Christianity Today carries a story that Life Way Christian Bookstores (a subsidiary of the Southern Baptist Convention) is not carrying Rachel Held Evans new book (who is she anyway and does she read Tim Keller?) A Year of Biblical Womanhood (biblicism alert). Evans contends that the reason is her use of the word “vagina.” The report goes on to list books that Life Way does sell and how many times these authors use the v-word:
A Celebration of Sex: A Guide to Enjoying God’s Gift of Sexual Intimacy by Douglas E. Rosenau
86 (plus images)
The Gift of Sex: A Guide to Sexual Fulfillment by Clifford & Joyce Penner
73 (plus images)
The Act of Marriage: The Beauty of Sexual Love by Tim and Beverley LaHaye
62
How to Talk Confidently with Your Child about Sex by Lenore Buth
42
The Good Girl’s Guide to Great Sex (And You Thought Bad Girls Have All the Fun) by Sheila Wray Gregoire
19
The Body Book by Nancy Rue
6 (at least in the 2000 edition; LifeWay’s is the 2012 edition and was not available for review)
Straight Talk with Your Kids About Sex by Josh and Dottie McDowell
6
Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship, and Life Together by Mark and Grace Driscoll
5
Every Young Woman’s Battle: Guarding Your Mind, Heart, and Body in a Sex-Saturated World by Shannon Ethridge and Stephen Arterburn
4
Crazy Good Sex: Putting to Bed the Myths Men Have about Sex by Les Parrott
4
The Language of Sex: Experiencing the Beauty of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage by Gary Smalley and Ted Cunningham
3
Sex Begins in the Kitchen: Creating Intimacy to Make Your Marriage Sizzle by Kevin Leman
3
Nobody Told Me: What You Need to Know about the Physical and Emotional Consequences of Sex Outside of Marriage by Pam Stenzel and Melissa Nesdahl
3
The Healthy Marriage Handbook by Louise Ferrebee
3
Undefiled: Redemption from Sexual Sin, Restoration for Broken Relationships by Harry Schaumburg
2
The 5 Sex Needs of Men and Women by Gary and Barbara Rosberg
2
And the Bride Wore White by Danna Gresh
1
Reclaiming Intimacy: Overcoming the Consequences of Premarital Relationships by Heather Jamison
1
Capture His Heart: Becoming the Godly Wife Your Husband Desires by Lysa TerKerust
1
The Bare Facts: 39 Answers to Questions Your Parents Hope You Never Ask about Sex by Josh McDowell with Erin Davis
1
God on Sex: The Creator’s Ideas about Love, Intimacy, and MarriagebyDaniel Akin
1
The notable aspect of this story is not so much Christians talking publicly about a word used to describe female genitalia as it is the volume of books that Christians write about intercourse. This is all the more glaring since Life Way states describes its first “core value” as:
1. The Bible
We believe the Bible is the eternal, infallible, inerrant Word of God and is the plumb line for everything we say and do.
So while it is controversial in the Convention to use the c-word (Calvinism), female private parts are relatively common depending on who is discussing them.
Old Life 
Actually, Keller’s wife has reviewed the book and found it wanting. http://thegospelcoalition.org/book-reviews/review/a_year_of_biblical_womanhood
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“I’m too shy to express my sexual needs except over the phone to people I don’t know.” -Garry Shandling
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Does the regulative principle allow for pole dancing in worship?
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Once upon a time – when we (historic Protestants) were more “ignorant” and simply proclaimed God’s Word and taught the confessions – we didn’t put up with such cheesy and oily books about s____ and marriage… books that try to mix Calvinism with pop culture and the soup of man centeredness that we love to float in like the Dead Sea.
We actually believed in a God-centered view of the universe and of Scripture itself.
Can you imagine Calvin, or say Charnock, actually writing a book solely on sex- even “sex for the glory of God”? Or, for the Baptists out there, can you imagine Gill or Keach being “hipstah” enough to spew out such cheddar? They had more important things on their mind. Like God, for example.
Today, the cool Calvinistahs crank out this drivel, while the in-crowd theologs and blogs bless it.
