Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would: A Fresh Christian Approach

After hearing Chad Thompson speak at Urbana06, I ordered his book and have thoroughly enjoyed reading and responding to it. The book is well written and accomplishes a number of things: it stretches typical default assumptions regarding how the church ought to show love tangibly to the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered) community and challenges the Christian community to act in love; it helps one to overcome certain stigmatisms that come as a result of a certain degree of unfamiliarity with the issue of homosexuality, homophobia, or simply the lack of being in a friendship with someone who struggles with and/or identifies themselves as homosexual; it encourages those who struggle with same-sex attraction but do not want to embrace the lifestyle (for whatever reason) that there really are healthy alternatives; finally, this book is at heart the story of Chad's journey written with great transparency, compassion, graciousness to all parties, and humility. I recommend this book to anyone interested in this issues for whatever reason (especially if you are afraid of or unsure of how to approach this issue), and I would particularly recommend it to anyone who has been hurt by the church's sometimes un-compassionate, homophobic, or truly -unethical- response to those in the LGBT community. Hopefully we will all realize that evil per se is not found in any certain political party, activist group, or sexual orientation but it is found partly in every human being (us), and that we must all first deal with our own inner evil tendencies. Only then might we begin addressing the evil found outside of us, in our institutions and communities, with the kind of truth-seeking, humble, sacrificial love to which we have been called.

I had heard about this book recently while listening to the author (Chad) on an interview from local Christian radio station in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area. His message, while certainly not backed up with tremendous scientific studies, is simple and quite profound. What struck me the most in this book was his point that there is a signficant difference between homosexual attraction and homosexual activity. While the author even admits he continues to struggle with male-to-male attraction from time to time, he nevertheless has found hope in non-sexual contact with men, which he believes fills a longing need that underscores his attraction to men in the first place - namely, a truly loving relationship without sexual activity. Wow! In this macho-crazed America that we live in, how refreshing for someone to step forward and admit that perhaps men need each other as well, not in a sexual connotation, but in fulfilling a need that dates back to our earlier years when perhaps we had no father, or we had a father that was distant, or a father that was abusive and never loved us. We all need to be loved, men and women alike, and we all need each other. While non-sexual touch has worked for this author, it may not lessen homosexual desires among all men. Still, the author never intimates that this is a solution for all men with homosexual attractions. Nevertheless, I found the book, simple, yet quite profound in its approach and discussion of something about which most men simply choose NOT to discuss, period. Thanks, Chad, for showing us tremendous compassion and warmth for many men and women alike that struggle with homosexual attractions, especially in a world that is often full of contempt and hatred toward people it deems "abnormal".

This book taught me things I did not know at all. I did not know or had never heard of ex-gay until I read this book. The author calls a person who wants to be heterosexual, a "struggler." I like that name. The book, however, is written realistically. It states that the change from gay to ex-gay is harder if the struggler has already engaged in actual sexual activities instead of mere thoughts. I did not know that pre-gay had a hard time being accepted by LGBT public. I also did not know that "homosexual gene" was an unconfirmed statement. I did not know that it was possible for a gay to become a ex-gay. I did not know that there are a group of people who believe that most homosexual feelings are strongly related to the relationships with caretakers while growing up. I appreciate the way the author expect those who do not want to change the way they are and accept them the way they are instead of trying to convince them to become ex-gay. Though I know of the teaching of Christ, I do not call myself a Christian. With that being said, the book was still informative to me. If I were to be a Christian I would have been able to relate to the religious content of the book, but I did my best to understand it. The focus of this book is not to convince something. The focus of this book is unconditional love and useful support in case someone wants to come out of homosexual feelings and also information to those who do not want to change so they can understand what ex-gay is all about. I am heterosexual, but I enjoyed this book, leaning things I did not know. Though the author is very religious, I did not feel the pushiness I often feel from other books by religious authors. I recommend this book to anyone with any sexual orientation, any religious background, and any vocation.

If you are an Evangelical or Traditional Christian (Catholic/Orthodox) this book is a must read. Rarely does a book on this topic deal with issues related to homosexuality in a forthright and non-polemical approach and rarely does a book capture the essence of the comprehensive Christian approach in these matters. If you're a hard core believer on either side of these issues you'll get your buttons pushed. If you, however, wish to be radically, lovingly, faithfully, and comprehensively Christian in these things Mr. Thompson has written the best guide possible. This book literally has the potential to change the "shouting match" that so often describes observant Christians' relationship with our gay/lesbian neighbors into something much more healing and contructive for us all as it reminds us that a Christian commitment to basic principles ALSO includes a commitment to authentic love of neighbor.

In today's search for balancing God's grace with God's truth Chad is surely exposing the problems with today's views of homosexuality and serves up God's truth to the Christian community while sending messages of God's Grace to the homosexual community. As a part of The Body and Family of Christ our ability to accept the truth is what binds us together is ties of holy brotherhood and sisterhood. The knowledge that this truth is being given out of pure love and adoration within the Christian sphere is what makes Chad's message to the Christian community powerful and effective. His message to the homosexual community exposing God's grace is analogous to the instructions to become all things to all people as loving the non Christian world means showing them first what they need to hear, God's grace. In the days of Jesus, the blind were made to see, the lepers were cured, and the lame began to walk. Today, we look all to often at the Nature vs. Nurture question to explain alcoholism, sexuality, and other sins that may be interlinked with our genetic makeup. In doing so we forget the about the healing power of God. The reality is that through prayer and dedication all things are possible with God and this book is a great reminder as Chad shares his personal story about his God assisted transformation from homosexuality to heterosexuality.