Book Review: Is God Anti-Gay? And Other Questions About Homosexuality, the Bible and Same-Sex AttractionAuthor: Sam AllberryFormat: PaperbackTopic: Theology of ChristianityScope: Biblical Passages on Homosexuality and Historic Position on SSAPurpose: To explain to Christians and Skeptics what the Bible says about Homosexuality and How Best to Love Anyone Who is SSAOutline: 5 Chapters: 1. Homosexuality and God's Design; 2. Homosexuality and the Bible; 3. Homosexuality and the Christian; 4. Homosexuality and the Church; 5. Homosexuality and the World. Additionally there is an Introduction and a short Conclusion. Interspersed throughout are common questions and answers: "Surely a same-sex partnership is OK if it's committed and faithful?", "But Jesus never mentions homosexuality, so how can it be wrong?", "Aren't we just picking and choosing which Old Testament laws apply?", "Is it sinful to experience same-sex attraction?", "Can't Christians just agree to differ on this?", "Isn't the Christian view of sexuality dangerous and harmful?", "Should Christians attend gay weddings?", "What should I do if a Christian comes out to me?".What it does well: Allberry is an Anglican, same-sex attracted, celibate man. Because of this his book is much more empathetic and caring than many of the books on this subject. In addition, this gives him a credibility to speak to the issue that many cannot have. He also is meticulous in his treatment of scripture and his treatment of people. Allberry also does a wonderful job connecting the struggle of every Christian to the struggle of SSA Christians.What it lacks: This book is not a sociological, historical, or even general text on "being gay" or even homosexuality. Instead, the text is meant to be a statement about God, his thoughts about homosexuality (from scripture), and why/how the church should respond to the issue. If you want statistics and arguments from sociological, scientific, or other such perspective you will not find them here. It is not what this book is about.Some quick highlights: "Every Christian is called to costly sacrifice. Denying yourself does not mean tweaking your behavior here and there. It is saying 'no' to your deepest sense of who you are, for the sake of Christ. To take up the cross is to declare your life (as you know it) forfeit. It is laying down your life for the very reason that your life, it turns out, is not yours at all. It belongs to Jesus. He made it. And through his death he has bought it."-11"Christians who want to explain the Christian faith to gay friends need to know that what the Bible says about homosexuality is not the only thing they need to explain, and it is probably not the first thing, or even the main thing, they need to focus on."-26"Paul's point in Romans 1 is that our 'nature' (as we experience it) is not natural (as God intended it). All of us have desires that are warped as a result of out fallen nature. Desires for things God has forbidden are a reflection of how sin has distorted me, not of how God has made me."-32"In response to the exchanges Paul has described, we see three instances of God giving us over to live in the outcome of our sinful desires. This is his present-day judgment against sin. We ask for a reality without him and he gives us a taster of it."-33"Faithfulness displayed in an otherwise prohibited relationship does not make it less sinful."-40"We take our cue from Jesus. It is because of what he claimed his death would achieve that we do not follow all Old Testament laws. To do so would be to undermine his work on the cross. So the Old Testament's teaching on sexual ethics, through it's restatement in the New Testament, is still binding on Christians today."-62"There is little point in describing how to live in God's grace if someone doesn't yet know God's grace. So, when a gay couple start coming to church, my priority for them is the same as for anyone else: to hear the gospel and experience the welcome of a Christian community."-67-68"Jesus' command that his followers 'love one another' was not just an afterthought. It is a key part of his strategy to win a watching world."-84Recommendation?: I highly recommend this book. Those who are seeking to know what the Bible says about SSA and homosexuality will find an accessible and thorough treatment. Those who are skeptical of the church's stance on the issue will be better able to interact with the real arguments made. Whether you agree or not, it is a book that will help you make a better and more informed decision about how to love those around you.In addition, there is a passage of 4 paragraphs on pgs. 76-78 that are so good as to justify buying the book even if the rest of the book was not done well. I will not quote it here as it seems a little much to quote, but even more I think it would be taking away too much from the author.