Pure: Why the Bible’s Plan for Sexuality Isn’t Outdated, Irrelevant, or Oppressive

Few things bring more immediate scrutiny and impassioned angst among young adult Christians today than hearing the words “purity culture.” Serious flaws from purity culture deserve to be scrutinized, especially given its lasting negative effects on some raised in the movement. Many Christians today reject the movement—and all that it stood for—wholesale. However, we can’t ignore the clear sexual ethics of the Bible. Pure dives into the big picture of God’s design for men and women regarding sexuality, and seeks to reclaim one of the clearest teaching in the scriptures: the call to sexual purity. While purity culture gets the truth right, the approach and gospel elements it espouses are often wrong. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water, but rather celebrate God’s great design for marriage and the loving boundaries he has put in place for our joy, protection, and flourishing.

The book is organized into three sections and fourteen chapters and provides a comprehensive exploration of the topic:

Section 1: Setting the Stage – This section opens by delving into the background and cultural context surrounding the “purity culture” phenomenon.  These chapters offer groundwork for an understanding of its rise, backlash, consequences, and eventual decline. Examine the major flaws associated with purity culture, for example, its excessive emphasis on finding a spouse rather than honoring and glorifying God.

Section 2: Passing Through Living as Exiles in a Sex-Crazed World – This section focuses on how to navigate the challenges of living in a culture saturated with distorted views of sexuality. The author addresses seven specific lies propagated by society, such as the expectation of sex, the normalization of pornography, and the importance of secrecy.

Section 3: Where Do We Go from Here? – The final section offers practical guidance and insights for individuals in various relational contexts, not solely focused on singles pursuing marriage. While the book’s primary aim is to equip singles, its principles are relevant and beneficial to married couples and those who have chosen different paths in relation to marriage.

Dean Inserra is a graduate of Liberty University and holds a M.A. in Theological Studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is pursuing a D. Min. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is the founding pastor of City Church.

He is passionate about reaching the city of Tallahassee with the Gospel, to see a worldwide impact made for Jesus.

Dean is married to Krissie and they have two sons, Tommy and Ty, and one daughter, Sally Ashlyn. He likes baseball, wrestling, and the Miami Hurricanes. He believes Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback and that everyone who disagrees holds the right to be wrong.