One form of good Christian apologetics takes common cultural phrases and words and recaptures or reforms them using Gospel meaning (2 Cor. 10:5). This is a recommended approach in biblical counseling to adapt some forms of psychology. For example, I like to transform the phrase self-esteem into a much more significant life shaping category that I call God-esteem, without which any self-valuations or self-devaluations are seriously distorted.
In the same way the current debates about SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) can be captured for Christ, reformed using a Christian perspective. We can use the acronym for a new SOGI (soul-orientation to God’s identity) that can change all orientations in all categories of moral flourishing, as the Proverbs 31 virtuous woman who fears the Lord reflects new orientations to people and created resources. In Westminster Standard’s language, this new SOGI means renewal into the likeness of God through the Gospel application of the 1st-4th Commandments, savoring the beauty of God’s soul satisfying righteousness, as exemplified in books like John Piper’s Sex & Supremacy of Christ, chapter 2, pages 37-42 comparing the puny pleasures of sex to the wonder and beauty of the Lord with his various glorious attributes, and Piper’s When I Don’t Desire God, How to Fight for Joy, chapter 11 on using created things to enjoy God, and C.S. Lewis’ The Weight of Glory where all righteous earthly pleasures are enjoyed as diluted joys that will be the multiplied joys of the saints in the new earth.
In summary form, new orientation to God’s identity will know who he is, his eternal power and divine nature, and knowing him will open our spiritual vision to see the reflection of his eternal power and divine nature of God revealed in created things (Rom. 1:20). Our soul orientation to anything in this world should see reflections of God in all the world that we experience. In my exposition of the attributes of God, I have reorganized God’s attributes as eight omni-attributes, that have blessed face reflections to those elect in covenant, and cursed face reflections to those outside his covenant. One key purpose in engaging created things is to see God’s glory reflected through those things and give God glory and thanks (Rom. 1:20-21). See https://www.unveiledfacesreformedpress.net/ourproject and https://www.unveiledfacesreformedpress.net/reflectionsofglory/2018/9/29/saving-faith-that-delights-in-god-through-created-things
From this new SOGI foundation, we could develop a comprehensive list of biblical SOG__’s to disenfranchise the cultural debate about sexual orientation and gender identity as an isolated issue:
SOGR “soul orientation to godly roles” (5th Commandment),
SOGL “soul orientation to godly life” (6th Commandment),
SOGI “soul orientation to godly income” (8th Commandment),
SOGR “soul orientation to godly reputations” (9th Commandment),
SOGC “soul orientation to godly contentment” (10th C).
Each of these categories could develop its own set of specific dysphorias, showing how humanity has lost its proper orientation to the truth and moral flourishing in each category. Gender dysphoria is symptomatic of 7th commandment disorientation, while we can easily explore multiple disorienting categories to truth and proper righteousness related to other commandments. Mankind, by losing proper orientation to the fear of God (1st commandment) and contentment (10th commandment), has lost proper orientation to stewardship of roles, life-sustenance, sexuality, resources, and reputations.
With this enlarged set of acronyms, Christians would be in a better position to rename the current culturally dividing SOGI with another phrase, “soul orientation to gender interactions” related to the 7th Commandment, The Westminster Larger Catechism 137-139 defines duties and prohibitions related to this commandment (and all the others above in WLC 99-150). We can assume the authors of these definitions firmly believed that the Gospel has power to change, and indeed promises to restore every person’s orientation to every single detail of the prohibitions and duties of SOGI (soul-orientation-to-gender-interaction) righteousness.
Since the “Soul” in all the above SOG_’s can be oriented either to sin or to sanctification, can add another layer of SOGI sophistication: “Sinful Orientation to Gender Interactions” and “Sanctified Orientation to Gender Interactions”.
Question 137: Which is the seventh commandment?
Answer: The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Question 138: What are the duties required in the seventh commandment?
Answer: The duties required in the seventh commandment are, chastity in body, mind, affections, words, and behavior; and the preservation of it in ourselves and others; watchfulness over the eyes and all the senses; temperance, keeping of chaste company, modesty in apparel; marriage by those that have not the gift of continency, conjugal love, and cohabitation; diligent labor in our callings; shunning all occasions of uncleanness, and resisting temptations thereunto.
