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Download Ebook Holy Sexuality and the Gospel: Sex, Desire, and Relationships Shaped by God's Grand Story, by Christopher Yuan
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Review
"The Bible is the most important book the world has for all generations. The Bible is our guide to faith and life. Nothing can compete with it or improve it. But in Dr. Christopher Yuan’s Holy Sexuality and the Gospel, you are holding in your hands the most important humanly composed book about biblical sexuality and godly living for our times."—Rosaria Butterfield, PhD, speaker and author of The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, Openness Unhindered, and The Gospel Comes with a House Key. “I read a lot of books, and Holy Sexuality and the Gospel is on the shortlist of most important books I’ve read in the past decade. There’s a desperate need for a biblically astute and theologically grounded yet warm and personal approach to human identity and how it does and doesn’t relate to gender and sexuality. This is that book. Holy Sexuality and the Gospel is profoundly relevant in an age of toxic confusion. It should be read by every person questioning their sexual identity as well as by every pastor, parent, friend, or sibling.” —Randy Alcorn, author of Heaven, Happiness, and The Purity Principle and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries “A truly breathtaking book that unpacks the soul issues of gender. This book not only gets at the heart of sexuality; it gets at the heart of the gospel. Yuan is an insightful thinker and keen storyteller.” —J. D. Greear PhD, author of Not God Enough, sixty-second president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and pastor of the Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, NC “In a world with many opinions surrounding sexuality, Christopher Yuan has given the church and beyond a resource tethered in something much more concrete—that is, the Word of God. And for that reason, I believe this book can lead many into the truth that will set anybody and everybody free.” —Jackie Hill-Perry, poet, speaker, artist, and author of Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was and Who God Has Always Been “Dr. Christopher Yuan has done something deeply and desperately needed: he has told the great story of what the Bible says about sexuality—and about same-sex attractions—in a way that neither compromises the truth nor the love that is at the heart of that story. God’s overwhelming love for us is expressed in his passion for us to be holy even as he is holy. So he never calls us to mere celibacy or mere happiness but to a transcendent holiness and joy. That is the fullness and the glory of walking with the God who died for us—and God forbid that we should settle for anything less.” —Eric Metaxas, New York Times best-selling author of Bonhoeffer: Prophet, Martyr, Pastor, Spy, and Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World “Christopher Yuan is a leader of courage, conviction, and compassion whose life story echoes with amazing grace. This book offers a practical, grounded Christian vision of sexuality in a world culture confused by and obsessed with sex. As the church thinks through how to engage our neighbors on issues such as sexual orientation and gender identity, and on how to disciple our brothers and sisters in Christ who grapple with such temptations, this book will be of immense help.” —Russell Moore, PhD, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention “What a gift Christopher Yuan is to the body of Christ. His journey into ‘a far country’ and back home into union with Christ has led him to grapple with hard questions we are all asking (or need to be asking) these days about sexuality, identity, sanctification (both the process and the goal), and what it means to mortify sin and wage war against idols of the heart. In his treatment of these important topics, Christopher is at once humble, compassionate, insightful, and unwaveringly committed to holiness, the authority of Scripture, and the glory of God. Penning this book no doubt required intense exertion and great courage. Thank you, Christopher, for being willing to stay the course—for the sake of us all and, preeminently, for Christ’s sake.” —Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, author, teacher, and host of Revive Our Hearts “When it comes to sexuality, singleness, and marriage, we need all the good books we can get. And we certainly need this book from Christopher Yuan. Holy Sexuality and the Gospel is part biblical exposition, part theological exploration, and part pastoral exhortation. Christopher has given us a clear-eyed and warm-hearted work that will inspire and encourage the weary as well as instruct and (gently) correct those who have been more shaped by the culture than by the way of Christ.” —Kevin DeYoung, senior pastor of Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, NC, and assistant professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC “I’m so very thankful for Christopher Yuan and his faithfulness in the ministry entrusted to him. I’m grateful that he has become a voice of clarity in the midst of so much theological and sexual confusion. I pray that many will heed his clarion call to a holy sexuality.” —Tim Challies, blogger, book reviewer, and author of Do More Better “If you’re looking for a book on what the Bible teaches about sexuality, you’ve found a good one—one of the best, in fact, that I’ve read. But this book is so much more. It’s an inspiring call to take up our cross and follow Jesus, who’s worth everything to those he loves. I’m praying that God will raise up an entire generation like Christopher Yuan, who will lead us in courage and compassion so the world might know that Jesus saves.” —Collin Hansen, editorial director of the Gospel Coalition and coauthor of A God-Sized Vision: Revival Stories that Stretch and Stir “Holy Sexuality and the Gospel is simply remarkable. This book will reignite your imagination for the gospel and how the gospel shapes our sexuality. Yuan writes with the pen of a theologian, but he also