The God Who Is Love created man male and female for love.
Human sexuality is a gift of Creation. The image of our God who is love is
borne by “man” as “male and female,” with no hint of either sexʼs imaging
the divine more fully than—or apart from—the other. Through this gift, we may
love and be loved deeply, may enjoy a profound oneness in marriage, and, from
loveʼs natural self-giving, may give life to children, the greatest ongoing fruit
of such love.
Despite all its goodness, many on this planet experience sexuality in brokenness
and pain. We know sin and evil spoil and steal from Godʼs good creation, but we
do not despair. The Good News of Jesus Christ reckons seriously with every enemy
of human fl ourishing. His victory has won healing the Holy Spirit applies to the
broken, through loving ministry.
These truths of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration unify the essays in this
book. Most began at the Scholarsʼ Consultation of the Empowered21 Asia Global
Congress in Singapore in 2017. Here they explore Godʼs intention for our sexuality,
ways we misuse and abuse this gift, and ways Spirit-empowered communities help
heal brokenness and restore the divine image. Expressing theological and socialscience
scholarship and front-lines ministry experience from the First and Majority
Worlds, these essays probe gender theory, inequality, and fl uidity and dysphoria;
sexual exploitation of children and women and their resilience; homosexuality;
fi ghting HIV/AIDS; promoting sexual wholeness; and more. Readers will deepen
their biblical, theoretical, and practical understanding so they may minister healing
and restoration with wisdom and compassion in the power of the Holy Spirit.
