Let's (not) talk about sex, baby

Sex is both very ambiguous and very prevalent in the Bible. Take the Song of Solomon from the Old Testament, which can be interpreted as an erotic piece of literature, or the fact Abraham fathered sons from both his wife and his servant, and let's not even mention the incest that seems to take place on more than one occasion. Depending on how you read it, the Bible is filled with sex.

But can one really deduce the promotion of masturbation and the use of sex toys from the ol' Good Book?

Probably not.

"Real Marriage: The Truth about Sex, Friendship and Life Together" is written by Pastor Mark Driscoll and his wife, Grace.

Driscoll is the founder of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. The book explores the couple's journey through marriage and gives advice on how to rekindle the flames in a receding love life, and maintain a healthy marriage through a happy sex life. Driscoll wants to write about his personal experiences with improving his marriage and sex life? Fine, but he also attempts to sell to his readers the idea that the Bible backs up his love theories.

While the first half of the book might be an advice narrative, the second half really puts Driscoll in hot water. After all, he introduces one of the chapters with "If you are older, from a highly conservative religious background, live far away from a major city, do not spend much time on the Internet, or do not have cable television, the odds are that you will want to read this chapter while sitting down, with the medics ready on speed dial."

Who knew a pastor could be so raunchy?

In one chapter, Driscoll reveals his approval of various sex acts, many of which are Christian taboos, based on his interpretation of 1 Corinthians 6:12. The passage reads, "I have the right to do anything,' you say-but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything'-but I will not be mastered by anything." Based on this, Driscoll deems activities such as masturbation, oral sex, sex toys and cybersex perfectly permissible within marriage.

Can one really infer from a few broad passages that any sex act is fair game in marriage? Just because the Driscolls deem a certain sexual lifestyle worthy of praise doesn't mean the Bible backs them up.

The Driscolls should be free to enjoy lovemaking in any sense of the word, as should any married couple, so long as it's consensual and beneficial to their marriage. But Driscoll also supports the act of masturbation, a self-satisfying and lustful act. Good luck finding rationale for that in the Bible.

Associate professor of Biblical studies at Boyce College, Denny Burk writes, "I think chapter 10 has the potential to wreak havoc in such marriages where one spouse will feel a whole range of taboos to be ‘permissible' if he can convince his spouse to participate. This to me seems like a recipe for marital disaster."

Driscoll stretches the words in Scripture to justify what he believes and preaches. If he wanted to write a book on a successful marriage and love life, he should have left the Bible out of it. Anyone can justify anything depending on how he or she interprets the Bible, and everyone has the right to his or her interpretations; however, that doesn't mean one should publish these interpretations and turn it into advice for others.