Struggling With Sexual Passion

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St. John Chrysostom (4th Century) is one of the great Patristic commentators on scripture. He is a pastor and moralist in his outlook. While today many embracing scientific materialism want it to be true that humans are simply another animal on the planet, governed completely by the same laws of genetics and biology as any other animal, Chrysostom like all those Patristic writers of the Christian tradition believed the very thing that made humans unique is the ability to arise above purely animal drives and to choose behaviors of a higher moral character rather than have one’s life determined by biological drives. With the recent proclamation of the Anthropocene by current scientists, we start to see a scientific recognition that humans are an animal capable of rising above genetic determinism to the point that humans now are shaping not only human evolution by their choices but also the evolution of most species on the planet. Chrysostom knew nothing of modern scientific theories on evolution and genetics, but he did think humans have a spiritual dimension given by God which humans needed to exercise in order to attain full human potential.

“For there are many who have stripped for the contest against the tyranny of nature, who with purity are pursuing the path of virginity, who in this mortal body are showing forth the precepts of the resurrection: ‘for in the resurrection,’ he says, ‘they neither marry nor are given in marriage [Matthew 22:30].’And having engaged the battle against the spiritual powers, they contend eagerly for incorruption in bodies that are corruptible, and – what is unbearable for many to hear – they actually reach perfection through their works. For they drive off their passion, which is like a ceaselessly leaping, frenzied dog; and they take command over the raging ocean, sailing calmly amidst the fierce waves, making a successful voyage across the greatly troubled sea; and they stand firm in the furnace of physical desire without being signed, trampling on the hot coals as if they were clay. Yet, it can happen that such ones, capable of such great things, can be viciously attacked, shamelessly and pitiably, by this passion, and they can be conquered by it.”

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Chrysostom’s imagery about how strong sexual desire can be, leaves little doubt that he understood sexual drive and temptation. He does make it clear that some are able to overcome their sexual drive and actually control it. He says this is unbearable for some to hear – including those who can’t control themselves, those who don’t want to have to control themselves and those who think humans are merely animals and shouldn’t bother to control their powerful, natural drives. Many don’t want to hear about people who learn to control their animal instincts. For Chrysostom, the person who can control their sexual desires, especially those who remain virgins, are the height of human perfection. Today we have people who spend a great deal of time and energy to become perfect physical specimens of humanity – through exercise, dieting and other means. We rave about the physically beautiful (athletes and the sexually attractive). Chrysostom sees human perfection not in physical body sculpting but in learning to control one’s animal desires. He elevates those spiritual athletes to be the highest degree of humanity and the most desired of human beings. Humans are capable of making themselves physically beautiful and desirable, but Chrysostom following the Christian tradition thinks spiritual beauty is far more important to our desire to be fully human.

Virginity is something so great, and demands so much effort, that Christ came down from heaven in order to make men like angels and to implant the angelic way of life here below – not, however, daring to make this way of life mandatory, or to raise it to the level of a law, but instead, instituting the law of self-mortification. Is there anything that exists more burdensome than this? He has made it a commandment to bear one’s cross continually, and to do good to one’s enemies; but he has not made it a law to remain a virgin. He has left this to the choice of those hearing Jesus’ words: ‘The one who is able to accept this, let him accept it.’ For great is the weightiness of this matter, and the difficulty of these struggles, and the sweat of the battles; and in pursuing this virtue the terrain is precipitous.” (Letters to St. Olympia, pp. 68-67)

What makes the willingness to control sexual impulse and virginity so special to Chrysostom is that it is completely voluntary. One chooses this way as a way of sacrifice and self-denial. For Christ does not command us to live as celibates and virgins. It is a way of life that one can choose in order to fulfill Christ’s words to deny the self and take up the cross to follow Him (Matthew 16:24). We don’t become fully human by engaging in all our animal instincts and desires. We become fully human when we realize we can rise above biological determinism and can develop our spiritual lives – and fulfill the Gospel law of love.

Fr. Ted's Blog

Fr. Ted Bobosh

9/22/2017

See also
The Eucharistic Context of Pastoral Response to Contemporary Challenges in Marriage, Family, and Sexuality The Eucharistic Context of Pastoral Response to Contemporary Challenges in Marriage, Family, and Sexuality
Fr. Philip LeMasters
The Eucharistic Context of Pastoral Response to Contemporary Challenges in Marriage, Family, and Sexuality The Eucharistic Context of Pastoral Response to Contemporary Challenges in Marriage, Family, and Sexuality
Fr. Philip LeMasters
The celebration of the Eucharist provides a necessary context for understanding the pastoral response of the Orthodox Church to contemporary challenges in marriage, family, and sexuality. As St. Nicholas Cabasilas commented on the Eucharist, “its aim is the sanctification of the faithful.” Likewise, the aim of the union of husband and wife is their sanctification, their participation in the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.
Discoursing on the Passions Discoursing on the Passions
Fr. Maximos (Constas)
Discoursing on the Passions Discoursing on the Passions
Prayer of the Heart in an Age of Technology and Distraction, Part 1
Fr. Maximos (Constas)
It’s a human impulse to want the best and greatest when we see it, but we forget that there are other things we need to do before we’re ready to achieve that level. We think we’re ready for great achievements before we’ve even attended to little things which somehow seem beneath us. We can’t stoop to them because we’ve been called by God—we have to be seen doing great big things. But this of course is to forget the words of the Lord Who says in the Gospel that he who is faithful in a little is faithful in much.
How are the Passions Born? How are the Passions Born?
Andrei Gorbachev
How are the Passions Born? How Are the Passions Born?
Andrei Gorbachev
“A thousand-mile journey begins with one step,” say the Chinese. So also every passion begins with one thought, which is called prilog, or “suggestion”. This term describes a thought, but also an image, a feeling, a desire, or a state that suddenly arises in the human soul; however that is not to mean all thoughts or states, but only those aimed at separating us from God.
Comments
F.9/24/2017 8:19 pm
It irritates me the way involuntary virginity is talked about a something normal. In the past, if somebody chose to be celibate, it was by their own will, not simply a matter of not being able to find a girl to marry because the "normal" marriage age has been pushed upward to a point of obsurdity, close to the ancient average death age! How is a man who is aging without ever finding love supposed to comprehend preaching on virginity with any reaction other than metaphorically shaking his fist towards the heavens and cursing fate? Lust is a chemical activity of the body, no different than any mammal. Love, on the other hand, is a blameless desire to love and be loved.
Fr William (Bauer)9/23/2017 11:53 pm
Karl Jung recommended that all girls own and learn to control a horse. The experience would assist in the girl's control of her sexuality.
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