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Intersex in Christ: Ambiguous Biology and the Gospel
Intersex is an umbrella term for many different conditions that cause ambiguous sexual biology. Intersex people are "in between," neither clearly male nor clearly female. Intersex has been largely hidden through surgery and secrecy, but is now coming out into the open. Many intersex people have experienced physical, psychological, and relational pain because of the shame attached to their bodily difference. The existence of people with unusual sexual biology presents a challenge to the Christian ideal of humanity as male and female. How can evangelical Christians rightly respond to this phenomenon? Intersex in Christ provides a balance of grace and truth, upholding male and female as God's created intent, while insisting that there is a positive place in the kingdom of God and the world for people with unusual sexual biology. Intersex people are created in the image of God, because of the love of God. Jesus accepts, loves, and dignifies intersex people. The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news for all people, however sexed. An evangelical response to intersex will therefore be one of acceptance, love, justice, and inclusion. Intersex in Christ will help both intersex Christians and the church to understand intersex through the lens of Christ.
"What is sex? Doesn't everyone know? Not when it comes to intersex people. Thank God for the clear insights provided by this book. At a time when the politics of sex is 'in' and the radical left has come 'out' . . . caring Christians can no longer remain in the closet. It's time to increase our knowledge, define our theology, and improve our practice in this important area. That's what Jesus would have us do."
--Stuart Devenish, author of Ordinary Saints
"For many Christians confused about issues of sexuality Jenny Cox has provided a model to guide us. Her unstinting Christ-centeredness imparts courage to deal uncompromisingly with a raw and neglected subject. Her relational Trinitarian theology offers abounding hope to intersexed and unambiguously sexed persons alike. This book reorients our sense of identity to the brokenness and healing of Jesus himself in whom is found a shame-free wholeness. A book for all seeking good news."
--John Yates, chair, Evangelical Alliance Foundation
Jennifer Cox is an adjunct faculty member at Tabor College of Higher Education in Perth, Western Australia, where she teaches systematic theology. She is the author of several books, academic articles on disability and women's ministry, many devotional articles, and most recently a blog. Jennifer is married with four adult children. She has been in relationship with Jesus since 1982.
"What is sex? Doesn't everyone know? Not when it comes to intersex people. Thank God for the clear insights provided by this book. At a time when the politics of sex is 'in' and the radical left has come 'out' . . . caring Christians can no longer remain in the closet. It's time to increase our knowledge, define our theology, and improve our practice in this important area. That's what Jesus would have us do."
--Stuart Devenish, author of Ordinary Saints
"For many Christians confused about issues of sexuality Jenny Cox has provided a model to guide us. Her unstinting Christ-centeredness imparts courage to deal uncompromisingly with a raw and neglected subject. Her relational Trinitarian theology offers abounding hope to intersexed and unambiguously sexed persons alike. This book reorients our sense of identity to the brokenness and healing of Jesus himself in whom is found a shame-free wholeness. A book for all seeking good news."
--John Yates, chair, Evangelical Alliance Foundation
Jennifer Cox is an adjunct faculty member at Tabor College of Higher Education in Perth, Western Australia, where she teaches systematic theology. She is the author of several books, academic articles on disability and women's ministry, many devotional articles, and most recently a blog. Jennifer is married with four adult children. She has been in relationship with Jesus since 1982.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 23, 2022
a measured and compassionate approach to a widely ignored subject
This was both a heartbreaking and inspiring exploration of the injustices faced by intersex people, as well as how the gospel provides identity and hope towards them also.
Jennifer Anne Cox provided a detailed outline of various intersex variations as well as listing some experiences and medical interactions that have typically been the norm. She unpacks the work of several biologists, theologians and physicians to provide a solid foundation to then explore Genesis through to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and how these events can inspire both the ambiguous and unambiguously sexed.
This was both a heartbreaking and inspiring exploration of the injustices faced by intersex people, as well as how the gospel provides identity and hope towards them also.
Jennifer Anne Cox provided a detailed outline of various intersex variations as well as listing some experiences and medical interactions that have typically been the norm. She unpacks the work of several biologists, theologians and physicians to provide a solid foundation to then explore Genesis through to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and how these events can inspire both the ambiguous and unambiguously sexed.
January 17, 2022
This is a profoundly helpful book.
I could have done without all of ch. 3 which dealt with sex, gender, and intersex from a theological perspective. I found many of the claims a little off base, and at one point the author argues that marriage is a sacrament. Marriage is not a sacrament. There were a couple of things that she mentioned that I didn't agree with and found them to be merely her own opinions about how she interprets the gender debates. Her position was at times more conservative, and other times more liberal. There just wasn't a lot of consistency in Ch 3, which is why I do not view it as positively as the rest of the book. Since roles on men and women already have so many views and there is so much heated debate surrounding the topic, I believe it kind of derails the point of the book - dealing with intersex issues in a pastoral way.
Overall, this book is desperately needed and was a fabulous book. While at times it has its own unique weaknesses, the author was brave in dealing with a topic that is often ignored by the Christian community. The church is desperate for more balanced books on this subject, and I believe it is an important addition to the already slim literature on this subject. I hope this work inspires others to talk about this subject, care about this subject, and maybe even write about this subject. For that, it deserves its praise, and I will recommend this book.
Anyone who approaches this book will find something they don't fully agree with, read it anyway. Think about this topic in a deep way. That is what I hope this book will do, help Christians to think more deeply on this subject. It is needed.
I could have done without all of ch. 3 which dealt with sex, gender, and intersex from a theological perspective. I found many of the claims a little off base, and at one point the author argues that marriage is a sacrament. Marriage is not a sacrament. There were a couple of things that she mentioned that I didn't agree with and found them to be merely her own opinions about how she interprets the gender debates. Her position was at times more conservative, and other times more liberal. There just wasn't a lot of consistency in Ch 3, which is why I do not view it as positively as the rest of the book. Since roles on men and women already have so many views and there is so much heated debate surrounding the topic, I believe it kind of derails the point of the book - dealing with intersex issues in a pastoral way.
Overall, this book is desperately needed and was a fabulous book. While at times it has its own unique weaknesses, the author was brave in dealing with a topic that is often ignored by the Christian community. The church is desperate for more balanced books on this subject, and I believe it is an important addition to the already slim literature on this subject. I hope this work inspires others to talk about this subject, care about this subject, and maybe even write about this subject. For that, it deserves its praise, and I will recommend this book.
Anyone who approaches this book will find something they don't fully agree with, read it anyway. Think about this topic in a deep way. That is what I hope this book will do, help Christians to think more deeply on this subject. It is needed.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews