God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships (Revised and Expanded)

As controversy has swirled in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision upholding gay marriage I wondered if anyone had managed to write a rigorous, Biblically-grounded defense of gay marriage. The answer is: yes, this book is it, and boy is it a doozy. For author Matthew Vines, the issue is personal: he was raised in a loving, Christian, Bible-believing home, but realized when he was 19 that he was gay. What to do? After coming out to his dad, the two of them began an in-depth reexamination of scripture that would ultimately change both their minds on the subject. If you've studied what the Bible has to say on the topic of homosexuality at all you probably know two things: one, 'homosexuality' is not a word in either ancient Hebrew or Greek and indeed not something they had a cultural concept for (relevant Biblical passages tend to relate to specific acts); and two, there are six 'clobber passages' strewn across the Old and New Testament which have generally been used to show that the Bible comprehensively condemns gay sexuality. Vines of course digs into those six passages, but before he does so he spends several chapters laying some important conceptual groundwork. He examines the tools scripture gives us to judge whether a doctrine is good or bad, he delves into the history of the church changing its mind when presented with new information, and then he presents some new information: to wit, the church has only known about sexual orientations for about 200 years. What follows is one of the most fascinating parts of the book, an examination of the framework within which ancient peoples actually understood homosexual practices. It was a radically different one than we have today. In essence, virtually everyone believed that all men could be attracted to either men or women, but that interest in men generally arose when someone was no longer satisfied merely with women. Also, male-male sex usually occurred within the framework of pederasty, older men involved with young boys. The great taboo was not to be the 'effeminate' member within a relationship. It was an incredibly strange and rather icky cultural practice, but as they say, "The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there." Suffice it to say, concepts of fixed sexual orientation are quite modern and would not have crossed the minds of early Christians. Having explored this critical cultural context, Vines breaks down the relevant passages of scripture chapter by chapter: Sodom's sin, the 'abominations' of Leviticus, the list of sins in Romans 1, and so on. He dives deep into the text, wrestling with words whose meanings are often quite obscure (remember, the ancient Greeks and Hebrews didn't have a concept of 'homosexuality' let alone words for it, so if you see those crop up in your translation of the Bible, that is lazy translation). Honestly, most of the 'clobber passages' are quite easily dismissed (the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was not homosexuality but being generally horrible people, something that is easily proved from other scripture and backed up by contemporary sources). The real sticking point, in my mind, has always been Romans 1, which is not easily hand-waved away. However, after we have a framework in mind for how people of Paul's time would have viewed 'gay behavior', especially the common gentile sexual and cultural customs of the day, Romans 1 appears in quite a different light, one that is certainly not a blanket condemnation of homosexuality. Whether you find Vines convincing on these passages will be up to you, but he does grapple directly with them as they are. He takes scripture seriously and does not attempt to simply dismiss passages that he finds inconvenient. In the final chapters of the book, Vines turns the tables on the reader and asks the question, "Is forbidding gay marriage un-Biblical?" It's a pretty gutsy move, but I think he is right to re-frame the debate on the people who have suffered the most at its hands: gay believers. He makes a compelling case that forced celibacy is in every way un-Biblical and not a scriptural answer to the question, "What do we do with gay believers?" Vines also reminds us that sexuality and sexual behavior cannot be divorced. Gay believers who attempt to deny their sexual impulses as sinful almost invariably suffer great psychological damage and engage in self-destructive behaviors. Sexuality is a part of the God-created human identity: to say it is not good is to say that the whole created person is not good. Our gay brothers and sisters are created in God's image too, as the author rightly reminds us. I can't over-state how important this book is right now for Bible-believing Christians. The story that a Bible-believing Christian can only properly have one valid opinion on gay marriage is flat out wrong. There isa scripture-based argument in favor of gay marriage, and I doubt you will ever find it more compellingly stated than in this book. Of course at the end of the day, it is just that, an argument. It is possible to read God and the Gay Christian and be ultimately unconvinced by it. But it is also possible to read arguments for or against predestination, clerical celibacy, or infant baptism and be unconvinced. Most Christians don't think that people who believe differently than they do on those topics are heathens or heretics. If nothing else, I think that reading this book will show that gay marriage is something that genuine believers might find Biblical support for, whether you think they are right or wrong. If you are a Christian wrestling with this topic, I strongly urge you to read this book. Too often the Christian response to the topic of gay marriage has been to quote some out-of-context verses at each other and end the discussion. This book goes much, much deeper into what the Bible actually says about a very complex topic, while still maintaining a Godly perspective about the fact that yes, we are all created in God's image and loved by God. On a final note, it is possible that someone may wish to debate points of this review in the comments. Please refrain unless you have read the book. I have given Matthew Vines' arguments a pretty thin gloss here. Debate the book, not the book review.

