“Honest and Thoughtful”
In this honest, heartfelt book, Sam Allberry shares about some of his experiences as a celibate gay Christian, answering common questions about the Bible, Jesus, and sexuality to dispel common myths and help people better understand a traditional, biblical sexual ethic. Each section is typically just a few pages long, and Allberry's writing is concise and engaging.
This book will primarily appeal to Christians who want to better understand their beliefs, and to Side B Christians who experience same-sex attraction and hold to a traditional ethic themselves. This book can encourage them to hold their ground and live out their beliefs despite cultural pressure, and provides wise encouragement from a seasoned believer who has dealt with similar struggles.
Different sections deals with both theological concepts and practical concerns, such as how to handle someone coming out to you. The advice is gentle, practical, and compassionate, and Allberry's personal experience gives greater gravity to everything he writes. However, I would have liked him to come down harder on ways that churches have harmed gay people. 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.
The new material makes this book more accessible to non-Christians, but because the book is so very brief, people who already fundamentally disagree with the author are unlikely to get much out of it. There are so many ways that they could counter his arguments and explanations, and additional layers of questioning and argumentation simply can't be addressed in a book of this size. Someone with an opposing view can walk away with a better understanding of what the Christian sexual ethic means in context and why so many Christians believe in it, but this is mainly for people who already share the author's convictions.
