Overcoming

In previous blog posts I have discussed overcoming the sexual urge. Overcoming does not necessarily mean celibacy or absolute rejection of any sexual expression. Overcoming is available to married people who do enjoy intimate relations.

Overcoming is mastering the sexual appetite so that you dominate it not that it dominates you.

This statement has the taste of paradox. If the sexual appetite is expressed in lawful intimacy has it been overcome?

Yes. To an extent reserving it for lawful marital intimacy is a measure of overcoming.

Is that the extent of overcoming? No. Even within lawful expression there are opportunities for mastery that will edify.

So restricting oneself to that which is lawful is a measure of overcoming. Extending one's mastery and restraint to other levels may edify.

There is a continuum of opportunities. Perhaps at its very highest is the restricting of marital relations to the full intention of conception and procreation (not in any neurotic or puritanical way but in the fullness of unselfish love.)

There may be many levels of overcoming in between. But in no case is overcoming to be sought for one's own benefit. Overcoming only occurs when the effort to overcome is fully intentioned to the welfare and salvation of others.