It is an unprecedented time in the history of human sexuality. In the United States, the age when people first marry and reproduce has been pushed back dramatically, while at the same time the age of puberty has dropped, resulting in an era in which young adults are physiologically able to reproduce but not psychologically or socially ready to "settle down" and begin a family. These developmental shifts, research suggests, are some of the factors driving the increase in sexual "hookups," or uncommitted sexual encounters, part of a popular cultural change that has infiltrated the lives of emerging adults throughout the Western world.

-American Psychological Journal

Prime-time TV shows sexualize the young girls portrayed in them. The report is based on a content analysis of the most popular television shows for viewers aged 12-17 in the 2009-2010 season and states, 'When underage female characters appear on screen more sexual content is depicted; the teen girls show next to no negative response to being sexualized; and more sexual incidents occur outside of any form of a committed relationship... [as a result] real teens are led to believe their sole value comes from their sexuality.' Among other things, the report found that underage female characters are shown participating in a higher percentage of sexual depictions compared to adults; that 93% of the sexual incidents involving underage female characters occurred within a context that qualified as 'unhealthy;' and 75% of shows that included sexualized underage female characters were shows that did not have an 'S' descriptor to warn parents about the sexual content.

-Parents Television Council as quoted by LA Times

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

-Matthew 6:22-23

Identity: The state or fact of remaining the same one as under varying aspects or conditions.

Latin: identitas: again and again…

Does what I “do” truly define who I am?

When I came out in my early twenties, I believed the only way to live authentically as a gay man was to fully embrace that identity. Being gay was who I was. As a matter of fact, my whole world was gay. Almost everyone I knew was gay. All my friends were gay. My neighbors were gay. My apartment manager was gay. My barber was gay. My house cleaner was gay. My bookkeeper was gay. My car salesman was gay. I worked out at a gay gym and bought groceries at a gay Kroger. Sexuality was the core of who I was, and everything and everyone around me affirmed that. And if I am gay truly mean that that’s who I am, it would be utterly cruel for someone to condemn me for simply being myself. Yet, we know that we are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). Thus, rejecting our inherent essence and replacing it with simply with what we feel or do is in reality an attempted coup d’ ‘etat against our Creator. We don’t need to find our identity; our identity is given by God. But why is this not apparent to everyone? What cause our gay loved ones to be so easily misled? Why does my gay Christian friend identify more with being gay than being Christian? Where and when did this incorrect perspective originate? How did 'what I do and what I feel' become who I am? Or to put it another way, how did 'This is how I am' become 'This is who I am?'

-Christopher Yuan, Author of Holy Sexuality

  

“How I am” became this is “who I am” in the mid 1800’s when atheism was gaining steam:

Identity is determined by what you feel... Rather than who you really are.

Existentialism: experience becomes God.

Identity: The state or fact of remaining the same one as under varying aspects or conditions.

  

My emotions and my feelings are always changing.

Does that mean my identity is always changing? No.

Christ followers have also been tainted by the Enlightenment!

  

Solo scripture: Scripture alone.

Solo experience: Experience alone.

Experience does not supersede essence.

True Identity is not "what I do" or "how I am" but "who I am."

My identity is in Jesus Christ.

  

Theological Anthropology:

Man never achieves a clear knowledge of himself unless he first looks upon God's face.

-John Calvin

Meaning: You will never know your true identity until you understand how God sees you.

1 - We are created in the image of God.

  

2 - Our image has been distorted by the Fall.

  

3 - God is in the process of restoring those who will come to him by faith.

  

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

-Genesis 1:27

Image of God: The imago Dei

Nothing else was created in the image of God. Just us.

The Bible presents a rather high anthropology concerning mankind. Only man is created in the image of God.

This is an indictment of Christians who mock or demonize people identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Such harmful actions and attitudes fail to honor the dignity and value of others created in the image of God. It also forsakes the believer’s calling to reflect the image of Christ and proclaim the good news to those who have yet to believe.

-Christopher Yuan

So, God created man in His own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

-Genesis 1:27

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.

-Isaiah 6:3

So, God created man in His own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

-Genesis 1:27

Sexual differentiation is not a social construct.

It is intrinsic to who God made us to be in His image.

When we deny the reality of Sexual differentiation and determination…

  

1. We allow experience to supersede essence.

2. We allow “what I feel” to communicate “who I am.”

3. We allow psychology to usurp biology.

4. We deny the truth of Scripture and embrace Existentialism.

The imago Dei is not only a statement but a command.

  

We are tempted to live in a way that violates essence.

So Christ-followers are exhorted to clothe themselves...or...put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provisions for the flesh.

-Romans 13:14

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

-Romans 8:13

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

-Romans 6:11-13

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been forcefully advancing.

-Matthew 11:12

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

-1 Corinthians 10:13

With the calling of God comes the supernatural power of God to give us our ultimate victories over sin and death.

  

When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

-James 1:13-15

Legitimate desires are given by God.

Illegitimate desires are a result of a fallen world and the tainted image of God in us.

Who are we?

Male and Female, created by God in the image of God.

Every life is sacred!

Every race is sacred!

Every sex is sacred!

Why? Because they are given by God.

  

No one can determine one’s own life.

No one can determine one’s own race.

No one can determine one’s own sex, male or female.

All of these are determined by God and are therefore sacred.

Identifying as the opposite or alternative to the identity God has given us is not only a transgression against God but against ourselves.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

-Romans 12:1-2

   

   

   

  

What is your main takeaway from this message?

Make a Decision Holy Sexuality by Christopher Yuan