What Every Christian Should Know About Same-Sex Attraction

What Every Christian Should Know About Same-Sex Attraction by Rob Phillips sets its purpose with the subtitle: A Biblical Primer for the Local Church. In nine short chapters, Phillips provides a helpful guide for Christians. Because of the recent Supreme Court ruling recognizing same-sex marriage, this book provides the necessary help to contend for the faith in a changing culture.

Phillips opens the first chapter with the contention that “carrying a Biblical worldview about marriage is the new ‘McCarthyism‘” (8). Because of this danger, it is imperative that Christians have the tools to defend marriage. Phillips helps the reader in chapter two with a short analysis of divine design for marriage. Using passages from Genesis 1:26-28, he shares seven truths about marriage (14-15). Critically, Phillips explains why marriage requires a relationship between a man and a woman (17). This is the reason why marriage is God’s design.

In chapter three, Phillips analyzes six key passages that deal with same-sex marriage: Genesis 19:5, Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and 1 Timothy 1:9-11. Each analysis is followed by challenges to each passage and a summary. Following this, in chapter four, Phillips shares seven clear truths from the whole of scripture (41-47):

The Bible condemns all forms of sexual behavior outside the bounds of heterosexual, monogamous, life-long marriage.
God has spoken clearly.
God’s creative intent for sexual relations is good.
Jesus affirms Old Testament teachings about sexuality and marriage.
Christians share with our homosexual friends a struggle against sinful desires.
People can change.
We should welcome into our churches those struggling with same-sex attraction.

Phillips addresses the common objections that are raised in chapter five (48-61). He points to the Bible for answers to these challenging objections. He rightly defends the Christian Biblical worldview of marriage. For Christians who need ways to defend marriage as God intended, they need to read this chapter. In chapter six, Phillips describes a conversation with a gay friend. In this chapter, he answers hypothetical potential questions that may come from people who support same-sex marriage (63-66). In chapter seven, Phillips shares recommendations with churches how they can deal with changes that will come (67-69). In chapter eight, he reveals four evangelical responses to same-sex marriage over the last fifty years and then ends the book in chapter nine with a nice chart which shows the views of different Christians traditions and other religions’ views on same-sex marriage.

Overall, Phillips does a great job to give a general primer for those who are not familiar with the challenges that same-sex marriage brings to Christian beliefs and practice. He gives enough Biblical analysis without getting too technical. He provides a brief bibliography for those who would want to read further on the subject (75). The book is well-documented with footnotes.

The book also shows other excellent resources on apologetics which the reader can find on Phillips’ website. Along with his book on Islam (which I have reviewed), one can build a good beginners library on the challenges that today’s Christians face.

Rob Phillips is also available to local Missouri Baptist churches for conferences and speaking engagements. I highly recommend him.