VI | GENDER AND SEXUALITY
Gender and sexuality are heated and controversial topics everywhere, not just in the Church. I have a great friend, Dr. Brittany Lashua. We’ve known each other our entire lives. We were in the crib together. Dr. Brittany has a PhD in psychology and is a licensed professional counselor. She has a lot of acronyms attached to her name: PhD, LPC, NCC. And we know that makes her super smart. She is a certified sex therapist through ABSCT, utilizes level II Gottman material, has completed level II training in AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy), and is pursuing certification. If you’re not following me, a lot of big words + a lot of acronyms = genius.
Dr. Brittany runs a counseling practice in Frisco, Texas, called Mind & Heart Counseling, and her preferred area of focus is sex therapy. I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Brittany and record a conversation with her on gender and sexuality. She is an expert in the field and provided me with a lot of data so I could write this chapter. I encourage you to watch that video here.
There are a few key things mentioned in that conversation that I’m going to use as jumping-off points:
All known data points to the fact that the dysphoria many people experience attached to gender and sexuality is not a choice.
The Bible gives no indication of whether a person’s gender or sexuality is a choice.
There are three separate elements that work together within us to create our gender and sexuality. Gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender expression. These things are not the same; they are unique and distinct components of each person.
Dr. Mark Yarhouse (one of Dr. Brittany’s teachers) is the Hughes Endowed Chair and Professor of Psychology at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He has written two easy-to-understand books on the topic of Christianity, gender and sexuality. Homosexuality and the Christian and Understanding Gender Dysphoria are must-reads for anyone looking to do a deep dive on Scripture, gender and sexuality.
One of the reasons why CT/CRT sees Christianity as so oppressive relates to the two problematics discussed in chapter 6.1. Many Christians hold a definition of gender and sexuality that is cisnormative and heteronormative. Such an idea is oppressive to modern ideals – according to the CT worldview.
There is significant intersectionality related to Christianity. Critical Theory asserts that it is sexist and heterosexist and represents religious oppression.
The Human Rights Coalition dedicates an entire web page to the “fact” that the Bible actually doesn’t have a lot to say on the subjects of sexuality and gender. Its position is that the Bible is more concerned with being in a loving, faithful and monogamous relationship. Regardless of sex or gender, that is “God’s way.”
Gaychurch.org has a search function to find churches near you who are affirming of nontraditional definitions of gender/sexuality. When people talk about churches being “affirming,” they are asking if that church is more than just accepting of their attendance or membership. The “affirmation” of CT is the practice of DEI: diversity, equity, and inclusion.
What does DEI in the church look like in relation to sexuality and gender?
Diversity: There is no biblical definition of sexuality or gender. We should embrace the truth that gender and sexuality are social constructs and encourage each group’s expression of identity: transgender, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, etc.
Equity: Allow those who are LGBT+ to serve in all ministry capacities. We must ensure that all expressions of gender, sexuality and identity have equal “church-life” outcomes: marriage, leadership positions, membership, platform and so on.
Inclusion: No one is allowed to speak on LGBT+ topics as sinful or immoral. Only those who identify as LGBT+ Christians can conduct discussion and speak on such topics. We should not allow anything in the church or church life that could be deemed offensive to LGBT+ groups.