A YTH Leaders Response To The Sexual Revolution
Like the proverbial ‘ant in front of the train’, we will not be able to stand against The Sexual Revolution and its tsunami of influence and change washing over our society.
The Sexual Revolution is here - and it isn’t going away
But, even though one generation has brought a tsunami of unrighteousness crashing over our culture, I believe another generation can start an equally powerful tsunami of righteousness crashing over our culture. With the same kind of influence and overwhelming change.
An Opportunity Of A Lifetime
As YTH Leaders, our approach to sexuality in this generation is critical. With the ever-changing sexual revolution in our world comes a chasm of distance between the Church and Culture. This separation can be avoided. And it must be avoided. Especially by YTH Leaders who are shaping the NXT Generation of Millennial’s and GenZ who will be leading the Church into its greatest days ahead of us.
This tsunami called The Sexual Revolution is undeniable in its influence and voracity.
| The Sexual Revolution can be defined as the redefinition of once held common sexuality beliefs such as marriage between a man and woman, censorship of language and behavior, and gender identity as male and female. That redefinition now looks like open marriage between gender, un-censored media expression, and gender additions such as gender transition and gender neutrality. |
The Sexual Revolution has given us an opportunity. An opportunity that YTH Leaders must not miss. It is the opportunity to create another tsunami of change. To revert back to once held common sexuality beliefs. And to reverse the redefinition and revolution that has created the chasm between Culture and Church.
To help remove this chasm and distance between the Church and Culture, let me help to give some clarity to the problem. By using the terms ‘unrighteousness’ and ‘righteousness’ I am not trying to bring an ‘us versus them’ mentality. Just simply an understanding of right and wrong as it relates to the Church and its morality system, and, the Culture and its morality system.
As it relates to sexuality, the Church has a certain set of principles that are based in the scriptures. You can reference them by chapter and verse. On the other hand, outside of legislated laws, the present Culture we are living in really has no written moral principle or code. You cannot reference it by chapter and verse. It is generally personal. Or, what many have called ‘relative’.
Just the fact that cultural principles, law, and behavior is changing before our eyes is proof of this. What many years ago in America was considered anathema, has become commonly accepted. And if this continues, where does it end for the Millennial and GenZ offspring?
Look at the following recent shifts in our society today: The Marriage Amendment, the loosened media censorship, and the redefinition of gender. Let’s deal with that last one quickly. Next week we will look at the PRACTICAL approach of YTH Leaders to this issue. This week we will look at the THEOLOGICAL approach of YTH Leaders to this issue of gender identity.
Owning The Middle
A persons gender has always been elementary to their existence and identity. It has been sacred. Until now. In the last few years we have seen a redefinition of sexuality. As we stated last week, maybe some of the depression and suicide that we see in our GenZ set is caused by identity confusion.
From Canadian doctors in July 2017 reportedly trying to create a ‘neutral-gender’ fetus, and, parents who have attempted to have the first gender-free child, there are many shifts taking place in this discussion. (CNN, July 2017)
When government forms are being challenged to include a ‘third way’ or middle ground in sex designation I think we can safely say that gender identity in America is under review and ultimately redefinition. In one study by the Barna Organization, only 48% of GenZ believe that sexuality is defined by the birth sex designation. And 33% believe that sexuality is determined by how a person feels. (Barna, GenZ 2018)
And with the proliferation of this narrative on television, in the media, print, music industry, pop culture, and movies, no wonder The Sexual Revolution has been like a wave crashing over America.
In a 2013 ESPN interview and article by Kate Fagan, WNBA star Brittney Griner was asked a culture-shifting question. Asked whether she was male or female, straight or gay, she replied, ‘If you’re in between, they say something is wrong with you. I don’t need to be fixed. Why can’t we just own the middle?’
And this sentiment and moral shift took place right before our eyes. There are other examples of this, but, the point is simple. Our culture is trying to get away from defined principles that place us in a definite box. Rules and regulation are now seen as binding and oppressive. At least morally. Because I don’t believe anyone in the country would want to do away with civil laws such as traffic lights and speeding limits.
