Mere Sexuality: Rediscovering the Christian Vision of Sexuality

by Todd A. Wilson

Overview

What do Christians believe about human sexuality?

In Mere Sexuality, author and pastor Todd Wilson presents the historic Christian consensus about human sexuality, the Great Tradition of the church for centuries as taught in each of its major expressions - Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant. Wilson highlights the stunning shift of opinion on issues of sexuality in the evangelical church and why this break with the historic church is problematic for the future of Christianity. Along the way he provides ordinary believers with an introduction to the historic Christian vision of sexuality, yet does so in conversation with some of the twenty-first century's leading challenges to this vision.

In a culture that is deeply confused about human sexuality, Wilson believes it is time for evangelicals to retrieve the historic Christian tradition and biblical teaching on the question of sexuality. Mere Sexuality seeks to guide readers back to the beauty and coherence of this vision of sexuality in the face of an aggressive and all-consuming pagan and secular worldview.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310535355
Publisher:	Zondervan
Publication date:	10/03/2017
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 6.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Todd A. Wilson (Ph D, University of Cambridge) is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, Illinois and the chairman and co-founder of the Center for Pastor Theologians, a ministry dedicated to resourcing pastors engaged in biblical and theological scholarship. He is the author of Galatians: Gospel-Rooted Living and Pastors in the Classics. Todd is married to Katie, his high school sweetheart, and they have seven children, three biological and four adopted from Ethiopia.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Why Mere Sexuality? * Introduction * How can a God Boy think gay is okay? * A loss of vision * What is mere sexuality? * More than solo Scriptura * Four core scriptural convictions * Different types of listeners * My prayer for this book Chapter 2 The Sexuality of Jesus * Introduction * Mere sexuality vs. mere morality * The missing person in sexuality debates * God chose a Y chromosome * Born of the virgin Mary * The resurrection enshrines mere sexuality for all eternity * Celibacy and sexual fulfillment * Jesus suffered when tempted * Resurrection brings sexual resolution Chapter 3 Male, Female and the Imago Dei * Introduction * ‘Male and female he created them’ * Male or female: fidelity to your sexuality * Male and female: complementarity in our sexuality * You aren’t who you desire Chapter 4 “One Flesh” * Introduction * ‘They shall become one flesh’: Marriage as comprehensive union * Exclusivity: leaving all other attachments * Permanence: holding fast to his wife * Not bigotry but biology: a gentle appeal to assertive advocates * Marriage exists for mission Chapter 5 What is Sex for? * Introduction * The blessing of sex * When sex is severed from it unitive and procreative purpose * ‘Course sex isn’t safe. But it’s good’ * Sex is a public act * What does this mean for you? * A blessing from the Lord Chapter 6 Friendship, Celibacy and Same-Sex Relationships * Introduction * The difficulty with God’s No for gay Christians: celibacy and loneliness * Restoring friendship to its rightful place * A weak friendship culture makes celibacy much harder * Singles aren’t single in the body of Christ * A community where water is thicker than blood, and blood thickest of all * A place for love Chapter 7 Bent Sexuality (by Joel Willitts) Chapter 8 Homeward Bound * Introduction * Mere sexuality calls us to wait patiently * The possibility of healing, the promise of redemption * Homeward bound * Patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart

Editorial Reviews

Yeats probably did not have sexuality in mind when he penned his famous poetic line “things fall apart; the center cannot hold,” but he may as well have, for sexual anarchy has indeed been loosed upon the world. Todd Wilson brings Christian clarity and charity to the confusion, reminding the church of what it has known for nearly two thousand years but recently forgotten: mere sexuality, the historic consensus that God created human beings male and female as part of a larger design plan for union and communion, and that human flourishing depends on our respecting, not disrespecting, this created order, an order that is enabling, not disabling. The book provides rich resources for pastors and others seeking wisdom on this issue, but the chapter on Jesus’ sexuality especially stood out as “merely” breathtaking.

research professor of systematic theology at Trini Kevin J. Vanhoozer

Mere Sexuality is a faithful, readable navigation through questions of sexuality, pointing toward the gospel and our truest identity as sons and daughters in Christ. In our sexually confused times, this book has clarity and conviction.

president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Comm Russell Moore

Todd Wilson offers an orthodox, holistic, and compassionate treatment of this most powerful, perplexing, and delightful gift from God. Mere Sexuality is exceptional, not only in offering a compelling argument for God’s ideal for human sexuality, but also in addressing with pastoral understanding and care the ways we fall short.

Karen Swallow Prior

The human sexual union is of utmost importance in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It is the first act God gave humanity to get busy with. Unfortunately, the Christian church has lost its way on the topic, inf luenced by the world just as much as, if not more than, by the teaching of God’s Word. Todd Wilson aims to put this right, and Mere Sexuality is a major contribution to this essential effort. It is faithfully biblical, helpfully practical, and immensely thoughtful. Every serious Christian should read and benefit from Wilson’s wisdom here.

director of Family Formation Studies at Focus on t Glenn T. Stanton

Years ago, in the midst of a world war, an incredibly timely and now timeless book came out called Mere Christianity. Today, I have the honor of recommending to you Mere Sexuality. This is a crucial book for you to read now amidst our exploding culture wars. Todd Wilson writes in a way that pushes back hatred and anger. He lays out a case for biblical sexuality that is simply unmatched in its clarity and insight for those seeking truth and wisdom in this area. Don’t hide from this topic and think it will go away. Dig into this short, powerful book, and be encouraged that you can hold firm to your faith and still walk with and love others well.

John Trent

We need this book! In our highly sexualized culture, we need careful ref lection, both theologically and with the practical challenges in view. Todd Wilson gives us just that—and with a wise and gracious spirit. This is a must-read for scholars, pastors, and others who want solid guidance on the issues.

Richard J. Mouw

Todd Wilson has given us a thoughtful, sensitive, and, above all, deeply Christian book about sexual morality and marriage. It brings into the foreground the power and beauty of the biblical understanding of marriage as a truly conjugal bond—a joining of hearts and minds, yes, but one founded upon the biological union made possible by the sexual-reproductive complementarity of male and female. Pastor Wilson shows us that the Christian “no” to sexual sins is rooted in the profound Christian “yes” to the goodness of truly conjugal union.

Mc Cormick professor of jurisprudence at Princeton Robert P. George

This is not just another book about sex; it is a tract for the times. Relevant, timely, and theologically rich, it connects sexuality with Christology and offers practical pastoral wisdom on a topic that God cares about a lot. Strongly recommended!

Timothy George; founding dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University; general editor of the

In Mere Sexuality, Todd Wilson takes on the challenge of articulating Christian norms regarding sex and gender. He does so in a clear, accessible way. Followers of Christ will be indebted to Wilson for helping us identify and articulate those norms in a dramatically changing culture in which such norms are all but lost.

Mark A. Yarhouse