Matthew Vine’s book, God and the Gay Christian, faces in a very straightforward manner an important issue in the Church and in our culture today that simply will not go away. Whether we like it or not, many states in the USA and our nation as a whole are changing course on the issue of gay marriage. As we all know, even many Christian denominations have come to embrace the LGBT community in one way or another. What Vine’s book does is to deal with the issue of homosexuality from a biblical perspective, while at the same time giving a biblical argument for same-sex marriage. Whether the reader agrees in the end with Vine’s argument, I believe every reflective Christian needs to hear both sides of this story. Many, if not all evangelical Christians today, have heard the biblical argument against homosexual practice and same-sex marriage in particular. Now we have the opportunity to hear the other side, from a winsome young gay man, who also happens to be an evangelical Christian. Reading the endnotes alone should prove to any reader that Vines has done his homework. I have been reading both scholarly and popular works on this subject for a number of years, and Vines leaves virtually no stone unturned. He certainly brings the necessary intellectual equipment to this vital discussion, having initially taken a year off from his classes at Harvard to study the issue. However, many great minds have tackled this subject from various vantage points in the past. So what makes Vines’ book different? Perhaps it is the fact that he skillfully weaves his own story into a detailed scholarly argument for Christian gay marriage and presents the whole in a way that is most accessible to the average reader. Vines is nothing if not honest. He begins the book by sharing his own story of coming to terms with his sexual orientation and how this made him want to re-examine what the Bible has to say about same-sex relationships. Vines takes an entire chapter to explore how the Church has been wrong in the past on certain issues: the earth as the center of the universe, and slavery, to name two. Vines outlines how these issues caused the Church to re-evaluate what she believed the Bible was saying, then he delicately invites the reader to do the same with the issue of homosexuality. The position of most evangelicals on this issue in the past has been to say that if a person with homosexual tendencies cannot change their sexual orientation, then they should remain celibate. Vines takes an entire chapter to address this advice and he reveals how the idea of enforced celibacy, apart from a calling of God to the single life, is simply not a fair or biblical way to treat LGBT Christians. Next, Vines spends four chapters examining the six Scripture passages that seem to deal most directly with homosexuality. This is the part of this book that I believe every Christian needs to consider in detail. Vine’s conclusion is: "The Bible doesn't directly address the issue of same-sex orientation—or the expression of that orientation. While its six references to same-sex behavior are negative, the concept of same-sex behavior in the Bible is sexual excess, not sexual orientation. What’s more, the main reason that non-affirming Christians believe the Bible’s statements should apply to all same-sex relationships—men and women’s anatomical complementarity—is not mentioned in any of the texts." However, Vines does not stop there. He goes on to spend an entire chapter outlining a biblical argument for same-sex marriage. A number of people attempting to make a similar argument to that of Vines in the past have focused, as Vines does, on the six Scriptures that address this issue directly. However, some authors addressing this issue in the past have also avoided the overall picture that the Bible paints of human sexuality in general. Vines does not fall into this trap. He even spends an entire chapter talking about God’s creation as outlined in Genesis, the meaning of the image of God in humanity, and how all of this applies to the LGBT community. Vines ends the book with a plea for a new reformation to take place in the Church on this issue. He, very helpfully, gives some practical examples of the seeds of this new reformation that he sees being planted in our world today. Matthew Vines will certainly not have the last word on this topic. Those whom he calls “non-affirming” Christians will no doubt point out in reviews, articles and even books where they think Vines is wrong. Christians who are already affirming of the idea of Christian same-sex marriage will applaud Vines’ work. However, there may also be no small number of people, especially evangelicals, who will change their minds on this issue because of reading this book, and resorting to further study of the vast amount of literature that Vines cites. For my own part, while I choose not to take sides on this issue, at least in this review, I do wish to heartily applaud Matthew Vines for his courage. The Christian community owes Vines a debt of gratitude for not only facing this issue in his own life forthrightly, but for taking the time to thoroughly research what the Bible has to say about same-sex relationships, and for sharing the fruit of his life and research so effectively with the world through this book.

