carp77's review
5.0
In a culture of “others” and fake self images portrayed online (and IRL), learning another’s story is love inducing. It brings one to look outside oneself and to see another as they are. David’s story revealed in this book is of course about a hotly contested issue... spiritual, political, etc. but it’s so much more. It calls the reader to explore the authority of Biblical Scripture, their own authenticity and idolatry, love, heartbreak, and humble curiosity. I recommend hearing the words from himself through the audio book. Truly a special work.
waveycowpar's review
2.0
I’m really not sure what to make of this book.
I heard David speak in a recorded testimony and he said some things that I was intrigued by and wanted to hear more about. So maybe I came to the book with the wrong set of expectations and preconceived notions about what he might talk about.
I think voices that attest to homosexuals/gay/SSA people being part of the church not as closeted or ex gay members of the LGBT+ community is a very important message.
I also think the recognition of the idol of marriage that persists in much of the church being pointed out by the author is where the real strength of the book lies.
Now the issues:
First, as mentioned, he didn’t explain the things I heard him say live that I expected he would.
Second, he quotes from Washed and Waiting a lot and the lack of a wide range of sources gives the impression he read one book and that was good enough for him. I’m sure that’s not the case, but it’s how it often comes across. A greater engagement with the voices speaking on the topic would have stood to his very important and life changing decision to be a celibate gay Christian. As it stands that decision seems to be built on a very flimsy foundation and I expect we’ll read a book in the future where he advocates a Side A Christianity. (I’m not saying that from his life story or the work and research and study he has done in his life, I’m saying it from how he has presented it in the book).
Third, he advocates Side B Christianity, this means that he believes a person can be gay/SSA and Christian, but that to be faithful to Christ that the person who finds themselves in that Christian and SSA/gay category must stay celibate. That’s fine. But then the book contains a number of references to how other members of the LGBT+ community are unhappy with this position and he calls this discrimination and says he experiences as much discrimination from the LGBT community now as he did from the Christian community when he was an active gay activist Atheist.
It’s one thing to hold a position, to have come to that decision through research, prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit yourself, it’s another thing to make that personal journey normative (i.e. applicable to everyone). He complains about being discriminated against by the LGBT community for his views on LGBT people having to remain celibate to be faithful to Christ, which would be the sort of thing he as an activist would have complained about with the Christian community prior to him taking this journey and coming to these conclusions himself.
In other words, even if you agree with the conclusions he isn’t giving the same grace he was given to come to that realization himself, to other people, and then is all “woe is me” when people react exactly as he records he reacted to the same thing in years previously.
There’s a lack of self-awareness there that he, in the same book, cannot be aware of how he was and how others are toward him being the same, that makes me suspicious of any conclusions he believes he has come to.
Finally, this was a testimony book, and with books about someone’s personal story there will always be an amount of “me” focus. That goes with the territory of a testimony as it is about what the Lord has done in MY life. But this reads much more human focused than God focused. Even the whole fabulous made glorious thing he uses for himself… like his starting point there is fabulous you know?
I’d love to read a book by this author about his theology, and I hope he comes out with that.
I heard David speak in a recorded testimony and he said some things that I was intrigued by and wanted to hear more about. So maybe I came to the book with the wrong set of expectations and preconceived notions about what he might talk about.
I think voices that attest to homosexuals/gay/SSA people being part of the church not as closeted or ex gay members of the LGBT+ community is a very important message.
I also think the recognition of the idol of marriage that persists in much of the church being pointed out by the author is where the real strength of the book lies.
Now the issues:
First, as mentioned, he didn’t explain the things I heard him say live that I expected he would.
Second, he quotes from Washed and Waiting a lot and the lack of a wide range of sources gives the impression he read one book and that was good enough for him. I’m sure that’s not the case, but it’s how it often comes across. A greater engagement with the voices speaking on the topic would have stood to his very important and life changing decision to be a celibate gay Christian. As it stands that decision seems to be built on a very flimsy foundation and I expect we’ll read a book in the future where he advocates a Side A Christianity. (I’m not saying that from his life story or the work and research and study he has done in his life, I’m saying it from how he has presented it in the book).
