The
question whether or not there would be sex in heaven is pertinent because the
Bible narrates a more complex question in Matthew 22. But if we consider the same question from an informal
perspective, we would term the question as cheesy or coarse.
Interestingly, the
Lord Jesus Christ answered HIS questioners, irrespective of the question being
cheesy or sophisticated. If Christ answered HIS questioners, then we may as
well answer any question.
The Bible
provides our context, “On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no
resurrection) came to Jesus and questioned Him, asking, “Teacher, Moses said,
‘If a man dies having no children, his brother as next of kin shall marry his
wife, and raise up children for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers
with us; and the first married and died, and having no children left his wife
to his brother; so also the second, and the third, down to the seventh. Last of
all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven
will she be? For they all had married her.” But Jesus answered and said to
them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.
For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are
like angels in heaven.” (Matthew 22: 23-30, NASB).
Some
Christian theologians argue that there will be no sex in heaven.1 Other
theologians argue that there will be sex in heaven.2
I
personally believe that there will be no sex in heaven. The Bible indicates
that there will be no sex in heaven (Matthew 22: 23-30). Furthermore, existence
of sex in heaven would entail insane possibilities that would contradict the
core attribute of heaven, which is perfection (heaven is a state and place of
perfection).
If there is
sex in heaven, consider the extent of insane possibilities:
1. No Procreation: The goal of sexual
intercourse on earth is procreation. However, if there is sex in heaven, procreation
cannot be the goal, for there cannot be procreation in heaven. (The Bible does
state from the narrative in consideration that there would be no procreation in
heaven.)
Procreation cannot exist in
heaven because children are in an innately imperfect state (they need to grow
to actualize their purpose for creation). Since heaven is a place of
perfection, imperfection cannot be actualized or children cannot be born.
However, if
procreation were to be possible in heaven, every child born in heaven should be
hardwired to believe in God. In other words, every new birth in heaven would be
a birth of a heavenly human robot, without freewill, and programmed to believe
in God.
You could argue that heaven is a place of perfection, hence
freewill need not be a theme of concern. This response would lead to a myriad of
questions disputing God’s wisdom and justice, and the answer to each question would
die a death of thousand qualifications.
Here is a
model question, “If children born in heaven are perfect, why are children born
on earth imperfect (they can sin)?” If you were to invoke the entailment of
evil / Satan on earth as a precursor for mankind’s imperfection on earth, then
a follow-up question could be, “Is it not unjust of God to create metaphysically
different children, wherein some children born in heaven cannot sin (due to
perfection in heaven), and other children (born on earth) have the potency to
sin (an adult could reject God) so to merit hell?
So procreation
is impossible in heaven. If the goal of sexual intercourse in heaven is not procreation,
then it should be something other than procreation.
2. Sex in heaven could be for pleasure,
if procreation were to be non-existent in heaven. If sex in
heaven is for pleasure, there ought to be gradational variations to pleasure,
which in turn will betray the attribute of perfection. The conservative
Christian consideration is that man will derive pleasure in heaven because of his
coexistence with God (cf. Psalm 16:11 et al.). So if the beatific vision or coexistence
or face-to-face worship of God is to bring about ultimate pleasure to man in
heaven, then what kind of a pleasure would sex offer him?
Sex cannot
offer man a greater pleasure than worshiping God. So sex ought to offer man the
pleasure that is inferior to worshiping God. But the state of “inferiority” is
an attribute of imperfection. So if sex were to exist in heaven, then it should
be predicated on imperfection. So sex cannot
exist in heaven for the purpose of pleasure.
But certain
theologians contend that we can eat in heaven, and that eating is not for the
purpose of necessity but for the sake of pleasure. If eating for the purpose of
pleasure is existent in heaven, then why can sex not exist in heaven for the
sake of pleasure?
The notion
that we can consume food in heaven for the sake of pleasure is based on
conjecture. Pleasure need not be the only other option to necessity i.e. if
food is not needed for sustenance / necessity, then it does not infer that pleasure
is the only other reason for consuming food. In fact, we do not know what type
of food will be available in heaven. Some reckon it would be the food that was
made available to Adam & Eve. However, food in heaven can be for purposes that
do not involve pleasure.
So in the
same way, could sex be existent in heaven for reasons other than pleasure? No!
There are better reasons that invalidate the existence of sex in heaven.
3. Singles would be deprived of
sex in heaven: Not all who die and go to heaven are married. Christian singles
die and go to heaven and all children who die go to heaven.
If sex were
to exist in heaven, the aspect of partnership (how would one choose another for
sex) is a key thorn in the face of perfection. Who would the single individual
in heaven choose to engage in sexual intercourse with and what would be the
mechanism (suitability / eligibility) of this selection or participation?
Furthermore,
since the Bible categorically rejects the notion of marriage in heaven, sex, in
the context of being outside of marriage in heaven, would open an “ethical” Pandora’s
Box.
4. Polygamy in heaven? If sex were to
occur in heaven, then polygamy is a direct entailment, within the
context described in the Scripture. If a man had married multiple women during
the course of his earthly life, then he should obviously have sex with all of
them in heaven.
But deprivation
is innate to polygamy (husband can only be with one wife at a time, which
results in sexual deprivation for the other wife). Deprivation is a state of
imperfection. Hence polygamy (or sex in heaven) cannot exist within the state
of perfection, for heaven is a state of perfection. If polygamy cannot exist in
heaven, then we could presuppose an absence of sex in heaven.
Conclusion: This is a trivial
theme for our consideration, because it is non-salvific and does virtually nothing
to aid our growth in Christ while we live on earth. We do not know for certain as
to the availability and the purpose of many relevant aspects in heaven (Cf. 1 Corinthians
13:9). Hence, it is not a good use of our time to delve deeply into these
trivial aspects of Historic Christianity.
However,
every question ought to be answered meaningfully. Hence, this is an honest endeavor
to respond to the question, “Will there be sex in heaven?” The overall evidence
points to the notion that there will be no sex in heaven, which is in no way a
loss to those who would inhabit heaven in the glorious presence of our living God.
Endnotes:
1https://www.gotquestions.org/sex-heaven.html,
last accessed on 6th April 2017.
&
http://www.equip.org/bible_answers/will-there-be-sex-in-heaven/,
last accessed on 6th April 2017.
2http://www.peterkreeft.com/topics/sex-in-heaven.htm,
last accessed on 6th April 2017.
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