Question 139: What are the sins forbidden in the seventh commandment?
Answer: The sins forbidden in the seventh commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required, are, adultery, fornication, rape, incest, sodomy, and all unnatural lusts; all unclean imaginations, thoughts, purposes, and affections; all corrupt or filthy communications, or listening thereunto; wanton looks, impudent or light behavior, immodest apparel; prohibiting of lawful, and dispensing with unlawful marriages; allowing, tolerating, keeping of stews, and resorting to them; entangling vows of single life, undue delay of marriage; having more wives or husbands than one at the same time; unjust divorce, or desertion; idleness, gluttony, drunkenness, unchaste company; lascivious songs, books, pictures, dancings, stage plays; and all other provocations to, or acts of uncleanness, either in ourselves or others.
The Bible forbids generalized hetero sexual attraction (looking at any potential opposite sex person with sexual thoughts) and homosexual attraction (looking at or desiring any forms of sexual contact with same gender people). Propensity to same sex attraction (SSA, defined as desire for sexual activities with the same sex), even when not dwelling on it in the mind, is also a creation disorder and for those not united to Christ, part of the condemned sin-package. SSA for those in Christ is illegitimate and disordered, and the whole set of lusts needs to be put to death through Christ and the Gospel: the propensity to be sexually attracted, any sexual arousal of the imagination, any masturbatory practices associated with those attractions, and any sexually arousing behaviors toward people of the same sex. “Opportunities” that present as temptations are outside the individual and thus the opportunity doesn’t equal sin. Disordered attractions are what make us susceptible to temptations that lead us to sin, and that disordered attraction of coveting breaks the 10th commandment (Jas. 1:14-15) and any sexual attraction to any person other than a single hetero spouse breaks the 7th commandment. Any illegitimate attraction is itself part of the sin package. If a Christian is attracted to any forbidden lust (hetero oral sex with a prostitute, bribery to get a political position, gossip to put others down), that “attraction” is also disordered, part of the old man, sinful flesh package, and needs to be renewed.
Only one “sexual” (eros) attraction is permitted: one’s spouse. Only this righteous “OH-SSA” (One Hetero Spouse Sexual Attraction) is permitted (Prov. 5:18-19). All others are disordered and even the propensity to attraction itself, since it is a “sexual” (eros) propensity rather than brother/sister/familial in Christ agape attraction. All other righteous human attractions among those who do the will of the heavenly Father, are classified in Christ’s categories of familial attraction, brother, sister, mother, father, children, and are to be attracted to each other “in all purity” without any hint of sexual coveting (Matt. 12:50; 1 Tim. 5:1-2; 1 Thess. 4:3-9; Philem. 1:7; Eph. 5:1-3). And further, OH-SSA as physical sexual attraction in human marriage is merely a type, a shadow of this first existence that will be dissolved (Matt. 22:30), pointing to a singular spiritual desire for and holy affection for Christ (Eph. 5:23-33). These brother-sister relationships will be the eternal one-another status of the elect in the new heaven and earth, and the shadow typology of marriage fulfilled in marriage to Christ.[1] Single hetero men must change their heterosexual attraction (HSA: sinful, lustful orientation to other women) to family-love (agape) attraction, just as homosexual attracted (SSA: sinful, lustful orientation to same sex) must change their orientation to family-love (agape) attraction.
For Christians in pursuit of OH-SSA, such as in dating and courtship, the familial brother-sister categories continue to be normative until marriage. There can be a general interest in forming hetero relationships with potential mates, but not sexualized attraction, such as looking at with sexual thoughts, desiring or pursuing physical contact that leads to sexual arousal. “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases” (Song 2:7; 3:5; 8:4). As part of the preparation for marriage, I believe Scripture permits a gradual shift towards sexualized attraction after engagement, as intention to exclusively be set apart as holy for the other has been personally agreed on, as usually this comes with parental agreement and public announcement with a symbol of the engagement ring for the woman. For example, premarital counseling usually includes a reading and discussion on loving sexual technique and ethical birth control methods, and the couple begins to prepare mentally and physically for the wedding and honeymoon. The couple’s growing affection and closeness should start to shift to a holy sexual attraction, but must still honor the fiancé(e) as a brother or sister until after the full matrimonial commitment of the wedding.
