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Reviews
Same-Sex Attraction and the Church: The Surprising Plausibility of the Celibate Life by Ed Shaw
panda_incognito's review against another edition
5.0
Thoroughly grounded in a big-picture understanding of Scripture and God's redemptive purpose, this book addresses a sensitive topic with grace and truth. To make a plausibility argument for celibacy, the author articulated evangelical missteps that have diluted the church's stance on sexual ethics or made it difficult for same-sex attracted individuals to find community in the church. In our modern cultural and evangelical climate, it seems like cruelty to tell someone that they should deny an ever-present desire, but understanding the purpose of life according to the gospel transforms our approach to self-denial and makes it seem plausible and worthwhile to give up sin. Also, even though marriage and children are blessings from God and accomplish some of His purposes, they are not the be all and end all of life. Churches need to make room for single people as integral parts of the community, rather than promoting marriage as a mark of holiness or the sole means of leading a fulfilling life and accomplishing the work of God on earth. This book should be convicting and personally engaging to all Christians, regardless of their sexual orientation or life experiences, because it makes a convincing case against cultural mantras that the church has weakened to or accepted, addresses evangelical overreactions that idolize the nuclear family, and provides a push for each of us to reexamine our lives in the framework of taking up our cross and following Jesus.
thegranthartley's review against another edition
4.0
Incredibly insightful when it comes to the plausibility problem for lifelong celibacy! I was encouraged to hear someone articulating an affirmation of the kind of life I want to live, and was thankful for his loving critique of churches that have failed to make a safe space for gay/same-sex attracted people and those who are committed to livelong celibacy; it is clear that he was fighting for people like me. It is a book I will recommend!
However there were a few moments when I wished Shaw would have said things a little differently, particularly when addressing labels (it would have been helpful for him to include both sides of the argument on whether or not conservative Christians should redeem/use the word "gay") and the complicated nature of human sexuality (I think he would have done well to reflect a little more on the strengths that same-sex attraction can offer the believer).
All in all, I am glad I read it, and I look forward to the public conversations about same-sex attraction and lifelong celibacy to evolve in the years to come!
However there were a few moments when I wished Shaw would have said things a little differently, particularly when addressing labels (it would have been helpful for him to include both sides of the argument on whether or not conservative Christians should redeem/use the word "gay") and the complicated nature of human sexuality (I think he would have done well to reflect a little more on the strengths that same-sex attraction can offer the believer).
All in all, I am glad I read it, and I look forward to the public conversations about same-sex attraction and lifelong celibacy to evolve in the years to come!
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