Loving My (LGBT) Neighbor

Are we able to show and demonstrate Christian love to a neighbor who is gay? How do we or should we respond to a friend who has told us she is a lesbian. Glen T. Stanton helps the reader understand these issues better through his own experiences. As director for family formation studies at Focus on the Family, Stanton would most likely be seen as anti-gay. He regularly debates LGBT advocates and has unwavering Biblical understanding of these issues. But regardless of these truths, Stanton is known as one who cares for and truly loves those who have opposing views from his own.
 

He brought the noted author, journalist, and gay rights advocate, Jonathan Rauch, to Focus on the Family Headquarters to address the staff and dialogue together.  Stanton stresses the importance of relationship and dialogue. Homosexuality and LGBT issues are increasingly mainstream in our society. Stanton stresses that the Bible calls each generation to understand the peculiarities of its culture in order to better serve it. As the church trips and stumbles in our new culture, it is more and more important to understand one another. Stanton says we need to “step out of the safe, neat Christian boxes” and cultivate relationships with those who are LGBT. He challenges us to build relationships and friendships solely for that purpose. While we should always be willing to share the Gospel, these relationships are not simply for that, but to understand and relate together as fellow humans.

In the book, he shows that the stereotypes we see of the LGBT community harm them much like the stereotypes of the Christian community are an unfair representative of us as a whole. He challenges us to move in from extremes, stereotypes, and preconceptions, and embrace relationship and friendships despite our differing  viewpoints.

I appreciated the chapter where he discusses human sexuality. His beliefs are Biblical and are undoubtedly at odds with the LGBT movement, but he frames this by highlighting other sins addressed equally in the Bible—lying, arrogance, pride, and scoffing—and challenges us as Evangelicals to not elevate one sin as more sinful than another. He stresses that the universal desire for intimacy is the root of sexual sin. He reminds us that all people are created in God’s image and have “equal dignity and value.”

I also appreciated his discussion regarding some tough questions we deal with as society such as public restrooms, relating to friends or family who are gay, and whether or not we should attend a gay marriage when invited. These are situations most of us will encounter at one time or another in the next few years.

The bottom line is simple: Treat all people with love and grace. We don’t have to compromise our Biblical values and beliefs, but our responses and relationships must be built on these two things: grace and truth. (Reviewed by Pastor Mike)

For more information or to purchase, click here.
 
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I received a free copy of this book from Moody Publishing in exchange for my honest review here. (Mike Fischer)

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