"God-glorifying Real Intimacy"

I am currently reading Undefiled: Redemption from Sexual Sin, Restoration for Broken Relationships by Harry Schaumburg.  It is much less depressing than The Chemistry Between Us and The Normal Bar (although the exact same scientific research is presented in all three books). Here is my favorite passage so far- the italics are the authors, but I added the bold to the parts that induced an Herbal-Essence-commercial-type response in me:

"That said, please understand that God-glorifying real intimacy is the God-ordained path to healing and purity. God's gift of sex is designed for comfort, intimacy, pleasure, procreation, and control of sexual temptation.

It is tragic and shallow if an engaged couple coming into their wedding night just see sexual intimacy as now permissible. Something is lost if passionate lovemaking is not seen and realized as part of God's created order. More tragic is the spouse who feels sex must now be tolerated rather than knowing that God is encouraging the couple to enjoy lovemaking completely.

A man and a woman looking for a spouse had a huge pool of potential mates but ended up choosing each other. In reality, God put them together. Being in bed for love creates a new exclusive bond for life. That bond is all the more rich when you know that God is present and seeing the goodness of your erotic satisfaction. This union is to continue until death separates the couple or age and health become an issue. 

God-glorifying lovemaking is to be expected and celebrated. It is exciting, pleasurable, intoxicating, powerful, and unifying at the deepest spiritual level. Sexual intimacy may be briefly put aside for prayer, but prayer and Bible study are not more important than holy, sexual intimacy. 

Foreplay begins before a kiss, a hug, a touch, or a caress. Meaningful physical foreplay and lovemaking must be preceded by touching each other's hearts and minds…

When touched inwardly, we are built to respond physically. Kissing is to be more than a casual greeting, but passionate. Touching and caressing are varied and will not be limited to the bedroom, and are always appropriate but should never make the other person uncomfortable. It should never just be a prelude to sexual intimacy but an expression of meaningful commitment, affection, and love that fills the mind with satisfaction and gives reassurance that you belong to each other fully and completely. 

Sexual intercourse is the ultimate physical union in this lovemaking setting, the expression of godly sensual joy to the point of giving and receiving with abandonment in the harmony of the moment as man and woman serve one another in vulnerable passion…

In later years, I would come to appreciate more and more that she (the author's wife) is the gift of God, a sovereign God who knew the "us" before we were born, before our first kiss, and before our wedding night. God had a plan to bring us together before the foundations of the world for His purpose and glory, as well as for our satisfaction."

-pages 164-166, Undefiled: Redemption from Sexual Sin, Restoration for Broken Relationships by Harry Schaumburg

"exclusive bond for life", "unifying at the deepest spiritual level", "love that fills the mind with satisfaction and gives reassurance that you belong to each other fully and completely", "giving and receiving with abandonment in the harmony of the moment as man and woman serve one another in vulnerable passion"…?

Yes, yes, yes.

"vulnerable passion"

Yesssss, give me more.

I could read thousands of pages of that.

Every Christian who is married or hopes to be married someday in the future should own this book.

Picture is of my copy- Buy yours here.

Image found here.