Isn’t the Bible Sexist and Outdated About Gender and Sexuality?
“Why does the Bible seem so old-fashioned about men, women, and sex? Isn’t it sexist and judgmental to say marriage is only between a man and a woman?”
“If God loves everyone, why would the Bible have rules that seem to limit gender roles or restrict who you can love? In a world where freedom and equality matter, aren’t these teachings repressive, unfair, or even harmful?”
The Bible isn’t anti-sex or anti-women — it’s anti-counterfeit.
The Bible’s vision of gender and sexuality often clashes with modern assumptions about freedom, identity, and desire. But it’s not about control or repression — it’s about God’s good design that leads to real flourishing.
1. Creation and Design
From the beginning, God created humanity in His image, male and female (Genesis 1:27). This isn’t random or oppressive — it’s purposeful. Gender is part of God’s masterpiece design, not a social accident.
2. Equality and Value
Men and women are equal in worth and dignity. Paul declares, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Distinction in role never equals difference in value — just as Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct but equally divine.
3. Roles and Responsibilities
Marriage roles are framed by love and sacrifice, not dominance. Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church — laying down their lives (Ephesians 5:25). Wives are called to respect and partner with their husbands (Ephesians 5:22). Both are called to mutual submission (Ephesians 5:21), reflecting God’s own love.
4. Sexuality as Covenant
Sex is not casual; it’s covenantal. God designed it for marriage between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24; Hebrews 13:4). Boundaries don’t kill joy; they protect it. Like fire in a fireplace, sex in God’s design brings warmth and life. Outside those boundaries, it burns.
5. Abuse Isn’t God’s Design
Yes, Scripture has been twisted to justify abuse or inequality. But that’s distortion, not design. God’s intent is always dignity, respect, and flourishing for both men and women.
Conclusion:
The Bible’s teaching on gender and sexuality may cut against the grain of modern culture, but it’s not out of date — it’s timeless. God isn’t trying to repress desire but to direct it toward covenant love that reflects His character and produces real freedom.
The REAL Question
Our culture says you build your identity around your desires — but desires change, and they can wreck you. God says your identity isn’t in who you sleep with or how you label yourself, but in being His son or daughter through Jesus. That’s not repression, that’s freedom.
So the real issue isn’t “Is the Bible sexist and outdated?” — it’s “Will I keep defining myself by urges that shift with the wind, or will I anchor my identity in the God who made me, loves me, and never changes?”