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Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been by Jackie Hill Perry
paddles1704's review against another edition
2.0
In my opinion, this book is at the very least unfinished. There are so many loose threads that I think she doesn’t pull on because she wants to glorify God over telling her story, but she was doing that through telling her story, and now I am so confused about a few things. I am hesitant to give a negative review when LGBTQI voices are lacking so heavily in the Christian community and I also recognise she is an African American woman, which means her voice is even rarer. She speaks poetry, which is how she writes as well, and it’s unique and often beautiful. At the very least, she details the chronology of living a sinful life, accepting Christ and then changing her life very clear. That order is really, really good.
However, I could not recommend this to a non-Christian gay person exploring Christianity. I don’t think it has any practical advice, other than her personal testimony of coming to Christ, for what to do before or after you accept Jesus. No notes on being celibate other than that it is a good option to be single, and Jesus understands temptation. A very unhelpful exploration of clothing and femininity when it came to transitioning out of being a “stud” lesbian. Almost no mention of the Bible verses that condemn homosexuality as a sin, and rather an assumption the reader will accept it as one – very unhelpful for gay people exploring faith or new Christians.
However, I could not recommend this to a non-Christian gay person exploring Christianity. I don’t think it has any practical advice, other than her personal testimony of coming to Christ, for what to do before or after you accept Jesus. No notes on being celibate other than that it is a good option to be single, and Jesus understands temptation. A very unhelpful exploration of clothing and femininity when it came to transitioning out of being a “stud” lesbian. Almost no mention of the Bible verses that condemn homosexuality as a sin, and rather an assumption the reader will accept it as one – very unhelpful for gay people exploring faith or new Christians.
greggchastain's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
More poetic than narrative, Perry's desire and intent to focus on the goodness and glory of God in her story is refreshingly beautiful. The closing chapters did a great job of simply and succinctly addressing the various issues or questions that are raised with SSA and the biblical testimony while keeping the goodness of the gospel front and center.
tlcollier1's review against another edition
5.0
I saw Jackie Hill Perry on Focus on the Family when the book came out and loved her then. The audio book read by her is spectacular, a beautiful combination of prose, memoir, and gospel. The topics are handled in a loving and respectful way, the truth always spoken in love.
Thank you!
Thank you!
thefamousjb's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a little bit to become accustom to the writing style (the author is a poet and, well, I don’t like poetry), so I was going to give 3 stars. But the message was phenomenal and occasionally I found myself “amen-ing” while I listened to the audiobook. A few mic-drop sentences were 5-star worthy. So. A solid 4 stars.
heathersparkman's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
hanoliv's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
freehigh5s's review against another edition
4.75
I love Jackie Hill Perry, the way she seeks, understands and comprehends Jesus is astounding! Because she’s a poet and her words flow in different ways sometimes it took me a good second to even understand what she was saying. It was beautiful just complicated sometimes
quaerentia's review against another edition
3.0
There’s no doubt that Jackie’s story is a remarkable one. And you can never ‘argue’ with a testimony, apart from quibbling with how someone interprets their experiences perhaps. So I’m full of admiration and empathy, especially because of the really tough and grim things that happened to her in early years.
I guess my reservations (resulting in only 3*) were on the criterion of how lendable this might be to those for whom these are very live issues.
- For all the challenges, church and Christianity were not alien nor incomprehensible (even though she feared and despised them when in a relationship). So there didn’t seem a major paradigm shift to undergo (though I may have missed it)
- she moves very quickly to accepting what to outsiders seems a very tough and hardline biblical position. So I didn’t feel there was much of an apologetic of quite how she came to accept, either intellectually or emotionally
- as I said, you can’t argue with a testimony or story. So I’m not blaming anybody for this! But she was a teenager, albeit one in an intense lesbian relationship, when she came to Christ and changed her views (she’s quick to reject even hints of that unhelpful ‘cure’ narrative). I couldn’t help be concerned about her ex partner, for example. Whether from discretion or another motive, she chooses to say little about her.
- Jackie’s writing style and the story’s structure are creative and a little quirky! I enjoyed that but I know that it makes things a little less accessible than they might be.
Having said all that, I’m very glad she’s written this, I am glad I read it and I know it will helps you. I’m just not sure it will do much more than preach to the choir.
I guess my reservations (resulting in only 3*) were on the criterion of how lendable this might be to those for whom these are very live issues.
- For all the challenges, church and Christianity were not alien nor incomprehensible (even though she feared and despised them when in a relationship). So there didn’t seem a major paradigm shift to undergo (though I may have missed it)
- she moves very quickly to accepting what to outsiders seems a very tough and hardline biblical position. So I didn’t feel there was much of an apologetic of quite how she came to accept, either intellectually or emotionally
- as I said, you can’t argue with a testimony or story. So I’m not blaming anybody for this! But she was a teenager, albeit one in an intense lesbian relationship, when she came to Christ and changed her views (she’s quick to reject even hints of that unhelpful ‘cure’ narrative). I couldn’t help be concerned about her ex partner, for example. Whether from discretion or another motive, she chooses to say little about her.
- Jackie’s writing style and the story’s structure are creative and a little quirky! I enjoyed that but I know that it makes things a little less accessible than they might be.
Having said all that, I’m very glad she’s written this, I am glad I read it and I know it will helps you. I’m just not sure it will do much more than preach to the choir.
livingforjesus08's review against another edition
5.0
Such a powerful story! It was extremely eye opening to me.
timgrubbs's review against another edition
5.0
A deeply personal memoir about a young g woman accepting her own sexuality and coming to terms with what god and Christianity means to her…in a world with mortal men and women that try to tell her she’s wrong…
Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been by Jackie Hill Perry begs the question…why does God care about your sexuality? She spends the entire book hikighting why he doesn’t…and how it’s flawed mortal people claiming to speak for him that do…
There are as many personal beliefs in Jesus and God as there are stars in the sky. Don’t believe me? Then why are there so many denominations that can disagree on minor dogma or rituals…but they are all valid.
Why can’t personal faith independent of the church be the same why?
In a world of mortal flawed people that will abuse the word of God for their own wicked purposes…the author wisely focuses on that which various evangelists will ignore in their sermons…the Bible itself with references (along with footnotes to other theological commentary for those interested in additional reading).
God loves everyone…regardless of their sexuality. Many may forget it, but it’s nice to read a personal journey of religious discovery…in a cruel sinful world that wants to hate you…
In addition, there’s also some decent commentary for readers who are straight…particularly how being single isn’t the worst thing in the world (which I greatly appreciated)…
Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been by Jackie Hill Perry begs the question…why does God care about your sexuality? She spends the entire book hikighting why he doesn’t…and how it’s flawed mortal people claiming to speak for him that do…
There are as many personal beliefs in Jesus and God as there are stars in the sky. Don’t believe me? Then why are there so many denominations that can disagree on minor dogma or rituals…but they are all valid.
Why can’t personal faith independent of the church be the same why?
In a world of mortal flawed people that will abuse the word of God for their own wicked purposes…the author wisely focuses on that which various evangelists will ignore in their sermons…the Bible itself with references (along with footnotes to other theological commentary for those interested in additional reading).
God loves everyone…regardless of their sexuality. Many may forget it, but it’s nice to read a personal journey of religious discovery…in a cruel sinful world that wants to hate you…
In addition, there’s also some decent commentary for readers who are straight…particularly how being single isn’t the worst thing in the world (which I greatly appreciated)…