Faith
The American Board of Christian Sex Therapists is committed to integrating professional standards and the Christian faith within the field of sex therapy. Applicants to ABCST must be able to agree with the Statement of Faith appearing below.
Statement of Faith
We believe the Bible to be inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whom the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
This Statement of Faith comes from the National Association of Evangelicals
In addition to a general statement of faith, ABCST members share a general theology of sexuality. While we know there will be difference of opinion on the specifics, it is expected that therapists certified by ABCST agree with, and counsel their clients in accordance with, the following:
General Theology of Sexuality
Our sexuality is part of God’s creation and is a good gift from God intended for us to take delight in.
God’s revealed will for sexual expression includes sexual fidelity in marriage and chastity outside of marriage.
Sexuality, like all parts of who we are as persons, has been affected by the Fall as evidenced by desires that are not in keeping with God’s will for sexual expression.
God is working in our lives to redeem His people, and we, as sexual beings, participate in that redemptive experience.
Ultimately, all of our incompleteness will be made complete in God’s economy, as God’s purposes to redeem His creation are fulfilled in Glorification.
Personal Theology of Sex
Each applicant must submit a 6-10 page paper reflecting their personal theology of sex. The purpose of this submission is not to judge the applicant’s personal theology but to confirm that they have thought through integrating theology and sexuality. Applicants may write a general paper evidencing their overall theology of sex or may select specific sexual issues and discuss the theological integration of that particular issue.
While this is a personal statement, papers are expected to be professional in nature. They should be submitted in APA format and include appropriate references for material presented. Material by the applicant that was previously published is acceptable (e.g., the Theology of Sex paper submitted in the ISW Introduction to Human Sexuality Course).