This book is very well written, and explains the case extraordinarily well. It's flooded with empathy and historical and biblical evidence, and the author does a good job of accepting ambiguity where it exists. The references section also points the reader toward other books that might be helpful for someone like me who sometimes feels like they're drowning in the controversy. Ten out of ten, would recommend for anyone who's struggling with their own identity anywhere in the LGBTQ+ umbrella without neglecting or questioning your identity in Christ, or for anyone looking to understand someone close to them who is under that umbrella or might be, struggling or not. It could also be helpful for mentors, teachers, parents... yeah, I think I was right to say "anyone." I think everyone should read this. I really do.

Matthew Vine’s seemed alien when I started hearing about his book, God and the Gay Christian. He believed in the inerrancy of the bible and that it was the last authority for all matters. He held a conservative view of sexuality that included remaining a virgin until marriage. He appeared dedicated to the institution of church. But, he was also gay and strongly advocated for the acceptance of LGBT Christians into the church. Even though I had already changed my mind about homosexuality, I was curious to hear Matthew’s case. I was skeptical that a scriptural case could even be made, but when Southern Baptist potentate Al Mohler released a rebuttal I had to read it. If Matthew’s arguments threatened the evangelical gatekeepers that much, then it must have teeth. The book begins with Matthew’s own “coming out” story. He worried about how his conservative family and friends might respond to his revelation. Though it took some time, his immediate family was accepting and supportive. Unfortunately many of those in his church chose not to be. This rejection was an extremely painful experience for Vines and readers can see how it has shaped his crusade for full acceptance of LGBT Christians. The book makes the case that the bible is not condemning of same-sex relationships as they are understood in modern times. What makes Matthew’s case unique is his conservative scriptural approach. He gives great weight to the biblical texts, the language, and the historical contexts as he addresses all six explicit biblical references to homosexuality (three Old Testament verses and three New Testament verses). Old Testament Two of the Old Testament verses about homosexuality come from Leviticus, a book that deals with the ceremonial laws of the ancient Jewish religion. Most people are familiar with its infamous prohibitions against shellfish and pork, but it also has laws about beard grooming, menstrual cycles, and homosexuality. Leviticus 18:22 deems homosexuality an abomination and verse 20:13 calls for the immediate execution of men who practice homosexuality – the women get a pass. Vines takes a simple approach to these passages, asking those who use them to condemn homosexuality to be consistent with their Old Testament hermeneutic. Ask an average Christian why they love lobster, eat ham, shave their beards, wear rayon, or let their wives stay in the house during their periods. My guess is that you will receive some variation of the following response. “We don’t follow the Old Testament law because Jesus died for our sins and we aren’t under the law anymore, we’re under grace.” (Seriously, we were all taught this response in Sunday school as children. Go ahead and try it!) Most evangelicals are also taught that they don’t get to pick what parts of the bible to follow. Vines highlights the cognitive dissonance that’s created by these axioms. He begs the question: If grace is good enough to negate laws about shellfish, beards, and monthly cycles why not laws about homosexuality? I felt this was perhaps the strongest argument against these particular verses. These types of calls for intellectual consistency posed the greatest challenges to my own views of the bible. The third set of Old Testament passages used to condemn same-sex behavior is the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Vine’s looks at the big picture of the Sodom and Gomorrah tale, including the Jewish moral context in which it was written. He contrasts the hospitality of Abraham and Lot with that of the men of two cities. Next he compares those events to Mosaic Law regarding the treatment of strangers. Prior to the events at Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham meets three angelic strangers. He treats them as honored guests; washing their feet and feeding them. (Genesis 18:1-8). Lot does likewise when the group of strangers – minus one – arrive in Sodom. (Genesis 19:1-3). The actions of these two men reflect the Mosaic laws