by Rob Bell

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review by Joseph Thouvenel

For many, sexuality is simply what happens between two people involving physical pleasure. But that's only a small percentage of what sexuality is. Our sexuality is all of the ways we strive to reconnect with our world, with each other, and with God.

I heard Rob Bell speak several years ago at a national Christian camp conference in Savannah, Georgia. I am usually skeptical when it comes to event speakers sharing their wit and wisdom with hundreds of people they have only just met. Through the course of a few days, however, Bell became my exception to this rule. Bell spoke with a passion and insight to which I could easily relate. He articulated truth in ways that were “outside the box.” He utilized his knowledge of Greek and Hebrew to flesh out the idea of who God is as Yahweh, and just how central this concept is to everything we are and everything we do (including camping ministry).

Reading Sex God was much like listening to Bell speak. It is a book that is passionate, engaging, filled with biblical insights about nuances in the language of Scripture, somewhat edgy, and hopefully honest. Sex God is an important and refreshing glimpse into the value and devaluing of sex and sexuality within the realms of our human relationships and our relationship with the Creator. The overarching theme of Sex God is our need to be loved and the ways in which we go about expressing that need in our interactions with those around us. Bell argues that human sexuality cannot continue to be defined as purely physical, because it encompasses the emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of a person as well. In fact, Bell advocates that God is behind our deepest desires and these will only be wholly satisfied when we give all of ourselves to him.

It seems that too often conversations about sex or sexuality are found either in the crude discussions on prime-time television shows, or in hushed and often stilted conversations between trusted friends or confidants. Indeed, sex can be a challenging conversation topic even among married couples. Fortunately, Bell offers a hopeful voice into this dialogue by reflecting on how the Christian faith can reinterpret our flawed concepts of sex and ultimately bring us to the realization that our sexuality is a not-so-subtle reminder of the union we are to have with God.

We're disconnected from each other, and we know it. It's not how things are supposed to be. Even people who would say they have no faith in God or in any sort of high being or supreme power still have a sense that there is a way things are supposed to be. And that way involves us as humans being connected with each other.

It is important to note that Bell writes his books in a conversational, train-of-thought style. Sex God has an informal, even casual tone and yet is well supplemented by research and footnotes. (In fact, I found myself reading the endnotes with as much interest as I read the rest of the book.) Bell utilizes his biblical linguistic ability to broaden the reader's sense of both Old and New Testament concepts of sex and sexuality in surprisingly enlightening ways. I especially appreciate that Bell does not assume his readers are Christian. He paints theological truths in ways that can be meaningful no matter a person's place in his or her faith journey.

While Sex God may not be for everyone due to its mature subject matter, it is likely to appeal to readers who can apply its themes to continued reflection and dialogue. It is the type of book I envision someday reading with my teenage son in an effort to help him understand perspectives on healthy sexuality. It would also be quite accessible and relevant to single young adults trying to navigate the realms of dating and courtship. It could even make a great text for a seminary course, or be a helpful tool for married (or engaged) couples.

Our society is in need of more voices like Bell. Sex God constructively engages Christians (and non-Christians) with themes and ideas about a topic we seem to concede as too controversial and that we simply ignore altogether. Whether you agree or disagree with his perspectives and conclusions, Bell's book is one that is thought-provoking and engaging.

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