Book Review - Sex and the Believer
Conclusion
The Romans were well known for their sexual exploits and it was considered natural for a man to lose his virginity to another man. This attitude is evident in Paul’s letter to the Romans, as it has many references to sexual lusts and how they need to be controlled.
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. (Romans 6:12-13)
Paul is not going to use foul language to get his point across. He uses terms like “tools,” and “members” to relay his message, but for those whose minds are not affected by sexual additions, the point is clear. We can use what we have the way that Adonai intended, or we can use them to sin.
Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. (Romans 13:13-14)
Sensuality is defined as: Desire for sensual pleasures. Isn’t that what is driving these statements regarding multiple wives, masturbation and anal sex? Instead of focusing on our own sensual pleasures, shouldn’t we instead focus on pleasing our mate?
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. (Ephesians 2:1-3)
The desires of the flesh, AND THE MIND, are the works of the enemy and if we continue to focus on them we will soon find ourselves under his control. If our mind desires another sex partner when we already have one, then we need to seek out the source of these thoughts and nip them in the bud. We need to gain control over our thoughts so that we can control our actions.
For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Messiah Yeshua our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:3-7)
One of the works of Messiah Yeshua is the release of those who have been enslaved by sin. Many believers had at one time been slaves to various lusts and pleasures and Yeshua saved them from that. Mr. Moshe Koniuchowsky is now telling these folks that there was nothing to be saved from, that all types of sexual pleasures are to be enjoyed, including multiple partners, as long as it is done within the marriage bed. Worst of all, he is claiming that not only is Adonai fine with this behavior, but that it was His idea from the beginning (or, at least since we left the garden.)
The question the reader needs to ask is this: “Is it true?” And by that, I mean, “Does the Bible really say that?” From the beginning it has been the enemy’s tactic to give us just enough of the truth to make the lie believable. Yes, there is truth found in this book, but there is also a lot of confusion and very bold, unproven statements.
Within the sanctity of the marriage bed, with both partners unified (echad) in thought and deed, sex can truly be thrilling. Taking the time to explore each other’s body, seeking the other’s pleasure more than our own, can actually be more of a turn on than some of these “other” activities. If we truly love our mate, seeing them pleasured will cause our pleasure, especially knowing we are the cause.
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11-12)
Beloved, time is short. We have the enemy closing in all around us and we must be more diligent now than ever before. Recently, when lunching with a dear friend, I was reminded of the goals of the Church of Satan. One in particular stands out to me and was brought to her mind as well when discussing this topic; the blurring of the lines between sex and love.
Love and sex were designed to go together, but you can have one without the other. Sex enhances the love that already exists, making it stronger and binding the two together as no other activity can. Once we separate the two, sex becomes dirty. When our heart’s focus is our own sexual gratification, we have separated love out of the equation. To me, this is the true danger of this book and its teachings.
Our relationship with Adonai has often been described as that of marital partners. We are all (collectively) different members of the same body, and that body belongs to Messiah. He is not returning for multiple brides, but one, single wife that will never separate again. He betrothed Himself to a single female and that is what He returning to claim. We had better get our act together before then.
It is my opinion that Mr. Moshe Koniuchowsky is making a mistake by trying to tie in the Two House teaching with polygamy. Houses are made up of both male and female; Israel is referred to as two brothers as well as two sisters. It also fails to take into account that the reunification of these two houses is supposed to be among the works of the Messiah, so there will not be two by the time the ceremony occurs.
We must hold the marriage bed dear. We must not allow any one or any thing, thought or deed come between what Adonai has joined together. Solomon’s allowance is what brought division in the first place; let us not repeat his mistake. Focusing on the sexual acts rather than the love that inspired them is a mistake and opens up the door to all kinds of strange doctrines, as displayed within the pages of Sex and the Believer - Shocking Freedom of Sexuality in Torah by Moshe Koniuchowsky.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)