Is our sexuality foundational and essential to our being? Grenz feels that it is, based on his understanding of the Bible. As a human, one must be either male or female. That sexual distinction must be recognized as a primary characteristic in all humanity.
But what exactly is sexuality? And how can we separate sexuality from sexual actions? The answers, according to Grenz, are more theological than simply psychological or social. He wrote Sexual Ethics: An Evangelical Perspective to clarify the theology of sexuality, and to place sexuality in its proper place in creation. He looks at several key questions, including the nature of sexuality, how marriage expresses sexuality, how singleness expresses sexuality, and how the church should view and respond to sexuality.
Sexuality manifests itself in a desire for community, and is, in and of itself, the ultimate manifestation of community, of two becoming one. Thus, the marriage relationship can be seen as the context which best describes and fulfills sexuality. Grenz deals with the issues which denigrate marriage, including adultery and divorce. He also discusses how singles can express their sexuality in a Godly way. He even touches on technological issues like abortion as birth control, and fertility advances (in vitro fertilization, cloning, etc.) And he looks at homosexuality and its relationship to true sexuality.
Grenz faces all the issues head on, and has developed a cogent, broad-based and biblical theology of sexuality. His theology will help to clarify the role that sex and sexuality should play in our lives, and will ultimately help the Church to restore a proper view of sex and sexuality in our culture.