Every time I actually read Calvin himself, I am dumbstruck by how high his view of God was. It is as though we don’t know the same God that Calvin knew. Because of our low view of God, we think we have to help Him out by writing such goofy books. Otherwise, no one will join the cool Calvinistic fiesta (to use the slang of another writer on the web).
Thank you for reading these thoughts.
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Sean, was it Garry or Larry Sanders? I know, what’s the difference?
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Chuck: We actually believed in a God-centered view of the universe and of Scripture itself.
RS: That has been quite a long time ago.
Chuck: Can you imagine Calvin, or say Charnock, actually writing a book solely on sex- even “sex for the glory of God”?
RS: While I prefer Charnock to Calvin, I would say both of them would not take their eyes off of things truly important to write such a book.
Chuck: Or, for the Baptists out there, can you imagine Gill or Keach being “hipstah” enough to spew out such cheddar? They had more important things on their mind. Like God, for example.
RS: Indeed, as with Calvin and Charnock they thought that God was more important than all things and only with God at the center did anything else make sense.
Chuck: Today, the cool Calvinistahs crank out this drivel, while the in-crowd theologs and blogs bless it.
RS: Interesting way to put it. You can find a lot of drivel about a lot of drivel but not a lot about God Himself.
Chuck: Every time I actually read Calvin himself, I am dumbstruck by how high his view of God was. It is as though we don’t know the same God that Calvin knew.
RS: That is how I am in reading Edwards. I am not sure it is a question any longer as to whether we know the same God that Calvin and Edwards beheld and then wrote about. We just simply don’t.
Chuck: Because of our low view of God, we think we have to help Him out by writing such goofy books. Otherwise, no one will join the cool Calvinistic fiesta (to use the slang of another writer on the web).
RS: The new Calvinism is not the same thing as the old Calvinism. The God that Luther, Calvin, and Edwards spoke about is not the God that is spoken of in our day. They exalted God because of who He was. In our day people only exalt God for what they think He does for them. In other words, the modern day think of God as a great God because He gives money and sex. For Edwards, God was great because He gave Himself and He was far better than any thing and all things put together.
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Darryl,
Is that a trick question? I think just Garry
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It’s obvious that the invisible hand of the market belongs to a pervert.
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@chuck
Can you imagine Calvin, or say Charnock, actually writing a book solely on sex
Well yes. Take a look at the registers of the consistory. Calvin and the gang were quite active in regulating sex. Arguably the registers of the consistory are a book that while not solely on sex is certainly primarily about sex.
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Sean, no I was trying to have a Larry Sanders bonding moment (I miss the guy, Hank, and especially Artie).
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Darryl,
There’s been more than a few times I hoped for Artie to show up at a session meeting running into the middle of the night, thanks to a few too many Hanks.
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Sean, you mean every clerk of session is not an Artie in training?
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Hi Richard Smith,
Thank you for reading and interacting with what I wrote. I appreciate your comments.
My original entry was blunt and overstated (it was, after all, meant to fit the genre of a quick blog response and not something to be published by Oxford), and I wish I had not written with such barbs. I.E., I wish I had written my view more in love. However, I think the core of my argument still stands.
It is nice to read your thoughts, especially your response as you have been reading Edwards.
Happy reading, brother!
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Hi CD-Host,
Thank you for mentioning the registry of the consistory in Calvin’s Geneva. I have not read it. No doubt, as a good minister in the context of Genevan govt., Calvin had to be involved in regulations, etc. Especially with the Libertines being in Geneva. But do not these writings fall into the genre of, say, business meetings, government laws, or session notes? I don’t see the registry being in the same category as the list of books in Dr. Hart’s original post.
I wish I had not been so sardonic in my original post. I tend to write quickly and bluntly and then regret it later.
I saw your website and appreciate your work. Thank you. And thanks for letting me know that such notes (consistory notes) still exist and can be read today.
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Chuck,
Knock it off. You’re going to make “Richard” (not his real name) and CD-Host (who the heck knows who he is) even more insufferable than they are already. Just punch them in the mouth (rhetorically, of course). They’ll keep coming back.
Erik
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It’s painful when really nice people try to interact on blogs. This is why I loved Facebook and my wife hated it. She was too nice (and private). I’m just a dumb slob who lets it rip.
