Is God anti-gay?: and other questions about homosexuality, the Bible and same-sex attraction (Practical and sensitive exploration of the Bible's teaching on sexuality) (Questions Christians Ask)

Product Information

I would gladly summarise much of the book in this review, but to do that would mean fewer people would read it.

Same-sex-attracted Christians today who are choosing God over sex and romance mirror the eunuch’s costly obedience and trust. As a believer who experiences same-sex attraction, Sam Allberry has written sensitively on this topic. In explaining the biblical view of God's design for human sexuality, he explains the biblical condemnations of homosexual practice and refutes those who would propose a revisionist perspective of those passages or dismiss them altogether. said marriage is exclusively for heterosexuals and is forbidden to homosexuals, according to Allberry's interpretation. With sensitivity and clarity, courage and wisdom, Sam Allberry walks us through a host of challenging questions and provides compelling and gracious answers.Describing myself like this is a way for me to recognize that the kind of sexual attractions I experience are not fundamental to my identity. To shed the condemnation of false superiority and clothe herself with love and humility and encouragement. I also liked the author's suggestions about how adhering strongly to traditional (and non-biblical) gender roles can make churches tough places for lots of people, but especially LGBT people; and about welcoming gay couples into churches. Having resoundingly said ‘no’, to his title question, Allberry rolls off into discussion of the ground of the topic at hand, by looking at what the bible says about sex and marriage.

In this short, accessible book, Allberry briefly tells his story, presents the biblical case against homosexual behavior, and then offers wise counsel to Christians and churches dealing with this issue.As one who himself experiences SSA, Allberry is able to approach the subject with understanding, compassion, and a pastor's heart, but also with a desire to be faithful to the Bible. It is telling that Allberry does not have queer Christians who champion his cause, but it is even more telling that his greatest allies are members of the Religious Right who have much to gain and little to lose. I definitely recommend this book, and I appreciate Sam’s willingness to make himself vulnerable before the Christian community for our own good. Sam Allberry seeks to re-centre the conversation to what the Bible actually says rather than on what we want it to say. A strategy of the deceiver is to place a barrier between people with SSA and the church, a wall that divides.

This sensitive exploration of the Bible's teaching on sexuality has been written to help both Christians and non-Christians struggling with the Bible's teaching on this issue, whether they experience same-sex attraction themselves or not. He references Al Mohler’s exhortation that believers should love gay people more than their gay friends love them, and that believers should love homosexuals more than they love their homosexuality. Think about the Scriptures Allberry proposes, read through them, and think about the points he is making. He speaks of sexuality as akin to a post-it note which, besides being a lame illustration, completely lacks grace. It's absolutely acknowledged, but since it's not addressed in detail, that will make it more difficult for people opposed to his message to hear him out.Nate Collins is the executive director of Aligned Grace Resources, a ministry he founded with his father to equip churches to minister the grace and truth of the gospel to people affected by same-sex attraction. Christians, the church and the Bible seem to be out of step with modern attitudes towards homosexuality and there is growing hostility towards those who hold a different view to the culture's. And Other Questions about Homosexuality, the Bible, and Same-Sex Attraction, Sam Allberry combines pastoral wisdom, authentic autobiography, and sound exegesis to provide Christians with a helpful introduction to the topic of homosexuality.

I understand that this is meant to be an introductory text but, like most introductory texts I have read, it left me wanting more space to actually wrestle with the issue and arrive at a deeply Biblical and beautiful conclusion. I picked this up as extra reading for my Ethics A Level and would definitely recommend it for those doing the OCR Religious Studies A Level course. Blending his own experience with careful Bible teaching and an awareness of the cultural climate, this is a book to help us to carve our identity out of what God says about us and not from our sexual orientation. And as Jesus himself said that he only came for the sick and just as the sick know they need the doctor, those that are in sin know we need a savior.

Sam has a real Pastor’s heart, seeing to show how God’s vision for marriage between one man and one woman is good news for us today rather than depress us with a series of rules. Regarding issues of scholarship, Allberry buttresses his claims on the back of pseudo-science that maintains a footing almost exclusively in the circles of the Religious Right and conservative Christians. Allberry interprets the Torah to condemn even victims of aggravated sexual violence and assault, citing it as proof that all forms of queer expression and existence are impermissible (short of his own obedience to narrow and corrosive ideology). This is really true - the book doesn't really discuss any history at all, and also focuses largely on the people you'd expect - cis gay and lesbian people with strong relationships in the church. You could easily hand it to a Christian struggling with same-sex attraction—or a church struggling with how to help its members bear that particular temptation.