From Shame to Restoration: A Transformative Approach to Authentic Sexuality
Main Article Content
Keywords
human sexuality, biblical sexuality, shame, purity culture, authentic sexuality
Abstract
The Christian community perpetuates a narrative that human sexuality is shameful rather than a natural, beautiful expression of God's created design. Christian culture's longstanding conflagration of shame and sexuality is also evident in its discomfort in discussing healthy sexual relationships and in its promotion of resources that reduce sexuality to its procreative purposes. Promoting a false association between sexuality and shame also increases the risk of sexual abuse and the revictimization of abuse victims. In contrast, Scripture promotes the interconnectedness of sexuality and spirituality as equally holy to each other and fully redeemed by Jesus's death and resurrection. A biblical view elevates sexuality as a unique expression of love and the relational communion of the Trinitarian God. As the Church moves forward to recover a proper biblical understanding of sex, it must examine its disparate treatment of women in and outside the congregation, reclaim the gift of sex as God intended, and normalize discussing topics relating to sexuality. Removing the shame around sex by focusing on God's grace will diminish confusion, strengthen relationships, and foster a biblically authentic view of sexuality.
References
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Thompson, C. (2021). The soul of desire: Discovering the neuroscience of longing, beauty, and community. InterVarsity Press.
Wheat, E. and Wheat, G. (2010). Intended for pleasure. Sex technique and sexual fulfillment in Christian marriage (4th ed). Revell.
Winner, L. (2005). Real sex: The naked truth about chastity. Zondervan.
Balswick, J. K., & Balswick, J. O. (2019). Authentic human sexuality: An integrated Christian approach (3rd ed.). IVP Academic.
Brown, B. (2007). I thought it was just me (but it isn't): Making the journey from "What will people think?" to "I am enough". Gotham.
Colver, L. (2020). Implementing social change to confront sexism in the Church. Currents in Theology and Mission, 47(2), 22–24. https://currentsjournal.org/index.php/currents/article/view/234/261
Crain, A. (2022, October 4). Purity culture can impact long-term sexual health. Reckon. https://www.reckon.news/news/2020/12/purity-culture-can-impact-long-term-sexual-health.html
Dinse, L. (2022). The practice of congregational social work in the four spheres of congregation: Worship, Christian education, community & fellowship, and missions. Journal of Social Work & Christianity, 49(3), 281288. https://doi.org/10.34043/swc.v49i3.281
Foster, R. (1987). Money, sex & power: The challenge of the disciplined life. Harper Collins Pub.
Foster, S., Carvallo, M., Lee, J., Fisher, R., & Traxler, H. (2021). An implication of impurity: The impact of feminine honor on human papillomavirus (HPV) screenings and the decision to authorize daughter's HPV vaccinations. Stigma and Health, 6(2), 216–227. https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000230
Grabowski, J. S. (2010, September 19). Formation in human sexuality, marriage, and Family Life. https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/catechesis/catechetical-sunday/marriage/upload/leaders-grabowski.pdf
Gresh, D. (2002). Secret keeper: The delicate power of modesty. Moody Press.
Guidepost. (2022). The Southern Baptist Convention executive committee's response to sexual abuse allegations and an audit of the procedures and actions of the credentials committee. Guidepost Solutions LLC. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/22031737-final-guidepost-solutions-independent-investigation-report
Haberman, C. (2021). How an abstinence pledge in the '90s shamed a generation of evangelicals. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/06/us/abstinence-pledge-evangelicals.html
Harper, K. (2018). The first sexual revolution. First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion & Public Life, 279, 41-46. https://www.firstthings.com/article/2018/01/the-first-sexual-revolution
Harris, J. (2003). I kissed dating goodbye. Multnomah Books
Homan, P., & Burdette, A. (2021). When religion hurts: Structural sexism and health in religious congregations. American Sociological Review, 86(2), 234–255. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122421996686
James, F. (1987). Augustine's sex-life change: From profligate to celibate. Christian History and Biography,15, 25-26. https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/augustines-sex-life-from-profligate-to-celibate
King, E. B. L. (2017). Transitional Justice and the Legacy of Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church Albany Law Review, 81(1), 121-143. https://law-journals-books.vlex.com/vid/transitional-justice-and-the-704612233
Klein, L. (2018). Pure: Inside the evangelical movement that shamed a generation of young women and how I broke free. Touchstone.
