Dearest family,
Thanks for your attention on Sunday as we do our best to set the scene for a discussion about biblical sexuality that hopefully extends beyond the confines of pulpit communication. The reason it is important to consider the broader issues of the sexual culture that we live in and that the New Testament readers lived in, as well as some of the foundational issues like the relationship between belief and behavior, and sexuality and spirituality, is because the considerations are about the Bible’s teaching on human sexuality which is a much bigger context for examination than merely sexual acts. If we do not do the initial foundation and framework, we will not have the means to effectively understand and decide what is and is not biblical, and why.
What I covered, but still failed to complete, was the following:
1. I added some paint splashes to the canvas-characterization of present sexual culture that Bo referred to last week, to affirm that our understanding and practice of our sexuality is awry across the board, and that the same premises that promote a homosexual agenda are no different to those that argue for any other number of sexual choices and practices, whether it be serial casual sex, the abandonment of marital fidelity, the plague of pornography or whatever.
2. I threw out some brief and general observations about three important cultural constituents of the New Testament world: Jewish, Greek and Roman, indicating not only some of the key assumptions about sexuality that New Testament faith was addressing, but also showing how familiar we are with the same issues in our own day. So no, the NT was not written for those who were sexually inexperienced, or in denial of their own sexuality. They were living, as we are, in a culture in which sex had been individualized, idolized and demonized. We are so blessed that people like the Corinthians asked Paul lots of questions and that his answers help us in our cultural setting to get our spiritual bearings, and to have a moral compass.
3. I also wanted to do a very quick helicopter ride over some key NT passages that explicitly speak to sexual issues, or behaviors, so you can get a feel for the range of their content, and the gospel-premises and belief-premises of their arguments and appeals, that frankly have not changed – unless of course you choose to change the propositional meaning of the text to suit personal preference; unless you change doctrine, not only to fit your particular personal predilections, but also to actually approve and applaud your sexual desires and their expression. This is why the matter of our view of the authority of scripture is crucial, for the reasons Bo gave last week.
We will pick up that third point next Sunday and look just at biblical text. I’ve asked you to take an initial look at Romans 1 and 1 Thessalonians 4 in Homegroup this week, before we pick them up briefly on Sunday, and then go on to look at the Genesis text that Jesus referred his hearers back to when talking about defining issues of sexuality, particularly as pertains to gender. In Thessalonians, I like what Paul does as part of his introduction to instruction about sex, three things that I also want to do:
1. He affirms previous teaching – and so do I. Amidst the 1000 plus messages I have preached here over 27 years, there are so many that deal with this subject matter, whether OT series out of Genesis or NT series out of 1 Corinthians. In these coming weeks, Bo and I are less telling you anything you do not know, or that has not been taught, than we are calling you to remembrance to continue to uphold what we are committed to as Christians, and committed as a church to teach as best we can, which is imperfect at best. We are not interested in being popular but true, and it is important in the context of our community of faith to have clear communication about what is normative for us for our relationships and behaviors with and toward one another in our community. So we want this to be a place where we can all find out what God wants for us, for our sexuality and spirituality, and that we won’t have to sit too long without hearing truth about God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit, whether in worship or through the Word, whether through fellowship and conversation, and that we would find a safe place to renounce what undoes us, and repent of personal sexual sin, and heal from the fall-out of its after-effects, as we let God’s works do its perfect work. It cannot be that we have all arrived because Paul urged the Thessalonians to please God “more and more” didn’t he? That’s process and progress in maturing discipleship, for those who are pressing on but who have not yet arrived.
2. He approves their present behavior and living – and so do I. I am amazed and moved, encouraged and tutored by who you are and how you walk with Jesus. I know many of your stories, and in some cases, details that maybe few others may know of your past pain and present pilgrimage. Yes, we are all aware of how far we have to go, but we also need to be aware of how far we’ve come. I love Paul the pastor when he says “once you were… but now you are…”!! We have no basis for any personal pride but we can share holy satisfaction with each other and deep gratitude for the work of the Holy Spirit that has graced our lives. As we engage issues of biblical sexuality, I want you to know how much I affirm and approve the godly choices you are making, against the grain, against the cultural drift and drag, to live for God and please Him.
3. He appeals for “more and more” – and so do I. We have to hear this encouragement that appeals for an ongoing commitment to holiness, and the work of the Holy Spirit, conforming us to Christ. There’s no defeatism here amidst an anarchic sexual culture. Paul is in fact writing this letter to the Thessalonians from Corinth, from the sexual sin-bin of the then-known world, where the word “to corinthianize” was a synonym for seduction and debauchery and sex “gone wild.” Paul gives this wonderful invitation in the middle of all the challenges to purity, to keep on the right track, to press on, to know that there is opportunity and empowerment to please the Lord “more and more”.
So like Paul, prefacing his teaching, before referring to sexuality, I affirm the past teaching given in this community, I approve your present pursuit of Christ, and I appeal for a growing, strengthening future maturity and walk in wholeness and holiness in these matters of biblical sexual integrity. Yes, when we address these issues, like matters of sex and gender and identity, there is uncertainty and confusion. The combination of the impact of contemporary culture, the deficient and unclear communication from the pulpit in our generation, and the lack of clarity of conviction among professing Christians, all combine to subvert our assurances. In this context, it will not do, to do what is usually done: reduce the gospel to a rubber stamp for right-wing political credos, water the gospel down to humanistic values, change the meanings of the text or present Judeo-Christian values as an ethics program without Jesus or the Holy Spirit.
Paul is showing the Thessalonians, as we wish to do to you, how God’s requirements reach into every area of life, in particular our sexuality, and how the good news of the gospel produces good life in us.
Pastorally yours,
Stuart
https://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download MP3 audio of sermon)