Affirming God’s Image: Addressing the Transgender Question with Science and Scripture (Lexham Press, June 2019) written by J. Alan Branch (professor of Christian ethics at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO, Southern Baptist, and staff member of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberties Council), is the sixth such book I have read in the […]
Archive | Book Reviews
Gay Girl Good God by Jackie Hill Perry—Book Review
I’ve read dozens of books in the same genre of Christian titles of which “Gay Girl Good God” by Jackie Hill Perry is the latestentry. Perry’s first book is a memoir of her life thus far from “gay girl once” to “what God’s goodness will do to a soul once grace gets to it.” (p. […]
enGendered by Sam A. Andreades—A Book Review
Gender binaries— a sacred weapon [Full review on Amazon] The information and ideas presented in “enGendered” by Sam A. Andreades are based upon the author’s view of gender differences as he interprets them from the Bible. Collectively, Andreades calls his beliefs “theology of gender.” He hopes readers will gain wisdom about gender and gender roles […]
Same-Sex Attraction and the Church by Ed Shaw—A Book Review
Plausibility or Entrapment? “Same-Sex Attraction and the Church—The Surprising Plausibility of the Celibate Life” (2015 IVP Books) by Ed Shaw is an honest account of a gay man’s struggle with his sexual orientation. [FULL review also on Amazon.] Shaw, a pastor in England, avoids the term “sexual orientation” and instead uses nuanced language like “same-sex […]
How and When the Word Homosexual Was First Introduced into the Bible
Since releasing my book, Walking the Bridgeless Canyon, in 2014, every time I’ve spoke during extended presentations and referred to the translation and combining of two Greek words, arsenokoitai and malakos, as one word “homosexual” in the 1946 New Testament Revised Standard Version (RSV) of 1 Corinthians 6: 9-10, I would say that I believed this specific translation […]
People to Be Loved by Preston Sprinkle—A Book Review
When I began “People to be Loved—Why Homosexuality is Not Just an Issue” by Preston Sprinkle (Zondervan, 2015), I was tentatively encouraged by the author’s gracious tone and seeming willingness to break away from the evangelical party line on exclusionary practices on LGBTQ people. After all, Sprinkle includes hopeful declarations throughout the book: “We are […]
Single, Gay, Christian: A Personal Journey by Gregory Coles—Book Review
Gregory Coles, author of Single Gay Christian—A Personal Journey of Faith and Sexual Identity by Gregory Coles (IVP Books 2017), seems to be a likeable and “delightful” young man. I’ve watched several videos and read his very short book (117 pages) which tells of his journey from the beginning of his understanding about his sexual […]
Freedom Realized by Stephen Black — A Book Review
Stephen H. Black wrote “Freedom Realized: Finding Freedom from Homosexuality & Living a Life Free From Labels” (Redemption Press, 2017) to offer “clear evidence for the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the transformation that is available for broken lives in this day of “hip-hop” gospel relativism.” Black asks “is freedom from homosexuality […]
Transformed Documentary is Uninformed — A Review
“TranZformed: Finding Peace with Your God-Given Gender” (2017), produced by David Kyle Foster (founder and director of Mastering Life Ministries and the producer of “Pure Passion” TV, and member of the advisory board for the Restored Hope Network (RHN)) is the story of “15 former transgenders (who) join experts (to) bear witness to what Jesus […]
God and the Transgender Debate by Andrew T. Walker — A Book Review
“God and the Transgender Debate–What Does the Bible Actually Say About Gender Identity?” authored by Andrew T. Walker, Director of Policy Studies with the Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), has been positioned as a book that will help readers “learn more, (and) love better” (p 16) as he […]
The Heart of Female Same-Sex Attraction by Janelle Hallman — A Book Review
I decided to read Janelle Hallman’s book The Heart of Female Same-Sex Attraction — A Comprehensive Counseling Resource (InterVarsity, 2008) because it was cited several times in the Restored Hope Network (RHN). [Review posted on Amazon.] For those unfamiliar with RHN, the organization formed in 2012 in the wake of the collapse of Exodus International. […]
Debating Religious Liberty and Discrimination by John Corvino and Ryan Anderson — A Book Review
“Debating Religious Liberty and Discrimination” (2107) uses a point-counterpoint approach between John Corvino, Professor and Philosopher Chair at Wayne State University and the team of Ryan T. Anderson, Research Fellow at Heritage Foundation and Sherif Girgis, Ph.D. philosophy candidate at Princeton. Both sides state they share a “distaste for the typical ‘with us of against […]
You Don’t Have to Be Gay by Jeff Konrad — A Book Review
I read this book because a mother with a gay son told me she recently read the book and found value in it. She challenged me to read it as an authoritative personal account of a former gay man. So, I read it. Oh my goodness! How could a book written in 1987 (a full […]
Joe Dallas’ Background and Reviews of His Books
Over the past 25 years, Joe Dallas has built a career in speaking, writing and counseling gay and lesbian Christians, their families, and churches seeking understanding at the intersection of sexual orientation and the Bible. He has authored eight books since 2003 and has a counseling business in Orange County, California. Recently, I read his two […]
Speaking of Homosexuality by Joe Dallas — A Book Review
In “Speaking of Homosexuality – Discussing the Issues with Kindness & Clarity” (Baker Books, 2016), author Joe Dallas presents the Traditional and Revisionist (his usage of terminology) perspectives and a look at “the pros and cons in the gay debate” with suggested responses. Dallas defines the Traditional view as seeing that “homosexual acts, like numerous […]