has the heart of someone who knows this issue from personal experience. This book will be required reading for the Transformation Church staff and a resource for our entire church.” —Derwin L. Gray, DMin, lead pastor of Transformation Church in Fort Mill, SC, and author of Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future “Holy Sexuality and the Gospel is not just a book; it is a treatise on image-bearing, encompassing all of the facets of being human. The writing is compelling yet grounded biblically and theologically. The subject of human sexuality is confusing and divisive in these days. This is a fresh voice and approach including much research, yet it offers examples of living out the truth both personally and for the community of believers—a way forward toward unity.” —Jo Anne Lyon, general superintendent emerita and ambassador of the Wesleyan Church “My friend Christopher Yuan has written a book as biblically sound and culturally self-aware as it is pastorally driven. In Holy Sexuality and the Gospel, Christopher understands that cultural debates and scriptural debates are driven by even deeper currents: identity and belief. As Christopher writes, ‘The apostle Paul says that in Christ “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Thus, my identity is not gay, ex-gay, or even straight. My true identity is in Jesus Christ alone.’ That’s what our society needs to hear. I cannot recommend Holy Sexuality and the Gospel highly enough. It is a scandalous book for our age because it calls and draws readers to a bigger horizon than what secularism and theological liberalism offer. The book tackles tough issues ravaging the culture and the local church but does it with a tenor of wisdom and grace.” —Andrew T. Walker, PhD, director of policy studies at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and author of God and the Transgender Debate “Does the Bible have anything to say about sexual orientation? Does God call homosexuals to heterosexuality? What do parents do when their child says ‘I’m gay’? Christopher Yuan has reduced these complex, controversial questions to one simple answer: ‘With same-sex attractions, the problem is sin, and the gospel is the answer.’ Although I’m all for helping people get to the root of their unwanted same-sex attractions, and while some of my friends have been transformed from homosexuality to heterosexuality, Christopher is absolutely right: We are called to holiness, to holy sexuality, to reflecting the image of God in every aspect of our lives. This is a clearly written, biblically grounded, theologically sound exposition. It’s important reading for singles, for married couples, for pastors, and for all those struggling with same-sex attractions.” —Michael L. Brown, PhD, host of the Line of Fire radio broadcast and author of Can You Be Gay and Christian? “Christopher Yuan’s work tells us that one thing counts most—our identity in Christ and the enablement that comes with it. As he shows, such a focus helps us in all of life, especially in the areas of sexuality, sexual identity, marriage, singleness, and the community that meets needs of intimacy and family. Biblical balance in all of these areas can be a challenge in our culture, especially in knowing how to love and how to converse on these issues. This book does an excellent job of showing the way.” —Darrell L. Bock, PhD, executive director for cultural engagement at the Howard G. Hendricks Center for Christian Leadership and Cultural Engagement and senior research professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, TX“Dr. Christopher Yuan combines his own gripping story with astute biblically grounded insights into the whole matter of our true identity and its relation to our sexuality. God has a grand design for human flourishing, and this book presents it so engagingly. Dr. Yuan’s big idea—clearly written and argued—is holy sexuality as a key to human flourishing. The tone is gracious throughout, and yet the book is uncompromising in its biblical fidelity. I hope that this work is distributed widely and read deeply.” —Graham A. Cole, ThD, dean and vice president of education and professor of biblical and systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL “Holy Sexuality and the Gospel is a book that must be read by every serious Christian. Yuan brings a wonderful balance of biblical insight and practical application for how Christians can thoughtfully address some of the toughest issues of sex and relationships today. And yet his unflinching commitment to the gospel comes through on every page. I could not recommend the book more highly.” —Sean McDowell, PhD, associate professor of Christian apologetics at Biola University in La Mirada, CA, speaker, and coauthor of Evidence That Demands a Verdict “This is a book about sexual sanity, and God knows we need it. Our culture has unhinged sexuality from spiritual and biological realities and loaded it with a weight it is not designed to bear. It was never meant to define us. It cannot make our dreams come true. It will not complete us. As a gift of God kept in perspective, sexuality is wonderful. As an idol, it is terrible. More than ever, we need to know what holy sexuality is.” —Jon Bloom, author, board chair, and cofounder of Desiring God “Christopher Yuan pivots from human sexuality to holy sexuality as he writes with passion and compassion, scholarship and spirituality, personal experience and practical expertise.” —Leith Anderson, DMin, president of the National Association of Evangelicals
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About the Author
CHRISTOPHER YUAN, DMin, has taught at the Moody Bible Institute for over ten years and his speaking ministry on faith and sexuality has reached five continents. He speaks at conferences, on college campuses, and in churches. He co-authored with his mother, Angela, their memoir (now in seven languages), Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son's Journey to God, A Broken Mother's Search for Hope. He is also the author of Giving a Voice to the Voiceless. Dr. Yuan holds degrees from Moody Bible Institute, Wheaton College, and Bethel Seminary.
