Tacoma Christian Counseling Logo

  • ServicesRead about the expertise available
    • Individual ServicesAddress your personal concerns confidentially
      • ADHD
      • Aging and Geriatric Issues
      • Anger Management
      • Anxiety
      • Autism Spectrum Disorder
      • Bipolar Disorder
      • Chemical Dependency
      • Counseling for Children
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Codependency
      • Depression
      • Eating Disorders
      • EMDR
      • Grief and Loss Counseling
      • Individual Counseling
      • Infidelity and Affairs
      • Lifespan Integration Therapy
      • Men’s Issues
      • OCD
      • Pornography Addiction
      • Personal Development
      • Psychological Testing
      • Relationship Issues
      • Sexual Abuse
      • Sexual Addiction
      • Spiritual Development
      • Trauma
      • Weight Loss
      • Women’s Issues
    • Christian Couples CounselingWork through challenges together
      • Couples Counseling
      • Premarital Counseling
      • Marriage Counseling
    • Family CounselingEstablish the peaceful home you desire
      • Couples Counseling
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Counseling for Children
      • Family Counseling
    • Group CounselingBenefit from the support of others
      • Men’s Sexual Addiction Recovery
        Group
      • All Counseling Groups
    • Online Counseling
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Sexual Addiction
    • Marriage Counseling
  • LocationsWe have offices at various locations
    • Bellevue Office FrontBellevue
    • Bothell Office Front EntranceBothell
    • Edmonds Christian CounselingEdmonds
    • Everett Office Front EntranceEverett
    • Federal Way 2Federal Way
    • HansvilleHansville
    •  1Kent
    • Kirkland Christian CounselingKirkland
    • Lacey 2Lacey
    • Mill Creek Office Waiting RoomMill Creek
    •  1Monroe
    • Oak Harbor OutsideOak Harbor
    • Poulsbo
    • Puyallup Christian CounselingPuyallup
    • Redmond OfficeRedmond
    • Seattle Downtown Christian CounselingSeattle Downtown
    • Seattle Greenlake 1Seattle Greenlake
    • Silverdale Office FrontSilverdale
    • Tacoma Office FrontTacoma
    •  1Vancouver
    •  1Online Counseling
  • CounselorsFind out more about our counselors
  • CareersJoin our team of Christian Counselors
  • (253) 777-1997Please give us a call, we are here to help
header-image

Love Story or a Porn Film? A Christian Counselor’s Thoughts on Relationships

Tacoma Christian Counseling
https://tacomachristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_8956-e1440117803108.jpg 455 455
https://tacomachristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Mount-Rainier.jpg
https://tacomachristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Tacoma-Christian-Counseling-Logo-Fill-Stacked.jpg
621 Pacific Ave, Suite 302
TACOMA, WA 98402
United States
621 Pacific Ave, Suite 302
TACOMA, WA 98402
United States
Photo of Erik Mildes

Erik Mildes

Jun
2015
06

Love Story or a Porn Film? A Christian Counselor’s Thoughts on Relationships

Erik Mildes

AnxietyMarriage CounselingPornography Addiction

Love Story or a Porn Film? A Christian Counselor's Thoughts on Relationships 2Sex is everywhere: The magazine rack at the grocery store; clothing catalogs; billboards; television and of course, the Internet, to name just a few. It’s nearly impossible to go through one’s day in the United States without seeing a sexually charged image. Our culture is awash with sex. Sex sells. And whether we claim to like it or not, we seem to buy a lot of it, because it keeps selling.

But what about love? Does love sell? Not really. Many of us enjoy a good love story, but it is really sex that sells, rather than the emotion, wonder and incredibly satisfying joy of love. And in this we can see an important point about the difference between sex and love.

Sex is the Scene, Love is the Movie

What do I mean by this? If someone were to make a movie about two people in love, the movie would include many hundreds of other scenes that weren’t about sex, irrespective of how much sex they had. The scenes might include one partner helping the other with a task, telling a joke, tending to the other’s sickness, making dinner, arguing, apologizing, and so on. In other words, as powerful and engaging as sex can be, it is never more than an expression of love. In this sense, sex is always subordinate to love.

Like us if you are enjoying this content.

We can certainly have relationships that are more akin to a porn film than a love story. But just because there is sex, doesn’t mean there is love. Love is something much greater than sex alone.

Hate & Love

“What’s he talking about?” you may have just hollered at your computer screen, “Hate isn’t part of love!” But actually, it can be, for the more we love, the greater potential we have to grieve the loss of that love. The ability to hate is part of the effect on us of choosing to love. The deeper my love for my wife grows, the greater my hatred for anyone who abuses his wife. The greater my love for God, the deeper my passion of hate for those who use God’s name for violence and destruction. The greater my love for children, the more I despise those who misuse their relationships with children. There is a direct correlation between our ability to love and our ability to hate.