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Erik Charter: Chuck, Knock it off. You’re going to make “Richard” (not his real name)
RS: But it is my real name.
Erik Charter: and CD-Host (who the heck knows who he is) even more insufferable than they are already. Just punch them in the mouth (rhetorically, of course). They’ll keep coming back.
Erik Charter: It’s painful when really nice people try to interact on blogs. This is why I loved Facebook and my wife hated it. She was too nice (and private).
RS: I am glad your wife is nice. They say that opposites attract.
Erik Charter: I’m just a dumb slob who lets it rip.
RS: As a Baptist all I can say is amen and amen.
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Richard – I just farted in your general direction.
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Darryl,
I wish. More like Larry in need of Artie to move the Hanks along and keep ’em on course. “d*#*$n’t Hank I said low-profile.” Especially when we get to the ‘unfinished business’. Needs to be more like; “unfinished bus…NO. Great let’s keep this moving’ . Looking great you guys.”
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“Richard – I just farted in your general direction.”
Well, Erik,since you’re being so chippy lately, “I blow my nose at you.”
Question to anyone: Has anyone notice a change in posting comments? My name, email, and website used to be “there”automatically, but now they aren’t. Is that because of the site or something on my computer?
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MM: Question to anyone: Has anyone notice a change in posting comments? My name, email, and website used to be “there”automatically, but now they aren’t. Is that because of the site or something on my computer?
RS: While I may not be anyone, I am having the same problem. I just thought Dr. Hart was doing this to people he didn’t agree with to make things harder on them.
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Erik Charter: Richard – I just farted in your general direction.
RS: Now we have hot air coming at me from you from two directions at once. Sigh
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MM – I’m getting the same thing.
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RS: God as a great God because He gives money and sex.
Dr. Truman has related this to what he calls a constant theme in Christian apologetics: take what the world values and show Christianity does it better. The pagan world used to value asceticism, so the ‘real’ Christians sat on poles in the desert for years and outdid the pagans. Our culture is sex-crazed, so Christians say, “God gives you the best sex life ever!”
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Thomas: Dr. Truman has related this to what he calls a constant theme in Christian apologetics: take what the world values and show Christianity does it better. The pagan world used to value asceticism, so the ‘real’ Christians sat on poles in the desert for years and outdid the pagans. Our culture is sex-crazed, so Christians say, “God gives you the best sex life ever!”
RS: That is really interesting. In other words, the world sets out an idol and instead of saying that is an idol we try to out idolize them. It also reminds me of John Piper’s misinterpetation of Edward = sin will make you happy, but God will make you more happy. Therefore, choose God.
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Clifford and Joyce Penner are both professionals in the field of which they write. He has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and she is an R.N., clinical nurse specialist who may be able to prescribe medication. Their materials were used in a marriage and family course I took almost twenty years ago at a Christian University.
Who is this Held-Evans person again? She strikes me as another “I am woman hear me roar” type who aspires to become the next Beth Moore. I’m sure her english degree uniquely qualifies her to pontificate about theology and vaginas.
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“I’m sure her english degree uniquely qualifies her to pontificate about theology and vaginas.”
Nicely done.
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Hi Chuck —
Yes these would be sort of like business notes. My point is though the notes are primarily about sex:
Does sexual act A combined with some vague promises constitute an engagement?
B is having regular sex with C but doesn’t want to marry, what should the state do?
D is doing Y with E while married to F what’s the appropriate response?
etc… (with some other non sex stuff mixed in as well)
You can certainly think of it as notes and the formation of law. They are far less detailed than what a court would deal with today but that court appears much busier than one of our American courts. On the other hand you can also think about it as a fairly detailed book about sex by Calvin et al. It’s both.
Anyway as for the regret, I wouldn’t regret the tone but rather reconsider the idea behind it. Sex is part of the human condition. Once food, clothes and shelter are taken care of its going to be the primary driving instinct of any human of breeding age. As such there will always be books about it in any literature culture that is meeting basic needs.