governing hospitality towards strangers. Their actions are also a sharp contrast to the men of Sodom and Gomorrah who seek to demean, subjugate, and conquer their visitors through vicious gang rape. For centuries theologians and laymen have held up Sodom and Gomorrah as an object lesson on the depravity and consequences of homosexual behavior. What Matthew points out – and what any person who spends time with the text and context can see — is that the damning sin of the sister cities was injustice, not homosexuality. (Genesis 18-19:28, Matthew 10:14-15) New Testament The book takes a more nuanced approach when dealing with the three New Testament verses. Romans 1:26-27, 1st Corinthians 6:9, and 1st Timothy 1:10 are not so easily rebuffed. But, Vines asks the reader to consider Paul’s cultural understanding of the issue. What did Paul mean when he used words like natural, unnatural and effeminate to describe same-sex behavior? Was he really condemning homosexual orientation? Debates about whether sexual orientation is a choice or a genetic disposition raged for decades, but that particular issue seems to be settled. While the fighting continues over same-sex marriage, most people including Al Mohler, have accepted the overwhelming scientific evidence supporting a genetic role in sexuality. But the modern understanding of sexual orientation was foreign to 1st century writers like Paul. History documents widespread acceptance of same-sex behavior, including those that modern people find repugnant. Consider ancient Rome where pederasty was so common that it is celebrated in the engravings on the Warren Cup. Vines suggest that to understand Paul’s we must understand the sexual mores of his era. Biblical and secular writings show that contentions weren’t with homosexuality, but gender roles. Same-sex behavior was an accepted practice. What ancient people found to be “unnatural” was for a male to take a submissive sexual role. Males who did so were effectively debasing themselves to a female gender role. It was considered effeminate, but it was especially debasing for a male of high social status. The submissive sexual role was for women and others of inconsequential social standing. There still exists a strong constituency for gender roles in Christianity. But many are beginning to push back and reject the sexism inherent in the biblical cultural context. But it must be noted that Paul wasn’t simply parroting the societal norms of his day. The rest of his works bear out a desire for believers to find healthy outlets for their sexuality. God and the Gay Christian contends is that Paul was speaking out against uncontrolled sexual lust. A problem which he and his contemporaries believed was manifested in the “debasement” and “self-abuse” of willing taking a submissive same-sex role. However “backwards” some of Paul’s views may seem to modern readers, there is still some wisdom to be gained. Committed monogamous relationships, gay and straight, provide fertile ground for personal and spiritual growth and benefit society in a multitude of ways. Final Thoughts I found this book easy to read. The arguments were well structured and clear. Matt’s desire to enter an often vitriolic debate with humility and grace impressed me. The fact that he engages with scripture on the same terms as most conservative evangelicals is an important tool in creating understanding. This book could open constructive dialog between affirming and non-affirming Christians.Unfortunately – and certainly to my discredit – I have little interest in bridging that gap. While I saw Matt’s relationship to scripture as a strength in dealing with evangelicals, it was a roadblock for me. It felt very much like Matt was “lawyering up” with the Bible. He uses it as a rule book that, if parsed correctly, can absolutely define morality, theology, and philosophy. This approach to scripture leaves me feeling cold and sterile. I find that I quickly become cynical and resistant to the truths that it can offer. Also many moments felt like Matt was working to justify himself to his own conscience. I fully understand this need and desire. I’ve spent great deals of time picking at biblical texts to grasp some shred of existential peace. Call it conscience, the Holy Spirit, or heresy, but I no longer see the bible these ways. For this reason the book wasn’t for me. I liked where Matt ended up theologically, but I didn’t necessarily enjoy how he got there. But, there’s no fault for him in that. It reflects entirely on me and not the author or the book. Truth be told I don’t think Matt wrote this book for progressive/liberal/mainstream Christians. This was a book written by a conservative Christian to progress conservative Christianity and that’s something I can definitely support.

