Do you think that sex education in the church has unintentionally placed people who carry the cross of same-sex attraction outside the church family?
With its desire to help children “be comfortable with their sexuality” and a strong emphasis on the “gift of sexuality” and the “wondrous joy of sex in marriage,” do you think that sex education in the church has ignored the fact that singleness–whether chosen or not–can be a noble and effective vocation?
It is not absolutely necessary that we experience the joy of “one flesh” in biblical marriage, but it is absolutely necessary that we should be holy. (p. 87)
“Gender identity”–or any kind of sexually-based identity–is deception.
If we were fundamentally “sexual,” then this would hold true not just before the resurrection but also after the resurrection. (Otherwise after the resurrection we would be less than human.) But what does Jesus say? “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage …” (Matt. 22:30; Mark 12:25). Therefore being sexual, that is, capable of sexual activity, is not part of what it means to be human after the resurrection. And if it is not part of our divinely-created human identity in the resurrection where everything will be made perfect, then it is not the central part of our divinely-created identity now. (p.86)
We can help our brothers and sisters who struggle with the cross of same-sex attraction not by focusing so much on the “gift of sexuality,” but on our baptized identity. In Christ, we are sons and daughters of God! His heirs of righteousness!
In heaven there will be no act of marriage or expression of sexuality, no “one flesh” union. So do we lose our identity in heaven? No! Our true identity will remain intact. We will be as He created us–fully human, but perfect in every way, sons and daughters at the Father’s table. We will still be His treasures in Christ but, at last, able to truly reflect His magnificence. For now, we live on earth in human flesh. However, we do not have to obey the passions of our mortal bodies (Ro. 6:12) because holiness is all about God claiming us as His dear children in Christ through water and Word. Through Baptism, we are siblings–brothers and sisters in Christ who can anticipate His return. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can encourage and care for one another in ways that will not bring shame on the Day of the Lord (1 Jn. 2:28). (p. 86)
Quotes are taken from
The Failure of Sex Education in the Church:
Mistaken Identity, Compromised Purity
by Linda Bartlett (Amazon)
Image: flickr.com
The Case of Mistaken Identity 
I wonder sometimes why we are so preoccupied with the “sex” issue in the first place. Why are we so into indoctrinating into our kids the importance of sex? Should this become such an important issue that we feel compelled to incorporate this at the core level of our kids foundational development at the earliest of age? It seems as though our culture has determined that we must almost push this element of our God given makeup upon the innocence of our young people causing them to become aware of things that wouldn’t naturally come into their awareness or consciousness until a much later and more appropriate time. Like it or not, this has become a reality that we can’t turn our backs on and pretend does not exist. Books like Linda’s that are well researched and prayed over are crucial for us as adults to become self aware of this battle that must be waged. The perversion and twisting of this subject and how it bends the development of our children must be addressed.