Friday, June 15, 2018

Messy Grace, by Caleb Kalenbach

Caleb Kalenbach certainly has a unique story to tell.  His parents divorced when he was very young, and both his parents turned out to be gay.  In Messy Grace: How a Pastor with Gay Parents Learned to Love Others Without Sacrificing Conviction, Kalenbach tells his story.  Through his insights and experiences, Christians can gain a more compassionate, informed, and grace-ful perspective on their gay friends and neighbors.

From the start, when Kalenbach became a Christian as a teen, he had no doubt that homosexuality was not in God's plan.  This became a huge source of tension between him and his mother and her live-in female partner.  But even as a young Christian, and even more now as a pastor, he has maintained an attitude and openness, not to homosexuality but to homosexual individuals.

Kalenbach writes: "Christians need to stop trying to convert people's sexuality.  It isn't our job to change someone's sexual orientation. . . . It is our job to lead anyone and everyone to Christ.  I believe God is big enough to deal with a person's sexuality."  The problem is that many Christians see the sexuality before they see the person.  "We focus on people's morality instead of their spirituality--their sex life instead of their faith life."

This people-centered, gospel-centered approach sets Kalenbach apart from so many Christians who end up placing condemnation higher than love.  If we would look at people with the question "Does he know Jesus?" in mind rather than "I wonder who he is attracted to," we will come a lot closer to the character and compassion of Jesus.


Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

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