Intended for Pleasure?

Intended for Pleasure, by husband and wife Ed and Gaye Wheat, intends to be a guide to marital bliss written from a Christian perspective. If the title isn't enough to make you blush, the preface is not shy in stating the premise of the whole book: "God Himself invented sex for our delight. It was His gift to us—intended for pleasure." The first few chapters of the book employ a variety of Bible passages to support this hypothesis; the next portion of the book explores the biology and psychology behind the act of sex; and the last part offers solutions, provides counsel, and gives problem-solving techniques for struggling couples.

One of the first things I noticed was how many Bible passages are quoted out of context. As its basis, the book coerces Genesis 2:25 to mean that Adam and Eve were delighting in their God-designed sexual relationship (15). The authors further suggest that a long time intervened before the command to bear children was given in Genesis 3:16. However, they completely ignore Genesis 1:28, the first blessing spoken to Adam and Eve, which included the privilege of procreation. And the Genesis 3 passage is not a command to bear children but a list of the painful consequences of Adam and Eve's disobedience followed by God's promise to send a Savior.

The book uses this faulty foundation to suggest that God created sex first and foremost for pleasure. Consider the authors' treatment of the promise to Abraham that Sarah would bear Isaac: The authors suggest that one of Sarah's "secret concerns was whether the sexual union between her and Abraham in their golden years would produce pleasurable feelings" (18). But a brief review of Genesis 18 shows Sarah's unexpected pleasure was to bear a child in her old age. With Bible passages abused in this way, it is difficult to take the authors' arguments seriously.

The second part of the book explains the anatomy and physiology of sex in layman's terms. Ed Wheat is a doctor by profession, and it shows in these chapters. If a person feels uninformed regarding the anatomy and physiology of sex, they may be able to glean some useful information from this section. The medical descriptions seem to be accurate, but there are also many other books available that could provide this type of information.

The remainder of the book primarily focuses on techniques and solutions for lack of pleasure during intercourse. Readers may be surprised to find that a book about sex devotes only one chapter to the topic of children—and planning around them, at that. The authors describe the mechanics as well as the pros and cons of various methods of contraception. They advise against the use of RU486 (which chemically induces abortions) and the intrauterine device (which could prevent implantation). Inconsistently, they mention that the traditional Pill "may allow fertilization but prevent implantation" (171) but do not recommend against its use.

It is unfortunate that this book is recommended by some pastors in their premarital counseling classes. The misinterpretation of Scripture in this book leads to the erroneous premise of its title. Although God did create us to enjoy sexual fulfillment with our spouses, it is not the sole intent of the marital union. Childbearing is also an integral part of God's design. For this reason, I am unable to recommend this book for Christian spouses.