Theological Perspectives of the Sexual Life and Practice of Christians

Faithful: A Theology of Sex
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Faithful: A Theology of Sex
Sex makes for one of the most sensitive issues in Christianity, with a wide range of perceptions, opinions, and teachings among believers across the globe. The sensitive nature of the topic of sex in Christianity tends to limit sermons or teachings on the same to maintaining purity of the body by not engaging in sex outside the confines of marriage. Though such teachings are essential to the spiritual development of believers, it is important to address the reality of sex or sexuality as a normal bodily function whose practice within the biblical teachings portrays more than the mere essence of upholding and maintaining one’s purity. Beth Felker Jones offers such a dimension in her book, Faithful: A Theology of Sex, asserting sex as a reality in Christian life that should be addressed as an essential element to spiritual development. Her previous contributions to the field of theology include The Works of His Wounds: Gender Politics and Bodily Resurrection and Practicing Christian Doctrine: An Introduction to Thinking and Living Theologically. She is an associate professor of Theology at Wheaton College in Illinois whose work in Faithful: A Theology of Sex introduces a theological perspective on sex and sexuality as embodiments of God’s grace and the glory of His Kingdom. She offers a theological breakdown of sex as a realistic application of faithfulness to God that transcends the traditional principles of purity and morality embraced by a majority of Christians.
The book stands out in a series of publications titled Ordinary Theology by going beyond the traditional theological approach to bring forth a more realistic and relatable approach to discussing human sexuality in a Christian setting. The book contains eight chapters of simplified theological dissection of human sexuality with biblical references towards achieving the spiritual growth and development of Christians. The first three chapters, for instance, introduce the author’s key message to readers by highlighting her perception of sex and human sexuality in both the secular world and Christianity CITATION Jon15 \l 1033 (Jones, 2015). She posits that sex is integral to our existence as human beings as it is an embodiment of the uniqueness of God’s prized creation. Felker Jones begins with the candid acceptance and declaration of sex as an important aspect of human life whose embodiment goes beyond its physical nature to represent one’s faithfulness to God. The reality of sex, she unveils, in the second and third chapters, rests in the understanding that the act of sex and sexuality are functions of God’s glory that should bring human beings closer to the Kingdom. The author adds that as an embodiment of human existence, sex is a joyous experience that further reflects one’s faithfulness to God or the Christian faith, whose manifestation occurs through the body CITATION Jon15 \l 1033 (Jones, 2015). The manifestation of Christian faith dictates one’s sexual practices and expression of their sexuality, reflecting the goodness and joy that God intended for the same in faithfulness to His Kingdom. The author introduces sex as a reali...