In this episode, Yana Jenay is joined by Rachel Joy Welcher and Bethany Lauren for a conversation on Purity Culture and how to deconstruct it thoughtfully. Rachel Joy Welcher (@racheljwelcher) is a poet and author who currently works as an editor at Fathom Magazine and Lexham Press. Rachel also received her Master of Letters in Theology from the University of St. Andrews, where her research led her to write the book: Talking Back to Purity Culture: Rediscovering Faithful Christian Sexuality. Bethany Lauren (@simply_bible) is a writer and speaker. She loves teaching people how to read and study the Bible through her Instagram account. She also makes "good trouble" on the gram by speaking by helping others think well about theological ideas that may be worthy of biblical deconstruction, purity culture being one of them.

In this episode, these women not only get nerdy about purity culture, but they also get real as they discuss the different ways their lives have been both positively and negatively impacted by purity culture. They also end their time rejoicing in the gospel that frees us from shame and considering how we can do better at passing down an ethic of purity that is more in step with the gospel and God's vision for sex.

Take a listen and consider joining us the Talk Back following this episode on October 13, 2022, at 8 pm by becoming a Patreon subscriber at $10 or more monthly. 

When it comes to sex, many of us have read the Bible's commands about sex and ask, "Really? Did God really say that? Is He serious?" We've asked this question because living in a sexually charged world, it's sometimes hard to take God's commands about sex seriously, asking, "Has God seen the world? Is living out His sexual ethic as put forth in Scripture even possible?" In this episode, Yana Jenay takes us to the garden of Eden to reflect on the first time in history the words of God were questioned. Using the narrative of Genesis 3 as a case study, she presents a few ways we, like Eve, have rejected God's definition of what is good and allowed a distorted view of Him to lead us astray. She will discuss how viewing God's commands about sex as oppressive, patriarchal, homophobic, and impossible is ultimately rooted in our view of God. Why? Because, you see, when we trust the character of God to be good, it becomes easier to trust His commands are also good. Press play to hear more. 

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To get the reflection guide and/or join the Talk Back Discussion (9/1 @ 8pm) subscribe to The Living Single with Yana Jenay Patreon Page

Biblical Passages discussed in this episode: Genesis 6:1-6; Genesis 3:1-7; Ephesians 1:15-22

Books mentioned in this episode: Yinka Were is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn and Talking Back to Purity Culture by Rachel Joy Welcher 

Listen to a full sermon on "Did God Really Say?" from Yana Jenay

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More About the Host, Yana Jenay

Yana Jenay Conner is a writer and Bible teacher who seeks to help others think well about faith and culture. By God’s grace, she has served in full-time ministry for the past fifteen years in both the church and parachurch context and earned a Master in Divinity in Christian Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She currently serves at Vertical Church as the Discipleship Director and hosts a podcast called Living Single. You can find more of her writing and teaching at yanajenay.com or by following her on IG @yanajenay.

In this episode, Yana Jenay asks the question, "Are We Asking the Right Questions About Sex?" She discusses how oftentimes, people are asking the "who," "what," and "when" questions and how though these are good questions to ask, maybe the better question to ask is, "why sex?" Why did God create it? It's possible that when we answer the "why" question, the "who," "what," and "when" questions become easier to answer and easier to follow. 

Additional Show Notes:

(1) You can register for the Jude 3 Project's Courageous Conversation Conference using this link.

(2) Join Yana Jenay for this episode's Talk Back on August 4th at 8 pm by becoming a Patreon subscriber at $10 a month or more using this link.

(3) Scripture passages mentioned in episode: Psalm 16 (not 18); Psalm 51; Psalm 139; Genesis 1-2

In this episode, Yana Jenay talks with her friend Omar King to hear his personal story and glean from his insights about sex as a theologian and counselor, who has worked with men and women who have struggled with sexual sin and addictions. They cover everything from what they learned as kids about sex, shame, purity culture, and what God designed sex to be in the beginning. 

WE BACK!!!! Welcome to Season 2 of Living Single with Yana Jenay! This season we are going to be talking about sex, sexuality, and singleness. Though this can be a sensitive and polarizing conversation for folks, Yana Jenay feels that it would be highly irresponsible and cowardly to NOT have a robust conversation about sex, sexuality, and how the two impact a single person's ability to be content and celebrate their relationship status. However, before we jump into conversations about sex, same-sex attraction, abstinence, masturbation, and more, we need to establish a shared definition of sex. In this episode, Yana Jenay shares what she discovered on the internet in her search for a basic clinical definition of sex and her sexual education (or the lack thereof) growing up in a conservative Christian home. This episode is for all the grown-ups out there whose parents didn't sit them down to have the sex talk. Click play to hear more, and be sure to head over to Patreon to support the podcast and reserve your spot for the Episode One's Talk Back on July 7th. Here's the Patreon Link. 

What's good, yall?! We back!!!! Season Two is currently loading and I can't wait for us to jump into a conversation with you about sex, sexuality, and singleness. Yep, we're going there. But, because these topics can be sensitive and bring up a lot of questions, each episode is going to be followed by a conversation for Patreon subscribers. Join my Patreon Crew today by using this link. 

First Episode Launches: June 29th

First Conversation: July 7th

Yep. We're doing it. We're having an uncomfortable yet necessary conversation about being black, female, and single. In the 2010 Census, it was reported that 71% of black women have never been married. 71%! This number is telling a story and Yana Jenay is joined by Ekemini Uwan to talk through some of the factors that contribute to this disparity. However, the goal isn't to gripe and moan, but to rather understand the roots of these factors to provide a space for black women to grief, find language for their pain, and consider how their story can find refuge in the pages of Scripture. 

P.S. If you are not black, female, or married, please know this episode is also for you. Use it as an opportunity to understand the unique ways your black sisters in Christ are navigating singleness and as a model for how to navigate your unmet desires. 

Also, you can pre-order Truth's Table:The Black Women's Musing on Life, Love, and Liberation using this link: https://bookshop.org/books/truth-s-table-black-women-s-musings-on-life-love-and-liberation/9780593239735