Book: Rethinking Sexuality by Juli Slattery
Three years ago, I sat in an auditorium listening to Dr, Juli Slattery gives a presentation on God’s design for sexuality. This was a topic with which I was very familiar, but what Juli shared that day sounded revolutionary. She kept using a formulation I had never before heard, but instantly understood: sexual discipleship. The point that she would make over the next hour and a half is that human sexuality is no add-on to the Christian life. It is central to our understanding of God and ourselves as embodied spiritual and sexual beings.
The discussions after her talk ranged from “That was excellent!” to “I don’t know what she was talking about.” I suspect readers of her book Rethinking Sexuality, will have similar impressions. Yet, this is a book every Jesus-loving Christian must read.
Slattery segments her book according to the three elements of sexual discipleship:
Knowing what we believe
Living what we believe
Passing on what we believe
She begins by explain why we need a new paradigm of sexuality in the church. Far too many churches and church leaders (add parents to this mix) have approached sexuality as either an evil to overcome, a pleasure to be indulged, or a topic best avoided. All of these approaches have led to terrible abuses that have hurt countless people.
The sex as evil narrative usually promotes a purity Gospel that heavily promotes abstinence and sex until marriage but leaves no room for the mistakes young people invariably make. By pushing an impossible notion of purity, many churches end up pushing the sexually active kids in their midst right out the church door. The stories of pain and confusion are vast, perhaps even impacting my dear reader.
Other churches, sensing the shifting winds of the culture, have worked to reduce shame about sex by joining forces with the culture. They promote a sex as freedom narrative that treats any sexual desire as valid and even godly so long as it doesn’t involve coercion, abuse or children. But this approach is only possible by breaking completely with the sexual ethics clearly described in the Bible. Encouraging people to reject God’s plan for sexuality does not lead to freedom.
In reality, the vast number of churches tend to remain silent about sexual issues to the detriment of all. Instead of leading the culture’s understanding of sexuality the church has let the culture inside to do its sexual catechesis. According to Slattery, this must end. She writes:
Although sexuality presents an enormous challenge to Christians and to the world at large, it is not a problem to be solved, but a territory to be reclaimed.
Rethinking Sexuality is organized to do just that. Slattery explored is great detail what the biblical sexual message is before addressing the many ways we struggle to live out these ideals. Yet, Rethinking Sexuality isn’t a book that shames; Slattery is very aware of her own brokenness and allows it to infuse all of her writing with a caring, pastoral tone. She ends the book by exhorting us to be the church and to share this Good News with the world around us. This task is both the purview of the church at large as well as for each of us personally. The change begins in our hearts and this book is a great guide to help us along the way.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
My recommendations:
Because of how thoroughly the cultural understanding of sex has permeated the church, his book has the potential to challenge even the most devoted Christ-follower. What has taken Dr. Slattery years to develop into a coherent worldview is being presented in a few short pages to the reader. By all means DO read this book, but pray before, during, and after you read it.
As you read. pay attention to the areas that don’t settle well with you. Explore why that might be so and ask God to reveal any faulty thinking, sexual abuse or wounding that might be causing resistance, or any spiritual deception you might be under.
This book can be read alone, but there is great power in exploring such a thoroughly biblical book on a topic that impacts everyone. The book is arranged for group study with discussion questions for each chapter in the back of the book. If you don’t want to lead such a group, think about those in your church or circle of friends that really need the healing that could come through this book. Do it for them.