Stranger at the Gate: To Be Gay and Christian in America (Plume Books)
buy bestselling books in print, audio books
|
 |
List Price: $17.00
Our Price:
$11.56
You Save: $5.44
|
| [ + Zoom ] [ Buy Now ] |
Book : Usually ships in 24 hours |
|
Stranger at the Gate: To Be Gay and Christian in America (Plume Books) Customer Reviews
|
|
|
|
♥♥♥♥♥ |
Sad, but agenda-based, way too subjective.
|
I had first read about Mel White through the eyes of grace: his best friend Philip Yancey wrote a chapter about Mel in the book "What's So Amazing About Grace?" So I approached the book "Stranger" with a grace-filled attitude toward Mel. I truly felt sorrow for his terrible struggle against his homosexual urges and attractions. Eventually, I was practically convinced that Mel had tried his best to live as a straight man. However, I was troubled when I sensed that the book was more than simply a telling of his personal struggle. Rather, it became clear that Mel was driving a personal agenda against the religious right. From that point on, I thought the book lost all credibility. If he was only honestly sharing his struggles, I was all ears. But when he began to rip those who opposed him, I lost respect. Why are people of faith who hold a high view of sexual morality held in such contempt?
I was especially troubled when Mel was not particularly upset the first time he ventured out for an illicit sexual encounter with some unknown gay man. He had broken his vow of faithfulness to his wife, with hardly a passing reference in the subsequent paragraphs. While Mel may have done a thorough review of the theology of homosexuality from the Bible, I think he undervalued the importance of keeping the marriage bed undefiled and to flee from youthful lusts. And I know he read that God hates divorce.
White describes the great turmoil that gripped him as he concludes that he must be gay. However, Mel's conclusion that he must leave his wife and family and he must pursue these sexual urges is troubling to me at many levels. I am not unsympathetic to men who are already married and then find themselves to have same sex attractions. However, I believe these attractions occur on a wide spectrum of intensity. I do not accept that these longings can only be fulfilled by sexual activity with another man. Is there no ability to restrain oneself sexually? Placing homosexuals and heterosexuals in the same category, can we not behave in a manner that transcends our urges? As a healthy heterosexual male, I find it is possible to restrain myself against my urges to have sex with young attractive females. Must I accept that Mel was incapable of holding himself back from his urges? And returning to the marriage vow discussion, is "same sex attraction" an exception to "for better or for worse" and "keeping myself only unto thee, so long as we both shall live"?
I have homosexual friends who are "gay", but sexually celibate, as well as gay and married and planning on leaving their family to act-out. I am well aware of the heart-aches on both sides of the issues. |
|
Stranger at the Gate: To Be Gay and Christian in America (Plume Books) Books In Print, Audio Books.