Human Sexuality in the Image of God

If the Church refuses to address the sexual issues of the day, not only does it become irrelevant, it leaves the conversation open to others who feel free to do so.

By George O. Wood

INTRODUCTION

Christian leaders make three mistakes when it comes to human sexuality: We don’t talk about it; we don’t value it; we don’t model it.

By not talking about sexuality, we let the world — rather than God’s Word — set the agenda for how we understand and practice our sexuality. By not valuing it — or, rather, by preaching onlyagainst sex outside of marriage and not for sex within marriage — we let the world caricature us as killjoys and pleasure haters. And by not practicing sexuality as God intends within the lifelong relationship between a husband and a wife, we fail to show the world what a blessing marriage is and how it contributes to human flourishing.

In this article, I outline a biblical theology of human sexuality, focusing on our creation in the image of God. Perhaps you have never thought of sexuality in terms of theology. But our beliefs shape our behaviors, and our deepest beliefs shape them most effectively. If theology is what we believe most deeply about God, then it will determine our attitudes toward human sexuality as well as our practice of it. Here is an outline for this very helpful article. The link for the entire article is below.

THE BIBLE AND HUMAN SEXUALITY

JESUS’ HERMENEUTIC OF HUMAN SEXUALITY
UNITY-IN-DIFFERENCE

COMMUNICATION, CELEBRATION, CREATION
Communication
Celebration
Creative

THE SPIRITUALITY OF SEXUALITY
Differences
Affirmation
Potential
Limits
Mystery

CONCLUSION

George O. Wood, D.Th.P., is general superintendent for The General Council of the Assemblies of God, Springfield, Missouri.

 Notes 

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