Breaking the Double Standard

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:28  
  
One of the most troubling aspects of how we approach sex in the church and society is the double standard between men and women. Historically, sexual purity codes were never really about morality or sin; they were about economics.  

Thousands of years ago, when civilizations moved from being nomadic to agricultural, men wanted to ensure that their land, wealth, and property were passed down to legitimate heirs. Without modern science to verify paternity, the best way to do that was to develop social rules around chastity and virginity.
 
Families took these rules seriously because a daughter’s virginity was tied to the family’s status and wealth. A woman's value was tied to her purity, and in many cases, this had nothing to do with spiritual health or moral standing, it was about maintaining control and protecting assets.  

The sad reality is that women who didn’t fit into this mold were often shamed, dehumanized, and given derogatory labels. But what’s even more disturbing is that this standard didn’t apply equally to men. Men weren’t judged the same way for their sexual behavior, and that imbalance still affects how we view gender and sexuality today.
 
This is a legacy we need to challenge and dismantle. Shaming people, especially women, for their sexuality creates a toxic environment where people feel they have to hide a basic part of their humanity.  

It keeps people from having a healthy relationship with themselves and with sex. We carry the burden of a system that’s been in place for centuries, but it’s time to do better. As followers of Christ, we’re called to see each other as equals, without the baggage of these outdated double standards.
 
Let’s reject the idea that sexual purity defines someone’s worth. Instead of reinforcing harmful stigmas, let’s create spaces where people can live authentically and without shame. We are all made in the image of God, and it’s time we start treating each other that way—without judgment, without labels, and with a deep sense of grace and understanding.