Marriage, Sex and Sexuality 11 - Eph.5:31-33
Eph.5:32 is a verse that seems to capture the entirety of the Bible’s teaching in one immense and cataclysmic sentence. But one of the things that has struck me afresh is our need to consider the Bible’s teaching much more deeply than we are prone to. The issues that we are facing as a Church (including those raised by LLF) are complex and have far-reaching consequences. By contrast, it is too easy for us as Christians to have ‘fortune cookie’ level arguments: a verse, a platitude, a dismissive, one-line argument that we roll out to settle the matter once-and-for-all.
Such an attitude to Christian belief and practise has never been healthy. In today’s shifting landscapes, it may prove to be downright dangerous, and dishonouring to the Gospel of Christ. Such levels of engagement are simply not adequate. They do justice neither to our God, nor to those created to bear His image. We’ll need a much greater degree of honesty – with ourselves and with each other; and a much more rigorous exploration of the Bible’s (and therefore the Church’s) teaching. We’ll need patience as we work to establish not only what the Bible in fact teaches, but also the implications of that teaching in our own lives as disciples, and in our life and witness together as Church.
The unity to which we are called as Christians is not based on our politely avoiding the issues that threaten to fracture us… Fellowship is not achieved by our entering a conspiracy of silence. Nor is spiritual maturity. An unwillingness to engage fails both our members and our mission. Of course, simply engaging, studying, speaking doesn’t take us the whole way either. As we saw in our final LLF session this week, repentance in attitudes and behaviours may be required. We may need to change how we relate to each other, how we ‘do’ Church. As I was saying earlier in the week, significant challenges lie ahead as we seek to be faithful to the Scriptures and to people. Thank you for engaging with this term’s teaching in all its forms. I hope it has helped you grow in your appreciation of the goodness, wisdom, and grace of our, and of His vision for life.
Take some time as a group to reflect on the last term. What has stood out for you – highlights and lowlights? Where have you felt affirmed, or challenged? What has been helpful… or unhelpful? How has this term changed or re-enforced your views on this questions of gender, identity, marriage and sexuality?
Don’t forget to think through the term in all its aspects: Sunday morning teaching and preaching; the LLF course; Home-Groups; the True Freedom Trust morning; resources on the MIE Website; books we’ve recommended that you may have read… What did you engage with? What did you decide not to? Why?
Is marriage different from co-habiting?
Why does Paul stress the ‘leaving’ a father and mother, before ‘cleaving’ to a new spouse (v.31)? What is the ‘this reason’ that underpins his teaching?
What does Paul mean when he talks about people becoming ‘one flesh’? What implications does this have for married life? Does it make any difference whether people are married or not when they engage in sexual activity?
If marriage is a lived parable, reflecting the covenant relationship between Christ and the Church, what does ‘sex’ convey? How does it function in the ‘mystery’ of marriage?
Why does Paul call this a ‘profound mystery’ (v.32)? In what sense is it mysterious?
(You might find it helpful to note other times Paul speaks about ‘mystery’ in Ephesians: 1:9; 3:3-4; 3:6; 3:9; 6:19).
