“But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so, whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so, the Lord put him to death also.” GENESIS 38:9-10 (NIV) The story of Onan from the Book of Genesis shows that his sin was not merely "spilling his seed on the ground," meaning self-gratification, but rather his disobedience to the prevailing rules of levirate marriage. One fundamental rule was the obligation to marry the widow of a deceased brother to provide offspring for him, which Onan selfishly avoided. Therefore, burdening people's consciences with the so-called sin of masturbation and extending this story to the issue of contraceptive measures is often an abuse by some clergy. But what does God say about sexuality in the relationship between a man and a woman? The Bible emphasizes that intimacy in marriage should be treated with respect and love. The Epistle to the Ephesians calls on men to love their wives and women to respect their husbands, which directly affects intimate relations. Similarly, in the First Epistle to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul teaches that spouses should show mutual care in the sexual sphere. He emphasizes that neither partner has exclusive authority over their own body, but each belongs to the other. Equality and mutuality in intimacy are expressions of love and unity. Adultery and other sexual practices are condemned as destructive to individuals and society. Sex is a gift and a responsibility, which should be accepted and given with full awareness of its moral and life consequences. Paul underscores that "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial." This means that Christian freedom has its limits. God created man and woman to "become one flesh" in a monogamous relationship, which is meant to be an expression of love, commitment, and closeness. Radio Safira FM, may God bless us all!