Hi Lela,

Thank you for your thoughtful and well-worded question. I think it’s a good one!

Here’s my simplistic, convoluted answer, which I am providing not as a theological scholar or faith leader, but as a regular person grappling with what faith means to me in the current day context:

On sexual morality/immorality in particular, its helpful to me to consider biblical context and what justice and right relationship with others meant at the time. In some regions, for example, it was common practice for men with power to have multiple wives. Was this sexual morality? If not, why didn’t Jesus ever preach specifically against it? Same with LGBTQ relationships. We know they existed, but why didn’t Jesus ever preach specifically against it? Why do we assume what has been interpreted and re-interpreted multiple times over thousands of years in a few verses as “sexual immorality” — a rather broad term — to mean this, that and a few other things, depending on which church you go to in what region of the U.S., or maybe just on the basis of how to offend Grandma the least?

Where I’ve landed on this is to consider the broader message of the Bible and the arc of Jesus’ story in it. Throughout, I see Jesus reserving his judgment and anger for people in power who hurt and take advantage of the poor, the hungry, the sick, the foreigner, and the imprisoned. The things I see Jesus making a big deal over systems of oppression and the people profiting from it. I also see Jesus speaking about love, integrity, joy, sacrifice… and a bajillion times about peace.

Does Jesus care about the way we practice our sexuality? I think so. But in terms of who’s having and who isn’t and in which way, I believe his teachings had a lot more to do with requiring consent and open communication, maintaining respect for each other’s bodies and a balance of power, and preserving commitments people make to one another, than the myriad rules Christians come up with in the name of “purity.”

I’ve been influenced by Nadia Bolz Webber’s book “Shameless” and Linda Kay Klein’s book “Pure,” if you want a better-researched and -worded response. I appreciate hearing from you!