Week 10: Chapter 10 — The Deconstruction of Marriage and Human Sexuality

1.Childers traces the progressive Christian revisionism on marriage and sexuality — arguing that the biblical texts which seem to prohibit same-sex sexual relationships have been misread, or that the 'trajectory' of Scripture moves toward full affirmation. How does she evaluate these revisionist arguments? Which do you find most important to engage carefully?

2.She grounds the biblical view of marriage in the creation narrative — in the complementarity of male and female as image-bearers together, and in the one-flesh union as a picture of Christ and the church. How does rooting marriage in creation theology rather than just Levitical law change the nature of the argument? What is the significance of Jesus citing Genesis rather than Leviticus when asked about marriage?

3.Childers acknowledges that same-sex attraction is a real and often deeply painful experience, and that many people who experience it have suffered at the hands of the church. How does she balance truthfulness about the biblical teaching with genuine compassion for those who experience same-sex attraction? Where do you see that balance being struck well in your own community — and where is there room to grow?