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Product details
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Multnomah (November 20, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0735290911
ISBN-13: 978-0735290914
Product Dimensions:
5.2 x 0.7 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review:
4.2 out of 5 stars
73 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
#9,573 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
I understand why Yuan’s work is popular. First, he’s a nice guy and is a great speaker with a compelling story, the kind that Christians love to hear—the classic bad boy, really bad boy, to preacher story. It also titillates us and makes us feel good listening to theology that agrees with what we’ve been told about the dark and evil located outside of us, in the stuff we would never do.Because it is likely that the majority of potential readers of “Holy Sexuality†will be pastors, youth leaders, families, and friends of LGBTQ people (both Christian and not), I’m writing this review for you. I’m a straight evangelical Christian, mother of two adult straight children, faithful follower of Jesus, active in my evangelical church, author of a book on the history of the cultural and religious discrimination against LGBTQ community, and speaker on the topic.With this review, I hope to push readers beyond what might be comfortable. Often we aren’t interested in digging around in difficult topics until an issue becomes personal in some way. Only then you may see what is glaringly obvious to ever increasing numbers of us Christians—that there are millions of LGBTQ single and married Christians faithfully following and serving God. And books like “Holy Sexuality,†ignores them, and does great injustice and harm to them.I hope you’ll also begin to wonder why conservative leaders continually create a turn stile of methods, nuanced language, and shifting theology to “deal†with homosexuality.Since his last book, Yuan has significantly ramped up his negative messaging about homosexuality. His words carry weight and go a distance (he speaks publicly several hundred times each year). The impact from this book will be elevated levels of damage to LGBTQ people and their families, a continuation of misinformation about sexual orientation, and driving of people (not just LGBTQ people, but those who support their full inclusion in churches) from Christian churches.In “Holy Sexuality,†Yuan creates freshly nuanced language and reshaped questionable theology. His ideas might indeed seem “holy.†So, let me lay them out a bit more clearly.First, I need to step back here a bit to lay some historical groundwork.Christian theology about sexuality in general, and with respect to gay people in particular, is quite a new concept. Christians had widely avoided discussing sexuality at all until the 1970s. And there was certainly no theology about homosexuality coming from the conservative church during that time.Further, did you realize the first usage of the word “homosexual†in the Bible was in the Revised Standard Version in 1946 where it appeared in 1 Cor. 6: 9-10? Before the RSV was published, throughout history that Corinthians text had been interpreted and understood as a situation in which a socially more powerful and/or older man imposed exploitative, abusive penetrative sex on a boy, or on a subservient person.During the RSV translation process of Corinthians in the 1930s and early 1940s, the team decided to join two Greek words—malakoi and arsenokoitai—into one word “homosexual†for ease in understanding. The team had been tasked to update the language of the popular King James, the ASV, and the ESV to more modern English. For the most part, until then, the two Greek words had been a variation on “effeminate†(one who takes the sexual penetrated role of a woman) and “sodomite†(one who penetrates another person, typically with excessive lust and with no intent to procreate). Even in the 1930s, the word “homosexual†carried a different meaning and implication than it does today. Then, homosexuality was wrongly considered a mental illness; not a moral issue, but a pathological one.It’s even more obvious that the word homosexual as we understand it today (one who is emotionally, romantically, and sexually attracted to the same sex) is a poor conjoining and translation of two words that throughout history had referred to exploitative sex.The placement of the word “homosexual†in Corinthians went relatively unnoticed for the next 30 years. Historical denominational journals, pastoral counseling magazines, and Christian books reflect this. There was simply no discussion taking place that connected morality and sin to homosexuality using 1 Corinthians. (This is all part of the historical work I am now doing.)Then in the 1971 The Living Bible paraphrase, the words “homosexual/homosexuality†were introduced in six more places in the Bible for the first time (Leviticus twice, Deuteronomy, 1 Kings, Romans (inferred) and 1 