An important contribution to a vital debate

Posted on June 7, 2012 
Filed under Anglican Communion, Resources, Theology

An important book, which meets a desperate need, is due to be launched next week.

“Sometimes we all just wish this debate would go away. Christians aren’t preoccupied with this subject, they’re preoccupied with Jesus. However, this is the form in which the gospel of Jesus is under most direct challenge just at the moment and we need the courage and the resources to take our stand on the teaching of Scripture.” – Mark Thompson

ACL President Dr. Mark Thompson explains why the book is important:

“The debate about homosexual behaviour and the concerted attempt by the gay lobby and others to gain legitimacy by rebadging homosexual liaisons as ‘same-sex marriage’ is quite intense at the moment. A culture bankrupt of any moral compass increasingly accepts the gay lobby’s caricature of Christians who take the Bible’s teaching on the subject seriously as bigots and homophobes. 

Tragically, that culture seems to be influencing the churches much more than the churches are influencing the culture. Even some highly placed denominational officials have been touting a book of seriously flawed scholarship which seeks the question the plain reading of key passages of Scripture that address the question of homosexual behaviour. Though that book, Five Uneasy Pieces, presents no argument that has not been answered in full and repeatedly at both a popular and scholarly level, its advocates keep repeating the mantra that it demonstrates the respectability of the case for revising the traditional understanding of each of these passages.

Into such a climate comes a book from men and women, very largely outside of Sydney, which once again sets the record straight. Sexegesis: An Evangelical Response to Five Uneasy Pieces on Homosexuality is a timely and very important book because it represents the mainstream of Christian thinking, faithful and attentive to the teaching of Scripture. The authors, publishers and even some readers can expect an avalanche of criticism from those who refuse to even countenance that God might challenge their personal preferences or those of their friends. Yet for people who are confused by the barrage of pro-gay propaganda reaching them from every conceivable media outlet this book will provide much needed help.

Sometimes we all just wish this debate would go away. Christians aren’t preoccupied with this subject, they’re preoccupied with Jesus. However, this is the form in which the gospel of Jesus is under most direct challenge just at the moment and we need the courage and the resources to take our stand on the teaching of Scripture. When we do that, we will find we stand together with brothers and sisters all over the world, many of whom have suffered a great deal because they have been unwilling to surrender faithfulness to Christ and his word.

There are more detailed and scholarly books on the subject. However, there is a desperate need for a book which brings the best scholarship to the widest number of people in the most accessible form. Sexegesis does this and all involved deserve to be commended.”

First posted at Theological Theology.

You can order the book (and also download a preview) from sexegesis.com.

Contributors include Peter Adam, Paul Barnett, Denise Cooper-Clarke, Michael Bird, Sarah Harris, Barry McGrath, Katy Smith, Gordon Preece, and Lindsay Wilson.