Human Sexuality: A Nexus of Scripture, Science, and Sociology

Surrendering Standards for Sexuality

During my boyhood in the 1950’s, human sexuality was very much on people’s minds but it was not openly discussed in most homes, churches, and schools.  Although sex was a “hush-hush” topic in our farm home, I am thankful for parents who modeled gender differences and helped guide me toward manhood and to faith in God. 

Meanwhile, all around us, the so-called “sexual revolution” was emerging while the intactness and values of many American families were deteriorating.  Many fathers and mothers in post-war America became consumed with their dreams of the good life.  Many chose paths that led them away from honoring God and loving their spouses, children, and families.  Churches that once were an integral part of family and community life also began to compromise the Gospel message.  Divorce and adolescent rebellion became more and more common.

Some churches watered down the Gospel message of salvation by faith in the blood of Christ, God’s provision for redeeming fallen man.  Like ships without an anchor, they began to drift in the current of the morally deteriorating culture.  Other churches fired up their message about the “wages of sin” but failed to welcome sinners with the love and mercy shown by Jesus who welcomed sinners.  Consequently, many conservative, fundamentalist churches fumbled their chances to attract the spiritually lost who were left alone, groping in the dark to find love and purpose.  Ignored and rejected, many young Americans rejected God and set out to find a “love” apart from His plan.

Fast forward to the present.  We can now see the harvest of the seeds sown in the 1960’s-1970’s.  What started as a minority counterculture of rebellion against spiritual and social norms has become a dominant force that threatens to upend the moral foundation of America.  The movement has been given legitimacy by calls for “individual rights” which accompany a “liberal” education and persuasive messages from Hollywood and the main stream media.  As a result, our culture is drowning in moral confusion while being caught up in angry debates over God’s gifts of marriage, family, and human sexuality.

Ignoring or Suppressing the Science of Sexuality
Our understanding of human sexuality is being distorted not only by misguided social influences but also by those who publish misleading scientific reports or who suppress valid findings from the scientific community.  A lack of “good science” and “good social science”  have been misleading our culture ever since the now-discredited Kinsey Report on human sexuality.  In 1954, leading statisticians issued for the American Statistical Association a critique of Kinsey's 1948 report, stating that “conclusions drawn from data presented in the book are often stated by much too bold and confident a manner…[and] the writing in the book falls below the level of good scientific writing.”

More recently, neuroscientists and sex researchers like Dr. Debra Soh are providing mounting scientific evidence that sex differences between men and women are biologically based and not socially influenced.  In a podcast interview with Ben Domenech on the Federalist Radio Hour, Dr. Soh explains that gender differences are real, and are caused by different levels of the hormone testosterone between developing boy and girl babies.  According to Dr. Soh, contrary to politically correct views, there is no scientific evidence that gender is a social construct such that each individual can therefore be free to choose their gender. 

Dr. Soh laments the fact that left-based thinking gives the false impression that men and women should think the same in regard to how and why they engage in sexual relationships and how they respond when relationships go bad.  False, politically correct notions that men and women are not different causes much confusion among women who are left wondering why they do not feel the same as men in judging the quality of sexual relationships and in how they feel compared to men when relationships go bad.  Gender misconceptions combined with the continuing “hush-hush” attitudes about sex that tend to prevent good communication between partners is an ongoing threat to developing strong monogamous relationships.

Given the fact that our moral standards have been eroding; and, that left-leaning, agenda-driven politics is denying the science of human sexuality, it is no wonder that gender identity has become so confusing that it requires a glossary of terms to help us determine who we are sexually.  If Dr. Soh and the large body of scientific research to which she refers is correct, determining our gender ought to be as simple and straightforward as simply being observant during diaper changes, and then “training up our children in the way they should go.” (Proverbs 22: 6). 

I do not mean to oversimplify here.  As Dr. Soh admits, there are differences in degrees of maleness and femaleness among members of each gender.  Dispositions toward increased maleness and femaleness can arise, respectively, in males who developed under lower prenatal levels of testosterone, and in females with higher prenatal levels.  Then, whereas gender is determined by a person’s prenatal neurophysiological development as noted above, I believe variations in hormonal levels within-gender can predispose a boy or girl to respond by developing secondary traits of the opposite sex depending on parental and other social influences.  We’ll return to this point.

