We are living in a confusing time. The sexual revolution and gender revolution continue to march on. It can affect us. And it can affect our children. Even if we are not convinced by another point of view, we can shift from certainty to doubt. This is as old as creation. In Genesis 3 we see Satan’s question was “Did God really say?”
Specifically we are living in a time when so-called Christians are saying that, rather than condemning same-sex relationships, the Bible actually affirms them. We are told that we have been misreading the Bible all this time. Now that we have a new and better understanding, we are able to see more clearly.
It is not just young people who are susceptible to this attack. It is adults as well. Our beliefs are not always driven by logic. They can often be driven by emotion. And if someone close to us declares that they are same-sex attracted and want to live this way, it can create a painful tension in our heart. We can be more susceptible to the arguments against the biblical point of view.
Enter Rebecca McLaughlin’s book, Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships? This is a short readable book that seeks to examine 10 claims about Scripture and sexuality.
Claim 1: Christians should just focus on the gospel of love.
Claim 2: Jesus was silent on same-sex relationships.
Claim 3: God’s judgment on Sodom is not a judgment on same-sex relationships.
Claim 4: It’s inconsistent to follow the Old Testament on same-sex sex but not on shellfish.
Claim 5: Paul was condemning exploitive same-sex relationships not consensual ones.
Claim 6: Paul was condemning excessive lust, not same-sex sexual orientation.
Claim 7: The word “homosexual” wasn’t used in Bibles until 1946–it’s a misinterpretation.
Claim 8: The trajectory of the Bible is toward rejecting 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.
As I started writing my review I intended to summarize key sentences to send out to you. Then I realized the review would be too long. Her material really is that good. It is a perfect read for anyone who has questions on these issues.
Interspersed throughout the book are stories of real people who are same-sex attracted and yet staying celibate and following Christ.
Two Highlights
Every chapter is excellent but I was particularly instructed by chapter 7 and the history of the translation of the words used in 1 Corinthians 6. Specifically, she does a good job helping us understand the Greek words behind the translations.
My only quibble with the book would be in her chapter on Sodom. The recent argument has been that the oft-mentioned judgment was not a judgment on same-sex relationships. She does oppose that argument but not as strongly as I wish. While positively quoting Ezekiel 16:49-50, she overlooks the inclusion of the word “abomination” in the singular (vs. the plural) which only appears in the singular in Leviticus 18. The judgment on Sodom may be more than same-sex relationships, but it is not less. This particular sin is held up as an expression of pride.
That quibble aside, I highly recommend this resource to strengthen parents, grandparents, young adults, and even teens as we live in this new era. Ultimately the question is as old as the garden. Does God really love us? Does he know what is best for us? Wiill we humbly follow Jesus? Or, doubting the goodness of God, will we go our own way?
If you have other resources to recommend, I would love to hear from you.
Want to think more about this topic?
Read chapter 23 in The Disciple-Making Parent in which I talk about the need to handle doubts our children may have about the goodness of following Jesus. Or listen to that chapter in the free audiobook. Email us here to get your free audiobook if you don’t already have it.
