Costly Tolerance: A Review of R. Albert Mohler Jr., Desire and Deceit

R. Albert Mohler Jr. opens Desire and Deceit with a story from J. R. R. Tolkien. In this story, which takes place in 1941, Tolkien writes a letter to his son John about marriage and human sexuality. In this letter the elder Tolkien pointed to many truths of human sexuality that remain vitally relevant today. Tolkien's primary purpose is to explain to Michael the pitfalls that are present in a sexually charged society. Because of his keen insight into the role of sexuality in society, Tolkien's characters embodied honor, valor and character—virtues which are often lacking in contemporary writing. Mohler uses this introduction to demonstrate how Tolkien's understanding of sexuality differs from most people's today.

In chapters 2-3 Mohler uses this introduction to examine a Christian and secular view of lust. For the secular view, Mohler contends with the writings of philosopher Simon Blackburn. Blackburn wishes to buck the trend of viewing lust from a negative viewpoint, which he believes is rooted in Christianity, and he wants his readers to accept the reality of lust as a part of the human makeup. Against Blackburn, Mohler argues that Christianity alone is able to explain why lust is deadly. In chapter 3 Mohler counters this secular view of lust with a Christian view as found in Joshua Harris's book, Not Even a Hint. Whereas Blackburn does not place moral praise or blame upon lust, Harris views lust as an inherently sinful action: "Lust is to want what you don't have and weren't meant to have" (19). Mohler's purpose in this chapter is to demonstrate lust is not the result of biological evolution that is a reality of humanity, but is a result of the Fall. Within this context sex in marriage is viewed as a good gift of God but is subject to countless distortions because of sin. Mohler ends this chapter with a paradigm in which Blackburn views lust as a virtue, and Harris sees it as a vice. Mohler then adds that lust is not only a vice, but "it is a sin that ignites yet other sins" (25).

In chapters 4-5 Mohler deals with how pornography has affected marriage. He argues that pornography has two distinct influences in today's society. First, it is easily accessible and has become incorporated into the cultural mainstream. Pornography saturates advertising, entertainment, the internet, and a host of other mediums. Second, pornographic images are now celebrated as a good in many sectors of society. To these Mohler adds a third facet that is a result of the previous two. This third factor is that increased exposure to pornographic images leads to an increased need for stimulation. The result is a downward spiral and a hunger that is never satisfied. In chapter 4 Mohler introduces a term coined by Sigmund Freud that is used throughout the book: polymorphous perversity. Mohler's purpose in dealing with pornography at length is that it "represents one of the most insidious attacks upon the sanctity of marriage and the goodness of sex within the one-flesh relationship" (32). In chapter five Mohler responds to the challenge of pornography by defending the sanctity and integrity of Christian marriage. Here he sets forth a brief but effective apology of what marriage should look like in the Christian context.

After tackling the challenge of pornography, Mohler next moves to the subject of homosexuality. In fact, Mohler's response to homosexuality encapsulates the majority of the book. He writes, "The issues of abortion and homosexuality are likely to prove the most divisive issues Americans have faced since the Civil War" (43). For this reason, Mohler explores how tolerance of homosexuality has affected society. Chapter 6 serves as a brief introduction to the roots of the homosexual movement in the twentieth century. Specifically he sees the Stonewall riots of 1969, in which police raided a homosexual bar and the patrons fought back, as a defining moment in the homosexual movement. Proponents of homosexuality moved from a fringe movement looked down upon in society to being a liberation society in which its adherents are viewed as law-abiding citizens with certain rights. Chapter 7 continues this thought by examining the "Hermeneutic of Legitimization" (51). This phrase is rather self-explanatory. It represents the desire for those outside of the homosexual community to view the homosexual's place in society as legitimate and right. This also involves legitimization of homosexuality in the church. In this chapter Mohler addresses homosexual interpretation of pertinent Scriptural passages (Genesis 19; Lev 18:22; 20:13; Rom 1:26-27). Mohler states that the result of this homosexual hermeneutic has been confusion in the church. Mohler ends this chapter by stating that the homosexual hermeneutic has been "stunningly successful in confusing the church" (61).