Speaking into the New “Hush-Hush” about Sexuality
Although a majority of people are concerned about sexuality and pursuing sexual fulfillment, anyone who dares to speak up about what God’s Word says about sexuality risks being called a hateful bigot.  Thus, western culture has transitioned from a “hush-hush” about human sexuality in the 1950’s and 1960’s to a new form of “hush-hush.” The current “hush-hush” is given to anyone who wishes to address what God’s revelation in Scripture has to say about our sexuality.  How then can a Christ-follower keep his or her call to be “salt and light” in a world that largely rejects the authority of God and His revealed Word?

Given the current climate of moral relativism, you may be asking, “What right does any person have to question the gender preferences and sexual behavior of anyone else?”  Indeed, many people regardless of sexual orientation do not acknowledge the existence of God or the authority of the Bible.  Others may respect the authority of Scripture but question whether God views homosexual behavior as being worthy of eternal judgment in Hell.  Still others argue that Jesus offers love, mercy, and forgiveness of sinners and did not condemn homosexual behavior.  But there is a clear message in the Scriptures--God does exist, His design for sexuality is objectively defined in the Bible, He remains a righteous judge with whom all of us must give account, and He remains ready to forgive and redeem all repentant sinners.
 
If we acknowledge God’s authority revealed in the Bible, then we must accept that God has called us as Christ-followers to love our neighbor and to share His gift of love in the Person of Jesus Christ.  In His “Great Commission,” recorded in Matthew 28: 18, Jesus said, All authority is given to me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples… Jesus calls His disciples to “make disciples”—i.e. make more teachable followers who live by my example and are empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, if Christ-followers are being obedient to Christ’s commission, it is our responsibility to express our faith in word and in deed.

But there are right and wrong ways to share God’s message.  The Apostle Peter (apostle = “one who is sent”) teaches us the manner in which we ought to approach others to witness of God’s love and purposes for mankind.  He wrote (emphasis mine), But sanctify the Lord God (i.e. set apart and honor God as holy) in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with gentleness and reverence… (1 Peter 3: 15).  According to Peter, our lives must first be a reflection of the humility and love of Jesus Christ as described in the Gospel accounts.  Second, we must be ready to speak the truth as God’s Spirit gives us the opportunities to answer or respond to questions.  And, third, our approach to those who need to hear God’s truth must be with gentleness and respect for both God and our neighbor.

Returning specifically to the matter of sexuality, sexual preference, and sexual behavior, Christ-followers must be able to respectfully explain God’s plan and purpose for sex in the context of marriage as being between a man and a woman.  In response to a question about God’s view of divorce, Jesus answered as recorded in Matthew 19: 4-6 by quoting from the Old Testament (Genesis 1: 27 and 2: 24):  Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’?  So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.

Christ followers must also be able to answer the claim that, although the Bible does condemn sexual activity outside of heterosexual marriage (e.g. Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13; 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11) Jesus did not condemn homosexuality.  If Jesus didn’t condemn homosexuality, how can Christians claim that God will judge homosexuals?  Dr. Robert Jeffress provides an excellent response to this claim in his short article, “Did Jesus Condemn Homosexuality?”

Conclusion and Recommended Resources
Truly, today’s culture is saturated with sex, erotic imaging, sexual innuendo, and all the preoccupation, confusion, and frustration that results in lives lived apart from God’s plan and purpose for sexuality.  It also follows that a sex-saturated culture can make Christ-followers forget that God sent His Son to redeem humans from all kinds of sins, not only sex outside of the biblical marriage bond, but also such sins as lying, stealing, gossiping, murdering, coveting, etc. (see 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11; Galatians 5: 19-21).  As David wrote in Psalm 51: 5, every one of us were born into this world as sinners.  As fallen offspring of Adam, we are prone to commit any or all of the sins listed above that are outside of the moral bounds established by a loving Creator in His Word.  Because this article focuses on how Christ-followers ought to approach our neighbor when he or she is caught in immoral sexual behavior, I will conclude by reference to two excellent resources.