Absolutely amazing book. Like everything in human history, context of the times must be taken into consideration. People want to make scripture black/white things are or they aren't. This is just not a correct way of thinking about this matter. Matt lays out why in a thorough way. He doesn't dumb anything down or use simple explanations. He backs up everything with facts and references. I find it odd that people get so offended by the mere idea of interpreting scripture differently as time progresses, but if people got real with themselves for a minute they'd realize that we've been reinterpreting scripture as long as it's existed. If you are devout and starting to question the legitimacy of the churches weird obsession with sexuality and control, this book is a great place to start. If you are somebody facing feelings of homosexuality and are afraid, please read this book. There's so much more to this complex matter than what the majority of mainstream Christians want to admit to.

In his book, God and the Gay Christian: A Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships, Matthew Vines brings us along his personal journey in pursuit of God's will for committed, faithful, homosexual Christians. As a young, smart, gay man who was raised in an evangelical Presbyterian home and church, Matthew is deeply committed to his Christian faith and Biblical teachings. He is neither pastor nor scholar, but he loves God and scripture. And since he reads neither Greek nor Hebrew, he, like most of us, relies on scholars and experts. As an honest and humble seeker of God's will, Vines does not trust his own wisdom, but asks his community, family, and God for guidance. He is not satisfied with the easy answers from either the left or the right. Vines understands the Christian Bible as God's inspired word, just as relevant today as in the early church, but he explains that we need to understand the historical, cultural, and literary context of scripture. We can not simply quote verses to prove our preconceptions. Also, we need to give serious consideration to the teachings of the universal church, because God's word is and always has been interpreted by the church. In this remarkable book, Vines opens our eyes to what the Bible could be saying to Christians, the Church, and to LGBT persons. He discusses each of the half dozen passages from the Old and New Testaments that seem to condemn gay people. He also discusses the more holistic teachings of the Bible that bear on human sexuality as well as LGBT inclinations and practice. He cites scholarship, witness, and tradition. His style is warm, informal, and intimate. You can tell he is sharing his soul. I found this book to be exactly what I needed. As a lifetime Christian and student of the Bible, I have only recently learned that the Bible's teachings on homosexual behaviors are not nearly as clear as I have previously assumed. But most affirmative Christian teachings on homosexuality are based on a liberal-critical reading of the text. And I, like Vines find such teachings greatly lacking. This book proposes a thoroughly Christian and conservatively Biblical message, that affirms our LGBT brothers and sisters as beloved children of God and does not force them to give up their sexuality in order to please God. God loves them as they are, and He calls them to relationship each other and God. At least that is what Vines teaches and I have come to believe. Whether you are a Christian who, like an increasing number of mainstream denominations, affirm homosexual relationships, or you are a Christian who wants to love the sinner, but hate the sin, I strongly encourage you to take a look at this book. It may encourage you to prayerfully reconsider your opinion. Praise God for Matthew Vines and his wonderful book. I highly recommend it.

