Sexuality: Divergent Views, But We All Need Healing
Introduction
From my inspectional reading of Understanding the Times and Understanding the Culture, the topic of sexuality resonates with me as a Christian leader. It is a theological and pastoral issue that I must navigate regularly with leaders, people, and in my relational circle. In a culture saturated with confusion, shame, and polarization, sexuality has become a battleground.
This issue matters to me because I walk alongside people impacted by communities, both in the church and wider community, where sexuality is often misunderstood, ignored, or distorted. Both rigidity in the church and permissiveness in the wider society have created wounding and confusion. Church leaders need to offer a vision of sexuality that is biblically grounded, holistic, redemptive, and culturally astute.
Sexuality is a deeply significant aspect of human experience, and its cultural relevance extends far beyond personal behaviour or preferences. It intersects with identity, community dynamics, and spiritual formation in ways that require thoughtful engagement, particularly within Christian contexts.
Worldview assumptions shape this conversation profoundly. Meyers writes, “A ‘worldview’ is a pattern of ideas, beliefs, convictions, and habits that help us make sense of God, the world, and our relationship to God and the world.”[1] Therefore, one will view sexuality within the worldview(s) that have shaped their perspective. Islam provides no individual freedom of sexual expression.[2] Secularism, with a denial of God’s laws, views moral commandments as repressive, and sexuality is a personal right and source of fulfillment.[3] Postmodernism views it as fluid and self-defined. Meyers writes, “To Postmodernists, there is no human nature. There is only an ever-evolving, highly sexual, social animal with multiple subjective interests, crying out for recognition and acceptance.”[4] Rooted in the creation account of Genesis 1-3, Biblical Christianity sees human beings as image bearers of God and sexuality as a gift from Him. The traditional Christian worldview calls for chastity, faithfulness, and honouring bodies as sacred. These competing visions shape how we understand sexual desire, sexual boundaries, human identity, and flourishing.
Research and Relevance
Next, I will address three questions I have about sexuality, drawing on the insights of several key voices.
How do we reconcile biblical teachings on sexuality with contemporary understandings of identity and inclusion?
Acclaimed biblical Scholar, William Loder, argues that there is no possible way to understand Scripture, other than that it is prohibitive of any sexuality that is not heterosexual. He maintains, “If we are serious about letting Scripture speak for itself and reading it in context, then we will avoid all such attempts from left and right to explain it away, however compassionately motivated our misreadings may be.”[5] His solution is to provide an updated view of humanity, arguing, “It is not disrespectful of writers of Scripture and, in particular, of Paul, to suggest that their understanding of human reality needs to be supplemented.”[6]
I appreciate Loder’s honesty, his desire to maintain biblical integrity, and practice cultural adaptation. However, Nancy Pearcey makes a more compelling argument about the purpose of the human body. She writes, “In the biblical worldview, sexuality is integrated into the total person.”[7] She then argues, “The person who adopts a same-sex identity must disassociate their sexual feelings from their biological identity as male or female—implicitly accepting a two-story dualism that demeans the human body. Thus it has a fragmenting, self-alienating effect on the human personality.”[8]
Honestly, reconciling a Christian perspective on sexuality with secular or postmodern views is challenging. The church must present a compelling vision of sexuality that inspires and resonates with Christians.
What does it mean to honour the body as sacred in a culture of permissiveness and commodification?
To honour the body means that we must have a vision of the body as something more than physical desire. We must view the body as more than an instrument for physical release and recreation, as a secular or post-modern sex ethic might propose.
The bible ascribes profound dignity and worth to the human body. Paul doesn’t denigrate sexuality. Rather in 1 Corinthians 6.19-20, he elevates the value of the human body by calling it, “the temple of the Holy Spirit”. Pearcey explains, “Paul’s rationale for sexual morality is that your body has the dignity of being a member of the body of Christ, the locus of his presence on earth.”[9]
In a culture that often commodifies and indulges the body, the Bible doesn’t merely say “no” but affirms the intrinsic value of each person’s body and calls us to faithfully steward what God has entrusted to us.
Wesley Hill, a gay man, argues that humanity can flourish apart from sexual relations in a non-sexual union. What is really needed is to love and be loved.[10] In offering this perspective, he seeks to honour the body while recognizing the need for a loving, faithful relationship. His view certainly challenges my view of human sexuality, yet he seeks to remain faithful to a biblical sexual ethic.
How can churches move beyond purity culture, or legalism, toward a theology of grace and mutuality?