Agree or disagree with Mark Driscoll he at least is trying to seriously think about what biblical sexuality would look like in modern America. Agree or disagree with the guys from covenant eyes but they are trying to think seriously about how to address pornography in a serious way. I haven’t read any of the books in the list but given that Conservative Christianity, as it exists in modern America, is de facto elevating lying about sexual abstinence to its principle rite for teens through mid 20s, I don’t think books on the subject are such a bad idea.
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CD,
I am jumping in a bit late here, so forgive me if I re-hash any points already made. If we look at the cultural milieu of Scripture, it is not as if sex was in short supply – whether we are dealing with the fertility cults of the Ancient Near East, or the liberal sexual practices of Greco-Roman culture, it is not as if the authors of Scripture are dealing with a cultural scenario much different than our own. Given the rough analogy between the biblical past and our present situation, some of the modern evangelical attempts to deal squarely with the issue of Christian sexuality, while certainly possessing good motivations, seem to go somewhat beyond what is necessary, and end up unwittingly reflecting our sexually saturated culture.
It is not as if the biblical record on the matter of sex is lacking, and it would seem to me that if the covenant community in the past struggled with sexual purity, it matters little how much is written on the subject, the sin will continue to surface regardless of how much is published on the topic. To me, it seems better to reflect on the sexual ethics as presented in scripture in the due course of the churchly disciplines of biblical preaching (e.g. lectio continuia), teaching, and even in personal bible study. Since we believe, in the Reformed community, in good and necessary consequence, it should not be hard to conceive of how to apply biblical ethics to our current situation.
My concern is the proliferation of literature on the topic runs the risk of just becoming white noise, or actually becoming part of the problem. Because it would seem to me, that while sex is important, even in Scripture, it must be held in balance with many other important matters as well. And on a personal level, I can remember reading many of these kinds of works in my younger years, and they didn’t help much – but, time, and the work of the Spirit and being part of a Christian community have tremendously. We just had a sermon today on the 7th commandment, and it seemed to be far more probing into the real issues behind sexual sin, and more appropriate to boot.
Just my two cents…
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If I wrote a book on Christian sex it would be really short: Get married and figure it out. 20 years & 4 kids later it has worked o.k. for me.
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Hi Jed —
No problem jumping in late. It seems like there are two issues here:
a) Should the books exist or is scripture sufficient
b) Are the books helpful
Generally when reformed people reflect on scripture one of their mechanisms for this reflection is dialoguing by writing books. Think of the number of books on justification. Assuming you aren’t objecting to those sorts of books, I’d assume the reason is you believe the issue is complex. Let me use Calvin’s complex issues which I don’t think were fully explored in scripture. Lets take one of the earliest cases: woman flirts with and drinks with a man publicly. Both he and external witnesses believe she acted in a way consistent with engagement. She denies that she had any intent to be engaged and had never sought parental consent to marry. Her parents do object to the marriage. What is scripture’s position on their current status should they be considered engaged?
I think you would agree that the position of scripture on this sort of situation is non-obvious. Scripture clearly puts a high value on engagement, scripture clearly considers promises made in front of witnesses to be important. Scripture clearly considers obedience to parents to be important…. I think there is a real issue that needs to be explored in how the church and a theocratic state should treat such a situation.
Tell me if you agree on that. Because in my opinion, that’s what’s going on here.
Now on (b) are they helpful. I’d agree they are probably quite lousy. The social conservative community is handling problems they don’t want to deal with via. massive denial and a regression into fantasy. It wouldn’t shock me if they are all almost all bad silly books. I have a theory that for people in the lower middle class on down Christian books written in the pre-Victorian era would probably be better than modern stuff, since the marital / procreative patterns are closer to modern ones and the economic issues are more in alignment yet you have a Christian culture that is more in tune with reality on the ground.
For the middle middle class on up the expectations of virginity until marriage and very late marriage are simply impossible. I suspect you need a change to a more traditional Christian doctrine with greater respect for serial monogamy via. relations of concubinage (shacking up in modern terminology) and that’s going to all be pre-Protestant which presents a problem for any reformed or evangelical. So I have no intelligent response to the books suck complaint.
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The other publishers are making out.
http://andynaselli.com/is-it-sinful-for-unmarried-couples-to-make-out?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nasellitheology+%28Andy+Naselli%29
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