UnClobber

Rethinking Our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality

By: Colby Martin, Glennon Doyle Melton - foreword

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Churches in America are experiencing an unprecedented fracturing due to their belief and attitude toward the LGBTQ community. Armed with only six passages in the Bible - often known as the "clobber passages" - the traditional Christian position has been one that stands against the full inclusion of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters. UnClobber reexamines each of those frequently quoted passages of Scripture, alternating with author Colby Martin's own story of being fired from an evangelical megachurch when they discovered his stance on sexuality.  

UnClobber reexamines what the Bible says (and does not say) about homosexuality in such a way that breathes fresh life into outdated and inaccurate assumptions and interpretations.

©2016 Colby Martin; Foreword Copyright 2016 by Westminster John Knox Press (P)2018 Tantor

The author's human nature gets in way of the book

Well, as a Christian who has known for about 15 years that the Bible does not exactly condemn gay relationships, I was hoping for a more analytical and balanced approach to the topic.

But as with most authors and human beings in general, he succumbs to an entire paradigm, rather than being more careful with what he believes.

Rather than going piece by piece and dissecting everything that goes along with the topic, he as many people do, simply accept everything.

What I mean directly is he assumes that if you are OK with people being gay, you must also be liberal. This to me is plainly ridiculous and shows laziness in analyzing things.

He does so much so that he can't even see the obvious war on Christianity in the culture. Its like he took off one pair of blinders to put on another pair of blinders.

To be frank, I am Conservative and have been for as long as I have thought its OK for people to be gay. And I think everything these days get politicized.

This is the second book like this. If someone has an "alternate" view on something in scripture, its like they by default assume you have to accept all the other ridiculous things from the "liberal" side.

So helpful!

I found this book VERY helpful in understanding how the scriptures can be read in a way that does not condemn our LGBT friends and family. Colby alternates chapters telling his own journey of becoming affirming with chapters dedicated to the 6 “clobber” passages referenced as “proof” that homosexuality is a sin.

However, I did not care for the narrator’s voice. He speaks very slowly and with an air of superiority. I found that by changing the speed to 1.25, I could get through it.

Annoying reading

The content of this book is really good. However, the audible reading of it sounds like an automated robotic voice. The way the narrator says LGBTQ becomes almost humorous.

A comprehensive study on biblical LGBTQ+ affirmation

As a gay Christian, raised in the conservative Southern Baptist Church, I have spent most of my adult years attempting to reconcile my sexuality with my closely held religious convictions. On this journey, I have read many books and studies on the so-called “clobber passages”, and I have to say Colby Martin’s book is one of the absolute best I have come across. Though I came to a place of peace with God about my sexuality a few years ago, I am constantly looking for competent and thoughtful studies related to the subject, as it can be a struggle at times to not give in to the shame and guilt I was saturated in during my formative years. This book is a much needed salve for a wounded queer heart. (real talk: even after finding peace, I still need validation once in a while that I’m on the right path, and hearing it from a straight pastor is even more validating, since Colby doesn’t have a dog in the race, so to speak).

If you are looking for scriptural validation of your sexuality, you are studying what the Bible says about your queer loved one, or you just want a deeper understanding of what scripture actually says about the LGBTQ+ community, this is the book for you.

Awesome book!

The book is incredible and so informative while not feeling like a textbook. Colby did an amazing job writing this. Didn’t care too much for the person who read the book, I found his voice to be distracting.

What I’ve been looking for

A new sense of peace and reassurance, knowing I’m not condemned by the scriptures. Colby Martin, thank you

finally reason and research point to the reality

Sexuality has never been a choice. We may choose how we express our sexuality but the underlying attraction is something as innate as beating heart. Colby takes us through the passages used to support conservative Christian beliefs on homosexuality with care and research.

Great book!

This is a great book for any Gay Christian who still struggle’s with those passages in the Bible that are destructive and divisive! It is well thought out and deeply studied!

It will set your spirit free!
That’s what Jesus wants for us,he made us who we are and wants to set us free! The church has been wrong, most still are beset with self righteousness and judgment! No grace!

love appreciated

thank you Pastor Martin for opening your heart and mind and sharing your biblically based story. your book is a must read for all Christians.

Clarifying & Liberating

My faith and belief in a loving God has been strengthened after reading this book. I found your book after watching a video by Jackie Greenland (Jackie G) on YouTube. I know that it was divine timing.

I've sat in pews week in and week out, wondering if I have been getting this Faith thing all wrong; Pastor Colby Martin helped me realize, through this book, that I am firmly held in the arms of a God that sees me, loves me, and wants me to know that I am His.

I've always said that I'm a 'heart person', and could not understand why as a bi, cis, queer, Christian guy, I am not deserving of God's love, and His promise, because I happen to love people and not their gender or genitalia. My heart just knows to love, as Jesus loves.

Pastor Martin, I want to thank you for writing this book and sharing your story. This has been helpful to me spiritually, mentally, and emotionally, as I transition from a non-affirming denomination to one that is open-and-affirming. I learned that my "internal convictions [were] not aligned with [my] external actions." And that, was the missing piece of the puzzle for me. Ironically, like you, it took thirty-two years before I heard those words; I'm so grateful that I did.

Your book, I know, has been a healing balm to many LGBTQ+ Christians and their open-and-affirming allies. God has used you as a vessel to help save lives. Thank you. Many continued blessings to you and your family. And Kate, your reward in heaven is great!

I love you all.

Really good study book

It goes into depth thinking about logistics and puts things into a well balanced spotlight for Christians on both sides of the divide.

helpful but skip every other chapter

The narration unfortunately was painfully stilted and slow. The background story was also very wordy and long winded. However, as suggested at the beginning by the author, you can read every other chapter to get the Bible study that was well worth reading and avoid the authors detailed personal journey