Sextimony: preaching sex from pulpit
Most pastors now address sexual matters in church
Most churches are often conservative and tight-lipped when it comes to sex, often choosing to employ euphemisms or completely shying away from the topic.
There are, however, pastors who feel that sex is a topic that can be discussed in church and do so whenever they get the chance. One such person is Prophet OJ Madikong, who has always been an outspoken figure in the media.
Madikong says he is not shy to talk about sex in church and does so even with the congregation packed with children and older people.
“I think we live in an era where we cannot afford to shy away from talking about sex, be it in church or at home. Church is the one place where we can be able to emphasise the value of sex and how and when one needs to go about it.
“When I talk about sex in church, I always teach how sex should not be taken for granted, and that it is an act that is sacred and not to be taken lightly. If we do not talk about sex to our children, who do we expect to do it for us?
“I’m a father to my kids, but our culture also teaches us that as an elder, every child is your child, and I therefore feel that sex education is my responsibility,” he says.
Madikong says that not talking about sex has led to the moral degeneration of young people and adults alike.
“Sex is seen as an act that is done for pure pleasure reasons, and this is where most people get it wrong. This is the secondary reason for sex.
“The Bible teaches us that sex should firstly not be reckless, where one person gets to sleep with as many people as they want, which is what the bulk of society is doing nowadays. We need to take it back to understanding the value of sex as well as preaching about who you have sex with, which should ideally be your married partner.
“It is important for people to respect th eir bodies, which is something I always emphasise.”
Madikong also says that he strives to teach young men and women the value of abstinence as a form of avoiding STIs. “What I tend to teach in my talks is that the Bible teaches us that our bodies are a temple of God, and that we should be very careful who we choose to give ourselves to physically.
“So I do not talk about sex in church for shock value. I honestly believe in talking about sex in the form of education.”
Someone who is certainly used to shock value is Prophet Paseka “Mboro” Motsoeneng.
Mboro has been a controversial figure in the media when it comes to talking explicitly about sex and the shocking content that tends to accompany his sermons.
Last week, he revealed he is at loggerheads with Soweto TV for refusing to show a couple having sex as a testimony that he helped cure the man’s impotence. Mboro says the station should have allowed the couple’s “sextimony” to be aired.
When we caught up with him, however, he expressed that aside from helping people who have problems with their intimate lives, he also strives to strengthen relationships and marriages in his church.
“Most people tend to think that we only deal with the casting out of demons and curses in our church, which we mostly do, but I also encourage intimacy in marriages.
“I help couples get closer to each other by teaching them the importance of sex within a marriage. I get couples who have lost touch with each other and bring them closer, encouraging intimacy and fulfilment.
“My church has become a safe space for people to talk about their problems without being shy and having a fear of judgment. So we delve into a lot of issues, be it sexual issues or marriage and relationship issues.
“I’m completely against promiscuity, and actually teach people the importance of safe sex. I teach them that sex is ideally for a committed relationship and that one carries all the baggage of other people they had previously slept with if they choose to have unsafe sex.”
‘ ‘ I am completely against promiscuity