There are many things to be said about the tragic killing of eight people in Atlanta, and many things that could have prevented this from happening. While, I do not mean to imply that purity culture alone led to this, if we draw the logic of the Church’s current purity culture all the way out, this is its conclusion. And it needs to change.
The consequences of breaking God’s word are all around us today, from the public health crisis that is our pornography epidemic, to the threat of rising sexually transmitted infections as the coronavirus pandemic lessens, to the explosion of child pornography on the internet. Once again, God’s word is right. As I have noted in the past, human nature does not change, which means that we still face the same issues our ancestors faced in biblical times.
According to a former roommate of the alleged Atlanta mass shooter, the man struggled with sexual sins he committed in the establishments he attacked. The New York Times responded with an article calling the suspect’s “fixation on sex” a “familiar thorn for evangelicals.”
In the latest episode of the reality dating competition show The Bachelor, female contestant Madison Prewett confessed the importance of her faith in her life.
“Prosperity theology” says that God matches faith with financial blessing and physical well-being. Common in Pentecostal and charismatic circles and at the heart of popular ministries such as Joel Osteen’s and Kenneth Copeland’s, the teaching has made many pastors and circuit speakers quite rich.
It also implies that if you are poor or face health setbacks — well, that’s ultimately on you, friendo.