Third, he advocates Side B Christianity, this means that he believes a person can be gay/SSA and Christian, but that to be faithful to Christ that the person who finds themselves in that Christian and SSA/gay category must stay celibate. That’s fine. But then the book contains a number of references to how other members of the LGBT+ community are unhappy with this position and he calls this discrimination and says he experiences as much discrimination from the LGBT community now as he did from the Christian community when he was an active gay activist Atheist.
It’s one thing to hold a position, to have come to that decision through research, prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit yourself, it’s another thing to make that personal journey normative (i.e. applicable to everyone). He complains about being discriminated against by the LGBT community for his views on LGBT people having to remain celibate to be faithful to Christ, which would be the sort of thing he as an activist would have complained about with the Christian community prior to him taking this journey and coming to these conclusions himself.
In other words, even if you agree with the conclusions he isn’t giving the same grace he was given to come to that realization himself, to other people, and then is all “woe is me” when people react exactly as he records he reacted to the same thing in years previously.
There’s a lack of self-awareness there that he, in the same book, cannot be aware of how he was and how others are toward him being the same, that makes me suspicious of any conclusions he believes he has come to.
Finally, this was a testimony book, and with books about someone’s personal story there will always be an amount of “me” focus. That goes with the territory of a testimony as it is about what the Lord has done in MY life. But this reads much more human focused than God focused. Even the whole fabulous made glorious thing he uses for himself… like his starting point there is fabulous you know?
I’d love to read a book by this author about his theology, and I hope he comes out with that.
andgwinn's review
5.0
This is the second time I have read this book and I am still as moved as the first. I absolutely love Bennett’s writing style and adore him for sharing his story. I don’t think I can recommend this book enough to anyone as a resource for same sex attraction. I’ve read numerous books on SSA and this continues to be my absolute all time favorite.
mackellphillips's review
5.0
WOW! This book was beautifully presented and scripturally backed. I learned a great deal from reading this book and I definitely recommend it to anyone! The topics are so relevant in today's erotic obsessed culture. This is an excellent read for anyone hoping to shed light on the tough topic of SSA, but also extremely applicable for single people longing for and struggling with desire for a relationship no matter their orientation. Incredible. God was praised in this book!
benrush's review
5.0
David Bennett is a self described Celibate Gay Christian. With painstaking detail, and holding nothing back, Bennett describes his transition from a gay activist who encountered Jesus in a “Saul on the road to Damascus” sort of way.
Bennett takes time setting up his previous narrative and his new identity in Jesus. And he does it authentically. His journey didn’t happen overnight.
You may or may not agree with David on some things, but this book is extremely important in a cultural moment largely void of a helpful or compassionate church voice. One extreme says to ignore or dismiss what the Bible teaches about homosexuality, the other ignorantly and hatefully excludes millions of people created in the image of God. Instead...David offers a 3rd way.
Bennett takes time setting up his previous narrative and his new identity in Jesus. And he does it authentically. His journey didn’t happen overnight.
You may or may not agree with David on some things, but this book is extremely important in a cultural moment largely void of a helpful or compassionate church voice. One extreme says to ignore or dismiss what the Bible teaches about homosexuality, the other ignorantly and hatefully excludes millions of people created in the image of God. Instead...David offers a 3rd way.
keegs's review
5.0
I picked up this book expecting to learn more about homosexuality and christianity, but what I got was so much more. Bennet addressed not just homosexuality, but also other extremely important topics like idolatry, marriage, celibacy, friendship, and so much more. And as if that weren’t enough, the book is also littered with anecdotes both in his life before and after having an encounter with God.
I read the first few pages and couldn’t put it down.
I ~highly~ recommend this book to anyone im general, and to those seeking to learn more about the lgbtqi community and the church, as well as the aforementioned topics!
I read the first few pages and couldn’t put it down.
I ~highly~ recommend this book to anyone im general, and to those seeking to learn more about the lgbtqi community and the church, as well as the aforementioned topics!