Yesterday, I mentioned the term expressive individualism, a phrase used by the theologian Carl Trueman in his book The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self to describe our Western culture’s obsession with individual self-expression. Our culture’s value of autonomy gives way to this phenomenon, which manifests itself many ways, including how we express sexuality.

However, prizing autonomy is not biblical. The word autonomy has to do with the self-rule of the individual. In other words, the individual must not be prohibited from exercising their most authentic self in whatever manner they see fit. This form of self-expression is indeed self-worship, for authority and freedom are now found within ourselves and not through submission to the living God.

Paul continues:

“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”
Romans 1:24-25

There is no injustice on God’s part; God is giving them up “in the lusts of their hearts to impurity” (emphasis mine). He reaffirms that they (or we) dismissed the truth of God and instead embraced a lie. They (or we) rendered their reverence and worship to the creature and not to the Creator. Verses 26 and 27 give a fuller explanation of what these “lusts” include. The sin of homosexuality is described as a relation “contrary to nature.” The Bible elsewhere teaches us that God’s plan for sex is within marriage (Genesis 2:24).

What can we take away from these passages? Here are three points of application to consider. First, sexual rebellion is not a modern phenomenon. Human beings have been dishonoring God and others made in His image ever since the fall (Genesis 4:16). Second, in order to love God and love our neighbors, we as the body of Christ need to reaffirm a biblical sexual ethic. Third, we must not shy away from what God teaches us through His Word concerning sexuality. Far too often we disguise our cowardice with kindness when it comes to this topic, both inside and outside the church. Let us speak boldly against the idolatry of autonomy that permeates our culture and preach the gospel. Yet, we must do this “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:16).

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • In what ways have you seen our cultural value of autonomy become an idol in your own life?
  • How have you seen sexuality used as an expression of greed or harm to another rather than an expression of love and blessing to another?

 

Church Reading Plan: Job 21; 1 Corinthians 8