Allen Atzbi, General Manager at Living Waters, has written an online article, “Coming Out of the Closet on Homosexuality.”  This article provides an excellent resource for individuals and for group discussion.  It is also an excellent preparation for viewing the movie, Audacity, written and produced by evangelist Ray Comfort.  This free online movie provides good insights on homosexuality and good examples of how Christ-followers can address this sensitive issue as loving ambassadors with an informed, gentle, and respectful approach to anyone in need of Christ’s love and forgiveness.   Audacity is also a good resource for group discussion.  The movie subtitle is “Love Can’t Stay Silent.”  I’m thankful that God’s love reached me-- because He couldn’t “stay silent.”

How About You?
1.   What would you do if you saw a same-sex couple approaching a malfunctioning elevator in a high-rise building, knowing that if they step on the elevator, they will plunge to certain death?  Do you have a right to warn them?   Should they feel offended if you approached them with the warning?  The article, “Coming Out of the Closet on Homosexuality” and the movie Audacity uses this analogy and others to emphasize the obligation we have to minister to those around us.

2.  What must a Christ-follower do to earn the right to approach a person or couple who is openly rejecting God’s moral standards?  Watch Audacity and see what one person chose to do and how his action opened the way for him to share his faith.

3.  I welcome your comments, questions and corrections where I may be misrepresenting the issues surrounding human sexuality and the role of Scripture, science, and social science in shaping a proper response to this important issue.

D-Day: Remembering Their Sacrifice

As we pause to remember the sacrifice of so many who stormed the beaches of Normandy 75 years ago, most of us have no direct contact with either a veteran of World War II.  Separated by multiple generations and often hindered by only a limited knowledge of American history, we hear and read accounts of this great struggle and think of it as only useless clamor on some foreign planet. 

I was fortunate to have a good education in American History, and to learn more by direct though very limited conversation my Uncle Glen “Shorty” Silvius who had participated in the D-Day invasion and later, the Battle of the Bulge (December, 1945 to January, 1945.  My uncle seldom spoke of the horrors of war during the 20 some years that I knew him.  But after his death, I had opportunity to read several of the letters which he wrote to his mom and dad, my Grandma and Grandpa Silvius.  Here is an introduction to a letter which he entitled “Something to Forget:”

There are times in the lives of people that incidents occur and one hopes to cherish the happy remembrance of the events.  In times of battle, many of these happy moments are buried or become totally eclipsed by the sight of results from the inhuman work of man.  In any direction you look, the same sights are prevailing, all effort to evade unpleasant scenes are in vain.  In any area where forces have met in organized combat, these scenes are only to be expected.  The strain of nerves anyone must endure is so great that in time even the person who has some chance to use better than average personal protection must return to places where surrounding conditions are more quiet.  It is not always possible to maintain the proper organization and control of units.  The result of such situations only leads to increase the degree of disaster.  No words will explain this except the famed words of the statesman who said, “Together we stand, separated we perish.”

Wars throughout history have generally not started because someone loved war and set out to start a war.  But there have been individuals who became so proud and so convinced that their vision of the world was the right one that they were willing to bring it about at any cost.  Men who come to mind in this context are Adolph Hitler (1889-1945), Joseph Stalin (1878-1953), and Mao Zedong (1893-1976).  These men were directly and indirectly responsible for the deaths of an estimated 17 million, 23 million, and 49-78 million, respectively.

War does not begin when armies amass against one another.  Instead, war begins in the human heart where such vices as anger, hate, pride, and lust for power originate.  James, the half-brother of Jesus writes:  Where do wars and fights come from among you?  Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?  You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war.  Yet you do not have because you do not ask (James 4: 1-2).

General Robert E. Lee is quotes as saying, “It is well that war is so terrible, or we should grow too fond of it.”  Yet Lee’s own personal experience teaches us that once the sins of human hearts lead to conflict, it is difficult for anyone to stop it from becoming all-out war.  But thankfully, each of us has access to the One who is called the Prince of Peace—Jesus Christ who came to bring peace to replace the war and turmoil of our hearts.  He said, In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer.  I have overcome the world.   Thankfully, one day, Jesus Christ will come to rule upon Earth for 1,000 years to demonstrate what truly godly rule by one man really looks like.  Then, he will defeat the Devil and sin, and the “last enemy,” death itself (1 Corinthians 15: 26).

