Talking Back To Purity Culture

10/06/22 • 69 min

In this episode, Yana Jenay is joined by Rachel Joy Welcher and Bethany Lauren for a conversation on Purity Culture and how to deconstruct it thoughtfully. Rachel Joy Welcher (@racheljwelcher) is a poet and author who currently works as an editor at Fathom Magazine and Lexham Press. Rachel also received her Master of Letters in Theology from the University of St. Andrews, where her research led her to write the book: Talking Back to Purity Culture: Rediscovering Faithful Christian Sexuality. Bethany Lauren (@simply_bible) is a writer and speaker. She loves teaching people how to read and study the Bible through her Instagram account. She also makes "good trouble" on the gram by speaking by helping others think well about theological ideas that may be worthy of biblical deconstruction, purity culture being one of them.

In this episode, these women not only get nerdy about purity culture, but they also get real as they discuss the different ways their lives have been both positively and negatively impacted by purity culture. They also end their time rejoicing in the gospel that frees us from shame and considering how we can do better at passing down an ethic of purity that is more in step with the gospel and God's vision for sex.

Take a listen and consider joining us the Talk Back following this episode on October 13, 2022, at 8 pm by becoming a Patreon subscriber at $10 or more monthly.

Take a listen and consider joining us the Talk Back following this episode on October 13, 2022, at 8 pm by becoming a Patreon subscriber at $10 or more monthly.

Previous Episode

Did God Really Say?

When it comes to sex, many of us have read the Bible's commands about sex and ask, "Really? Did God really say that? Is He serious?" We've asked this question because living in a sexually charged world, it's sometimes hard to take God's commands about sex seriously, asking, "Has God seen the world? Is living out His sexual ethic as put forth in Scripture even possible?" In this episode, Yana Jenay takes us to the garden of Eden to reflect on the first time in history the words of God were questioned. Using the narrative of Genesis 3 as a case study, she presents a few ways we, like Eve, have rejected God's definition of what is good and allowed a distorted view of Him to lead us astray. She will discuss how viewing God's commands about sex as oppressive, patriarchal, homophobic, and impossible is ultimately rooted in our view of God. Why? Because, you see, when we trust the character of God to be good, it becomes easier to trust His commands are also good. Press play to hear more.

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To get the reflection guide and/or join the Talk Back Discussion (9/1 @ 8pm) subscribe to The Living Single with Yana Jenay Patreon Page

Biblical Passages discussed in this episode: Genesis 6:1-6; Genesis 3:1-7; Ephesians 1:15-22

Books mentioned in this episode: Yinka Were is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn and Talking Back to Purity Culture by Rachel Joy Welcher

Listen to a full sermon on "Did God Really Say?" from Yana Jenay

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More About the Host, Yana Jenay

Yana Jenay Conner is a writer and Bible teacher who seeks to help others think well about faith and culture. By God’s grace, she has served in full-time ministry for the past fifteen years in both the church and parachurch context and earned a Master in Divinity in Christian Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She currently serves at Vertical Church as the Discipleship Director and hosts a podcast called Living Single. You can find more of her writing and teaching at yanajenay.com or by following her on IG @yanajenay.

Next Episode

Men Talking Back to Purity Culture

Oftentimes, conversations about Purity Culture center around its effects on women. However, many of the teachings out of Purity Culture have been harmful for men as well. Picking up from the last episode on Purity Culture, Yana Jenay sits down with her friend, Kinshiro Shimochi to hear how growing up in Purity Culture affected how he understood himself, sex, and relationships with women.