Timothy). Surprising, isn’t it? Still, there was no theology created around homosexuality. The Christian church was not in the fix-the-gays business. The translation notes on this Bible indicate the translations, just as had happened in the RSV, were cultural decisions, not theological ones.About the same time, in 1973, medical experts lifted the designation of mental illness off homosexuality. They had never had the science or studies to support the pathological designation. The history of understanding the progression of human sexuality from 1870 till 1970 is fascinating! For another time . . .Sadly, in the late 1970s, a landscape created primarily by the Moral Majority and conservative politics developed in America that made it politically advantageous for conservatives and financially advantageous for TV evangelists at the time to blame moral decline in the country and church on a few select topics: abortion (did you know the SBC supported abortion in the early 1970s? Pretty surprising, right?), drugs, and “the gays.â€Still, historical documents show that absolutely no “gay theology†had yet been constructed.By the end of the 1970s, however, the first Christian groups began to slowly appear with a mission to “fix†the gays and make them straight by employing reparative therapy, and even suggesting that gay people enter into heterosexual marriages. Even though the word “homosexual†was placed in the RSV and the TLB with no theological considerations, and little medical understanding, still, it was conveniently there.Previously discarded theories as to why some people were gay were recycled, re-tooled slightly, and wrapped in Christianese. Voila! A new Christian industry was born and along with it, a slowly emerging theology informing Christians about “what God clearly says about homosexuality.â€Over the next generation, Christian ministries tried to make gay people straight by: encouraging them to find the root of the problem in their relationship to their smother-mother or distant father, repenting for an imagined outright rebellion against God, memorizing and employing key verses on temptation, avoiding contact with other gay people, modifying their behaviors to be more masculine for gay men and more feminine for lesbians, and even marrying opposite sex partners as a sign of faith that God would change their attraction with this step of obedience.All that foolishness didn’t work and tragically caused massive amounts of shame, depression, substance abuse issue, promiscuity, suicide, and broken families and marriages for LGBTQ people.So, now what’s next if we can’t make gay people straight and stop them from being gay?Here was an opportune pivot point for the conservative church. Instead, they honed in on the next iteration of a more refined theology. This is the most common currently, and it focuses on imposed celibacy for LGBTQ people.Even in this celibacy-for-gay camp, there is a variety of beliefs around how LGBTQ people are “allowed†to identify—either as a “gay Christian†or a “same-sex attracted Christian.†And, still, identification as a same-sex attracted celibate Christian does not seem restrictive enough personally for Christopher Yuan, so he has created another level of more nuanced language and has reshaped theology about homosexuality, celibacy, and even marriage.Here is what I suspect may be at play. And no, I do not have a degree in psychology, but recall, I have thousands, yes, really, of LGBTQ friends and acquaintances whom I have listened to closely and observed for about twenty years, with almost fifteen of those years within LGBTQ Christian environments. I have hundreds of friends who have gone the Christian reparative therapy route. I have multiple dozens of friends who have been leaders, authors, therapists, and speakers in the ex-gay/celibacy movements.The theology and rules set that Yuan has had a part in creating, teaching, and living by are no longer working for him. He admits that he is still sexually tempted (p. 126) and writes: “As a policy, I never travel alone, and I'm blessed my mother has committed to travel with me wherever I go as my prayer warrior and someone to hold me accountable when I am on the road.†(p. 73) Adding, “One of the things lacking today is a robust theological discussion on sexual orientation.