My uncle was beset by at least a mild case of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but seemed to have found peace with God during his post-war years.  I was privileged to discuss God’s Word with him and to share the truth of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.  Although my uncle is now deceased, occasions like the D-Day remembrance serves to remind us not only of the great sacrifice of so many but also of our responsibility to thank veterans and those in uniform today, and to encourage those who carry the emotional wounds of war.  

Helpmates Can Help or Hinder Their Husbands

Do you remember the last time you went “all-out” to join family and friends in an enthusiastic celebration of an event or perhaps an exciting sports competition?  In 2 Samuel 6:12-19 we read the account of King David leading his nation in extravagant, corporate worship of God.  The focus of the occasion was a joyous procession in which the ark of the covenant was being brought up to Jerusalem.  King David, apparently caught up in a spirit of humility and worship of God, took off his royal robe and … wearing only a linen cloth around his waist, danced with all his might to honor the LORD. (v. 14, Good News Translation).

Immediately following this joyous experience of worship, David returns to his home and family.  What we learn from this brief account from Scripture are important lessons God may have for both husbands and wives.  From 2 Samuel 6: 20, we read: 

When David returned home to bless his household, Michal, daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would! 

What a let-down for David to hear her accusation from his helpmate, suggesting that he was being prideful, selfish, and even immoral.  Michal’s accusation hurled at David must have been particularly hurtful to him considering that he had returned home to bless his household (v. 20) and to invite her to share in the rich blessing he had experienced. 

But there is even more evidence that David was Spirit-filled and held pure motives in all of his actions.  Scholars believe that prior to this occasion, David had devoted his time in personal worship of God to compose an inspiring song especially for the processional—possibly the song now recorded as Psalm 24.  When you read Psalm 24, perhaps you will realize the enthusiasm David possessed-- an enthusiasm that may well have still been lifting his spirit upon his return to Michal.

Although David's motives and behavior were pure before the Lord, Michal’s were not.  Second Samuel 6: 16 records for us that Michal saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.  Michal’s sin of regarding her husband as unworthy of her respect had been first conceived in her heart (James 1: 15) as she watched him worshiping from her window.  By the time David arrived to share his enthusiasm and blessing upon her, Michal’s sin was ready to be birthed.  As we read above, she expressed her loathing by attacking her husband unjustly.  Here is the account of her stunned husband’s response in defense of his motives and behavior:

David said to Michal, 'It was before the Lord , who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord ’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord . I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.  But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.'  And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death (2 Samuel 6: 21-23).

What can we learn from this Scriptural account that began in a “spiritual mountaintop” for a husband named David and ended with a very disappointing reception at home by his wife, Michal?  First, if we consider God’s plan that a wife is to serve as a helpmate to her husband, and the husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church, then we can conclude that David and Michal’s conversation was not in sync with God’s plan first revealed in Genesis 2. 

In Genesis 2: 19-20, we learn about one of Adam’s first responsibilities as a steward of the creation God had prepared for him.  God assigned Adam to study the animal creatures of the garden and to name them according to his understanding of each kind:

The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.  

The significance of God’s homework assignment to Adam goes far beyond simply labeling the animals with names, or even developing an understanding of how each creature related to Adam ecologically, important as that lesson is.  According to the Pulpit Commentary, Adam’s ‘assignment’ to name the animals …was meant to reveal his loneliness. The longing for a partner was already deeply seated in his nature, and the survey of the animals, coming to him probably in pairs, could not fail to intensify that secret hunger of his soul, and perhaps evoke it into conscious operation.

Ellicott’s Commentary provides additional insight on God’s provision of a helpmate for the man.  Referring to Adam’s “naming exercise,” Ellicott’s Commentary adds, But while thus he could tame many, and make them share his dwelling, he found among them no counterpart of himself, capable of answering his thoughts and of holding with him rational discourse.

From these commentators on Genesis 2: 19-20, we can grasp a sense of God's intention for the supportive and complementary role of the wife as a helpmate to the husband.  One implied role of the helpmate is to serve as a spiritual accountability partner for the husband. There are times when our wives observe and discern by observation more than we as husbands can discern.  Therefore, our wives can have a valuable role in cautioning us about behavior that could allow us to fall victim to pride, selfishness, and even immoral behavior toward another person.