Klement, K., & Saragin, B. (2017). Nobody wants to date a whore: Rape-supportive messages in women-directed Christian dating books. Sexuality & Culture, 21(1), 205-223. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-016-9390-x
Ligia, C. (2021). I’m taking back my body (the female body in the ‘purity’ culture), 12(1). 117-127. https://doi.org/10.47743/lincu-2021-1-0191
Looy, H. (2018). Why is sex such a big (moral) deal? Psychological barriers to constructive dialogue on sexual and gender diversity in Christian communities. Social Justice Research, 31(3), 290–310. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11211-018-0315-8
Mason, B. (2021, December 3). Side B Christians like me are an asset not a threat. Christianity Today. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/november-web-only/same-sex-attraction-gay-marriage-side-b-asset-not-threat.html
McKnight, S. & Barringer, L. (2020). A church called Tov: Forming a goodness culture that resists abuses of power and promotes healing. Tyndale.
Meteyard, J., & Alexander, I. (2012, May 20). Redeeming a positive biblical view of sexuality. Renewal Journal. Retrieved from https://renewaljournal.com/2012/05/20/redeeming-a-positive-biblical-view-of-sexuality-by-john-meteyard-and-irene-alexander/
Mullen, W. (2020). Something's not right: Decoding the hidden tactics of abuse and freeing yourselves from its power. Tyndale.
Natarajan, M., Wilkins-Yel, K. G., Sista, A., Anantharaman, A., & Seils, N. (2022). Decolonizing purity culture: gendered racism and white idealization in evangelical Christianity. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 46(3), 316-336. https://doi.org/10.1177/03616843221091116
New International Version. (2011). Biblical, Inc. https://www.biblegateway.com/ (Original work published 1973)
Nouwen, P. (2021, May 10). Boys and girls and the scars of purity culture. Patrick Nouwen. https://patricknouwen.com/1640/purity-culture-has-consequences-for-boys-too/
Ouellet, M. (2015). Mystery and sacrament of love: A theology of marriage and the family for the new evangelization. Willian B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Rashid, F., & Barron, I. (2018). Critique of the Vatican’s role in recent child protection practice:A brief report. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 27, 141-153. doi: 10.1080/10538712.2018.1425948.
Rudolph, K., & Wilson, R. M. L. (1983). Gnosis: The nature and history of Gnosticism. Harper & Row.
Sanjakdar F. (2018). Can difference make a difference? A critical theory discussion of religion in sexuality education. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 39 (3), 393-407. https://doi.org/10.1080/01596306.2016.1272546
Selling, J. A. (2019). Embracing sexuality: Authority and experience in the Catholic church. Routledge.
Shimer, T. (2022, November 2). How porn is rewiring the brains of a generation. RELEVANT. Retrieved April 28, 2023, from https://relevantmagazine.com/life5/porn-is-rewiring-a-whole-generation-christians-included/
Smietana, B. (2020, May 22). Southern Baptist leaders mistreated abuse survivors for decades. Religion News Service. https://religionnews.com/2022/05/22/sbc-abuse-report-for-decades-southern-baptist-leaders-denied-abuse-misled-trustees-mistreated-survivors-guidepost-johnny-hunt/
Stiles, E., & Ketcham, S. G. (2019). After modesty culture: Living into the hope of our redeemed bodies. The Journal of Youth Ministry, 17(1), 88–115.
Thompson, C. (2021). The soul of desire: Discovering the neuroscience of longing, beauty, and community. InterVarsity Press.
Wheat, E. and Wheat, G. (2010). Intended for pleasure. Sex technique and sexual fulfillment in Christian marriage (4th ed). Revell.
Winner, L. (2005). Real sex: The naked truth about chastity. Zondervan.