Chapter 8 sets forth a biblical worldview by which to view homosexuality. One of the challenges of this issue is that the argument has moved from discussing what homosexuals do to who homosexuals are. The act of homosexuality is no longer discussed as much as the sexual orientation of the person. Mohler cites specific instances in which homosexuality has become legitimized, such as it being removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Orders in 1973 (65). Mohler spends the rest of the chapter explaining why the legitimization of homosexuality is not an acceptable hermeneutic. Even if homosexuality had a genetic basis, which is unlikely, it would not diminish the moral significance that is associated with the act. Chapter 9 offers a response to the homosexual movement. He places his response primarily upon biblical authority, and secondly upon the use of natural law. He argues that the Bible is clear in its stance against homosexuality, and that this is the final authority on the issue. He also states that natural law reasoning may be useful but is secondary to the unambiguous truth of Scripture.

Chapter 10 discusses how homosexuality has affected relationships, specifically between men. Today it is rare to see men having close intimate friendships without fears of homosexuality. Mohler views the movie Brokeback Mountain as a culmination of how homosexuality has affected this relationship. Mohler compares this male friendship phobia to past male relationships such as the fictional characters of Frodo and Sam Gamgee, many of Shakespeare's characters, and the historic relationship of David and Jonathan. Here one finds strong male relationships without a hint of homosexuality. Mohler writes that the "normalization of homosexuality destroys the natural order o friendships among men" (92). After Mohler demonstrates what homosexuality has done to male relationships, he uses chapter 11 to examine the strides homosexuality has made since 1989. He uses this date because of the 1989 publication of After the Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90's. In this book Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen use psychiatry and public relations to make a case for how homosexuality can come to be accepted by society. One of the strategies of this book that proved effective was portraying homosexuals as victims because of the AIDS epidemic. Kirk and Masden use this strategy to represent those who oppose homosexuality as the victimizers. Throughout this chapter Mohler analyzes the strategies used in this book to advance the homosexual cause which in time proved to be effective. Mohler believes that Christianity represents the greatest threat to the normalization of homosexuality. This chapter serves to show the Christian what he or she is up against in this debate.

Chapters 12 and 13 examine two figures that have been prominent in the homosexual movement: Alfred Kinsey and Andrew Sullivan. Kinsey is viewed by many as being the father of sexual research in America. He is often seen in homosexual communities as a man of science who granted credence to homosexuality. Mohler's purpose in this chapter is twofold: to show some of the inconsistencies in Kinsey's research and to show how

Kinsey's personal life biased his work. Sullivan is a public intellectual and well-known homosexual who has written much on the topic. Mohler focuses attention on Sullivan's article "The End of Gay Culture" in which Sullivan laments the loss of the distinctiveness of homosexuality as it has become accepted by society. Mohler states that his purpose in analyzing Sullivan's article is to "awaken thinking Christians to the fact that homosexuality is being normalized in the larger culture" (121).

Chapter 14 briefly addresses the subject of homosexual couples raising children. Specifically Mohler writes about the irony of lesbian couples that are raising sons. This chapter demonstrates one example of the polymorphous perversity that is present in society.

Chapter 15 serves as a transition in this work in that Mohler examines the roots of polymorphous perversity in the early twentieth century. This chapter therefore acts to examine the epistemological basis of the homosexual movement. Polymorphous perversity represents a lack of any type of sexual restraint placed upon an individual. This lack of constraint leads to increased deviation from God's purpose in male and female interaction.

Chapter 16 briefly examines seven strategies for facing the challenge of polymorphous perversity. These strategies include psychological, medical, political, legal, educational, cultural, and theological. In each of these examples Mohler examines how they can be used either by secularists or by Christians.

In the final chapter, Mohler sets forth four ways for the believer to combat the polymorphous perversity of the culture. These include fighting on every front, bearing witness to the truth, creating communities of faithful marriages and healthy families, and rescuing the perishing and loving the unlovely. Taking these strategies to heart will certainly help in the recovery from a distorted view of sex. The book ends with a call for believers to stand for the truth and to combat polymorphous perversity in whatever form it may come.

Mohler has made a fine contribution in Desire and Deceit, and this book will serve well to equip Christians to confront rampant sexual immorality in contemporary culture.