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Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say by Preston M. Sprinkle
bigshow94's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
levipstrickland's review
5.0
I’m really thankful that Preston Sprinkle was willing to address this topic with love, grace, and understanding for people who are struggling with gender dysphoria. The Christian community so often focuses on the topic or ideology of gender dysphoria and therefore overlooks the actual people who are struggling and simply need someone to listen and love them through their pain. I’ve definitely learned a lot in this book.
“The Bible is much more concerned that we be godly, not stereotypically masculine or feminine.”
“But correct science and correct theology are pointless if we’re not willing to love and honor, listen to and learn from, care for and be cared for by the trans* people God has gifted us with. Jesus cherishes them and values them. Would they say the same about you?”
“We need to hold our views with humility, graciously prioritizing relationship. We can’t force-feed our views to others - no matter how biblical they may be.”
“Getting furious at our cultural moment doesn’t convince people of the truth. Our truth will not be heard until our grace is felt, because the greatest apologetic for truth is love.”
“The Bible is much more concerned that we be godly, not stereotypically masculine or feminine.”
“But correct science and correct theology are pointless if we’re not willing to love and honor, listen to and learn from, care for and be cared for by the trans* people God has gifted us with. Jesus cherishes them and values them. Would they say the same about you?”
“We need to hold our views with humility, graciously prioritizing relationship. We can’t force-feed our views to others - no matter how biblical they may be.”
“Getting furious at our cultural moment doesn’t convince people of the truth. Our truth will not be heard until our grace is felt, because the greatest apologetic for truth is love.”
erlhopkins's review against another edition
5.0
5/5
i was going to rate this 4/5 stars, but i wanted to applaud Sprinkle for talking about such a current topic with grace, biblical truths, and scientific data. surely this is just the very beginning of the transgender topic, but Sprinkle does a fantastic job of hitting many of the crucial points of the conversation.
not only is Sprinkle adamant about adhering to the scriptures, but emphasizes the love Jesus calls us to in its commands.
highly recommended to any and all, bible believing Jesus follower or member of the LGBTQ+ community or people who identify as both or anyone else.
this book is dense but worth it, as emphasized by the 6 months it took me to read. take it in chunks, it’s worth it!!
Sprinkle, thank you for your gift of teaching and willingness to discuss these concepts with a commitment to truth AND love!!
i was going to rate this 4/5 stars, but i wanted to applaud Sprinkle for talking about such a current topic with grace, biblical truths, and scientific data. surely this is just the very beginning of the transgender topic, but Sprinkle does a fantastic job of hitting many of the crucial points of the conversation.
not only is Sprinkle adamant about adhering to the scriptures, but emphasizes the love Jesus calls us to in its commands.
highly recommended to any and all, bible believing Jesus follower or member of the LGBTQ+ community or people who identify as both or anyone else.
this book is dense but worth it, as emphasized by the 6 months it took me to read. take it in chunks, it’s worth it!!
Sprinkle, thank you for your gift of teaching and willingness to discuss these concepts with a commitment to truth AND love!!
keegs's review against another edition
4.0
I can’t even imagine trying to write a book like this.
I think Preston did a good job overall. He really emphasized that trans identities are not about theological debates or about political ideologies, bur rather are about living, feeling humans. He also really humanized intersex people, which I appreciated.
Most of his arguments were thorough and sound. I think there were only two that I found lacking, which isn’t as much to say I disagreed but just that I wished it had been explored a little more.
ALSO there was so much research in this book. I can’t imagine how long it took him to read all those academic articles and then summarize them and translate them into laymen language. What a boss.
I really wanna have more trans friends so I can keep learning
I think Preston did a good job overall. He really emphasized that trans identities are not about theological debates or about political ideologies, bur rather are about living, feeling humans. He also really humanized intersex people, which I appreciated.
Most of his arguments were thorough and sound. I think there were only two that I found lacking, which isn’t as much to say I disagreed but just that I wished it had been explored a little more.
ALSO there was so much research in this book. I can’t imagine how long it took him to read all those academic articles and then summarize them and translate them into laymen language. What a boss.
I really wanna have more trans friends so I can keep learning
librarytech4's review against another edition
3.0
Embodied by Preston Sprinkle discusses transgenderism and how the church should handle these issues in our modern age. Sprinkle does a fantastic job at showing both sides of the arguments that are commonly heard within the church and provides answers to both sides of many questions such as "Should christian's use preferred pronouns?" He leans more to the love side than the truth side in a lot of the issues, and explains how loving them is more important than truth at that point in their life in his oppinion.
ndctwo's review against another edition
4.5
Dr. Preston’s Sprinkle’s latest book about Trans* people and the church is a helpful dive into definitions, culture, science, and theology. Theology is not something that can be formed in vacuum or a bubble because theology is both practical and applicable. Preston, although cisgendered, writes primarily using the voices of his Trans* friends, giving the book more credibility. The topic is certainly controversial and readers will not come away with a simple answer; I believe that this is the author’s goal in some ways. It’s not a simple theological question of yes or no and the living out the “how” is just as important. Preston shares his opinion on the topic and does give a definitive answer in terms of if he believes Christians should be gender affirming or not, but the way the book is written allows for and welcomes dissent because the primary question is “how does the Church disciple well?” How are we to disciple cisgendered people, LGBTQ+ people, Trans* people, straight people, etc? That is the question at the heart of this book.
I’ve come away after reading this book better informed of the topic, better able to understand and resonate with arguments both for and against gender affirmation, with practical steps on how to create inclusive and caring ministry environments, and deeply empathetic for people who have been rejected by so many. I may not agree with everything Preston wrote in the book, but this is an important topic and the Church must be informed and full of love as we engaged with a changing and hurting world.
*I was provided an advanced copy of the book in exchange for this review.*
I’ve come away after reading this book better informed of the topic, better able to understand and resonate with arguments both for and against gender affirmation, with practical steps on how to create inclusive and caring ministry environments, and deeply empathetic for people who have been rejected by so many. I may not agree with everything Preston wrote in the book, but this is an important topic and the Church must be informed and full of love as we engaged with a changing and hurting world.
*I was provided an advanced copy of the book in exchange for this review.*
lydalbano's review against another edition
4.0
I love Preston Sprinkle’s thoughtfulness and commitment to love as Jesus loves.