3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Refreshing Balance On a Hostile, Politicized Subject, October 4, 2010
This review is from: Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would: A Fresh Christian Approach (Paperback)
There are two strong and loud voices surrounding this issue of same-sex attraction. On the far right, there is the voice that cries "you must change!" On the far left, there is the voice that cries "you must not change!" The person in the midst of working through their same sex attraction are then confronted with only these two choices and strong inflexibility from one group or the other depending on how they ultimately choose. Chad's voice is one of sanity. It acknowledges that some people leave behind their same-sex attraction and others don't. While we may have opinions as to what someone else should do, we really have to accept the person even if we choose the path we don't agree with. Whether they seek to embrace the Gay identity or seek to turn away from it, it is their decision and we need to accept them where they are at. Anything else is not loving the person and is political self-serving. Folks who are tied to a political ideology surrounding this issue on one side or the other will probably hate this book because it doesn't give the affirmation of "we are right and the world should think like us." Rather, it teaches us to do just what the title says - allow the homosexual to explore possible options and love and accept them regardless of the path they choose.
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20 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Grace and Truth, November 28, 2004
This review is from: Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would: A Fresh Christian Approach (Paperback)
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.
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37 of 56 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting Point of View That I Didn't Know, April 15, 2005
This review is from: Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would: A Fresh Christian Approach (Paperback)
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.
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