Sexuality and the Young Christian

Posted by admin on Nov 18, 2009 in From the Editor | 0 comments

Doing a sexuality issue at a Christian university seems at first quite ridiculous. The Christian understanding of sex holds that Christians are to wait until marriage to engage in sexual activity, and would thus mean young Christian university students like ourselves would really have no use for exploring the multi-faceted issue of sexuality until we are married.

While on the surface that may read like it could be conventional wisdom, such an attitude could not be more counterproductive or further from the truth. As young people living in climate we do, one cannot escape sexuality’s prevalence within society and within ourselves. To ignore that we are sexual beings, whether we are married and having sex or not, is to ignore a basic principle of our identity.

As some attitudes towards sexuality have changed in the last century, while others have simply gained in popularity, let us as Christians be able to address the issue that is sexuality. All too often in Christian circles, people are dismissed for wishing to speak on the issue or for holding views that conflict with the widely held beliefs of the Church. May we come to terms with the fact that despite that most of us are unmarried and not sexually active, every single one of us is a sexual being, no matter how uncomfortable that may feel to yourself or to others.

To the students who may be struggling with their sexual orientation, you are not a freak or a monstrosity, and you are not alone on this campus or within the Christian faith. I hope that you will take comfort in the fact that homosexuality has existed for as long as time has, and you are loved by God no matter the attitudes you may face from your family, friends, church, or self.

With peace + love,
John Hennenfent
Editor-in-Chief