So this thought conglomeration has been a long time in the coming; nearly a year and a half since I promised further comment on the topic on another's blog. At the time, I'd recently finished listening to a commentary on Pope JP II's Theology of the Body (Christopher West). It was then that I began to understand much of the Catholic point-of-view. A few months ago, in Ottawa, I met Nat who was emptying her bookshelves in anticipation of returning home to Australia. One of my finds was Sex and the Supremacy of Christ (ed, John Piper). At last I had found somewhat of a counterpoint in Protestant writing. Along the way, I was also given an article, Theological foundations for male-female relationships (Stanley Grenz), to further diversify my readings. Most recently, I came across Joe Carter's article, Redeeming Eros: A Christian View of Sex and the Imagination (thanks to TVFH).
I had plans to provide a nice, neat summary of each reference but, frankly, just read them for yourselves if you are so inclined. A summary simply would not do them justice. Maybe, someday, I will write more about these texts but for now I leave my general thoughts on the topic.
Since I've let my thoughts mellow since reading the books/articles, I have assimilated some things and forgotten most things. What I know is that relationships are complex. Gender is created by God (who, akin to being outside of time, is also outside of gender). The two genders serve as another means by which to understand a bit of who God is. The key is that a right relationship with God and right understanding of God must occur before human relationship (in order for the human relationship to be it's most complete). And likewise, a right understanding of human relationships will aid in our relationship with God.
God's betrothed is the Church. He will woo us, chase after us, care for us. God is relentless in pursuit. We are on God's priority list; recall the lengths to which God has gone for His people. If I fully understood His passion for me, I would be a very different person. When one grasps being loved to that extend, one loves/serves/glorifies the lover in return.
Summary of references
John Paul II. The Theology of the Body: Human love in divine plan. Boston, MA: Pauline Books & Media, 1997.
and
West C. Theology of the body explained: a commentary on John Paul II's "gospel of the body". Boston, MA: Pauline Books & Media, 2003.
Grenz SJ. Theological foundations for male-female relationships. JETS: 41/4 (December 1998); 615-30. (Accessed: October 30, 2006)
Carter J. Redeeming Eros: A Christian View of Sex and the Imagination. The evangelical outpost. (Accessed October 30, 2006.)
Piper J, Taylor J (eds). Sex and the supremacy of Christ. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books: 2005.