“The Bible Allows Oral Sex But…” – Popular Pastor Says

Popular American Baptist pastor and theologian, John Piper in a recent question and answer session says that oral sex among married Christian couples should depend on number of factors.

Pastor Piper says that oral sex should be done within the confines of marriage.

"I think it is wrong outside marriage…Oral sex is even more intimate and delicate, it seems, than copulation. And we know this because even married couples are wondering if they should go there. It is as if it is a stage of intimacy that may not even be proper for married people," explained Piper.

"To think it can be an innocent substitute for copulation so people can obey the letter of the law outside marriage is a mirage," he added.

The pastor on his 400th episode of ‘Ask Pastor John’, he listed four reasons why oral sex would be wrong in a marriage and expounded on each reason. He noted that oral sex would be wrong if: It were prohibited in the Bible; it were unnatural; it were unhealthy or, that is, harmful or if it were unkind.

Following biblical guidance on the subject, Piper said there is nothing in the Bible that prohibits oral sex.

Number one, I don't think oral sex is explicitly prohibited in any biblical command. If the Bible pro-scribes it, it would have to be by principle and not by an explicit command.

He then debated whether or not oral sex is unnatural and citing Proverbs 5:19 and Song of Solomon 7:7–8 suggests that it isn't.

In discussing the healthfulness of the practice, Piper said oral sex can be unhealthy in the presence of sexually transmitted diseases and it can be carried out in harmful ways.

"So the couple needs to be very honest and caring by not taking risks that would be unloving," said Piper.

In considering whether or not the activity is unkind, Piper discussed the idea of spouses pressuring each other to engage in oral sex when one party finds it unpleasant as an unkind gesture.

"It is a sin to be unkind. Ephesians 4:2. Be kind to one another. But the key word here is pressure," said Piper.

"I know that 1 Corinthians 7:4 says the wife does not have authority over own body, but the husband does. Likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. And the context there is sex. So what does that mean practically?" he asked.

"Well, it means that both the husband and the wife have the right to say to the other: I would like to blank. And both of them have the right to say: I would rather not blank. And in a good marriage, the biblically beautiful marriage, both of them seek to outdo the other in showing kindness," he added.