Maybe we really need a box. I know it is popular to ‘get out of the box’. I understand that thinking. But, there is also safety under ceilings, within walls, and between fences. And there is order with laws, moral code, and commandments.
A society that is always looking to recreate or redefine morality becomes like a ship on the ocean - without a sail or rudder or engine. At the mercy of the wind and the currents. That society becomes like a sojourner who wanders into a city and behaves with their own moral codes. We have lost our moral and values anchor in America when we try and rewrite morality with every passing fad or personal whim.
A Biblical Definition of Sexuality
To be clear, my conviction on The Sexual Revolution, including gender, marriage, and sexual immorality is simple. I have not based this conviction on my understanding of culture. I have based it on my understanding of scripture. I have shaped my belief over the years through the biblical account of creation in Genesis, Jesus’ words in Matthew, and Paul's words in Romans, 1 Corinthians 6-7, and Galatians 5. As well as other texts in 1 Timothy and Revelation.
The Genesis Intent (Genesis 1-3), or, the creation intent. This is the first and foundational rule to sexuality. It is a theology of firsts and types. Where God defines sexuality. There is no confusion on Male or Female in scripture. And there is no mention or need for a ‘third way’ or ‘transition’ or ‘neutral’ gender.
The Matthew Intent (Matthew 5, 15, 19), or, the messianic intent. This is Jesus on sexuality. And he quotes the OT words of Moses from Genesis. Isn’t that interesting? Jesus could have EVOLVED. He could have ADJUSTED to His day. But His definition of sexuality was taken from the creation or Genesis intent.
My conviction:
Here is the first thing that I say when asked about the sexual revolution today:
1. Our personal sexuality belief will come from culture or from scripture. It is the ideological and theological framework. It will be changing if it comes from culture, but, it will be constant if it comes from scripture. That is why the arguments have changed in the cultural arena and yet have stayed the same in the scriptural arena.
2. I know that we look at and interpret scripture differently. But there are enough clear guidelines in scripture to agree on. Maybe one of the most important concepts is the definition of sin. If I willfully practice disobedience I cannot inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5.18-22). That is clear. In the sexuality argument or any other issue.
3. There are constants in human sexuality theology - Genesis 1-3 and Matthew 5, 15, and 19, Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 6, and Jude 5-7 are theological foundations of human sexuality. These are the words of Moses, Jesus, Paul, and Jude.
4. In these texts, there is something to say about human sexuality. Definitions or prohibitions related to gender, marriage, sexual immorality (adultery, fornication, prostitution, idolatry, abnormality, incest, beastiality, and homosexuality) even if they did not directly address the specific word of the topic in question.
5. What we do know conclusively from these texts, is that each kept marriage and sexual relations within marriage between a man and a woman. And God created two binary genders in the human species – male and female. Any deviation from that form or ethic was not the creation intent or Jesus’ support of it or Paul’s address of it and becomes a secondary un-natural order; a cultural or personal order and not a scriptural order. And because of any new unnatural order or ethic, mankind must do mid-course correction to bring our ideas, experience, and feelings back to scripture.
6. There are many other verses inspired by the Holy Spirit to authors (including Paul in 1 Corinthians 7, Galatians 5, 1 Timothy 1 and John in Revelation 18, 21) who spoke on this subject. All of these author’s words have these original texts from Moses and Jesus as foundational unity on their address to the subject.
7. Our differences should not divide us. So we have a different interpretation of sexuality in the scriptures than some people may have. Maybe you believe, as I have stated in this book, that marriage is between a man and a woman, that sex before marriage, outside of your marriage, or with the same sex is sin, and that God created humanity male and female. But just because someone believes differently than we do, what right does that give us to treat them with partiality or judgement?
I contend that what we really need is a box. A code, or ceiling, or walls, and fence. Because otherwise, we land where we are today. With everyone analyzing and giving their own version of truth. Sure, we may read the same biblical text and see different things. But, there are some absolutes even in scripture. The important part of this parse to me is really simple. And that is making the determination of the argument by scripture and not culture. From an absolute box.
