Allberry blatantly ignores public health epidemics among LGBTQ+ individuals globally, describing serious mental health concerns for queer Christians within the Church as, “struggles” that are easily remedied with reliance on God and greater involvement with a church community (28). Having resoundingly said ‘no’, to his title question, Allberry rolls off into discussion of the ground of the topic at hand, by looking at what the bible says about sex and marriage. He said he wouldn’t make their sexual activities the first item of discussion—and I can certainly understand that.

Christians, the church and the Bible seems to be out of step with modern attitudes toward homosexuality.Sex and marriage have purposes of reproduction, pleasure, and mirroring the image of Christ and the church. Ever since I have been open about my own experiences with homosexuality, a number of Christians have said something like this: 'the gospel must be harder for you than it is for me', as though I have more to give up than they do. If you're Christian, and especially if you're an old Christian white dude who doesn't have gay friends, I'd recommend this book. The Episcopal Church, and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) formally permitted the ordination of queer clergy in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively (*1). I am grateful that in this simple summary Allberry makes it clear that the Gospel is not just about salvation (all too easily reduced to just heaven), but about new life, a fresh start, an offer, something bound up in death and resurrection.

Despite a potentially unhelpful title, I strongly recommend pastors, church leaders, and all believers add this book to their library. It is a posture of our hearts to match God’s loving heart is what is required and Sam brings that across so very well. On this point, he helpfully cautions: “I believe change is possible, but a complete change of sexual orientation is never promised in the Bible” (46). You could easily hand it to a Christian struggling with same-sex attraction—or a church struggling with how to help its members bear that particular temptation. Mary’s Church in Maidenhead, England, distills the most important points of his discussion into five short chapters.

addresses the topic of homosexuality—or as Allberry prefers, “same-sex attraction”—in the Christian context. You can flip through it in a couple minutes and wonder if there really is nothing new under the sun. A strategy of the deceiver is to place a barrier between people with SSA and the church, a wall that divides. And what do we say, and how do we relate to to both Christians and non Christians who experience same-sex attraction. Desires for things God has forbidden are a reflection of how sin has distorted me, not of how God has made me.

is a quick and fairly easy read, and I would highly recommend it for all Christians so we can know how to love our gay friends and family, as well as for any sceptics who think that God is anti-gay. It’s key because it reminds us that we may not let the sloganeering between conservatives and “the gay Christians” turn into an agree-to-disagree, permanent standoff.Gays are more likely to be confronted about their sexual sin in the public square than are straight fornicators. Update: My original review was written after reading a revised and expanded edition of the original 2015 published book.

And Other Questions About Homosexuality, the Bible and Same-Sex Attraction (The Good Book Company, revised edn. Most of all though I am encouraged by Sam's insistence on keeping the main thing the main thing, and reassured that by being a church that preaches the gospel first and foremost, and represents a true biblical model of the church in the way we relate to one another, we will see the lives of same sex attracted individuals changed in our church! To shed the condemnation of false superiority and clothe herself with love and humility and encouragement.

So often, the assumption from without the church (and sometimes within) is that the answer to the question that this book poses is, "yes".