Book Review: Love is an Orientation

A few weeks ago I posted my thoughts on the interplay between Christianity and Homosexuality - in this post - and I was very aided in my thinking by the pastor of the Church I'm a part of in Nottingham, John Wright of Trent Vineyard. In his talks he very briefly mentioned this book - and in conjunction with some other recommendations from people I seriously respect, I thought I'd better read it. I'm incredibly glad I did!

I know that some people will be put off by the fact that the foreword is by Brian MacLaren - but thats not a bad thing. This is a book that is bound to offend someone - I'd challenge you to give it a chance, to read it, swallow it, digest and think through how it might affect you.

The strapline, as seen in the image above, is "elevating the conversation with the Gay community". This is a vital part of Christian engagement with people. It needs to happen. Marin writes as a straight, white, conservative Christian male with a real heart for people of an LGBTQI orientation. He went down this path after some of his closest friends unexpectedly came out to him. I've been thinking, reading, researching and praying about this sort of discussion, this engagement, for a while. It's a conversation that needs to be had.

And I think this book is a great example of how Christians can 'bridge the Gap', so to speak, and start engaging with people the Church has so often let down.

Marin skilfully engages with a multitude of disparate thoughts. He starts with the problem. He identifies some solutions. He thinks through and engages with what some Gay Christians think about the Bible. About how Gay-Friendly churches work. Its an over-arching, challenging look at a range of issues.

I think Marin wrote this book because he cared. This really comes out in the book. The challenge to not wish to 'cure' people, or 'change' people, but to show them God's love, and to lead them to Jesus.

Marin writes with a wonderful balance of the tension of truth and love. Some things he says will offend people for going too far, others for not going far enough. It's an inevitable part of writing a book about homosexuality.

I've been challenged by this book. To think afresh. To try getting in contact with some local LGBTQI Christians. To think and pray about ways I might bridge a gap - a gap I so often am responsible for.

Read this book. It's not an easy read - and yet its gripping. It's not a simple read - yet its radical.

I think Scott McKnight nails it;

"Homosexuality is more than a biblical debate about who's right and who's wrong. Everything converges in the pastoral and the personal context, and Andrew Marin - unlike any writer I've seen - deals with real humans in real human contexts. We desperately need this book; it has the potential to shift the evangelical movement in a more compassionate direction"

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UPDATE 29/11/13 - A great new website launched today, looking at this complex issue through the perspective of individuals, theological thought, and book reviews. Endorsed by some great folks and well designed, check out Living Out!