Clear Winter Nights: A Journey into Truth, Doubt, and What Comes After

by Trevin K. Wax

think about what we’re saying about human beings if we define ourselves by whatever sexual urges we have. Is that all we are? Are we nothing more than our sexual temptations? Is that the defining thing about us?” “What do you mean?” “Let’s say you get married,” Gil said. Chris immediately thought of Ashley, and his heart leaped and sunk at the same time. “Now, when you get married,” Gil went on, “you may find that you’re still attracted to other women. Women you’re not married to. Does this mean you ought to call yourself a polygamist?” “Hope not,” Chris said. He managed a smile. “ ‘Hope not’? Of course not! And would you consider me a bigot or hateful if I as a Christian pastor were to tell you not to act on those desires? If I were to say, ‘Stay faithful to your wife’?” “No.” Again Chris thought of his father. “Exactly. We are not defined by our temptations. We are defined by our redemption.” “But Chase says he has to be this way. Otherwise, he’s not being true to who he is.” “That’s because he sees his desires at the core of his being. But Jesus never says be true to yourself. Jesus says to be true—” “To your future self,”