The Reason for Sexuality
SLIDESHOW PRESENTATION
For best results, use the ENTER key or ARROWS to go through the slideshow.
PURPOSE
In this session we’ll compare the culture’s view of sexuality with that of the biblical view. We’ll look at the biological reasons for sex and show how human biology matches the biblical view. A Christian perspective on the design of sex must have its foundation in what is revealed in Scripture. What has God’s Word revealed about His design for sex? What has God’s Word revealed about the purpose for sex, which informs its design?
GOAL
To have students look at texts in Scripture regarding God’s design for sexual expression and the purpose of sex. Students will examine the “what” of God’s sexual design, and the “why.” Note to discussion leaders: In a world of rapidly shifting views on sex and sexuality, the one constant is an almost universal rejection of the biblical approach. Please remember that students are very sensitive; if your commitment to biblical marriage is wavering, they will sense it quickly. Remember, if you have questions, our FBB staff are standing by to talk with you at any time.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
VIDEO: Little Casanova
Start the session with a video from Just for Laughs. In this video, a young boy pretends to be a suitor to strange women who are much older than him. It’s a great way to begin a discussion on sexuality and sexual attraction because it helps you think about what sexual attraction is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEMNy7-6le8
Review the conversation you had from Session 4 about male and female. Ask the students to remember what were the main differences between male and female. Then get them to answer the following:
1 What is the biological purpose of male and female?
The biological purpose of male and female is reproduction. It has to do with making sure that offspring have the diverse DNA they need to survive. This is in contrast to asexual reproduction. Use the slide to illustrate asexual reproduction. Explain that asexual reproduction often occurs in unicellular (one-celled) animals and less complex organisms.
2 What is the advantage of sexual reproduction?
Have the students discuss the advantage of having organisms that reproduce sexually as opposed to those that reproduce asexually. Sexual reproduction allows for greater genetic diversity which enables a species to adapt to its environment better. An organism receives DNA from both parents and that combination of DNA allows for more diversity in the population. Asexual reproduction usually creates copies of the parent organism. This means that any genetic disease in the parent would also be passed down to its offspring. Sexual reproduction allows for more genetic diversity and creates organisms who may not be susceptible to diseases that affect its parents.
3 What is the purpose of sexuality and sexual attraction?
Sexuality is the capacity for sexual feelings or attractions. The biological purpose of sexual attraction is for reproduction. Sexuality then serves to unite two organisms of the opposite sex for the creation of the next generation.
For example, ask the students, “What are flowers for?” Flowers attract insects to pollinate and allow for sexual reproduction between the stamen which contains the male organs and the carpel which includes the female organs. Emphasize here that flowers are designed to bring the male and female parts together.
In fact, many plants and animals are specifically designed to attract the other gender. Often males have specific features that are designed to attract females of the same species. We talked about these sexual differences in a previous lesson. These differences are examples of sexual dimorphism. Use the slides to illustrate the point:
For example, male peacocks have long tails that often make them easier to catch and eat. Ask the students why then do they have this adaptation? The reason for the tail is to attract females. In fact, many birds show this kind of differentiation where the male bird is much more colourful than the female in order to allow for sexual reproduction.
Many mammals have the same kind of differentiation. Why do lions have manes but lionesses don’t? Again because the gender differences allow for sexual attraction leading to sexual reproduction.
VIDEO: Why do Billy Goats smell so bad?
Consider what male goats do to attract female goats: they urinate all over themselves. www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD0VORP4OBo
In fact, it’s obvious that gender differences exist for a biological purpose, i.e., sexual reproduction in many animals. Look at these images and discuss the animals the students see and have them explain why there are gender differences.
One of the clearest examples is that of many tortoises. One way to tell male and female tortoises apart is through the bottom of their shells: females have a flat bottom and males have a curved one. Why do you think that is? So males can mount females during sex. The biological differences serve a purpose. Use the slide images with many animals that are sexually dimorphic to make this point.
After discussing the biological reasons for plants and animals to be sexually dimorphic, it is a lot easier to now bring the discussion to consider human nature. Ask your students,
4 In a previous session we said humans are also sexually dimorphic. If so, what is the purpose of sexual attractions for humans?
Use the image of the man, holding a woman, holding a child to illustrate the point below:
Just as with other organisms, sexuality brings together two different people to combine their DNA to create the next generation. Here you can help the students see that the differences between male and female serve an important purpose: sexual reproduction. This design feature is not an accident but an essential part of our human identity. We can’t exist as a species or as individuals without these differences! Explaining these natural, biological facts will help you lay the foundation for the purpose of sexual attraction. Remind the students that sexuality starts with seeing the other person as different from you.
VIDEO: The Science of Attraction
In fact, consider this secular video that talks about sexual attraction in humans. The focus for them is all about reproduction: www.youtube.com/watch?v=169N81xAffQ
5 Should there be limits to how we express our desires?
VIDEO: TLC Strange Addictions
Sexuality is a natural part of human design. It is a passion or desire that all humans have. But just as with all passions, it cannot go uncontrolled. Just imagine if desires such as hunger went uncontrolled. For example, consider this woman addicted to drinking paint: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VGd-pvSc0w
As humans, we get thirsty and need something to drink. That is a good thing. But we can’t drink every thing we want, especially dangerous substances. Consider that the woman in the video is potentially harming her body. As a group, brainstorm other desires we need to control. Help your students see that our desires are an important part of our design. However, we cannot let these desires go out of control. There are legitimate ways to control what we drink or eat. In the same way, there are legitimate reasons to control your sex drive.
