In recent decades, evangelicals have invested a colossal amount of discipleship, activist, and publishing energy toward promoting \u201csexual purity\u201d and a \u201cbiblical\u201d vision for sexuality. Despite this, the pattern of scandal, abuse, and misconduct by men and male leaders makes clear that the purity movement has not solved the problem of unhealthy sexuality in the church. The #ChurchToo movement and related denomination-specific investigations have demonstrated that \u201csexual purity\u201d is often a mere fa\u00e7ade covering up deeper patterns of wickedness.<\/p>\n
The crisis of abuse, dysfunction, and sexual violence in the church is downstream from a theologically deficient understanding of what it means to be male. Specifically, we have perpetuated a hypersexual vision of masculinity. These scandals and patterns of dehumanization have infected the church, not despite the purity movement but in many ways because of it.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s time to change the way we talk and think about male sexuality. This sub-Christian view of masculinity creates a culture in which men are allowed to wallow in ongoing sexual immaturity. It shouldn\u2019t be surprising when dehumanizing theology leads to dehumanizing\u2014and consequently sinful\u2014behavior.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIf our script of masculinity has become so sex-centric that it excludes Jesus, perhaps it\u2019s due for a revision.\u201d https:\/\/t.co\/pYUp5X4lIu<\/a><\/p>\n — Christianity Today (@CTmagazine) July 17, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n