah was a Devil's agent, who would cajole
him into revealing the source of his strength, Samson became
completely besotted with her. No sooner had he told her everything
than she had him sleep on her lap and called a man to shave off the
seven locks of his hair.
“Then
she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke
from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake
myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left
him. Then
the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him
down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set
him to grinding in the prison.”(Judges
16:20-21, NIV).
There
is no doubt that sexually immorality inflicts more spiritual harm as
compared to physical harm, whether protection is used or not. This is
a fact that condom-use proponents must understand, no matter how
well-meaning their campaigns are. Anyone who feels “safe” while
sleeping with just anyone just because there is a condom, is
completely deluded! God will surely destroy that person!
“Don’t
you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that
God’s Spirit lives in you? If
anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s
temple is sacred, and you are that temple.”(1
Corinthians 3:16-17, NIV).
Furthermore:
“It
is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid
sexual immorality; that
each of you should learn to control his own body [Or learn
to live with his own wife; or learn to acquire a wife] in a way
that is holy and honourable.”(1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, NIV).
Friend,
do not be deceived.
“Neither
the sexually immoral
nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual
offenders nor
thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers
will inherit the kingdom of God.”(1
Corinthian 6:9-10, NIV).
“Outside
are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral,
the murderers, the idolaters and everyone
who
loves and practices falsehood.”(Revelation
22:15, NIV).
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