What’s the best vision of sexuality?

The treatment of those with alternative, sexual lifestyles has, historically, been harmful and hypocritical.

We must treat all people with kindness and dignity, regardless of how they express themselves sexually.

But does the vision offered by the Sexual Revolution answer that harmful treatment of the past? 

I’m not so sure.

The Center of (Sexual) Authority

Healthy sexuality is, these days, largely defined by the preference of the individual (so long as they don’t harm anyone).

It’s simple and compelling. 

But I think there’s more to it than that. 

We are, all of us, flawed. Each person possesses a cracked sense of right and wrong. Our perception of ourselves and the world is incomplete and doesn’t always lead to the best outcome.

The Christian view accounts for this, and encourages us to make the person and teachings of Jesus the center of life.

All facets of life, sexuality included, are led accordingly, and though still imperfect, are gradually refined by Jesus’ perfection and love.

The Deeper Purpose of Sex

Following Jesus leads us to sex’s greater purpose, a purpose beyond individual gratification.

That purpose requires marriage.

On the first page of the Bible, in Genesis 1v26-28, we read about God creating the first man and woman. Genesis 2 names them as Adam and Eve, the first married couple.

God blesses the union of these two and gives them an important command:

Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it;

This is the first reference to human sexuality in the Bible, and it’s in the context of marriage.

God created Adam and Eve as His Image bearers, to bless the world and take care of it on His behalf.

This is a joint effort, for in loving one another as husband and wife, they disagree, they grow, and they’re made more like God in their commitment to one another.

In doing so, they’re given the gift of sex so that the love in their marriage can quite literally become embodied in an entirely new life.

I’m not saying all married couples need to have children - I’m well aware that some, tragically, cannot while others are simply content not to have any. Nor am I saying that they cannot simply enjoy the act of sex in itself (I see nothing in Scripture that says otherwise).

But what I am saying is that consensual, heterosexual marriage refines our love, deepens our capacity for relationships, and, ideally, replicates those manifestations through the creation of new life.

The Sexual Revolution’s individual-centered sexuality loses sight of that, as does the guilt-driven, shame-society that came before.

But can’t I have a loving relationship before marriage? And if so, why must sex be off the table? Isn’t that just taking us back to a repressive, puritanical world? 

We’ll talk more about that tomorrow but for now, be blessed.

Jon,

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