Eight Theses on Sex

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the annual Symposium put on by the Eighth Day Institute. The title of this year's Symposium was provocatively called 'Eros and the Mystery of God: On the Body, Sex, & Asceticism.' As usual, it featured an all-star lineup of theological heavyweights, such as Ephraim Radner (Anglican), David Ford (Orthodox), Adam Cooper (Roman Catholic), and Hans Boersma (Anglican). Each of the headline speakers not only gave an exceptional plenary address but also led a smaller breakout session which allowed them to explore in greater depth the topics of desire, bodily existence, human sexuality, and the nature of heavenly eros.

'Eros and the Mystery of God' was a timely topic, to be sure. Our cultural is adrift in sexual nihilism, and, alas, many Christians have come completely unmoored from orthodox Christian teaching on this score, allowing themselves to be carried out to sea without the slightest consideration of what they have left behind. By all accounts, this year's Symposium was an opportunity to drop the unyielding anchor of the Church's Tradition -- Scripture, the Fathers, ascetic and liturgical practices -- which allowed us to take an honest look at what the Church thinks about sexuality and how our sexual practices, if ordered properly, are actually a means of participation in the Triune God. Sex, then, if rightly ordered unto God, can be a means of grace in the life of Christians. But the opposite is equally true, too. Asceticism can also be a powerful means of grace for it refines us in the burning fires of holiness, chastity, and loving obedience to God, Who desires deep intimacy with us in the Son by the alluring work of the Holy Spirit. Rightly ordered Eros is Trinitarian in form.

Sex as heavenly participation was the topic of Hans Boersma's breakout session at the Symposium, and it is the focus of my attention in this post. In his 'Eight Theses on Sexuality,' Dr. Boersma gives the Church a sound framework by which to think rightly about the nature of sex and covenantal marriage, and it is something I would like to provide here for your thoughtful consideration. His Eight Theses are especially pertinent for pastors as they are (hopefully!) addressing matters of human sexuality and rightly ordered sexual practices in their churches. This is exactly the kind of thoughtful, textured, theological work the Church needs today. I'm grateful to Dr. Boersma for this remarkable gift. I hope it helps many of you who are also trying to think about this topic in ways that are at once wise, thoughtful, and richly theological.

Eight Theses on Sexuality

1. Sex is About a Search For God

a) Sex is sacred and therefore participates in what is Good, True, & Beautiful

b) Sexual union does not exist for itself; rather, sexual union is found in union with Christ

2. God Invented Sex

a) Therefore our sexual desires should be patterned on the biblical narrative

3. Sex is Not God

a) Sex is only one aspect of human life; it doesn't encompass the whole

b) True humanity does not require sex

4. God is Chastity

a) What we think about sex says much about what we think about God

b) Chastity does not mean abstinence, it means purity. Chastity = Purity

c) God's will is for humans to be chaste as God is chaste, that is, pure

5. Sex is Temporary

a) Sex is an act only for this side of the eschaton

b) Sexual desire and action is only for a part of life; children and elderly, for different reasons, do not participate in sexual acts

6. Disordered Desire Leads to Disordered Sex

a) God made the body, God assumed the body, and God will renew the body

b) The body is good; the mind, however, distorts our desires which find expression in the body

7. Fallen Bodies Make Fallen Sex

a) Our natural bodies do not function properly

b) Our future resurrected bodies will release us of our current bondage

c) Even as a sacramental act, sexual union is not a pure, selfless gift

8. Sex Leads to Kids

a) Sex and children go together, even though unions will tragically not receive such a gift.

b) Sexual union should bear the fruit of love as God Himself bears the fruit of love in the communion of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

*Regarding Theses #8, it should be noted that a tragic reality of life is that some -- perhaps even many -- married couples will not, for whatever reason, be able to parent children through the process of their own sexual union. This is truly unfortunate and the matter should be handled with great sensitivity and prayerful care by the Church. Ephraim Radner is helpful here, though, as he has put forward the idea of "procreative risk." Even if a married couple is unable to have children through their own sexual means, their sexual acts are still aimed at bearing such fruit and therefore are rightly ordered to God. Much more should be said about this, but I at least wanted to acknowledge, however briefly, this aspect of reality that many people experience today. Lord, have mercy.