God's Plan For Physical Intimacy

God's plan is for married couples to enjoy the process of intimacy and is viewed by many Christians as the physical and natural validation of God's model of oneness in the flesh (Genesis 2:24). Most of us or at least most of the men I know think of sexual activities when we hear the word intimacy but this is really a one dimensional perspective and fails to account for the broader implications of intimacy. Intimacy is defined as (1) the condition of being intimate; the capacity to relate to another person in an emotionally open, equal, and caring way, (2) an instance of being intimate; a close, trusting, confidential friendship (or personal relationship) between two people who are completely at ease with one another and feel free to express their innermost feelings, and (3) or, be intimate with, a euphemism, since the 17th century, for sexual intercourse, based on the standard meaning of closeness, both physically and emotionally; not all relationships are sexual, however, intimacy is an important factor for a fulfilling sexual relationship in marriage (added by author). (4) Intimacy is also defined as “the level of commitment and positive affective, cognitive, and physical closeness one experiences with a partner (Shibley & DeLamater, 1997) and (5) the closeness and familiarity we feel as we share our private and personal lives with someone else (Planned Parenthood) http://www.definition-of.com/intimacy. The life experiences that affect our ability to be intimate include the following. (A)Divorce or separation leading to one parent environment, (B)abuse (physical, emotional, alcohol, drugs, or sexual) to a parent, sibling or personally, (C)lack of love or nurturing in childhood or when dating (D)lack of God consciousness and abundance of worldly conformity and (E)inconsistent and un-Godly behavior by adult figures or available role models. Even with these realities we can achieve oneness by believing God called us to minister to our spouse today.