A couple weeks ago I wrote a post on “The top ten most difficult doctrinal/theological subjects that contemporary Christians need to address.” Today I want to invite readers to leave a comment recommending books on these topics that you have found to be helpful. The eighth item on my list was homosexuality’s relationship to Christian sexual ethics about which I wrote:
Homosexuals have been abused and mistreated in our society for a long time, even by Christians. At the juncture the treatment of homosexuals has become a civil rights debate. Matters related to unions and state approved marriage weigh heavily on the minds and hearts of people on both sides of the debate, many being Christians. The sociological matters are one thing, but the exegesis of various biblical texts and their theological application is being rethought and debated again as well. We’ve seen the matter split the Episcopalian Church, the ELCA, the PC USA, and it appears to be a contentious issue that no one will be able to escape, even if there is little consensus on how to move forward in addressing it.
What is a book (or books) that you recommend for someone wanting to think through this subject?
April 30, 2012 at 7:09 am
Let me begin with William Webb’s Slaves, Women, and Homosexuals. As regards a pastoral approach I found some of John Burke’s thoughts in No Perfect People Allowed to be helpful.
April 30, 2012 at 7:28 am
A personal memoir of coming to the position that if you are gay you need to be celibate is Washed and Waiting by Wesley Hill. Beyond his own story I found his approach to sexuality much better than most books on married sexuality in the Christian world. The main negative of the book is that he is so young. It is hard to think that he won’t come to another position as he ages. I think he was 25-26 when he wrote the book.