However, as we have seen, that was not the case in the situation of David's behavior and how Michal responded.  Her own heart became jealous and vengeful toward her husband, thus allowing Satan to gain a foothold in an otherwise valuable accountability relationship between husband and wife.  Thus, we can see the importance of developing and maintaining a relationship of unconditional love, trust, and humility between husband and wife.

Although the Bible does shy away from including accounts of troubled marriages, it also provides several examples of good marriages.  Joseph and Mary (Luke 1-2) were able to overcome numerous difficulties, especially developing trust in each other and facing public scorn over Mary’s supposed immorality.  Priscilla and Aquila were tremendous examples as Christ-like partners in the ministry of the Gospel with the Apostle Paul (e.g. Acts 18:26).  In the Old Testament, the story of Ruth shows the great redemptive love of God at work as Boaz becomes a kinsman redeemer by arranging to marry the poor, alien widow named Ruth.

Personally, my wisdom and intelligence are no match for that of most experts on Christian marriage, including biblical counselors with whom Abby and I have conferred on several occasions.  So, I will simply write from my own personal experience of having been blessed for nearly 50 years of life with the helpmate God has provided for me.  She has been a wonderful wife and helpmate.  Together with God’s provision, we have enjoyed a “resonance of soul and spirit.”  When we submit together to the love and will of God, His Spirit produces in us a resonance of mind, body, spirit, and soul.  This “resonance” is like that which is produced with a musical tuning fork.  When the fork strikes a solid object, its vibrations can be passed on to another object and the two will “hum together” with the same frequency.   In contrast, when a tuning fork is struck against a cardboard box, there will be little or no resonance--no sense of oneness or correspondence between the two.

During the times that Abby and I have relied together upon the love of God and have been committed together to abide in His Word, the Bible; and have sought together the regular filling of His Holy Spirit according to Ephesians 5: 18-20, we have been able to submit one to another out of reverence for Christ (v. 21).  Admittedly, there are other times when our relationship has resembled that of King David and Michal.  In those times, we do not experience a Spirit-filled oneness and “resonance” but rather, a spirit of discord like a tuning fork striking cardboard or a lifeless mass of clay.

It is likely that some husbands and wives who read this article will, like Abby and I, relate to instances like the one reported here from the life of David and Michal. Thankfully, as we face the blessings and trials of life, with God’s help we can choose to rely on the same spiritual wisdom and strength from Him that formed and matured our marriage in the first place.  Just as communication is important between spouses so we know the blessing of keeping communication with our Creator--hearing daily from Him through time in His Word and conversing with Him as our Friend through prayer. 

Recently, we encountered an online message by Dwight Mason, Newpointe Community Church, entitled Simple Yet Difficult in which Pastor Mason offers “Ten Steps to Resolving Conflict” with direct application to dating and marriage.  We have also begun to use daily prayers provided by "Today's Marriage Prayer" and recommend that you check out this valuable guide to your daily prayer and devotional life.  See www.marriageprayers.today.  I have included “Today’s Marriage Prayer” for May 24 which happens to fit well with the theme of this article.

Digging Deeper -- Here are two invitations for further study:

1.  The popular misconception by many who have not read the Scriptures is that “husbands are to rule and wives are to submit!”  On the contrary, God’s instruction through Paul is that the husband is to submit by loving his wife as Christ loved the church, loving her as much as he loves himself (Ephesians 5: 25-33).  The wife is to submit to her husband by seeing to it that she shows respect toward him (Ephesians 5: 22-24, 33).  Knowing what God has revealed in these New Testament verses (unavailable to David and Michal), I have three questions for further consideration:  Husbands, how would you have responded differently in David's situation?  Wives, how would you advise Michal to be a better helpmate?  And for all of us, how would we “grade” our marriages in light of Ephesians 5?

2.  Compare the lives of two Old Testament husbands—Abraham and David.  Then, compare their wives, Sarah and Michal, respectively.  For your study, in addition to the account of 2 Samuel 6, see Genesis 17 and 18; and 1 Peter 3: 1-7.