Review: Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality

Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality by Wesley Hill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was given this book to read by a student of mine, who had to read it as a textbook for a class. It's not a long read and overall is pretty engaging! I appreciate what Wesley brings to the table with this little, but important, book. One of the biggest weaknesses recently in the church as a whole in balancing grace with truth when it comes to people with same-sex attraction, is that we don't do a good job of providing people who are same-sex attracted with the kind of community, compassion, and relationship that EVERY person needs, regardless of their sexual attraction. In other words, we have two sides at hand: 1) the side that everyone who even is mildly sexually attracted to others of same sex deserve judgment and are condemned already; and 2) the side that everyone is welcome to live and do whatever they want because Jesus has freed them from any kind of standard by which they should live. I consider myself a member of the sojourners in the middle of this spectrum. Yet it's in this middle camp, that people who are same-sex attracted feel excluded, ignored, and down right lonely. Wesley writes from the perspective of the same-sex attracted who understand and live their lives in active submission, as a living sacrifice, slaying the desires that surround them on an altar in exchange for something much better, the lordship of Jesus. Though they are sexually attracted to those of the same sex, they do not act on these desires. Wesley describes the loneliness he has felt (and quotes a number of other people in the same boat) due to the fact that though people like him agree with the historical Biblical position regarding homosexuality, the church doesn't know what to do with them and how to include them in as a genuine part of the family. I had hoped to gain a better sense of empathy by reading this book, and because of Wesley's great writing style and humble heart, I believe I have the workings of just that! I truly hope I'll be able to continue on this journey, growing in a way that will help me to see people beyond what 'sin' they wrestle with, to the inner drive/pain that they are so deeply enduring all alone. By God's grace I hope to become more and more like the hands and feet of Jesus that He desires all of us to be! Thank you Wesley for helping and contributing to the greater furtherment of His kingdom!

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Review: Rise of the Servant Kings: What the Bible Says about Being a Man

Rise of the Servant Kings: What the Bible Says about Being a Man by Ken Harrison
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ken Harrison did a very nice job at writing this book! I found myself eagerly looking forward to the next time I would have some space to sit and read! That being said, I don't think this is the PERFECT book on "biblical manhood"... yet it's still one that I still recommend. There were certainly quite a few places where I question the exegetical process used and the conclusions that were derived, but even with this as the case, I still believe this is one of the better (if not best) books for men to read in regards to becoming who God is calling us to be and living that out daily. I thought the manner in how Harrison set up and executed the flow of his thoughts and arguments were excellently constructed and executed. It was also a major bonus to read personal stories from all throughout his life.

In further terms of content, I think you'd be pretty safe even just skipping the 2nd half of chapter 16 'The Judge'. The chapter starts off well, but the interpretations and applications Revelation 2-3 within the second half of the chapter I believe will actually cause more harm than good. Let me explain. I understand the importance of trying to help men step up and take more assertiveness in their lives and their faith (it's a lesson American Christians in general could probably learn more of in general). However to make some of these claims (which I'm guessing are from the works of J. Vernon McGee since he quotes him a few times in the book) in what Revelation is 'clearly' saying and the applications that follow, is to hand 'a freshly sharpened blade' to a person who has no idea how to use it. Someone's going to hurt themselves. For example, to identify a woman, who may be filling and flourishing in a leadership position of some sort (and in a CHRIST exalting way), as a 'Jezebel' simply because of her gender and NOT because of or in relation to the theology/allegiance to Christ or someone else that she teaches, is a bit immature and misguided.  In Revelation, the woman is called Jezebel because of her false teachings and leading people AWAY from Jesus. Yet it came across in this book that it was a mixture of this AND the fact she was a woman, and there's no solid Scriptural basis here for that conclusion by any means! I can easily see (and in fact have already seen this in my life) where people dismiss what God is doing around them, simply because it's through a 'vessel' of whom they personally don't approve. (By the way, this isn't a new phenomenon by any stretch. It's all over the place. For example, there was Cyrus in Isaiah. God was using Cyrus to accomplish what He wished, much to the shock, surprise, and even horror of Israel. This idea also surfaces in another form in Romans 9 when Paul explains that not all of the 'physical' nation of Israel is part of the true Israel. They had the misunderstanding that they were 'guaranteed' a spot simply because they were part of the nation of Israel (you can see this addressed time and again in the New Testament... see for example Matthew 3.1-12). In other words, they cringed at the fact that God wasn't doing what they thought He should be doing, the way they think He should be doing it. I digress.) It's awfully dangerous to say things in ways like this, and 'arm' men to go out and potentially work AGAINST the Holy Spirit, simply because 'one of them' isn't the one doing it.

I'm not trying to discredit the book. Like I said, overall, I really enjoyed the book and thought it was written very well. Just skip the unnecessary 'conjecture' in chapter 16 and you'll still glean an incredible amount of encouragement and challenge! I, for one, feel like I've grown from reading this book!

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