We are committed to understanding the central ideas of Stanton Jones and Mark Yarhouse, Ex-Gays?, and to do this we want to work our way patiently through their book. The central thesis of this book is that same-sex orientation and gay identity (their categories) can be changed as a result of the Christian faith. Today we look at chp 2, their statement on the Christian understanding of sexuality.
Now to the chp… here are eleven theses inherent to a “conservative Christian” understanding of sexuality and same-sex attraction and identity.
I’m most interested in what you think of their #4, 5, 8, 9, and 10.
1. The Bible must be read from Genesis 1 to Revelation as the story of God’s covenantal revelation to humans.
2. Conservative Christians (CCs) believe in a personal relationship to Jesus Christ and the veracity of the Bible.
3. Physical reality is good — and humans are embodied persons. Embodiment “grounds and subsumes sexuality” (48). Male and female are embodiments and “very good.”
4. Humans are relationally created: CCs reject homosexuality because of the creation story where we see God design one male and one female for permanent union.
5. Intercourse has a “determinate or fixed meaning” — “the establishment of a one-flesh union” (49). Sexual union transcends one’s intentions; whatever one’s intentions, sexual union establishes a one-flesh union.
6. Traditional religiosity, empirical studies show, is connected with “more positive experiences of sexuality and higher sexual satisfaction” (50). [This in contrast to stereotypes. This is the sort of rhetorical strategy they seem intent on bringing up.] In addition to one-flesh union, intercourse is also for reproduction, pleasure and need gratification.
7. Marriage is “iconic” (51): it opens up a window on our relationship to God.
8. Our sexual behaviors, desires, and beings are impacted by the fall — there are “such evil tendencies as selfishness, sensuality … or subjugation” (52). Sinful brokenness impairs also our desire to be good. Scripture is God’s design for us to know what God wants for us.
9. The biblical command — in Ten Commandments — not to commit adultery is an affirmation of monogamy, fidelity and heterosexuality.
10. Genital sex is not essential to human happiness and wholeness — denials are inherent at times to God’s will for our life.
Then they study in biblical passages on homosexuality in a traditional (CC) manner. And they survey a variety of Christian ministries to same-sex persons.