God and the Gay Christian

The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships

By: Matthew Vines

Narrated by: Matthew Vines

Length: 5 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

“God and the Gay Christian is a game changer. Winsome, accessible, and carefully researched, every page is brought to life by the author’s clear love for Scripture and deep, persistent faith. With this book, Matthew Vines emerges as one of my generation’s most important Christian leaders, not only on matters of sexuality but also on what it means to follow Jesus with wisdom, humility, and grace. Prepare to be challenged and enlightened, provoked and inspired. Read with an open heart and mind, and you are bound to be changed.” (Rachel Held Evans, author of A Year of Biblical Womanhood and Faith Unraveled)

As a young Christian man, Matthew Vines harbored the same basic hopes of most young people: to someday share his life with someone, to build a family of his own, to give and receive love. But when he realized he was gay, those hopes were called into question. The Bible, he’d been taught, condemned gay relationships.

Feeling the tension between his understanding of the Bible and the reality of his same-sex orientation, Vines devoted years of intensive research into what the Bible says about homosexuality. With care and precision, Vines asked questions such as:

• Do biblical teachings on the marriage covenant preclude same-sex marriage or not?
• How should we apply the teachings of Jesus to the gay debate?
• What does the story of Sodom and Gomorrah really say about human relationships?
• Can celibacy be a calling when it is mandated, not chosen?
• What did Paul have in mind when he warned against same-sex relations?

Unique in its affirmation of both an orthodox faith and sexual diversity, God and the Gay Christian is likely to spark heated debate, sincere soul search­ing, even widespread cultural change. Not only is it a compelling interpretation of key biblical texts about same-sex relations, it is also the story of a young man navigating relationships with his family, his hometown church, and the Christian church at large as he expresses what it means to be a faithful gay Christian.

©2014 Matthew Vines (P)2014 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"For anyone who wants to know why some evangelicals find that the Bible does not condemn same-gender marriage, Matthew Vines’s book answers the question. Christians who oppose gay marriage should consider what he has to say." (Tony Campolo, professor emeritus, Eastern University; coauthor of Red Letter Christians)

"Many people believe you can either hold a high view of Scripture or affirm gay relationships, but not both. Matthew Vines proves them wrong. Provocative and relentlessly Bible-focused, God and the Gay Christian offers hope and insight for Christians who have felt conflicted on matters of sexuality." (Justin Lee, author of Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate)

"A must-read for all Christians, but especially parents. Matthew Vines brings great insight and wisdom to the conversation so urgently needed by today’s church. God and the Gay Christian has the information I was searching for when my son, Tyler Clementi, came out to me. This book will have a great impact on families, freeing parents of misunderstandings about their LGBT children while letting them hold securely to their faith." (Jane Clementi, cofounder of The Tyler Clementi Foundation)

The revisionist side of the discussion

Matthew Vines is gay and is a Christian. This book tells his story of coming out and trying to reconcile his Christian faith with his local church, friends, family and his physical/emotional attraction to the same sex. While I don't agree with his conclusions or interpretations of scripture, I completely empathize with the hurt, rejection and self-doubt he and others like him have to endure with same-sex attraction. I can't say I understand how he feels, I am not attracted to other men, but I can feel his pain and understand (and identify with) his desire to find a way to reconcile his faith with his identity as a gay man.

What he writes is often painful to read and it is sad that our society treats people who are different poorly, many of those doing so identifying themselves as Christian. What he writes about is his journey and studies in reconciling his faith with his identity. Where he ends up is, in my and other's opinion, contrary to where he said (and concludes) he is going. He ends up offering views and conclusions which do not treat the Bible the way orthodox Christians do, as a whole written by God using human agents. He claims a lot of cultural influence in the Bible which he claims twist and alter God's intended meaning. He is definitely not holding to a High view of the scripture.

I don't want to belabor this and I know folks will disagree with my views/interpretation.

Regardless of which side you are on, YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK. It offers a clear perspective of this side of the discussion.

This book helped me feel like I'm not alone

Well written and full of candid information on the affliction of being a gay Christian.

Very helpful research of the Bible

No regret to buy this audio book. Have learned so much about the cultural backgrounds of gay relationship teaching in epistles of Paul. Recommend to buy it for great scholarly research.

In depth

I really enjoyed this book. It addresses all the Christian views on what the Bible says about same sex unions. I will be recommending this book to anyone who has questions about God and gay Christians

Excellent

An excellent, in depth, biblical and compassionate argument in support of GLBT people and those within the church who love them.

Required reading for every Christian today

Powerful argument for a group of Christians who have been shunned by the church and other Christians for far too long

Closer

I ended up listening at 1.5x as the narration was a bit slow. That aside, I thought the book had excellent stories and is a great foundational piece in understanding the dynamic of a man or woman who has a same-sex attraction and how to reconcile that with their most important relationship with their Savior.

I did not find the thesis of the book to be proven and it left more to be desired.

-opinion of a gay Christian male seeking after his Father's heart.

Very well explained.

This book helped me see the bible in a different light, and helped me review my relationship with God as a lesbian. I grew up in a church environment that shamed and rejected me for who I am, so I distanced myself from God for many years. This book gives a refreshing take on the biblical teachings on homosexuality and has changed my mind on whether or not God actually loves me. God bless Mathew Vines for helping me seek God again.

based on scripture!

loved it! What a great book based on scripture! This is a good book for every Christian read!

amazing book

this is a wonderful book for everyone and anyone to read no matter what age. I wish I would have found this book when I was 10 years old.