Soundbites:
It really is hard to get down to a soundbite in such an information age. But maybe this will help you get to your conviction on this matter as you read the scriptures yourself.
But this is my soundbite when I am asked:
The Sexual Revolution going on in America today with regard to sexual identity issues, the sanctity of marriage, and sexual promiscuity, is part of the sexual dis-order that is contrary to the clearly stated biblical principles – principles found in the words of Moses in the book of Genesis, Jesus in Matthew, Paul in Romans and other texts, Jude in the book of Jude, and John in The Revelation defining the creation of humankind as male and female, the relationship of marriage between a man and a woman, and romantic and sexual relationships between a man and woman within the sanctity of marriage.
Where are the Absolutes?
Instead of moral relativity, what about moral absolutes? What about we as a society learning to adjust our lives to a set of common principles or code? I mean we have done it with uniformity with civil laws such as traffic laws. And those were written by government officials. I understand, we then would have to decide who writes the moral code. Or who defines what is right and wrong. Why not start with the first moral code ever written. By the Creator of humankind. Rather than the changing one that exists in our society.
I believe that code began for every human being as the Old Testament ‘10 Commandments’ were given to us by Moses from Jehovah God. To help a society in Israel know a way of life and practice with each other and nature. And then we have another moral code given to us in the New Testament ‘Sermon on the Mount’ given by Jesus.
Let me define briefly the Old Testament and the New Testament principles of sexuality. There is no argument in scripture or a license for same sex marriage or sex outside of marriage or additions to gender. That argument or license came in culture. Specifically as it relates to gender identity. I can do this with two simple points.
The Genesis Intent (Genesis 1-4) - This is Moses’ account of the beginning of humankind. The first mention of the created nature of man and woman, or, male and female. There is no mention of a ‘third way’ or ‘gender transition’, or personal option to mark other than male or female. Or, in that case, a need for it.
Here’s the original intent:
GOD DESIGNED MALE AND FEMALE AS THE ARCHETYPE TO HUMANITY
PROCREATION WITHIN MARRIAGE BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN
DESIGNED SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN
FAMILY MODEL BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN THAT IMAGES OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Some persons whim to have other options doesn’t necessitate a need to re-write the code. The simple understanding of this account in Genesis is that two genders were created to perpetuate the human race, to enjoy sexual relationship, and to become the model for how humanity will do family. It really is simple and doesn’t need parsing. It is like math. One plus one always equals two. It did in 2018 B.C. and it does in 2018 A.D.
Any culturally created substitute for this first order is not God’s intent. Just because something becomes prevalent in culture over time doesn’t make it relevant (or right) for culture. Whatever replaces the Genesis Intent then becomes a substitute breaking from original intent.
The Matthew Intent (Matthew 5, 15, 19.1-6) - These are Jesus’ words on this issue. And in these words He continues the creation intent of male and female by defining the natural family order. He does this by quoting Moses from the Genesis account and intention of the Creator, ‘He made them male and female for the reason of leaving father and mother to become one flesh.’ He didn’t feel the need to change the wording thousands of years and many generations later. Same language. And every other writer in the New Testament, when dealing with sexuality, includes the common order of creation with the male and female gender.
*See above references to Paul on the issues of fornication and homosexuality.
When we wander from this biblical intent, we create secondary un-natural order. Cultural order and not scriptural order. Which creates the problems we have in culture today. And the problems that are created outside of God’s boundaries are many. Thus, whatever replaces the Genesis Intent then becomes a substitute breaking from the original intent.
5 Approaches To Sexuality For YTH Leaders
With this theological understanding, next week we will list 5 practical principles that YTH Leaders must model to this generation living in The Sexual Revolution. A language that includes words like ‘binary’ and ‘non-binary’, and, a life that includes a love that is needed in our society to address The Sexual Revolution. Principles that will help us bring both truth and grace to the discussion. Principles that I believe will help remove the chasm between the Church and the Culture. Join us next week right here.