†(p. 67)What? The 40 or so books on the topic I have personally read and reviewed with at least an equal number above that which I have read are not enough?Maybe it is not enough, because they don’t work.Yuan built his new theology with a few foundational beliefs:“One cannot properly understand human sexuality unless it is rooted in “theological anthropologyâ€(p. 12); and, we must believe in the fall of Adam and Eve leading to the doctrine of original sin or we reject the work of Christ on the cross†(p.26)... all concluding: “When it comes to sexuality, the place to start must always be the image of God and the doctrine of sin. No Christian should ever challenge these fundamental principles. (p. 33)To be a “real†Christian, it seems, we are forced to choose between two alternatives -- either choose faith and literal reading of the Bible in intellectual exile, or be intellectually curious and honest and abandon your faith. I choose the middle ground. Incorporating Scripture and science does not diminish my respect for and submission to God’s authority.I don’t use the Bible as a science book, or as a template dictating the limited heteronormative binary of human sexuality, and still, I am a Christian, one who refuses to abuse Scripture and use unsubstantiated interpretations created by others to marginalize groups of people that are not like me.So when Yuan constructs yet another new variation of “robust theological discussion on sexual orientation,†I strongly object.As with prior conservative variations, in creating his new modification, Yuan ignores what medical and psychological professionals universally agree upon—that homosexuality is a natural variation of human sexuality. For Yuan, “same-sex sexual practice or any struggle with sin such as resisting same-sex sexual desire has only one root cause: original sin.†Adding, “To claim the primary root of homosexuality is anything but original sin is to deny orthodoxy.†(p. 37) Again, I don’t imagine I am going to fall off into a heretical abyss if I side with medical experts on this one.Yuan vehemently rejects the connection between his theology and harm suffered by LGBTQ people stating there is no empirical evidence. (p. 152) Not only is there statistical evidence, it is highly disturbing that Yuan needs to see numbers to “prove†the damage caused by his strain of theology. Evidence shows LGBTQ kids who are rejected by their families are 8.4 times more likely to attempt suicide than LGBTQ kids who are supported by their families. Reading one Brene Brown book on shame should be enough to rethink this destructive theology.Setting studies aside, Yuan could simply invest time in listening and learning directly from LGBTQ Christians and their families. That could be emotionally risky though for a man who has build his own high walls of protection. Yuan controls the questions asked of him in public settings. (For a particularly raw view into this and other dynamics going on in Yuan’s life, consider watching “Yuan Speaks at Yale Part 2†on YouTube starting at the 5:30 mark.)With homosexuality rooted in original sin, what’s a gay Christian to do? As indicated, above, in the past, it was suggested that they submit to some form of therapy to become ex-gay, or maybe remain celibate for life. And here another switch-up—no, says Yuan, those are not viable options. (p. 39) Wait, what about all those other books by conservative Christians who say this is the most acceptable option? What happened to that and what God clearly told them?“I believe both these paths (the ex-gays and celibate gays) fall short in the same way, by elevating sexual orientation as a redeemable category.†(p. 39) “With same-sex attractions, the problem is sin, and the gospel is the answer.†(p. 40) “The terms heterosexual and homosexual originate from a secular anthropology that elevates sexual desires as a legitimate way to categorize humanity.†(p. 46) “Using a term that confuses our true identity is unwise, and embracing such a broad category that includes sinful behavior should be roundly rejected.†(p. 47)I found the following sentences to be quite stunning: “Segregating ourselves into straight Christians and gay Christians gives the false impression that we’re fundamentally different at the core of our being. We need more unity not less, and this segregation by orientation is in essence a form of affective apartheid.†(p. 72) Affective apartheid?Did you catch all that? If being gay is sin, and calling oneself gay is sin, and even sexual orientation terms for heterosexual and homosexual are secular, and inherently elevate sexual sin, what solution does Yuan suggest to rise above all this linguistic gymnastics?Glad you asked, “what other options do we have, you may ask other than heterosexuality and homosexuality? What we need is a completely new paradigm to represent God's sexual ethic. Holy sexuality.†(p. 47) This term has been tossed around for about a decade usually in this form: what is the opposite of homosexuality? Not heterosexuality, but holisexuality.Yuan wants to jettison the sexual orientation terms, all of them, in the church: “We pigeonholed ourselves into the wrong framework for biblical sexual expression: heterosexuality, bisexuality, or homosexuality. It's time to break free from this paradigm and embrace God's vision for sexuality. Holy sexuality consists of two paths: chastity in singleness and faithfulness in marriage.†(p. 47)What follows is an odd discourse on the elevation and idolization of marriage in the U.S. addressing the Obergefell v Hodges same-sex marriage decision.. “Not only did it (the decision) redefine marriage, but it also legally ratified the falsity that marriage is the pinnacle of love.