A few weeks ago, I came across this article on the Washington Post website in the “On Faith” section, and was fairly astounded at the claims it made. I shared it through facebook, but thought I’d give it some time here as well. I was pretty offended by some of the statements, and my boss, who has a fairly liberal theology for being in central Texas, said it was the most “intellectually offensive thing he’d ever read.” The article is:
“Debunking ‘Biblical marriage’: why the Bible can’t dictate today’s sexual morals”
The second article is:
“What does the Bible say about sexuality?”
Here is part three:
“What does the Bible say about sexual desire?”
Here’s my biggest issue with it. The author, Jennifer Wright Knust, is a professor of Religion at Boston College, and an ordained American Baptist Association Pastor. She’s also got a book out that covers the same topics: Unprotected Texts: The Bible’s Surprising Contradictions About Sex and Desire. Apparently all it takes these days to be ordained, get a masters in, and teach about the Bible is to have glanced at a couple of verses. It scares me for the future of the church at large, and offends me as someone who is pursuing full time ministry.
I’m honestly very surprised that whoever read this article before it was put on the world wide web didn’t laugh at it and throw it in the trash. While the “On Faith” section of the W.P. doesn’t only cover Christianity, it has a journalistic duty to ensure that what is said isn’t…moronic. In my personal opinion? It reflects poorly on their integrity. Not because the article says something I disagree with, but because the article says numerous things that disagree with the text upon which it is based.
Read the articles for yourself and see what you think. For Christ’s sake though, read the Bible for yourself. Don’t pull text. Read it. In context. Study it. Tear it apart. Form your positions, not opinions, from there.
Grace and Peace,
David Stippick
