Welcome
We are thrilled that you and your organization are participating in the Identity Project. It is essential that young and old alike learn how to talk about one of the defining issues of our generation, identity. Understanding our identity in Christ is a foundational topic for every Christian and cannot be overlooked in personal development and spiritual growth.
The Identity Project (IP) is produced by Faith Beyond Belief (FBB), an organization that helps Christians become effective ambassadors for Christ in everyday conversations. The IP was created as a response to the needs of Christian schools, youth groups and churches who are grappling with the issues of sexuality and gender. This project will not cover the biology of sex, but it does establish an alternative narrative to our culture’s view of sexuality. Our approach is that sexuality and gender are parts of a holistic view of what it means to be human. Rather than isolating an issue such as transgenderism and attempting to create an identity from that, the Christian view of sexuality is that sexuality is just one small part of who God made us to be. We don’t need to create a separate club just for gay-identified people for example, because sexuality is part of God’s design for every person.
The project consists of creating a discussion group or club that provides a safe space in which to talk about issues such as sexuality, gender and pornography. The discussions are facilitated by a Christian volunteer called the Discussion Leader. The Leader should be carefully selected by the local community, and must be committed to approaching these conversations from a Christian worldview.
We hope this project will encourage your group to openly discuss these issues so that they can understand that the biblical view states that sexuality is designed by a good God who wants us to flourish in every area of life. We also believe God can handle any question or objection, and that we don’t have to be ashamed of His teachings.
We look forward to working with you and your Christian community to help address these issues with grace and truth.
Please review these materials to help you implement the project at your school, church or Christian organization. And feel free to contact us at info@faithbeyondbelief.ca for more information or if you have further questions.
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The 13 Topics
The following are the 13 topics an Identity Project group will discuss. For each topic, we include goals, discussion questions around sexuality and gender identity, and practical ways to live out the biblical worldview. When you see the “SHARE” sections, we encourage you to read the text aloud.
1 Why Talk about Sex?
In the first session, we discuss various views of sex and how it’s defined, and then ask why so many young people are focused on sex and sexual identity. We discuss what kind of values the culture teaches about sex and how the biblical view of sex provides a better understanding of how our sexuality and identity are designed.
2 What is Identity?
In this session, we examine what is meant by identity and what determines identity (race, gender, sexuality, faith, age, marriage, wider relationships, etc.). We emphasize the point that we may not choose our race or sexual attractions, but we can choose not to make those aspects of our lives into our core identities. This session shows that not all identities are equal in impact or importance.
3 What is Male and Female?
In this session, we ask what is “male” and “female.” We also discuss why so many downplay the differences. In contrast, we look at how the Bible defines masculinity and femininity in relationship to each other and with God, not as independent identities. The biblical view teaches that both men and women reflect God’s image. We also discuss how the definition of male should be expanded to include every man, and female to include every woman.
4 Defining Gender
In this session, we define gender and discuss why so many want to make this their core identity. We talk about the role feelings should play in defining ourselves, and whether or not feelings are more important than facts. We also ask what role society, and ultimately God, has in determining our identity.
5 The Reason for Sexuality
This session builds on the previous lessons and explores the purpose for our gender differences. We discuss ,“What is sexuality?” and “What role our faith should play in shaping our sexual identity?” This helps us explore the central question of the Identity Project: “Should sexuality shape our identity?”
6 What is Love?—The Four Loves
This session gives us another way of looking at love. We respond to the claim that, ‘love is love’ by showing how God designed us for four kinds of love: Storge, Philia, Eros and Agape. Each type of love is essential to human flourishing, but they are not interchangeable; they meet different needs. Finally, we address why culture has sexualized all forms of love, drastically impacting how we love each other.
7 Exploring the Meaning and Purpose of Marriage
In this session, we discuss God’s special plan for marriage and its importance in building societies and people. We discuss how alternatives to marriage (polygamy, same-sex marriage) cannot compare to what opposite-sex marriage can do.
8 Singleness
This session covers the issue of singleness. We talk about how God calls some people to be single and how they have a role to play in church and society. We also discuss how single people can handle sexual desires according to a biblical worldview.
9 What is Sexual Integrity?
This session follows the previous sessions and looks at problems associated with pre-marital sex and extra-marital sex by discussing definitions of consent and integrity. We discuss what constitutes sex and why celibacy outside of marriage is a good part of God’s design.
10 Pornography—Does it Hurt Anyone?
In this session, we examine lust vs love vs attraction. We discuss what pornography is, and how it divorces sexual pleasure from relationship. We also discuss how it destroys the importance of relationships by turning people (especially women) into objects for pleasure, thereby fostering human trafficking.
11 Pornography—Can you be Addicted?
This session covers the growing problem pornography addiction. We discuss why any addiction, even to good things, can become sin. This session also examines pornography’s invasion of daily life and what the inner world of the addict looks like. Finally, we discuss why our bodies and the bodies of others, should be valued as God’s creation, not as objects.
12 Homosexuality—Defining “Gay”
In this session, we look at the many ways we understand what the word, “gay” means, particularly what kind of identity it offers. We also discuss the origins of the words “homosexual” and “heterosexual.” We answer the question, “Does same-sex attraction mean you’re gay?”
13 Loving Our LGBT Neighbours
In our last session, we discuss how we can show God’s love to our friends who deal with same-sex attraction and gender identity issues. This includes an acknowledgement that Christians have mistreated their LGBT neighbours. The session also explores ways to have conversations with others who disagree with the Biblical view of sexuality.