"Is it a sin to have a sexual fetish?"
Answer:
A sexual fetish is usually an interest in particular part of the body,
feet for example. Fetishes range from an attraction to an absolute
obsession. The question arises, then, is it wrong to have a fetish? The
answer depends on the status of the person asking the question and the
extent to which that the fetish is practiced.
There is nothing wrong with finding a particular part of the body
especially attractive. The Bible says that our bodies are fearfully and
wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).
Within the confines of marriage, there is nothing wrong with a husband
and/or wife particularly enjoying a part of their spouse's body. While
some fetishes seem very strange, there is no body part that is "off
limits" between a husband and wife, within the "mutual consent" concept (1 Corinthians 7:5).
Within a marriage, a sexual fetish would only become sinful if it
became an obsession (an idol), or if the fetish bothered the spouse or
in any way went against his/her will. Please read our article on "What is a Christian couple allowed to do in sex?"
For an unmarried person, again, it is not wrong to have an attraction to
a particular part of the body. The unmarried person, though, needs to
be especially careful that the attraction does not turn into lust. As
soon as the attraction turns into a desire to do something immoral, it
has become sin. An attraction to the opposite sex is normal and natural.
Again, attraction is not the issue. But as Jesus said, "You have heard
that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone
who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her
in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-28).
Certain fetishes seem exceedingly strange to some people. At the same
time, within the confines of a mutually consenting marriage, it is not
wrong to have a sexual fetish. The key is avoiding obsession, lust, and
making the spouse uncomfortable. For the unmarried, a fetish should be
suppressed as much as possible. Something as harmless as an attraction
to feet can turn into lust, which can turn into sexual immorality. Romans 6:19
says, "Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to
impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery
to righteousness leading to holiness."
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