Hope for the Same-Sex Attracted: Biblical Direction for Friends, Family Members, and Those Struggling with Homosexuality by Ron CitlauMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
To start with the review, I got asked to review this book as part of a 'Blog Tour' I received an advanced copy of it through the author agent in this respect and from NetGalley.
When I was asked to review this book I was offered an e copy or a physical copy. I wish I had asked for the physical copy now. I wish now I had asked for the physical copy. This book is rich with content that I could use to help others. NetGalley copies will disappear after a suitable reading time so I will not get to use this book again and will have to take a lot of notes before it does.
Through the church that I go to I have a small online ministry that is to help men with addictions, most particularly sexual in nature. In the last few month I had a few people join that have problem with same sex attraction. When this book was offered to read I decided to take a look.
I honestly did not know what to think. I have reviewed one book about homosexuality that really s aid a lot of negative things about people who do not accept that it is the way God made them. I figured that this book maybe on that side of the political spectrum, or worse, it could have been the 'let's shoot them all' mentality. Fortunately this book did not fall either way. It was a common sense way of looking at the problem that people with same sex attraction(SSA) face.
This book is not for people who are family members or friends of SSA people. Unless you are trying to understand them better this is not for you. It is for the people who are this way or the people who minister to them. And for this book to work, we assume the people believe in Christianity and want to live a life pleasing to God.
The book is divided into parts. The first part deals with the obstacles that the SSA person will face in trying to live as a Christian with this attraction to the same sex. How it is identified is important as the author weaves what he believes is the proper way to identify yourself through the rest of the book.
Section two deals with the ways to deal with these attractions. The author does not purpose a conversion to an opposite sex attraction. If that comes, fine. In the meantime, God may call you to a life of being single. But not to be single alone. Become part of a community at a church that accepts this and will work with you to help you to grow in your Christianity.
The last section is a note to people who minister to these people and also an encouragement to them.
To be honest, a lot of this book, especially the last few chapters, with a little changing of the words, could be written to any people with sexual addictions.
The author does not give pat answers to the problems. This is good because life does not solve things just because we want them to. This is a point that is made throughout the book, especially in chapter 8 where he teaches about using some of the Psalms as prayerful laments. This spoke to me very deeply.
Five starts for this review. I recommend it to people with same sex attraction and to the people who minister to them.
View all my reviews
