Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by davehershey
Changing Our Mind: Definitive 3rd Edition of the Landmark Call for Inclusion of LGBTQ Christians with Response to Critics by David P. Gushee
5.0
When David Gushee came out in support of same-sex marriage it caused ripples in the evangelical Christian world, as he wrote one of the best books on Christian ethics around. I got around to reading this book, the third edition. Its a must read for anyone interested in the ongoing discussion among Christians.
Gushee writes with honesty. He discusses the pertinent verses, showing none of them are as straightforward as traditional interpreters think. Along with this, he pushes against the idea that Christian ethics is simply equivalent to Bible interpretation. This points to a view in some segments of Christianity that discounts intellectuals. In essence, some appear to say it doesn't matter what science or philosophy or experience may have to say because a verse or two in the Bible trumps all. Of course, this was the view in the medieval era when theology was queen of the sciences. Its not the view now, even within much of the Christian community.
That points to another thing Gushee points out. Even traditional views on homosexuality aren't really traditional. Most evangelical Christians have come around to accepting some humans have same-sex orientation. The focus has moved from changing the orientation to the challenge of living a celibate life. Gushee references Wesley Hill, a gay Christian who chooses to live celibate. The fact Hill's book is published by a mainstream Christian press shows the shifts even in traditional thinking.
Overall, Gushee's argument relies on seeing the work of the Spirit in gay Christians. He likens it to the Christian relationship to Jewish people. For centuries Jews were seen as second-class citizens, or worse. This all shifted in a few decades after WWII. All the Bible passages once used to say Jews were evil are no longer used this way. Gushee sees the same shift happening here. It is vital to say that Gushee argues that same sex couples can have the same covenant based marriage straight couples can. He is not endorsing any sort of easy morality that makes no demands. As a sidenote, whatever people believe about same-sex marriage it is important to relegate the terminology of "the gay lifestyle" to the dust bin of history. There is no one "gay" lifestyle just as there is no "straight" lifestyle. For Gushee then, if gay Christians want to commit to marriage, the church should welcome them. Besides, Gushee points out, if Christians have no problem welcoming divorced people into churches there ought definitely be no barrier to gay couples.
Agree or disagree, this is a helpful book in the discussion.
Gushee writes with honesty. He discusses the pertinent verses, showing none of them are as straightforward as traditional interpreters think. Along with this, he pushes against the idea that Christian ethics is simply equivalent to Bible interpretation. This points to a view in some segments of Christianity that discounts intellectuals. In essence, some appear to say it doesn't matter what science or philosophy or experience may have to say because a verse or two in the Bible trumps all. Of course, this was the view in the medieval era when theology was queen of the sciences. Its not the view now, even within much of the Christian community.
That points to another thing Gushee points out. Even traditional views on homosexuality aren't really traditional. Most evangelical Christians have come around to accepting some humans have same-sex orientation. The focus has moved from changing the orientation to the challenge of living a celibate life. Gushee references Wesley Hill, a gay Christian who chooses to live celibate. The fact Hill's book is published by a mainstream Christian press shows the shifts even in traditional thinking.
Overall, Gushee's argument relies on seeing the work of the Spirit in gay Christians. He likens it to the Christian relationship to Jewish people. For centuries Jews were seen as second-class citizens, or worse. This all shifted in a few decades after WWII. All the Bible passages once used to say Jews were evil are no longer used this way. Gushee sees the same shift happening here. It is vital to say that Gushee argues that same sex couples can have the same covenant based marriage straight couples can. He is not endorsing any sort of easy morality that makes no demands. As a sidenote, whatever people believe about same-sex marriage it is important to relegate the terminology of "the gay lifestyle" to the dust bin of history. There is no one "gay" lifestyle just as there is no "straight" lifestyle. For Gushee then, if gay Christians want to commit to marriage, the church should welcome them. Besides, Gushee points out, if Christians have no problem welcoming divorced people into churches there ought definitely be no barrier to gay couples.
Agree or disagree, this is a helpful book in the discussion.