Andrew Smith's Blog

My name is Andrew. Come and have a look inside my life and watch me share what is on my heart.

Is God Anti-Gay: Any Other Questions About Homosexuality the Bible and Same-Sex Attraction By Sam Allberry Book Review


 

Homosexuality is a topic that is prevalent in the headlines today and many Christians are still unsure as to how we are supposed to address this. But in this new book entitled Is God Anti-Gay? Sam Allberry explored the deeper questions that Christians are asking about homosexuality and how are Christians supposed to respond.  

Sam Allberry is an associate pastor of St Mary’s Church in Maidenhead, United Kingdom. He admitted throughout the book that he has experienced homosexual feelings. He openly stated that he doesn’t define himself as gay because using the term gay labels an identity. He promptly specified that, “It is a part of the picture, but does not get to the heart of who I am. So I prefer to talk in terms of being someone who experiences homosexual feelings, or same-sex attraction.” (Page 9). He shared that over the years when he expressed to his church that he was struggling with same-sex attraction, most people reached out to him and encouraged him and prayed for him. They didn’t reject him and make him feel like an outcast. They showed him the true message of Christ.


The first chapter enclosed the significance of marriage and that it is between a man and a woman. Sam Allberry begins discussing that God created Adam and he made Eve from his body. Genesis 2:24 decrees that a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife. When two people say their vows and say I do they have been knitted together and they are now in union with each other. Marriage is about two flesh becoming one flesh. Sam also explained the gift God has freely given to married couples and it is the special connection of making love and having sex. This is also the physical act of two flesh becoming one. God commanded Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply and to reproduce children. Having children is supposed to be grounded in marriage. He also pointed out that marriage is meant to imitate our relationship with the three person Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Sam clarified that he has seen many gay couples display commitment to each other but it’s impossible for male and male or female and female to become one flesh.  

The second chapter of the book covered what the scriptures have to say about homosexuality. Sam Allberry stressed the critical reminder that homosexuality is now the whole message of the Bible. We need to focus on the newness that is found in Christ and the forgiveness that He offers. He pointed out that Genesis 19 enclosed the hidden sins found in the city of Sodom. For example, some of the sins were adultery, lying, oppression, criminals, arrogance, not assisting the poor, and homosexuality. One of the sins isn’t any greater than the others but they still faced the judgment of God. In Genesis 19, two angelic prophets were staying with Lot and a crowd of men gathered and demanded to have sex with the two men. Jude 7 is very vocal about how the cities Sodom and Gomorrah struggled with sexual sins and this is an extreme example of punishment of fire for their sins. Next, Sam looks at Leviticus 18 and 20 and both of these verses stated that men shouldn’t lie with another man. The rest of the chapter addressed many more scriptures against homosexuality. The author went into the deep questions of, “Surely a same-sex partnership is OK if it’s committed and faithful” and “But Jesus never mentions homosexuality, so how it be wrong?”  

Chapter three discussed homosexuality and the Christian and it contained tips on what to do if you’re experiencing same-sex attraction. Sam Allberry stated that many people who struggle with same-sex attraction feel unclean or even damaged goods. But Christ message is that He is able to forgive all sins and wipe all of our sins away. This chapter covered the vital question, “Can God change our sexual desire?” He also goes into detail about the gift of reminding single and what scriptures verses have to say about it. He addressed the main struggles that homosexual Christian encounter and have to deal with.  

Chapter four revealed how churches are supposed to respond to homosexuals in their church. A common problem that they feel is rejection from Christians. But Christ message is for all and for anyone who believes that He is Lord and He died for their sins. This chapter talked about what to do if gay couples begin to attend your church and how do you handle it.

Chapter five addressed the precarious way to share the true message of Christ with a homosexual person. This chapter shared how to handle and react when someone has come out to you and says that they are gay.


As you can see, this book was written for today’s times and it is a topic that many Christians are wondering on how to respond to homosexuality. For that reason, I would recommend this brilliant book on the subject to all Christians and church members. This book would be an enormous resource for any church leader or pastor. Even though the book is a short book written in about 83 pages, it has powerful concepts and life changing principles on addressing homosexuality and how we are called to love everyone and exhibit Christ’s love boldly. This is the very first book that I have read on the theme of same-sex attraction and homosexuality. I will admit that I haven’t had a lot of friends who struggle with homosexuality and it’s not something that I have witnessed much of personally. But the book still impacted me into making sure that if I do/ went I do come across someone that is gay that I must love them just like Christ. I immensely loved that it was written from the view point of Christians. Sam Allberry did an excellent job at exposing the hidden truths found in the word of God about homosexuality and he even presented an outstanding aspect about marriage and two flesh becoming one. The book has the potential to influence many Christians into being the church that they we are called to be and welcoming gays into our churches. Many Christians will have great difficult doing this, and if that is you, then this is a must read for you! Remember that Christ came and died for all sinners. This book is an essential read for every Christian who is confused on how to handle homosexuality.


 

“I received this book for free from Cross Focused Reviews / The Good Book Company for this review”.
 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Is God Anti-Gay, then check it out on The Good Book Company or Amazon.com:

 


 


 

Check out the book trailer:

 

1 comments:

Andrew,

Thanks for contributing to the blog tour.

Shaun Tabatt
Cross Focused Reviews

 

Post a Comment