Getting Started
Warning: The devotional material presented in this assignment may be challenging! As a Christian University it is our goal to help students think about critical issues through the lens of a Christian worldview and to better understand why God’s ways and moral standards are good. If you are not a Christian or have a different view, we hope this material will help you to better understand and be open to the views represented in Christianity or more conservative cultures. You are of course free to agree or disagree with the information presented in your responses and grading will not be based on any position you may take.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication; 4 that each one of you know how to control your own body in holiness and honor, 5 not with lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one wrong or exploit a brother or sister in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, just as we have already told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever rejects this, rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Resources
Bible
Video: Christopher West: Why Gender Differences Matter
Video: Christopher West: The Christian Fulfillment of Eros
Video: Christopher West: Healing Our Sexual Brokenness
Background Information
Approaches to sexuality in Western culture are in many ways different from the Bible’s view and standards. In this devotional, you will reflect on sexual ethics from a Christian worldview and their implications for the Christian life and social work practice.
Issues related to sexuality can be both controversial and personal in nature. You may or may not agree with the ideas and perspectives being presented as is also true in social work practice when encountering diverse individuals and cultures. You may also have struggled in the past or present with areas of sexuality or sexual relationships yourself or have friends of family who do, making this potentially a very personal experience. You need to be aware of these experiences and consider how they shape your values and feelings about these topics; your work with others as a social worker and even how you may approach the Bible. Please reach out for help, support, or further dialogue if you find you need it in the process.
At the core of Christianity is the idea of sin and that the way to change includes repentance or turning away from sin to Christ because sin harms human relationships with God and others and violates our purpose and design. Jesus’ death pays for all sin so that we can be reconciled to God and receive His Holy Spirit to help us become more holy and whole as He intended us to be. The goal of being a Christian is to turn from sin and become more like Christ because the more holy we are, the more truly healthy and free we are emotionally and spiritually. This includes the area of sexual behavior and desires for everyone who chooses to follow Christ regardless of what those desires are or the person’s inclinations or relationship status. In Mark 8:34, the Bible says, 4 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me”.
Although the gospel means “good news” and represents God’s willingness to offer his son to suffer and die out of love on our behalf, calling something sin, especially aspects of our sexuality that can feel so personal and intertwined with who we are, is always going to offend someone. Jesus himself made it clear that to follow him would bring division and persecution, even within families at times. Nobody likes to be told they are wrong or to feel criticized – even sometimes by God.
But the real question we must ask when we or someone else is offended by a claim of the Christian faith is, “Is it true”? If it is true, then at the end of the day, how we may feel about it doesn’t matter. If something is true, even if it offends us or goes against what we want or think is good or fair, then turning away from whatever God calls sin is for our good, comes from the love He has for us, and has a greater purpose.
The Bible is clear in its teaching that any sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is a sin for two main reasons:
Gender, sexuality, and sexual expression are sacred and connected to the image of God in which we are made. They are part of an original design that God called good and that was for our good.
God put boundaries for sexual behavior into place to protect adults and the children their union creates to help keep sex from being misused by keeping it in the context of commitment and human bonding. Sex is an expression of love and commitment and is a symbol of God’s desire for unity with his people and of his love for His church that He calls His bride.
Pray
God, help me to understand how You see sexuality and the good purposes You have in mind for it and me. Give me wisdom and grace in how to respond to people created in Your image who are struggling in the area of sexuality because it reflects being made in Your image. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Instructions
Watch the following videos:
Christopher West: Why Gender Differences Matter (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ICbtmdrpcI)
Christopher West: The Christian Fulfillment of Eros (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibLNhlXfScs)
Christopher West: Healing Our Sexual Brokenness (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBK5vRMfgCM)
Navigate to the threaded discussion and respond to the following discussion questions:
Describe how a Biblical view of sexuality presented in the videos is different from your current views or of what you see in the culture around you. Identify at least 2 concepts from the videos that stood out to you, and explain your insights, thoughts, or reactions.
A Biblical view of sexuality is sometimes seen or presented as repressive, shaming, or intolerant. Do you see that in the view presented in the videos? Why or why not? What is positive and hopeful about the views presented?
Discuss how the perspectives presented in the videos impact your thinking about working with others who are struggling with sexual issues of any kind.
How do these ideas help?
How do these ideas create additional challenges or concerns?
A Biblical worldview of sexuality like the one presented in the videos can affect many issues that social workers may encounter in their agencies with clients and policy. Describe an issue where a Biblical view of sexuality might impact you as a social worker and how you might respond to it.