Churches can begin by openly recognizing the pitfalls of a legalistic purity culture, such as its tendency to equate personal worth with virginity, impose double standards on men and women, and use fear tactics like metaphors of “damaged goods. Instead, replace these with a grace-oriented approach that emphasizes identity in Christ..
Moving beyond purity culture requires churches to pivot toward a theology centred on God’s grace, which offers forgiveness and redemption without condemnation, and mutuality, which promotes equality, respect, and shared responsibility in relationships. This shift isn’t about abandoning biblical principles on sexuality but reframing them through the lens of the gospel and holistic discipleship.
Finally, the church must stop focusing on one particular aspect of human fallenness. Preston Sprinkle challenges us, “I also think it is terribly hypocritical for non-affirming Christians to make a big fuss about same-sex relations while the church is entrenched in greed, materialism, heterosexual immorality, syncretistic patriotism, and an untamed zeal to kill our enemies rather than love them. And yes, we’ve been terribly lax on divorce and remarriage.”[11]
Synthesis and Conclusion
As someone who engages with pastoral leaders, congregations, and community members, these are a few ways this will shape my practice.
First, I need to work extra hard to reframe sexuality as sacred and integrated for people, rather than shameful or commodified. Sexuality and sex are a gift from God that we are to steward.
Secondly, I need to create psychologically safe places where people can feel loved and accepted while also being challenged. I can become more curious and ask more questions, rather than always having to provide an answer.
Thirdly, people need healing. We all need healing! All of us, regardless of our sexuality, need God’s grace, mercy, and healing operating in our lives.
[1] Jeff Myers, Understanding the Times: A Survey of Competing Worldviews, with David A. Noebel (David C. Cook, 2015), 22.
[2] Jeff Myers and Jeff Myers, Understanding the Culture: A Survey of Social Engagement (David C. Cook, 2017), 106.
[3] Myers, Understanding the Times, 135.
[4] Myers, Understanding the Times, 240.
[5] William, Loder. “Homosexuality and the Bible.” In Two Views on Homosexuality, the Bible, and the Church, with Preston Sprinkle et al., Counterpoints: Bible and Theology Ser (HarperCollins Christian Publishing, 2016), 44.
[6] Loder, “Homosexuality and the Bible.” 49.
[7] Nancy R. Pearcey, Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality (Baker Books, 2018), 28.
[8] Pearcey, Love Thy Body, 31.
[9] Pearcey, Love Thy Body, 139.
[10] Wesley Hill, “Christ, Scripture, and Spiritual Friendship”. In Two Views on Homosexuality, the Bible, and the Church.
[11] Preston Sprinkle. “Conclusion: Homosexuality, the Bible, and the Church.” In Two Views on Homosexuality, the Bible, and the Church.
About the Author
Graham English
I was born in Cape Town, South Africa 30 minutes from Table Mountain, the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. My family immigrated to Vancouver, Canada where I spent my teen years, met Wendy, and got married. We now live on the Canadian prairies in northern Alberta. I think God has a sense of humour. I'm a follower of Jesus, work in leadership and church development, love my family and walk a lot.4 responses to “Sexuality: Divergent Views, But We All Need Healing”
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Great blog, Graham. What are ways parents, grandparents, and aunties can cultivate a theology of grace and mutuality concerning sexuality from childhood? I think of the comment I have heard often, “I don’t want my children to think this is normal or right.”
Hey Graham,
Great post. I really appreciated how thoughtfully you engaged some difficult questions. During my time overseas, I’ve been struck by how much of Western Christian “purity culture” parallels Islamic teachings on modesty and morality. So, I especially appreciated the nuance you brought to your reflections. The insights you shared from Nancy Pearcey were particularly profound—thank you for including those.
I also resonated with your point about creating psychologically safe spaces where people feel loved, accepted, and yet still challenged. I think we sometimes emphasize the love and acceptance piece so much that we shy away from the challenge. I’m seeing this tension play out right now in my faith conversations with North African friends.
This might sound like a dumb question, but from your experience, how do you discern when it’s the right time to move from listening and affirmation to challenge? It’s an area where I’m still learning—and growing in courage.
Graham,
Great job and those are three great questions to address. If you could focus on one question and dive deeper into with churches which question would you focus on and why?
Graham,
Thanks for your post. I appreciate the outside voices you brought in. Until a few years ago I never realized how damaging purity culture is/was until I made a comment that was misinterpreted by a student. I appreciate the questions you ask. It is difficult to get people to see that sexuality is only part of who they are as an entire person.
What messages do you feel your church delivers to children and teens about sexuality as they progress through the church’s various ministries?