Posted on September 8, 2022
Your Questions About Sex Point to Bigger Questions About God
By Dr. Juli Slattery
One of the most awkward things about my job is describing it to someone. I really don’t like answering the question, “What do you do for work?” I’m never quite sure how to explain to a stranger that I run a Christian ministry focused on sexuality. About five years ago, a young woman helped give me the perfect descriptive words. She said, “Thank you for helping me make sense of God and sex.”
I guess that’s what I do.
This summer, Authentic Intimacy will celebrate its tenth birthday. Nearly a decade ago, I said yes to God’s invitation to step into this space. Frankly, I didn’t know exactly what I was saying yes to. Had I known at the time, I may have lacked the courage.
The busyness and stress of ministry sometimes mutes the reason I said yes in the first place. When times are difficult, it forces me to ask myself why I am still invested in this work. It all comes down to this: I want you to intimately know God.
Many Christians approach sexual issues as if they are interesting topics for discussion or debate. Is God OK with gay marriage? What does the Bible say about gender dysphoria, sex toys, or masturbation?
Sexual struggles are deeply personal, which is why “debates” on these topics can trigger so much anger and fear. I’ve rarely met someone who isn’t wrestling through the shame of sexual sin, the angst of unmet desires, or the pain of sexual harm. Theology means very little if it can’t reach into the most personal and excruciating crevices of our hearts.
Our sexuality is not an isolated part of who we are, but an integrated aspect of what it means to be created in God’s image and loved by Him. Our sexual questions and pain points connect with our deepest longings and fears. It’s impossible to grapple with our sexuality without also confronting our foundational beliefs about God. Is He good? Is He trustworthy? Does He see me?
Dr. Juli Slattery will be speaking at the Pure Desire Summit, September 16-17, 2022. To learn more about this upcoming event and to register, please visit Pure Desire Summit 2022: ALL IN.
The views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are those of the author alone and do not reflect an official position of Pure Desire Ministries, except where expressly stated.
Dr. Juli Slattery
Dr. Juli Slattery is a clinical psychologist, author, speaker and the president/co-founder of Authentic Intimacy. Juli earned her college degree at Wheaton College, an MA in psychology from Biola University, and an MS and a Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Florida Institute of Technology. From 2008-2012, Dr. Slattery served at Focus on the Family writing, teaching, and co-hosting the Focus on the Family Broadcast. In 2012, she left Focus on the Family to start Authentic Intimacy, a ministry devoted to reclaiming God’s design for sexuality. In 2020, Juli launched SexualDiscipleship.com, a platform designed to help Christian leaders navigate sexual issues and questions with gospel-centered truth.