Same-sex attraction and the church : the surprising plausibility of the celibate life

Book

Same-sex attraction and the church : the surprising plausibility of the celibate life / Ed Shaw.

Summary:

When Christians have same-sex attraction, how should the church respond? Pastor Ed Shaw experiences same-sex attraction, and yet he is committed to Scripture and the church's traditional position of fidelity in heterosexual marriage and celibacy in singleness. In this honest book, he shares his pain in dealing with these issues, but at the same time shows us that obedience to Jesus is ultimately the only way to experience life to the full. He shows that the Bible's teaching seems unreasonable not because of its difficulties, but because of missteps that the church has often taken in its understanding of the Christian life. We have been shaped by the world around us, and urgently need to re-examine the values that drive our discipleship. Only by doing this in the light of the Bible can we make sense of its call on the lives of those who are attracted to their own sex.

Record details

ISBN: 9780830844517
ISBN: 0830844511
Physical Description: 172 pages ; 21 cm
Publisher: Downers Grove, Illinois : IVP Books, an imprint of InterVarsity Press, [2015]

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:: Includes bibliographical references.
Formatted Contents Note:: Plausibility problem -- Plausibility problem and me -- "Your identity is your sexuality." -- "A family is mom, dad, and 2.4 children." -- "If you're born gay, it can't be wrong to be gay" -- "If it makes you happy it must be right!" -- "Sex is where true intimacy is found." -- "Men and women are equal and interchangeable." -- "Godliness is heterosexuality -- 'Celibacy is bad for you." -- "Suffering is to be avoided." -- Conclusion -- Appendix 1. Plausibility of the traditional interpretation of scripture -- Appendix 2. Implausibility of the new interpretations of Scripture.