Pastor Ed Young Warns: Technology Getting in Way of Intimate Relationships

By Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Pastor Ed Young from Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, warns that relationships have become too dependent on technology, which decreases people's ability to connect with one another.

Pastor Young, who co-authored with his wife, Lisa, the book Sexperiment: 7 Days to Lasting Intimacy With Your Spouse, which explores how a high level of intimacy and a healthy sex life is essential for a successful marriage, released a statement addressing a recent Huffington Post article on relationships by highlighting that "today's culture hinges on instant gratification."

"Relationships are becoming increasingly technology-driven, which decreases the chances that individuals have to connect with one another on a personal level. A strong degree of intimacy is important for all relationships, particularly marriages. While the innovations of today's society have indeed improved the convenience, speed, and ease of communication, it is important that couples remember the value of intimacy and make time to support it," he stated.

Besides authoring the Sexperiment book, Young has frequently preached on the issue of marriage intimacy and relationships. Earlier this year, he and his wife stayed in a bed on the rooftop of the Grapevine church for almost 24 hours, where they conducted interviews and spoke with fellow pastors, family and friends about how the church should more openly embrace discussion about intimacy and relationships.

"Tragically, culture has kicked the bed out of church and God out of the bed," the Texas megachurch pastor explained about his message. "It's time to bring God back in the bed and put the bed back in the church. That's what this bed-in is all about."

"So the Christian should be the most creative, the most multisensory teachers and leaders and everything else. For people to criticize that, they don't even know the Bible. They're not even reading the Bible in my opinion," he added about outside observations that his style and way of creatively illustrating Bible examples, like through the Sexperiment, are too "gimmicky."

Young also recently concluded a sermon series titled "Drinking Culture's Cool-Aid" where he cautioned against embracing what society tells them about homosexuality, vulgarity, and bullying.