Love Story or a Porn Film? A Christian Counselor's Thoughts on Relationships 1Yes, people can have “hate sex” – aggressive sex in the wake of an argument that may still be unresolved. But that is very different to a love so deep that it cultivates within us an ability to hate that which is opposed to, or inhibiting of, that love. In this sense, hatred is really more of a reflection of our capacity to love, which is not  what “hate sex” reflects at all.

Ultimately, the relationship between hate and love highlights the depths to which love can take us. This is something that sex cannot do. Sexual pleasure can be ecstatic, but only with the addition of unconditional and surrendering love does sexual pleasure become more than simply a physical feeling. No matter how good your sex, without love infusing it, the pleasure falls short of its potential.

Christian Counseling Can Help Your Relationship Become a Love Story

Wherever you are in your relationship, if you need help steering it down a road of deeper love, consider contacting a Christian counselor today. Tacoma Christian Counseling has many trained specialists who can help you guide the development of your relationship into the deeper waters of love and bonded relationship.

Photos
“Young Couple Making Love” courtesy of imagerymajestic, FreeDigitalPhotos.net, ID #10090879; “Lovers in Green Field” courtesy of photostock, FreeDigitalPhotos.net, ID #10037860

DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this article are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please contact one of our counselors for further information.

  • Share on Facebook
  • Tweet it
  • ↑ Back to top
Photo of Erik Mildes
Erik is currently not accepting new clients

Erik Mildes

Licensed Counselor and Clinical Supervisor
(425) 939-9934 erik@seattlechristiancounseling.com

As a Master’s level mental health counselor, I help people find recovery from abuse, broken relationships, anxiety, depression, identity and purpose concerns, anger issues, sexual brokenness, and spiritual battles. Faith is the foundation on which I build my personal life and my Christian counseling practice. I believe that it’s never too late for you to make good choices and positive change for your life. Christian counseling will give you support and guidance as you work towards healing emotionally, spiritually, and physically, while solidifying your own connection and relationship with God. Read more articles by Erik »

Other articles that might interest you...

Christian Character Defined: A Christian Counselor Speaks 2
Tacoma Christian Counseling

Christian Character Defined: A ...

Character can be defined as a collection of personality traits within our behavior that shows who we are. This is...

continue reading »
How to Escape Porn Addiction: Tips from a Christian Counselor
Photo of Chris Chandler

Chris Chandler

How to Escape Porn Addiction: Tips from ...

Escaping Porn Addiction is All About the Brain An addiction is formed when a brain is trained to see a...

continue reading »
The Challenges of Anxiety and Relationships 1
Tacoma Christian Counseling

The Challenges of Anxiety and ...

For most people, addressing anxiety feels overwhelming. Since anxiety has a physical and mental toll, it often feels like a...

continue reading »

About Erik

Photo of Erik Mildes

Erik Mildes, MA, LMHC

Licensed Counselor and Clinical Supervisor

As a Master’s level mental health counselor, I help people find recovery from abuse, broken relationships, anxiety, depression, identity and purpose concerns, anger issues, sexual brokenness, and spiritual battles. Faith is the foundation on which I build my personal life and my Christian counseling practice. I believe that it’s never too late for you to make good choices and positive change for your life. Christian counseling will give you support and guidance as you work towards healing emotionally, spiritually, and physically, while solidifying your own connection and relationship with God. View Erik's Profile

Recent articles by Erik

  • Jun 20 · Should Christians Forgive Adultery?
  • Jun 13 · Rebuilding Romance in Your Marriage: Advice from a Christian Counselor
  • Jun 6 · Love Story or a Porn Film? A Christian Counselor’s Thoughts on Relationships
See all articles by Erik »

Related Services

  • Anxiety
  • Marriage Counseling
  • Pornography Addiction

Erik's Office Locations

  • Photo of the Bothell office

    Bothell

    Washington

    General Office Number

    (425) 939-7959
    10116 Main St,, Suite 204 Bothell, WA 98011

    View Office Details
Tacoma Christian Counseling Logo
Tacoma Christian Counseling
Professional help with faith-based values
We are an association of professional, independently licensed Christian counselors experienced in helping people of all ages find healing for a wide variety of issues.
© 2025 Tacoma Christian Counseling. All rights reserved.
621 Pacific Ave,, Tacoma, WA 98402. Tel (253) 777-1997.
Facebook Twitter Online Counseling About Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Feel free to contact us!
We are open for business. In person and online counseling are available now.