Legitimate attractions can also be sinful when attracted for selfish reasons, rather than God glorifying and mankind-loving reasons (Rom. 1:20-21). They can also be sinful when legitimate but excessive (eating or drinking alcohol). Thus all attractions to anything need to be oriented by faith in Christ, God’s-glory and mankind-loving expressions, along with obedience to the details of the moral law (WLC 100-148).
Christ has come, accomplished salvation as the second Adam, and under his representative headship restores his elect to righteousness in faith-union with him: our sins against his moral law are forgiven, his moral law righteousness is credited, his Spirit is sent to write the law of righteousness on our hearts (Heb. 10:16), and this gift of the Spirit is the guarantee that all our struggles against sin will receive the inheritance of eternal life in the new righteous kingdom. All who are in Christ have their orientations about everything totally changed to conform to the kingdom of righteousness.
WCF 8:8 To all those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption, He doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same, making intercession for them, and revealing unto them, in and by the Word, the mysteries of salvation, effectually persuading them by His Spirit to believe and obey, and governing their hearts by His Word and Spirit, overcoming all their enemies by His almighty power and wisdom, in such manner, and ways, as are most consonant to His wonderful and unsearchable dispensation.
WCF 13:1 They who are effectually called and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them, are further sanctified, really and personally, through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection, by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them: the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified; and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, to the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
WCF 15:2 By [repentance], a sinner, out of the sight and sense not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature and righteous law of God; and upon the apprehension of His mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for, and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God, purposing and endeavoring to walk with Him in all the ways of His commandments.
That these actual patterns of renewal in orientation to righteousness (called sanctification) do vary in terms of speed, trajectory and consistency in the Lord’s elect is adequately accounted for in the other sections of the Westminster Confession. There we read about (even as we daily experience) the tensions between what is already declared and what is not-yet accomplished to perfection, the promise of completely transformed orientations to everything at the resurrection of our bodies!
WCF 5:5 The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season His own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption, and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and, to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon Himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy ends.
WCF 6:5 This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be, through Christ, pardoned and mortified, yet both itself and all the motions thereof are truly and properly sin.
Of course it is possible that a new convert with true faith actually commits the acts mentioned after coming to faith, prior to developing new strength and grace to resist old sins. Some recurrence of sinful behaviors should lessen the comforts of assurance and have their assurance shaken, since full healthy assurance requires strength and health of faith, love hope and repentance (see 1 John and 2 Peter 1).
WCF 11:5 God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified; and, although they can never fall from the state of justification; yet they may, by their sins, fall under God’s fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of His countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.
WCF 17:3 Nevertheless, they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins; and, for a time, continue therein: whereby they incur God’s displeasure, and grieve His Holy Spirit, come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves.
WCF 18:4 True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin, which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation, by God’s withdrawing the light of His countenance, and suffering even such as fear Him to walk in darkness and to have no light: yet are they never utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart, and conscience of duty, out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may, in due time, be revived; and by the which, in the mean time, they are supported from utter despair.
Also we admit there are also false positives of conversion who appear to be saved but fall away with cares of the world and suffering (Matt 13). In other words, we can only judge by fruits, (through a mirror darkly), but God knows his elect and preserves the seed of faith.
[1] Matthew 22:30, “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven” may mean the first resurrection of our spirits to be with Christ, and thus like the angels in having only a spiritual existence, thus physical marriage is suspended. More traditionally the verse has been taken to mean that in the resurrection of the body, the human institution of marriage passes away, being fulfilled in marriage to Christ, and the redeemed elect are like the angels, who do not reproduce or form nuclear families, but are all servants of the exalted Christ. If the latter interpretation is correct, the righteous kingdom begun in Eden will have reached its fulfillment in being fruitful, multiplying and filling the new earth, the final and unchanging number of the true Israel, the elect of God (symbolized in the 144,000 Rev. 14:1-5 renewed as virgins to be married to and follow the Lamb Rev. 19:7-9). The elect will be allotted land and cities in the new earth as typified in the Canaan conquest, not strictly in terms of population, but also in proportion to gracious reward for sacrifices for Christ’s name and faithfulness in use of gifts and resources (Matt. 5:5; 19:29; Luke 19:16-19).