Mere Sexuality

Todd A. Wilson (PhD, University of Cambridge) is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, Illinois and the chairman and co-founder of the Center for Pastor Theologians, a ministry dedicated to resourcing pastors engaged in biblical and theological scholarship. He is the author of Galatians: Gospel-Rooted Living and Pastors in the Classics. Todd is married to Katie, his high school sweetheart, and they have seven children, three biological and four adopted from Ethiopia.

In Mere Sexuality, Todd Wilson takes on the challenge of articulating Christian norms regarding sex and gender. He does so in a clear, accessible way. Followers of Christ will be indebted to Wilson for helping us identify and articulate those norms in a dramatically changing culture in which such norms are all but lost.

• Chapter 1 Why Mere Sexuality?*Introduction*How can a God Boy think gay is okay?*A loss of vision*What is mere sexuality?*More than solo Scriptura*Four core scriptural convictions*Different types of listeners*My prayer for this bookChapter 2 The Sexuality of Jesus*Introduction*Mere sexuality vs. mere morality*The missing person in sexuality debates*God chose a Y chromosome*Born of the virgin Mary*The resurrection enshrines mere sexuality for all eternity*Celibacy and sexual fulfillment*Jesus suffered when tempted*Resurrection brings sexual resolutionChapter 3 Male, Female and the Imago Dei*Introduction*‘Male and female he created them’*Male or female: fidelity to your sexuality*Male and female: complementarity in our sexuality*You aren’t who you desireChapter 4 “One Flesh”*Introduction*‘They shall become one flesh’: Marriage as comprehensive union*Exclusivity: leaving all other attachments*Permanence: holding fast to his wife*Not bigotry but biology: a gentle appeal to assertive advocates*Marriage exists for missionChapter 5 What is Sex for?*Introduction*The blessing of sex*When sex is severed from it unitive and procreative purpose*‘Course sex isn’t safe. But it’s good’*Sex is a public act*What does this mean for you?*A blessing from the LordChapter 6 Friendship, Celibacy and Same-Sex Relationships*Introduction*The difficulty with God’s No for gay Christians: celibacy and loneliness*Restoring friendship to its rightful place*A weak friendship culture makes celibacy much harder*Singles aren’t single in the body of Christ*A community where water is thicker than blood, and blood thickest of all*A place for loveChapter 7 Bent Sexuality (by Joel Willitts)Chapter 8 Homeward Bound*Introduction*Mere sexuality calls us to wait patiently*The possibility of healing, the promise of redemption*Homeward bound*Patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart