Humans share much in common—the struggle with sexuality is no exception. Crucial questions beg for response: How should we understand sexuality? Do objective standards for sex exist? If so what or who determines those standards? Is biological sex and gender identity the same thing or different things? How do worldviews impact how sexuality is viewed? What role does sexuality play in determining personal identity? These and related questions beg for response. However, widespread disagreement exists on this subject matter—across academic, cultural, and faith/religion spheres. Among the reasons for the divergences are conflicting assumptions, authorities, and allegiances—factors that powerfully shape our sexuality views.
This paper will seek to explain, support, and encourage a traditional (or historic) Christian view of sexual ethics, i.e., the Traditional View, as opposed to alternative viewpoints: chiefly, the Revisionist View. My argument centers on divinely intended and designed sexuality, preeminently communicated via special revelation, as well as through Christian community and general revelation. Those holding the Revisionist (or Affirming) View tend to claim biological, anthropological psychological, sociological, or other findings undermine certain Traditional View aspects, especially the latter’s advocacy of monogamous, male-female marriage as the exclusive context for divinely-intended sexual union. However, the Revisionist View ultimately remain unconvincing, as this paper will seek to demonstrate.
The Traditional View affirms Scripture’s infallibility and trustworthiness on moral/sexual matters which it affirms or teaches, and thus its ultimately authority and objective truth-bearing on these matters. This ought to lead to holding the Traditional View on same-sex attitudes and behaviors and related sexual-ethics concerns. Regardless, all are called to embody civility and humility amidst advocacy and disagreement.
Goals for this paper include (a) explaining sexual ethics and related key concepts/terms—primarily as this author understands and uses them; (b) discussing, evaluating, and responding to some major sexual-ethics concerns, and (c) supporting a particular Christian sexual-ethics perspective, utilizing philosophical and theological reasoning alongside worldview commitments.
Three interrelated convictions inform this approach: (1) the Christian Scriptures present/reveal God’s moral will for humankind, and thus are ultimately authoritative and trustworthy when speaking on matters of sexuality; (2) objective norms and values exist as revealed in God’s written word and created world; and (3) the greatest moral ought for our lives is to love the Lord our God with all our being and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
This paper hopes to contribute to the field through effectively clarifying key concepts, thoughtfully addressing major concerns, and faithfully advancing a traditional Christian view of sexual ethics, interacting with substantial and growing literature within sexuality, gender, and identity fields: both Christian and alternative sources. Prominent interlocutors include Mark Yarhouse, Megan DeFranza, Stan Grenz, Wesley Hill, Alexander Pruss, Jonathan Grant, Nancy Pearcey, Stephen R. Holmes, William Loader, Todd A. Wilson, James K. Beilby, Paul Rhodes Eddy, Paul K. Jewett, Abigail Favale, Judith Butler, Simon Blackburn, and others.