â€(p. 77) Yuan then adds, “I respectfully, but resolutely, disagree. Marriage may be an expression of love, but it's not the highest ideal of love. God is. Let me further elucidate how Justice Kennedy's assertions are found lacking when measured against biblical truth. Marriage may be an expression of fidelity, but it's not the highest ideal of fidelity. God is.†(p. 77) Yuan in contrast to the Supreme Court, states “marriage is not a basic human or civil right.†(p. 92)Now, what should the church do with all these celibates who struggle with loneliness? I’ve read this solution several times in many other gay celibate books, and each time I find it overly altruistic. Yuan suggests that Christian families should include single people of the church in their own families in order to create a family for them. Yuan then asks “Will you commit to making this a reality for the sake of me and all Christian singles? (p. 137) As I mentioned, quite altruistic, and where is the biblical model for couples taking in the church celibate? My goodness, many of us struggle to love the stranger and the immigrant well, and that is in the Bible.I know there are bisexual people who have attractions along the spectrum from straight to gay. Some people with some level of same-sex attraction can successfully marry heterosexually. Yuan takes the possibilities a bit further: “Many assume that lifelong celibacy is the only option for believers with same-sex attraction. While we shouldn't promote biblical marriage as the ultimate prize as ex-gay ministries have done in the past, we also shouldn't discount the possibility that God can do the impossible. Mandating lifelong celibacy for those with same-sex attraction on the false premise that physical marriage is impossible for them does not permit God to be God, the only one who determines the future.†(p. 116)Yuan does engage pro-gay theology, and in particular Matthew Vines, founder of The Reformation Project. In the spirit of transparency, I have known Matthew since 2013, before the formation of The Reformation Project. I’ve been on the board of the organization for 6 years, and am now the chair of the board. Matthew is one of my closest friends. So, when Yuan writes about him and makes assumptions as to his character and beliefs, it is quite easy for me to see through it.Yuan writes: “To conclude that bad fruit refers to suicide, attempted suicide, or even suicidal ideation requires a biblical interpreter to abandon basic exegetical principles. Furthermore, for Vines, hardship and distress are utterly incompatible with his idea of Christian life. Matthew’s irresponsible methodology is essentially a dance with deception.†(p. 149) Adding, “Matthew Vines simply represents a new iteration of the health, wealth, and prosperity movement,†(p. 150) and “Vines’ interpretation leaves no room for suffering and cross bearing in the life of the believer. (p. 149) None of what Yuan writes is an accurate reflection of what Matthew has publicly expressed, or how he lives his life. Yuan has embellished and distorted Matthew’s stances.Matthew writes in “God and the Gay Christianâ€: “Much of our culture does promote the idea that our greatest fulfilment is to be found in sex and marriage. To the extent that Christians accept that view, we risk idolizing romantic love and losing sight of our first love, Christ. It is true, too, that God does not promise us easy lives. We are called to deny ourselves, to take up our crosses, and to follow Jesus.â€Yuan concludes, “If a leader blatantly takes Scripture out of context like this, twisting the Bible to say what it doesn't say, everything else he teaches should be suspect.†(p. 155) On this Yuan and I agree. When a leader twists Scripture, takes it out of context and lies, he/she is not to be trusted. I do not trust Christopher Yuan.On page 33, Yuan quotes a Chinese proverb: “A millimeter discrepancy leads to a thousand mile loss. If the point of departure is a bit off from the start, the deviation in the end can be overwhelmingly large.â€The theology in “Holy Sexuality†is off, by a thousand miles. While Yuan wants increasingly “robust†sexual orientation theology, I think we need to go back to the point of departure and reexamine the wrong assumptions. We need to listen to both the experts on sexual orientation and to LGBTQ Christians themselves. It is abundantly clear that all the fix-the-gays variations have not and are not working and do create damage.Yet, Yuan builds the walls tighter unto himself to control a natural part of him, and the conservative church applauds him, puts him on hundreds of stages, and peddles his theology as “God’s truth.â€Take your eyes off the stage. Look at the ones to the sides. They are really the greater story. Despite all the barriers built against them, and the damage done to them, many of them have been there loving, serving, and worshipping God. They are the LGBTQ Christian community—single, dating, married, celibate—and they are speaking. Listen to them.
