Having lived in Texas many years, I am familiar with the phrase “everything is bigger in Texas.” When it comes to churches, Texas has more megachurches than most would imagine. Edward Gilbreath went as far as to name Dallas, Texas as the unofficial capital of American Evangelicalism in Christianity Today. The latest news out of the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas revolves around Ed Young’s Friday the 13th “Bed-in” event.
Ed Young, minister of Fellowship Church, staged a 24 hour long “bed-in” (a phrase I feel certain he invented to market the occasion) to encourage members of his congregation to have sex. Ed and his wife Lisa, spent the day in a bed on the roof of the church. During that time they provided “bedside” interviews with various media. And, of course, the event was about more than just encouraging his church members and members of other churches to enjoy what he calls the “superglue” of marrige; it was designed to publicize the release of his new book: Sexperiment: 7 Days to Lasting Intimacy with Your Spouse (2012).
So What?
Ed Young is known for being creative and over the top (for example, picture he preached about God’s army while seated in a tank in the church’s sanctuary). His latest book suggests that married couples take the sexperiment by having sex once a day for seven consecutive days. Young believes that those who complete the sexperiment will increase their appreciation for the value of sex within the context of their marriage.
Do you think
- a “bed-in” is an appropriate way for a pastor to bring attention to her or his view on sexuality? Why or why not?
- a 7-day sexperiment is a helpful way for couples to increase their their appreciation for the value of sex? Why or why not?