Examines the arguments used to claim that the Bible affirms same-sex relationships.
You may have heard the claim that the Bible, when read correctly, is not against believers entering monogamous, faithful same-sex relationships. The arguments sound quite compelling. "Jesus never talked about same-sex relationships.” “Paul was only condemning exploitative relationships, not consensual ones.” “We don’t keep the Old Testament food laws, so why would we keep the ones on same-sex sex?” “If God is love, he can’t be against relationships of love.” And more. Have Christians through the ages just been getting this one wrong?
In this concise book, Rebecca McLaughlin looks at ten of the most common arguments used to claim that the Bible affirms same-sex sexual relationships. She analyses the arguments and associated Bible passages one by one to uncover what the Bible really says.
For Rebecca, as someone with a lifelong history of same-sex attraction, this is not just an academic question. But rather than concluding that the Bible does affirm same-sex marriage, she points readers to the gospel purpose of male-female marriage, a different kind of gospel-centred love between believers of the same sex, and God's life-and-love-filled vision for singleness.
Introduction: A Tale of Two Testimonies
Claim 1: Christians Should Just Focus on the Gospel Message of Jesus’ Love
Claim 2: Jesus Was Silent on Same-Sex Relationships
Claim 3: God’s Judgment on Sodom Isn’t a Judgment on Same-Sex Relationships
Claim 4: It’s Inconsistent to Keep the Old Testament Laws on Same-Sex Sex but Not Shellfish
Claim 5: Paul Condemns Exploitative Same-Sex Relationships, Not Consensual Ones
Claim 6: The Word Homosexual Wasn’t Used in Bibles until 1946. It’s a Misinterpretation
Claim 7: Paul Was Condemning Excessive Lust, Not Same-Sex Sexual Orientation
Claim 8: The Trajectory of the Bible Is Toward Abolishing Slavery and Affirming Same-Sex Marriage
Claim 9: Unchosen Celibacy Yields Bad Fruit
Claim 10: A God of Love Can’t Be Against Relationships of Love
Epilogue
Contributors | Rebecca McLaughlin |
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ISBN | 9781784989729 |
Format | eBook |
First published | May 2024 |
Language | English |
Publisher | The Good Book Company |
It can be easy for Christians today to wonder if we’ve got it wrong on an issue as high-stakes as same-sex sexuality. Deeply biblical, and illustrated in real-life examples, Rebecca McLaughlin’s book shows us the Bible’s consistent and compelling vision for human sexuality. Christians will find this illuminating, reassuring, and deeply encouraging.
This is outstanding: short, readable, warm, well illustrated, clear, and gracious. Rebecca’s blend of personal experience, biblical study, and cultural wisdom is richly displayed in this book, and it is just what we need.
With characteristic clarity and compassion, Rebecca McLaughlin examines the most common arguments that Christians use to support the idea that God affirms same-sex relationships. Careful and nuanced argument will help the reader have confidence in what the Bible does teach—and assurance that it is good news for everyone, including those who experience same-sex attraction.
Rebecca McLaughlin writes some excellent books on key cultural topics, blending a sense of warmth and gentleness with some excellent biblical truth. I have enjoyed her book The Secular Creed, as well as her work for teenagers answering some big questions. This short primer is just as good, taking 10 reasons why people might try and claim that the Bible affirms same-sex relationships and then reviewing why these won't stand up to scrutiny. It's not only good for your minister to read but also good for any church member who wants to understand how to answer objections to the orthodox position on marriage.