Deeply misinformed about human sexuality as it relates to the the biological structures and prenatal hormones within the human body. As a doctoral candidate in the study LGBTQ+ affairs, this book does nothing to help remedy the ongoing crises the community faces but rather reinforces stereotypes alas well as shame for the community. The author should have done far more research before producing a book that will cause some Christians (not all) to double down rather than extend Christ’s love to LGBTQ+ people for being of His creation. This book is not just misinformed but harmful toward a community that still suffers greatly in our society.
Yaun makes reference to the necessity of Biblical exegesis in this matter, yet it appears that what he means by that is utilizing current translations and upholding orthodoxy. An effort without attempting to understand the original language, historical context (the ancients as well as our own) and changing translations, results in an anemic conclusion.I too noticed the review by Kathy Baldock has been removed. I find this disturbing, have we reached a point where reasoned contrarian positions are no longer acceptable? Did the author/Publisher expect no challenge?
One of the most challenging questions facing Christians today is how we should respond to the shift that is taking place in our society’s ideas about sexuality. Some are quick to condemn, while others preach acceptance. In Holy Sexuality and the Gospel, Christopher Yuan offers a better alternative. He presents a thorough biblical perspective on sexuality that challenges both sides.Yuan claims that tying our identity to our sexuality distorts our view of personhood. Our identity is not rooted in our desires, but in the fact that we are created in the image of God. This foundation enables us to evaluate our desires based upon God’s standard. Thus, he says, “We’re able to hate our sin without hating ourselves. Our sexuality is no longer who we are but how we are†(41). He then sums up the biblical standard by saying, “Holy sexuality consists of two paths: chastity in singleness and faithfulness in marriage. Chastity is more than simply abstention from extra-marital sex; it conveys purity and holiness. Faithfulness is more than merely maintaining chastity and avoiding illicit sex; it conveys covenantal commitment†(47).Yuan speaks with clarity and compassion to the gay community. He relates his own experience with same-sex attraction, but asserts, “My identity is not gay, ex-gay, or even straight. My true identity is in Jesus Christ alone†(3). He states, “I’m not saying the capacity to have same-sex attractions is actual sin. However, the concept of original and indwelling sin fits every description of a same-sex sexual orientation†(39). He explains that this view provides hope, because, “Whatever our condition upon coming into the world, we need a total transformation—the kind that our God and Creator has made possible only through faith in Christ†(41-42). He recognizes that salvation does not eliminate same-sex desires. To grow in holiness, believers must learn to resist temptation. He presents a biblical case for the goodness of singleness and the close relationships that should characterize the church.Yuan also challenges those who do not have same-sex desires, by saying, “Sentimentalizing marriage is not what God intended. Overromanticizing this holy union puts us at risk of idolizing it†(75). Since “Sex and marriage are not eternal fixtures in God’s grand story†(110), married believers must value the family ties we share in Christ. He says, “We aren’t living as true spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ, and as a result, many singles—particularly those with same-sex attractions—experience feelings of confinement and isolation†(130). He concludes by advising Christians, “The most important thing is not that we convince others that same-sex relationships are sinful. Rather, the most important thing is whether people will receive the gift of faith and follow Jesus†(170).I found Yuan’s book to be culturally relevant, biblically grounded, theologically articulate, and compassionately constructive. His discussion of sexuality is framed by a compelling vision of how Jesus wants his followers to relate to one another and to the world. I wholeheartedly recommend it. (I received an advanced copy of the book free in exchange for an unbiased review.)
What I appreciate most about this book is it addresses various aspects of sexuality: heterosexuality, homosexuality, married, singleness...and it does so with grace and Biblical clarity. Dr. Yuan's concept of Holy Sexuality has helped me to have a more complete view of God's design for sex. And I especially benefited from the discussion of how to respond when a friend opens up. We all need some advice on this. This book is excellent.
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