TRUTH AND LOVE IN A SEXUALLY-DISORDERED WORLD
Edited by David Searle
Christian Focus. 150 pages. £5.99
ISBN 978-1-84550-227-2
This book was first published in 1996 and has recently been updated and revised. It is a collection of nine individual chapters written by five different authors under the editorship of David Searle. Each chapter addresses one aspect of sexuality from a biblical and/or a pastoral perspective.
The book would be well suited for the student market or anyone who is trying to make sense of the biblical theology of relationships within a sex-obsessed society. The chapters include an exposition of Genesis 1 and 2 providing the backdrop of biblical thinking that should inform a Christian perspective.
The issue of homosexuality is amply dealt with in three chapters, one of which is written by a Christian person who has a homosexual orientation and who wishes to maintain biblical integrity. This is a helpful chapter to raise awareness within the church of the genuine heartfelt issues that such people face. Similarly the chapter on ‘homosexuality and health’ is informative and helpful.
Marriage is considered in another chapter and there is a further chapter on singleness which is compassionately written. By the very nature of the book, chapters are brief and seek to give an overview of each subject rather than an in-depth analysis.
This is an ideal book to be placed on a book stall at student conferences and deserves a wide readership. I have reservations about the presentation of the book — I am always slightly put off by the apparent dated style of wide margins and fully justified print on poor quality paper! I am sure in these days a more attractive presentation would have been possible to prevent the intended readership being similarly discouraged. But these are secondary details.
Rachel Lawrence,
health visitor and pastor’s wife,
West Street Baptist Church & Christian Centre (FIEC), Dunstable
