THE THEOLOGICAL ENGINEER

Good Christian Sex, Bad Christian Teaching

Defending Premarital Sex Goes Mainstream

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Continued from Page One

At this point, McCleneghan's argumentation transitions into phase two of Orwell's approach: the ricochet. Her approach is rooted in exactly one thing: conforming to the sexual appetites of the modern world. We like casual premarital sex, so she's going to find a way to justify it. And yet, at the same time, she'll attempt to say, with a straight (literary) face, that to not indulge in modern sexual sensibilities is illicit conformity! After all, we need it:

There are those who feel that they are called to seasons of celibacy, or even years of celibacy, and if answering that call is life-giving and purposeful, then they should take it up as a spiritual discipline. But no call can be forced on an unwilling person, especially not if they find themselves single only by virtue of circumstance.

I'd love to know how, in Bromleigh McCleneghan's estimation, only those "called" to avoid certain sins need worry about them. Also, note how she tries to sever sex from its intended purpose and turn it into a life necessity:

Plenty of women and men love sex, and need it — we need bodily pleasure, remember — and the abundant life for them will involve seeking out relationships of mutual pleasure. Chastity, or just sex, requires that whether we are married or unmarried, our sex lives restrain our egos, restrain our desire for physical pleasure when pursuing it would bring harm to self or other.

In case you got dizzy reading that, let's rephrase it: your sexual passions should be used in restraint, by not restraining yourself. But wait, there's more!

We're called to see ourselves this way: beloved, no matter (or perhaps because of) our refusal to conform to society's expectations about sex, love and relationships.

So, the "Christian" way to handle sex, according to Bromleigh McCleneghan, is to refuse to "conform to society's expectations" on sex. Which, as we've seen, to her, means rejecting celibacy.

That makes sense, right? Every time I turn on the TV, internet, or radio, I'm just getting pummeled by a pervasive abstinence-only culture. "True love waits" is just oozing out of every pore of our society. Music awards shows have turned into two-hour commercials for purity rings and wedding planners. It's like the modern world has some deep hatred for casual sex, amiright? By golly, what we Christians need to do is stand firm against this modern oppression! We shouldn't be conformed, we should be free to sleep with whoever we want and whenever we want!

I could go on and on, but the point should be clear. Anyone putting forward the kind of argumentation used in this book excerpt needs to grow up and get serious. Speaking of which, the nail in McCleneghan's coffin of spiritual integrity comes here:

Straight, gay, bi, trans, intersex: we are beloved, and do God and ourselves a disservice if we are conformed.

There's the obligatory modern code-speech for the progressive, anti-Biblical attitude towards sex. So much for 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Apparently, those who don't do whatever — or whoever — they feel are not merely mistaken; they're sinning by doing a disservice to God. Read that sentence again, and consider just how brain-meltingly ridiculous it is. This book isn't just silly and anti-intellectual, it's almost blatant Newspeak.

That, remember, is the second Orwellian step: when you go to war, talk about peace. When you oppress, call it freedom. When you torture and murder, call it love. And, when you want to indulge in premarital sex, instead of conforming to the will of God, claim fornication as your way of not being conformed to the world; something Jesus would have approved of!

One has to wonder what McCleneghan thinks of "conformity" through overcoming temptation and sin, like the above reference to 1 Corinthians. I can only imagine, since the only thing she is not willing to conform to is the will and Word of God!

Then again, my scriptural justification for reserving sex until marriage is only based on Romans 12:2, Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:7, Acts 15:20, 1 Corinthians 5:1, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, 1 Corinthians 7:2, 1 Corinthians 10:8, 2 Corinthians 12:21, Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 5:3, Colossians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Jude 7, Hebrews 13:4, nearly five millennia of Judeo-Christian teachings, and probably a few more passages my conformity-riddled mind can't recall right now.

Sadly, McCleneghan's path is exemplary of how the world handles the Word. It's not limited to sex, of course. Humanity will do whatever it takes to get away from God. I'm not surprised that this happens, and I can't even say I'm shocked to see it in people who claim to be spiritual leaders. I am, however, stunned at how blatant so-called-Christian leaders have become in perverting truth in order to get along with the world.

Please pass the Tylenol.

Tags: Biblical-Truth | Controversial-Issues | Current-Issues | False-Teaching | Sin-Evil

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Published 8-29-16