Purity Culture and Marriage with Brad & Kate Aldridge (Part 1)

Register for our marriage conference at https://gccws.net/marriage

Episode Summary

In this episode, Pastor Addison Roberts sits down with Brad and Kate Aldridge, licensed marriage and family therapists and hosts of the Still Becoming One podcast. Brad and Kate share their perspective on how messages from purity culture continue to shape Christian marriages today. This candid conversation explores the unintended consequences of youth group illustrations, unspoken fears, and unrealistic expectations carried into marriage. Listeners will gain encouragement, clarity, and practical tools to move toward healthier intimacy rooted in God’s design.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• What purity culture is and how it developed in response to the sexual revolution.
• Why fear-based teaching created shame around desire and intimacy.
• How illustrations like “the rose” or “the band-aid” still impact Christian marriages.
• Why many couples struggle to express healthy sexual desire and expectations.
• How purity culture’s gender messaging placed uneven burdens on women and men.
• Why acknowledging and affirming desire is essential for a thriving marriage.
• How Scripture and the language of “fasting” can provide a healthier framework.

Key Quotes

• “The heart of purity culture was good, but it often led to fear-based teaching.” — Brad Aldridge
• “Desire itself isn’t bad—God actually designed you that way.” — Kate Aldridge
• “We told teens: turn desire off until marriage, then magically turn it back on. That doesn’t work.” — Brad Aldridge
• “Purity culture put a lot of pressure on women to carry responsibility for men’s behavior.” — Kate Aldridge
• “Faithfulness is not about delivering a perfect product to your spouse, but practicing self-control and love in advance.” — Pastor Addison Roberts

Ways to Get Involved / Resources Mentioned

• Brad & Kate Aldridge — Licensed marriage and family therapists, hosts of Still Becoming One podcast. - https://stillbecomingone.com/
• Marriage Conference at Grace Community Church — January 17 event featuring Brad & Kate on intimacy in marriage.
• Grace Community Church of Willow Street — Learn more or plan a visit: gccws.net

About the Know and Follow Podcast

The Know and Follow podcast is a production of Grace Community Church of Willow Street, located at 212 Peach Bottom Road in Willow Street, Pennsylvania. Join us for weekend services on Saturdays at 6pm, Sundays at 8am, 9:15am, and 11am. Learn more at gccws.net.