Review: "People to Be Loved"

Thank you to GA for sending me People to Be Loved:  Why Homosexuality is Not Just an Issue by Preston Sprinkle, along with a copy of The Great Lakes Catechism. 

Sprinkle’s book is not just a book that looks at “those” Scriptures and comes to a conclusion.  Though he does look at them – in the original languages and considers the words in extra-biblical writing – and he comes to various conclusions about them – for example, the sin of Sodom is not homosexuality – not is it being unhospitable – and the reason we know it is not is due to the fact that other Scriptures tell us what the sins of Sodom are.

The author looks at the varying interpretations of the hot-button texts from non-affirming and affirming positions and considers where the truth lies with each of them.  He does so with compassion and grace – acknowledging truth on both sides of the aisle as it is warranted.

He also looks at the meaning and import of the “otherness” of our first parents in the history of Creation, how homosexuality was viewed in Judaism and Roman culture, and Jesus’ view of sexuality.

And he explains that – biblically – if we are not condemning the sins that are included in the hot-button passages – such as lying in I Timothy 1:10 – with equal fervor – then we are hypocrites (cf. 126).

In the second half of the book, he considers the evidence for homosexuality being genetic and what that would mean with regards to these passages, where someone can be gay and Christian – along with the issue of marriage and celibacy, faithfulness, and being single in the church.

He turns to application and considers five things that ought to be done in light of his discussion – which is peppered with stories of real people.  As he looks at what the church much do, there is the nailing down of the fact that the biggest issue is not whether or not a person is same-sex attracted, but whether they have received Jesus as God as Savior and are seeking to live a holy life in response to His salvation of them.

In the appendix, he considers five affirming interpretations of Romans 1 and explains why he doesn’t believe they hold up.

People to Be Loved helps us to move from just checking the “sin” or “not sin” box and shoving people aside to learning to love like Jesus – not dismissing sin, but loving all people, as all people are created in the Image of God, and all people are in need of the Savior’s salvation.

If you’re not hardened on your position on homosexuality, this is a wonderful resource to take time to think through the Scripture, its interpretation, and what it means to be a Christian in the world.

[This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]