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A review by bekahkablack
Single, Gay, Christian: A Personal Journey of Faith and Sexual Identity by Gregory Coles
5.0
"I’m the guy you thought you could never be: a guy who’s gay and loves Jesus and isn’t ashamed to admit either of those things."
This bold statement, in a line from a letter addressed to himself that concludes Greg's book, is at the heart of the story he shares with us in it. And all throughout "Single, Gay, Christian," Greg consistently seeks to occupy that sometimes-awkward, always admirable, thoroughly beautiful "third space" between the two default camps when it comes to the question of a gay man in the Church. In this book, we witness Greg struggling to affirm the inherent goodness of his own sexuality, and to own the truth that who he is NOT a mistake, while also not shying away from the question of the costliness of following Christ, and what that might look like to him personally—for as the book's subtitle asserts, this is indeed (above all) a very personal journey into which Greg is inviting us to share as we read his telling of it. Along the way, Greg offers larger insights into topics beyond his own personal sexual identity—topics such as faith, family, relationships, re-examining how the Church views singleness & recovering the lost calling of celibacy, and more.
There's something in it, I think, for everyone. Whether you're a more progressive person wondering about the particular pains (and perhaps opportunities?) of being gay in the Evangelical Church, or a hetero, Evangelical-insider who doesn't know either. Whether you find yourself agreeing with Greg's "theologically conservative" (as he puts it) conclusion or not, re: the question of celibacy & marriage as a gay Christian. Whether you yourself need the letter that is the postlude to Greg's book to help you on your own journey, or know someone you love who does.
I truly loved this book. I devoured most of it in a single night.
Disclaimer: I am biased in its favor, since I know Greg personally. Before I even received my copy, I was predisposed to like it; and I'm sure my friendship with Greg enhanced my overall opinion of it. Taking that into account, I do genuinely think it to be an excellent read for others who haven't yet met Greg (you're about to in these pages), and would definitely recommend this book to a friend (already have)! I would especially recommend "Single, Gay, Christian" to Evangelical Christians, and perhaps most especially to those who find themselves wanting to engage in more conversation about what it means to be a gay Christian, but aren't exactly sure how or where to begin.
This book is as good a place I know of to start.
This bold statement, in a line from a letter addressed to himself that concludes Greg's book, is at the heart of the story he shares with us in it. And all throughout "Single, Gay, Christian," Greg consistently seeks to occupy that sometimes-awkward, always admirable, thoroughly beautiful "third space" between the two default camps when it comes to the question of a gay man in the Church. In this book, we witness Greg struggling to affirm the inherent goodness of his own sexuality, and to own the truth that who he is NOT a mistake, while also not shying away from the question of the costliness of following Christ, and what that might look like to him personally—for as the book's subtitle asserts, this is indeed (above all) a very personal journey into which Greg is inviting us to share as we read his telling of it. Along the way, Greg offers larger insights into topics beyond his own personal sexual identity—topics such as faith, family, relationships, re-examining how the Church views singleness & recovering the lost calling of celibacy, and more.
There's something in it, I think, for everyone. Whether you're a more progressive person wondering about the particular pains (and perhaps opportunities?) of being gay in the Evangelical Church, or a hetero, Evangelical-insider who doesn't know either. Whether you find yourself agreeing with Greg's "theologically conservative" (as he puts it) conclusion or not, re: the question of celibacy & marriage as a gay Christian. Whether you yourself need the letter that is the postlude to Greg's book to help you on your own journey, or know someone you love who does.
I truly loved this book. I devoured most of it in a single night.
Disclaimer: I am biased in its favor, since I know Greg personally. Before I even received my copy, I was predisposed to like it; and I'm sure my friendship with Greg enhanced my overall opinion of it. Taking that into account, I do genuinely think it to be an excellent read for others who haven't yet met Greg (you're about to in these pages), and would definitely recommend this book to a friend (already have)! I would especially recommend "Single, Gay, Christian" to Evangelical Christians, and perhaps most especially to those who find themselves wanting to engage in more conversation about what it means to be a gay Christian, but aren't exactly sure how or where to begin.
This book is as good a place I know of to start.