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ABOUT
What the Bible actually says — and doesn't say — about same-sex relationships is very good news.
The Book
More than any other issue of our times, the church’s response to the gay debate has alienated young people from God, church, the Bible, and their own families. Conservative believers—gay and straight—are increasingly facing a painful dilemma: affirm what they have traditionally understood Scripture to say, or affirm what they increasingly see to be true about their gay friends and loved ones.
God and the Gay Christian shows a third way—one that honors those who are different and the authority of Scripture. In this carefully researched and important book, Matthew Vines makes a compelling case for biblically-grounded responses to such questions as: How could traditional beliefs have been wrong for thousands of years on such an important topic? What is the story of Sodom and Gomorrah really saying about human relationships? Can celibacy be a calling when it is mandated, not chosen? What did Paul have in mind when he warned against same-sex relations? Do biblical teachings on the marriage covenant preclude same-sex marriage or not?
Remarkable in its affirmation of both orthodox theology and full equality for sexual minorities, God and the Gay Christian has the potential to radically change the conversation about being gay in the church. Not only is it a convincing interpretation of key Bible texts, it is also the story of a young man navigating relationships with his family, his hometown church, and the church at large as he expresses what it means to be a faithful, gay Christian.
Matthew Vines
Matthew Vines is the founder of The Reformation Project, a Bible-based, non-profit organization that seeks to reform church teaching on sexual orientation and gender identity. Matthew attended Harvard University for two years before he took a leave of absence to research what the Bible says about homosexuality. His teaching on this topic has been featured in media worldwide, including USA Today, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. Matthew lives in Wichita, Kansas.
The Reformation Project
The Reformation Project is a Bible-based, Christian non-profit organization that seeks to promote the inclusion of LGBT people by reforming church teaching on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Matthew Vines founded The Reformation Project in 2013, and the organization now hosts conferences across the country in order to equip LGBT-affirming Christians with the Bible-based tools they need to change the conversation around LGBT inclusion in their churches.
The Reformation Project's national conference for 2016 will be held in Long Beach, California, from October 20-22. Registration is open to the public atwww.reformationproject.org/la.
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