This article is a review of a book that goes in depth on marriage and sex. As such, this is probably not appropriate for an audience who is young or not married.
Review of Intended for Pleasure by Ed Wheat
By Caleb Horn
Summary
Ed Wheat, M.D. is a retired family physician. He has also been involved in Christian marriage and pre-marriage counseling for many years. He has written several other books as well, Including Love Life for Every Married Couple.
Due to the subject matter and the nature of the internet, I am not going to be as descriptive as the book is. This review refers to the 3rd edition of the book.
Wheat goes into great detail about the physical aspects of the marriage relationship (sex; there, I said it!). He is very descriptive of how everything works, including going in depth about technique. There is a section of the book dealing with common problems, including a chapter focused on the most common physical issue for both husband and wife.
One of the other most useful sections is one that talks about different options for birth control (a strong anti-abortion stance is taken), including various methods and the effectiveness of each, which is very good to hear about from a doctor (the most recent edition is 1997, so a few of the newer methods are not included). It is very clearly communicated that since this can be such a hot-button issue for many believers, it should be discussed by the couple during engagement. He clearly defines his stance: “As I discuss various methods with you . . . please understand that I am not recommending these methods, but only giving you medical information. Family planning in a private matter for which you and your partner must take full responsibility. The decision is yours. You must determine if you want to use an artificial means of contraception, a natural method of avoiding pregnancy, or no method at all.”[1] This is a good stance for Biblical Counselors to take since it does not force personal opinion onto counselees. It is a good idea to use a good resource like this since most of us are not medical doctors, and even if we are, we are not functioning as the counselee’s doctor. Like many issues, this is one that should be discussed between the counselee and physician.
In the same chapter is an area that deals with tips for getting pregnant, and the following gives advice for how to enjoy each other while pregnant without endangering anyone’s health.
Another useful section of the book deals with STDs. Unfortunately, this issue is much more common in Christian marriages than it used to be (As a side note, the best way to not get an STD is to not have sex until you are married! Even though there are many greater reasons to make that choice, this one should be enough of a factor by itself. But from my experience in counseling and ministry, very few individuals choose the same path that my wife and I each chose as a teenager. Most people don’t believe us either. But yes waiting till you are married, is all it is cracked up to be!!! Her doctor loves seeing her since she is so low risk and has none of the issue listed in this book. It is a great benefit when you are pregnant, as well).
There is also a helpful Q&A section dealing with anything not covered in other areas.
Biblical Critique/Practical Application
Aside from Biblical Principles of Sex by Dr. Bob Smith, this book is the best Christian resource available on the subject of sex (try as we might, no one has been able to convince Dr. Bob to write a full-length work on the topic).[2] All of the other books I have found on the topic so far as very psychologies. [3]
The most useful sections of this book are the ones that focus on the physical. Some of the spiritual/emotional areas are more Christian psychology than Biblical advice (he even quotes a couple of Christian psychologists here and there).
The most useful chapters are: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. These are really the only chapters which should be recommended.
Chapter 3 is almost useful, but does have some self-serving thinking. Chapters 9,10, 16, 17 should be avoided. It is a better idea to skip these chapters since those topics are better covered by Smith
In pre-marriage counseling, the best time for this book is toward the end, maybe a week or two before the wedding. Being a guy and knowing how guys are, it is best to not give an extra stumbling block of temptation earlier than necessary. It may work for the future wife to read it a bit earlier. The couple should also be advised to have their own copy and take it with them on the honeymoon for reference if needed (as previously noted, a lack of experience here is a very good thing and should be the goal!)
Where is work needed?
Ideally someone would write a book including both the physical aspects and a Biblical understanding of the other aspects of the marriage relationship (spiritual, emotional, etc).
Until then, counselors must be diligent as always verifying the biblical accuracy of the resources we use, including sometimes picking and choosing which part of a book to recommend.
[1] Wheat, 165
[2] Dr. Robert Smith is a adjunct at BBGST and taught some of my classes. He is also good friends with the gentleman who did our premarriage.
[3] Most notably The Act of Marriage by LaHaye, which even the title shows a gross misunderstanding of the marriage relationship.