For those of you not familiar with the book, Love in an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community <\/strong><\/em>was written with the purpose of starting conversations between evangelical Christians and those who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender (LGBT).<\/p>\n This is a book that, from the start, was doomed to be disliked by many who identify themselves as evangelical Christians and by those who identify themselves as LGBT.\u00a0 The reason is obvious. Many evangelical Christians see any form of non-heterosexual behavior as sin\u2026and Christians are taught to take sin seriously.\u00a0 As Marin states:<\/p>\n Sin of any kind is, theologically, an offense against God\u2019s created intent because it\u2019s a behavior that violates our identity as creatures that bear his image.\u00a0 The doctrine of the Fall contends that because of such offenses, human beings will ultimately receive a sentence of death.\u00a0 Most important, though, the doctrine of salvation counteractively asserts that Jesus\u2019 act on the cross atones for our sins and frees us to embrace our identity as a child of God <\/strong>(page 38).<\/p>\n For evangelical Christians (including myself), sin is something that we are saved FROM.\u00a0 Sexual immorality is something that we are to flee (1 Corinthians 6:18).\u00a0 For many Christians, the concept of having an honest, authentic relationship with someone who identifies as LGBT is counter-intuitive.<\/p>\n Conversely, for many in the LGBT community, Christians are viewed as persecutors.\u00a0 When Christians speak to them, all they hear is \u201cI despise you.\u201d\u00a0 For those Christians who attempt to foster relationships with those who identify as LGBT, it is often because they see them as \u201cprojects.\u201d<\/p>\n Reading Love is an Orientation<\/strong><\/em> did not change my theology as it relates to sexual morality\/immorality.\u00a0 In my opinion, the theological gymnastics utilized by pro-gay theologians are too far out of bounds for my understanding of sound hermeneutics.\u00a0 Yet, that is not the purpose of the book.\u00a0 Same-sex issues are hotly debated among church leaders and there are many books on virtually every side of the debate.\u00a0 This book takes a step back from the debate.<\/p>\n The issue of same-sex relationships and the church is an issue that stirs up a lot of feelings.\u00a0 Many adults and teens who identify as LGBT feel hated by Christians\u2026or even hated by God. Many Christians who are parents\/siblings of LGBT persons feel confused or blame themselves.\u00a0 In most churches, the shame of going through a divorce, being arrested, or having a child out of wedlock is nothing compared to the shame of coming out as LGBT.<\/p>\n For me, the greatest value of this book is that it gives those who identify as LGBT a window into the worldview of an evangelical Christian; and it provides the evangelical a window into the worldview of someone who identifies as LGBT.\u00a0 For many who identify as LGBT, there is no separation between their sexuality and their identity.\u00a0 Where Christians see homosexuality as a behavior, those in the LGBT community see it as the core of who they are..\u00a0 For many, their sexuality is not one small aspect of their personhood\u2026it is the dominant part of their identity that makes them different from the rest of the world.\u00a0 I do not think that most Christians fully understand this concept.<\/p>\n One of the most valuable insights that I gained from this book was when I read:<\/p>\n We have no problem wrestling with apologetics for people of different\u2026cultures that are totally removed from ours.\u00a0 Christians diligently study others belief systems and incarnationally move into the neighborhoods of people with different beliefs\u2026reveling in the unique opportunity to engage what we don\u2019t know.\u00a0 But Christians do none of those things with the gay community<\/strong> (page 37).<\/p>\n First of all, I do not<\/strong> affirm the moral comparison of LGBT issues with issues of race\/ethnicity (as is commonly proposed in the media or by gay rights organizations).\u00a0 Most people who are black do not have the advantage of being able to blend into to the majority culture whenever they please.\u00a0 Most Latinos do not have to \u201ccome out\u201d as Latino, to the surprise of all their friends and family who thought that they were white.\u00a0 Arabic people cannot choose to be black as a teenager, then go back to being an Arab later in life.<\/p>\n Having said that, I believe that Christians have a rich history of giving people a lot of grace who hold to a wide variety of cultural and religious worldviews.\u00a0 For example, for a Christian, the concept of bowing down to an idol is one of the most theological \u201coff limits\u201d things that can be done.\u00a0 Even so, Christians can show a lot of grace to people who bow down to idols.\u00a0 For example, when was the last time you heard a Christian say\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cI heard that my son\u2019s homeroom teacher is a Hindu. \u00a0That is so DISGUSTING.\u00a0 I hope his idol worshipping friends never come to visit him at the school.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n OR<\/p>\n \u201cI was going to go to that Keanu Reeves movie until I found out that he is a Buddhist.\u00a0 When I think of him bowing down to an idol, it makes me SICK to my stomach!<\/strong><\/p>\n You will probably not hear such a virile reaction about Buddhists and Hindus.\u00a0 Yet, these same Christians who are act with grace to people with different religious worldviews can be really unkind to those who identify as LGBT. \u00a0 Instead of treating them as valuable people, some Christians talk about LGBT people in terms of hatred and disgust.<\/span><\/p>\n Compare that to missionaries and mission-minded Christians who intentionally build bridges with their Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Jewish neighbors. \u00a0 They sometimes study their religious texts, history, films, and culture.\u00a0 In fact, most missionaries who work with Muslims will tell you\u2026\u00a0 “I have learned to love my Muslim neighbors, they are great people. We love their families and they love ours. We trust them, and they trust us.\u00a0 We pray for them daily.\u00a0 We ask God to speak to them and we look for opportunities to share the gospel with them in words and in actions.\u201d<\/p>\n I believe that today\u2019s Christians need to wrestle with what they believe about same-sex issues.\u00a0 This needs to happen through the diligent study of scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit.<\/strong>\u00a0 These beliefs should not be influenced by popular culture or by looking at polls, trends, or anecdotal stories. \u00a0 Having said that, no matter where you stand on this issue, Christians do not have the luxury of treating anyone in a manner other than LOVE.\u00a0<\/strong> \u00a0It is simply not an option for Christians to despise people who identify as LGBT.<\/p>\n In conclusion, my challenge to Christians is this…No matter what your feelings are about the gay community, treat LGBT people with kindness.<\/strong>\u00a0 It seems that some Christians have forgotten that God expects us to be kind.<\/p>\n When people who are not followers of Jesus think of us, does the word “kind” come to their minds?\u00a0 I hope so.\u00a0 Not only is kindness a fruit of the spirit, it may be the most effective way that you can communicate the gospel (Romans 2:4).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Andrew Marin, Love is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity, 2009)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When I picked up the book Love in an Orientation this week, I had already had a lot of history with this work.\u00a0 Not only had I read the book several years ago, I have heard Andrew Marin, the author, speak twice. 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