Celibate Christian Author Reviews “Gay Christian Network” Lee’s “Torn”

          For those who need a little “who’s who” in the debates over homosexuality and Christianity:

          Justin Lee is a single homosexual and a raised Baptist who believes in most the fundamental tenets of Christian doctrine, lifestyle (including sexual monogamy, etc.) and the authority of the Bible, save for the Scriptural disapproval of homosexual practice. Nonetheless, he’s the founder of the Gay Christian Network and works for conversation and peace, not hostility. Lee recently wrote Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate, a book that is part memoir and part guidance for peacemaking between Christians and practicing homosexuals. It’s been lauded and promoted by institutions such as the Huffington Post.  

          Christopher Yuan is a single homosexual who has vowed himself to celibacy after becoming a Christian while in prison for drug dealing. Since release, he has obtained degrees from Moody Bible Institute (where he is currently an adjunct professor), Wheaton College Graduate School and Bethel Seminary (DMin pending) and has been a speaker at churches, schools and prisons. Yuan is the co-author of Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son’s Journey to God and a Broken Mother’s Search for Hope.

          Recently, Yuan reviewed Lee’s Torn on The Gospel Coalition.

          “Lee explains the church has failed in its responsibility to extend Christ’s love to gays and lesbians. Evangelicals are often perceived as being against gay people and quick to lecture about how they’re living in sin. Yet, Lee points out, Jesus spent time with outcasts and sinners. ‘If even [Jesus] could meet sinners . . . how much more should we Christians—all sinners ourselves—treat [gays]?’

          “I agree with Lee that vitriol and venom often accompany the discourse from both sides and that believers must be more loving. But what does ‘more loving’ mean? If homosexual sex and same-gender romantic relationships are sinful, then wouldn’t the most loving thing be to help people not sin in this way? Or, if God blesses homosexual unions, then shouldn’t we affirm these unions also?”

          You can read the rest here.