By Karen R Keen
This is a very thorough, yet succinct explanation of where we have come from and where we are headed in terms of LGBTQIA+ relationships within the western world today, particularly in the intersection of Christianity and politics in the United States.
Keen did not shy away from explaining the culture of Biblical times and the context of “clobber passages.” She also delved into the various political arguments of the past century or more regarding “same-sex” relationships, which in my opinion really expands out to include all LGBTQIA+ people (not just gay and lesbian). She talks about how the infamous “Exodus” ministry which attempted to “turn” homosexual people into heterosexuals. In the end, this ministry seems to have made more of a negative impact than a positive one, with far less than 50% of people actually claiming to be changed, and the president of the organization agreeing with advances in psychology that it is extremely rare that a zebra can turn its stripes into spots. Keen makes a very strong case for the fact that sexual orientation does not generally change, and therefore the church much treat people with this in mind.
I particularly loved the chapter about celibacy. Keen talks about how most people fail at long-term celibacy. Very few human beings are inclined to abstain from sex for life, or even until marriage—especially with the age of first marriage becoming increasingly higher. It is unrealistic to expect LGBTQIA+ people to abstain for life. This is not a moral solution to their biological inclination. I can attest to this! Though I do not identify as LGBTQIA+, I was celibate until my late twenties, or early thirties if you consider celibacy to mean specifically penis-in-vagina sex, and abstinence was driving me nearly insane. I was obsessed about sex and marriage. I was desperate. I was lonely. I was horny. I did not desire to be single, and yet I was single for the most part. So if I, as a young woman, can own to the fact that celibacy until marriage is barely attainable (without a nervous breakdown ensuing), then I can perfectly understand that celibacy is not a healthy long-term option for most LGBTQIA+ people either! Quoting from her books “No evidence exists that it’s [celibacy is] possible for all people. I saw that setting a bar that cannot be reached renders the mandate meaningless and perpetuates spiritual and psychological trauma for the person trapped in that impossible situation.”
When Keen talks about how to formulate a Biblical ethic for LGBTQIA+ people, she talks about the need to wrestle with Scriptures, as teachers, leaders and scholars have done since the beginning. Her are some guidelines she teaches, quoting directly from her book:
- “To apply law indiscriminately can lead to cruel outcomes that God never intended.
- “If we ascribe greater importance to the particularities than to the purpose of the laws, we fall short of God’s vision.
- “God’s ordinances are always on behalf of people and not for the arbitrary appeasement of God’s sensibilities.
- “Mercy toward human suffering is the point!”
She does an excellent job of “bringing the Bible and science into conversation with each other” which “enriches our understanding of both.”
I appreciated this book and highly recommend it to every church and Christian struggling to grow more loving and affirming toward LGBTQIA+ people. This book absolutely will help you on your journey if you are ready for it!
