Sexuality

Sex is at the heart of creation, but something has gone wrong and only God can fix it.

Sexuality today
There has been a profound revolution in the way we think about our sexuality. Whereas in my parents’ day sex was a topic to be spoken about in whispers in darkened corners of the bedroom, nowadays wherever you turn it’s there, discussed, debated, demonstrated, and used to sell anything and everything.

This liberation has been both good and bad. For sexuality is one of the most fundamental aspects of our human identity. It’s a complex mixture of our biology and psyche that determines how we perceive ourselves and how we treat each other. If we get it right our sexuality can be the basis of our most intimate and fulfilling relationship. If we get it wrong it can be devastating.

Sexuality at the heart of creation
When we turn to the Bible we find sexuality is at the heart of creation.

In Genesis 1:26-31 we see that God creates humanity as the climax of his creative activity. More importantly we see humanity is made in the image of God. And at the heart of that image is humanity as male/female.  God then instructs the first man and woman to be fruitful and multiply.

So at the heart of creation, at the heart of being human, is the concept of sexuality for the purpose of reproduction. But there is more.

In Genesis 2:4-15 we see creation from a different perspective. Here God creates Adam and places him in the Garden of Eden to take care of it.

But there is a problem - Adam is alone and, according to God, this is not good for it does not conform to his intended design. None of the animal world was found to be suitable (Genesis 2:19-20) so God makes a helper that is like the man but not the same as the man (Genesis 2:21-23). The man and the woman are similar beings, yet different; not identical but are one.

In Genesis 2:24-25 we see that just as two beings come from one flesh, so in the context of a life long, committed relationship they become one flesh. Sex is given for the man and woman to be united with each other and become one. We are sexual beings so that in the context of marriage a male and female can complement and complete each other.

Sexuality gone wrong
However this idyllic situation did not last. In Gen 3 we see the rebellion of Adam and Eve that results in the complete distortion of their relationship. They hide from God (Genesis 3:8) and they turn against each other (Genesis 3:11-13). Eve’s desire is now to dominate her husband rather than help him. And Adam now dominates his wife in a despotic way (Genesis 3:16b). This is the state of sinful humanity.

From this sinful mess has come numerous attempts to regain the intimacy that humanity craves for but has lost. Casual sex, adultery and homosexuality are among the more socially acceptable forms but the list also includes incest, bestiality and paedophilia.

This view of sinful humanity is taken up in the New Testament in several places but most prominently in Romans 1:18-32. The core of sin is the rejection of God in exchange for other things which results in God leaving people to the consequences of their sin; he “gives them over” to enslavement to sin and a broad list of sinful activities.

Sexual sin highlights prominently in this list. Both male and female homosexual practise (Romans 1:26-27) as well as all sexual impurity (Romans 1:24) are condemned as unnatural - expressions of sexuality that don’t comply to God’s design and purpose.

Redeeming our sexuality
In looking at the Bible’s teaching on sexuality, however, it is important to understand three things:

• It is A sin not THE sin
Sexual sin and, in particular homosexuality, is seen like every other sin. It is an expression of our refusal to acknowledge God as creator and ruler. Sexual sin is placed in a long list of sins with no suggestion that it is any worse than any other. Greedy materialism and lying is just as abhorrent to God as homosexuality.

It is therefore possible for those who sin sexually to be forgiven by God and saved by the blood of Christ.

• It is action not temptation nor orientation
Sin and temptation are not the same. A person who has been tempted to have sex outside marriage has not sinned. Nor is a person who has a homosexual tendency or orientation automatically sinning. Such desires and temptation are part of living in a sinful world.

A temptation becomes a sin if we act upon it in thought, word or deed; we choose to sin. There may be genetic, cultural or family reasons for our temptation or orientation but this is not an excuse to give in to these temptations. It may make it more difficult for one person than another to say no but it does not give us permission to sin.

The distinctive element of turning back to God is recognising sin as sin and engaging in a lifelong battle to say ‘No’. And those who turn back to God have, through the Holy Spirit, all the power of God himself at their disposal to overcome such desires and temptations.

• It is unnatural not unloving
By natural I do not mean according to nature but according to God’s created order and purpose. He created humanity in his image as male and female in heterosexual relationship. Anything else is ‘unnatural’ (Romans 1:26-27).

Sexual sin is condemned by God not because it is unloving but because it does not conform to his design and purpose. Thus a monogamous, loving, long term homosexual relationship is still a sinful relationship.

The solution to the myriad expressions of sexuality in our society and the pain that it brings is not tolerance and acceptance but reconciliation with God. If rejection of God is the source of all our sin then reconciliation is the start of the process of healing and restoration.

God is willing and able to forgive and heal those who turn back to him, who want to engage in the lifelong battle to say ‘No’ not just to sexual sin but all sin and to express their sexuality as God wants us to – within the loving intimate confines of a monogamous heterosexual marriage.

Adapted from ‘Homosexuality’ by Ray Galea
Published in ‘1st Century Answers to 21st Century Questions’ by SMBC Press