Writing in AD 112, the Roman governor Pliny reported to Emperor Trajan that Christians gathered early in the morning to sing hymns to Christ and “to bind themselves by an oath—not to commit crime, but to abstain from theft, robbery, adultery, and breach of faith.” From the earliest days of the church, believers have been marked by their moral integrity, and the pursuit of sexual purity has been a defining characteristic of their faith.

Sexuality is not incidental to who we are; it’s woven into the fabric of our personhood. Yet Christians have often struggled to speak about sexuality in a clear, biblical, and forthright manner. Many are hesitant to discuss the subject with their children or to address it in the church. But if we don’t teach a biblical theology of sexuality, the world will gladly fill the void. We can’t afford to act as if sex is merely a peripheral issue. It’s a crucial part of what it means to be human.

Of all people, Christians should recognize this. After all, God created humanity male and female, and He declared them “very good” (Gen. 1:31). He designed the human body intentionally, and in the garden, Adam and Eve stood before one another unashamed. Scripture speaks about the body—yes, even its most private aspects—far more openly than we often do. Consider circumcision, one of the most enduring signs of belonging to God’s covenant people. The word is so familiar that many avoid reflecting on its meaning: the removal of a part of the male reproductive organ.

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