Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is)

Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is) - A Study Guide for Women is a Christian-focused resource co-authored by Shannon and Joshua Harris, designed to help women address lust through biblical principles. It provides discussion questions, accountability tools, and reflections to foster holiness, framing lust as a universal struggle rather than a male-specific issue. The guide emphasizes prayer, community support, and scriptural alignment.

This study guide targets Christian women seeking to navigate purity culture or manage temptations related to lust. It’s ideal for individual reflection, small groups, or church classes, particularly those familiar with Joshua Harris’s I Kissed Dating Goodbye or invested in evangelical teachings on sexuality.

For readers aligned with conservative evangelical teachings, the guide offers structured spiritual tools. However, those critiquing purity culture may find its approach outdated, given broader societal shifts. Its value depends on theological perspective and interest in Shannon Harris’s earlier work before her public reassessment of these ideals.

Key ideas include:

• Lust as a spiritual issue requiring repentance and accountability.
• Gender-specific strategies for resisting temptation.
• The role of community and scripture in achieving purity.
• Emphasis on Jesus’s transformative power over sin.

It combines biblical analysis with practical exercises, urging women to identify triggers, pursue accountability partnerships, and reframe desires through prayer. The material avoids stigmatizing sexuality while advocating for self-control aligned with evangelical values.

Shannon Harris contributed as a co-author during her time as a pastor’s wife and conservative Christian figure. Her later memoir, The Woman They Wanted, critiques the gender roles and theological constraints she experienced, contrasting with this guide’s stance.

Both works emerged from the 1990s-2000s purity culture movement. While I Kissed Dating Goodbye focused on relational boundaries, this study guide tackles lust directly, extending the Harrises’ teachings to women’s experiences.

Critics argue it perpetuates shame-based theology and oversimplifies complex human sexuality. Its approach has been reevaluated amid broader rejections of purity culture, notably by Shannon Harris herself in her post-divorce memoir.

Yes, it features structured questions for individual or group use, prompting self-reflection on topics like media consumption, emotional triggers, and biblical interpretations of lust. Activities aim to foster open dialogue and accountability.

In her 2023 memoir, Harris critiques the patriarchal systems underlying purity culture, contrasting sharply with this guide’s uncritical endorsement of those ideals. Her later work highlights personal growth and rejecting prescribed roles, offering a post-evangelical perspective.

While some churches still use it, many congregations have shifted toward more nuanced teachings on sexuality. Its relevance depends on doctrinal alignment, though readers often pair it with contemporary critiques for balanced discussion.

• “Lust Is Not Just a Guy Problem” underscores its core thesis.
• “Jesus can free anyone from [lust’s] power” reflects its theological focus on redemption.
• “Celebrate purity” encapsulates the aspirational tone.