Sexuality: The bigger picture

DOES THE BIBLE AFFIRM SAME-SEX
RELATIONSHIPS?
By Rebecca McLaughlin
The Good Book Company. 121 pages. £5.94
ISBN 978 1 784 989 712

Rebecca McLaughlin, well-known author of books for those questioning Christian faith, has written this short book exploring what the Bible teaches about same-sex relationships.

McLaughlin declares as early as the Introduction that she herself has always been sexually and romantically attracted to other women, and that she is convinced that ‘the Bible leaves no room for followers of Jesus to pursue same-sex sexual relationships’ (14).

The book then faces and answers ten common objections to this understanding of Scripture:

1. Christians should just focus on the gospel of God’s love

2. Jesus was silent on same-sex relationships

3. God’s judgment on Sodom [Genesis 19] isn’t a judgment on same-sex relationships

4. It’s inconsistent to follow the Old Testament on same-sex sex but not on shellfish

5. Paul condemns exploitative same-sex relationships, not consensual ones

6. Paul was condemning excessive lust, not same-sex sexual orientation

7. The word ‘homosexual’ wasn’t used in Bibles until 1946 – it’s a misinterpretation

8. The trajectory of the Bible is toward rejecting slavery and affirming same-sex marriage

9. Unchosen celibacy yields bad fruit

10. A God of love can’t be against relationships of love.

McLaughlin simply, clearly and cogently argues against all these objections, except the last. There she has strong words to say about the importance of warm, close relationships between members of the same sex, but insists that they become contrary to God’s will if they encourage sexual desires or sexual activity.

While answering the ten objections, McLaughlin examines the most important Bible texts that teach directly about same-sex relationships and shows conclusively that the Old Testament prohibition is both affirmed and made stronger in the New Testament.

This is not simply a book about Biblical teaching. It is earthed throughout by the personal experience of the author herself and of other same-sex attracted Christians whom she knows well.

The book is well written, clear and compelling. It has important things to say about human marriage as ‘just a scale model’ of the marriage of Christ and His church (chapter one) and about God’s gift of singleness: ‘The point of singleness for Christians is not personal freedom to enjoy life without responsibility but wholehearted devotion to Jesus’ (p.90).

A fine short book, especially suitable for a Christian who is same-sex attracted, knows that Christians have traditionally not been able to support same-sex sexual relationships, but doesn’t know why or is uncertain in the light of other ‘Christian’ views they have read or heard.

Andrew Cornes, All Souls, Eastbourne