GOD, SEX & CHURCH: a theology of healthy sexuality
When it comes to word association, "God, Sex & Church" are not the kind of words we usually find in close quarters--and that's a problem, especially when sex and sexuality get divorced from God and his design. After all God invented and created both with great and compelling purposes in mind. God's plan is far greater and more fulfilling than what a Katy Perry culture has done with sex & sexuality by distorting and reducing them. In a hook up culture that reduces sex to mere biology and animal instict it's clear that God's desire and design has gotten extremely short-sheeted.
At least, that's what came across to me in a clear and compelling when I went to Winnipeg and joined in a three day Study Conference hosted by our denominational leaders. These were long twelve hour days of teaching, dialogue, worship, prayer, Bible study/reflection, telling and hearing stories/testimonies, and round table conversations over meals.
Good practical theology rightfully insists that our bodies, and what we do with them, are important to God. After all, in Genesis God created male and female humans as physical bodies, and Romans 12:1 says, "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God". The creation story is a sacred intimate union of theology and sexuality (God & Sex & Community). Sex and sexuality are gifts from God, but they are not the same thing. Our human sexuality is rooted in being created in a body (embodied), with a God given desire for relationships where we can know and be known. Sin and self-centredness twists and distorts the beauty of God's design for relational intimacy (like a funhouse mirror distorts us). The result of these distortions of God's design is often deep pain and brokenness rather than the kind of relational intimacy God intended for a joyful human experience. But in Jesus we come full circle in that we see what & who & how God designed us to be. God's "No" to sin's distortions is because of His greater and bigger "Yes" to healthy inclusive relational intimacy among all people that saves sexual intimacy for marriage.
In a culture that seems preoccupied with talking about sex, and where sexual freedom in all its forms is both celebrated and defended as a human right, we may find that our contribution is sometimes not welcomed, and frequently not understood. But Romans 12:1-12 reminds us that we are called to show and tell the good news of Jesus and his restorative work in all areas of life--including God's design for healthy sexuality.
David Esau
For more info go to: Study Conference or click on the speaker you want to watch.
Introduction to the Study Conference - speaker Willy Reimer
Plenary Session One - speakers Ingrid Reichard & Andrew Dyck (Why this "God, Sex & Church" Study Conference?)
Plenary Session Two - speaker Bruxy Cavey
Plenary Session Three - speaker Paul Cumin