Explore ways that sexuality should be controlled. For example, get the students to discuss why rape or incest is wrong. Help them see that sex can be used to harm others who do not want to have sex or who are too young to know what sex is. Of course, if there are legitimate reasons to limit sexual practice, then it’s important to know who sets these limits. If we are designed to have sexual desires but also need proper ways to control these desires, then we should ask our Designer about it.
6 How does God want us to express our sexuality?
SHARE:
“For 2000 years, and across a myriad of cultures, Christians have understood Scripture to reveal that sex is designed to be experienced by one man & one woman in a lifelong marriage covenant.”
Read together as a group:
“18 Then the LordGod said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” 19 Out of the ground the LordGod formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. 21 So the LordGod caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23 The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”
24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”
“3 Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” 4 And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.””
Notice in both passages God tied the creation of male and female to marriage. Sexuality from God’s perspective is something that helps bond people together in marriage.
SHARE:
“Our world gives us many ideas about what is normal and what can be pursued with regards to sex and sexual expression. It’s important to know whether God has designed sex to be expressed within a particular context, what that design is, and why.”
Now explore this question of the purpose of sex by writing this on a board:
Design of Sex: ONE man, ONE woman, in a covenant of marriage.
7 Is this biblical vision an outdated understanding for the design of sex? Considering the messages about sexuality we continually hear in our culture, does the biblical “design” seem limiting or restrictive? Share your thoughts and questions about this.
Note to leader: depending on your context, students may be reticent to share their thoughts on whether they feel the biblical design of sex is correct/relevant or not. Some may be afraid to share “non-Christian perspectives”. Some may have very strong opinions that may cause others whose thoughts may differ to be afraid to share. Encourage students to share personal questions they have, or questions they feel the culture raises about God’s design for sex. Thank those who share, and remind the group that they are in a safe place to voice questions about this important topic.
SHARE:
“God’s design for sex as revealed in Scripture may seem restrictive or limiting, but His commands are not arbitrary. God has created humans with a particular design that relates to our purpose, and that design includes His purposes for sex. Let’s look at what Scripture has to say about how the purpose of sex informs its design.”
Read:
“27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”
SHARE:
“In these passages, it seems clear that sex should be between one man and one woman because sex is procreative (intended for the purpose of creating children—thus the necessity that a man and a woman be involved), and sex should be kept within marriage due to the bonding nature of sex.”
Ask the students,
8 What does it mean for two people to become ‘one flesh’ as stated in Genesis 2:24-25? And what might that have to do with keeping sex within marriage?
“One flesh” refers to the bond that is a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual connection. This bond is by nature a very intense experience and thus the sexual bond requires that it be protected within the security and permanence of marriage. Outside of the lifelong commitment of marriage, the “binding” power of sex can quickly become destructive, painful, and exploitative. Thus, God’s design makes sense due to the nature of what happens in sex.
9 The description of “one flesh” alludes to how one key aspect of sex is the physical union of man and woman. If our bodies were designed for a purpose, what does that suggest about how we should view sex? What significance do you place on the nature of the male and female physical body, with male and female complementary genitals? On the other hand, do you think homosexuality can be seen as part of God’s design for sex?
VIDEO: To help with this discussion, consider this clip from the Disney movie, Up. Described as one of the most poignant moments in animation by Focus on the Family, it shows a married couple struggling with infertility. In the clip, it shows that the wife is biologically infertile but because she is married and her husband is faithful to her, the couple is seen as struggling with infertility. Her body is no longer hers alone and so her biological problem is also his problem too. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlGg4nt01G8
Another purpose of sex according to Scripture is the creation of new life, children. The Church has always believed that since sex is linked to the creation of children, its proper design is to be between ONE man and ONE woman and not for homosexuality.
In fact, God designed sex for reproduction in a wide variety of different organisms, both plants and animals. When we look at nature, it becomes obvious that behaviour and body parts all serve to function for sexual reproduction.
10 If sexuality is universally designed for reproduction, shouldn’t that inform our beliefs about homosexuality or marriage?
Note: This may be something students have never considered (as our culture tends to disconnect sex to the reality of children and family). Simply allow them to wrestle with this, to consider what, if any, implications this might have.
VIDEO: Same-sex attracted Christian, Jackie Hill Perry discusses what it’s like to struggle with these attractions. Ask the students what they think of her view of sexuality. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLAe_JBvVwg
Get the students to understand that Jackie sees her sexuality as one aspect of her life and though it is an important part of who she is, it is not what defines her.
EXERCISE FOR THE WEEK
In their journals this week, challenge the students to consider the biblical case for a traditional view of sexuality. Was it convincing? Why or why not? Ask them to write down how they would respond to the idea that since God designed us, He determines how our bodies and our lives best function.
Have them consider this passage from scripture, in light of sexual temptations that we all face:
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. ”
Ask students to consider the idea that sin is commonplace—temptation to sin is something we all struggle with. Even homosexual temptations aren’t unique.
RESOURCES
Invention of Heterosexuality, Jonathan Ned Katz; A non-Christian source that discusses how sexual identity is a social construct.
Love thy Body, Nancy Pearcey
Paper Genders, Walt Heyer; analysis of the causes, effects and consequences of transgender identity
Straight, the Surprisingly Short History of Heterosexuality, Hanne Blank; A non-Christian source that discusses how sexual identity is a social construct.
A Transgender’s Faith, Walt Heyer; a former transgender’s testimony