As a young Catholic and a transgender man, I grew up surrounded by the message that LGBT people were "objectively disordered" and psychologically unsound. Through frequent calls to prayer for the healing of LGBT people and the moral conversion of a "wayward" country that has been moving to uphold human rights and equality, Catholic church leadership has expressed a need for a sort of spiritual cleansing of gay people. This is both frightening and dehumanizing, and has only increased with what church authority perceives to be a threat to religious liberty when we grant legal protections to defend the dignity of others. At the end of the day, it all comes down to fear. The Roman Catholic Church speaks of those who "struggle with same-sex attraction" that are in need of our pastoral sensitivity. Put into action, this has translated into the ever-increasing firing of gay Catholic school teachers and expulsion of students who don't conform to gender norms. Gay priests have become scapegoats for a culture of silence that led to cover-ups of devastating sexual abuse, and bishops in Uganda have upheld laws that criminalize gay people, adding to already high rates of violence. LGBT children are all too often disowned by their religious families and kicked out of their homes. This is all done in the name of God's will. As a child I was told that these truths about LGBT people came from our understanding of the Bible-- of God's own word. For years this caused me great pain and confusion, and it destroyed my spiritual identity. I am saddened by how damaging this misuse of scripture can be to a person's spirit and relationship with God. We have lost so many lives to spiritual abuse and to an apparent biblically-endorsed license to bully and dehumanize others. That's why this book means so much to me. Matthew Vines has made complex scriptural context and interpretation accessible to the average person who is in need of a more accurate perception of what the Bible actually says about sexual and gender variance. What I love about this book is its strong academic and thorough research basis, which makes it such a comprehensive and handy resource. This book is both objective and approachable, and is an unprecedented result of a clear vision that meets a critical and directly applicable need in the general public and in faith communities today. This book has given me the tools to delve further into my own research of scripture. I am no longer afraid to read the Bible, and have been empowered to reclaim my spiritual identity fully in a way that I couldn't before.

To make a long story short, I used to be heavily involved with the American Evangelical Church. For a variety of reasons, I have not attended Church since Easter Sunday 2021. It was not a decision I made lightly, but there was a lot of healing that needed to happen. I no longer consider myself an Evangelical. But my faith in Jesus is still very much a key part of my life. Lately, I have been considering returning to Church. I am considering a local Episcopal Church. In many ways, I believe it will be a safe and healing place. However, there is one hurdle that feels insurmountable. The Episcopal Church is LBGTQ affirming. I am not. But lately, I have been reconsidering my view. I hold a non affirming view. It's hard because I have met Gay Christians. I also know that great harm has been done to LGBTQ people by Christians. I truly believe LGBTQ Christian stories and experiences deserve to be heard. But I am not yet ready to becoming fully affirming. For a couple of reasons. One, doing so feels like I would be compromising my faith. Also, I find the evidence in favor of being LGBTQ affirming pretty weak and shaky. But then, I read this book. I don't deny that some of the author's arguments are very compelling. He has definitely given me a lot to think about. He has dug deep. It's obvious he highly values Scripture. However, this book has one major flaw that cannot be overlooked. The author is clearly biased. He is LGBTQ himself. As a result, his objectivity is compromised. He has a horse in the race. He himself has a lot to lose. For that reason, he has not convinced me to become LGBTQ affirming. But I will continue to wrestle, pray, and read about this issue with an open mind. I honestly don't know if I will ever become LGBTQ affirming. But I at least want to give this subject the care and consideration it deserves.

Il tentativo di affrontare un tema spinoso da un punto di vista dottrinale è veramente lodevole. Tuttavia il libro diventa un po' pedante per il troppo frequente arzigogolare attorno alle paole e alle frasi. Pur essendo i ragionamenti ben costruiti, non credo che riescano a convincere chi è di opinione diversa. Apprezzo comunque lo sforzo e il coraggio di outing di chi lo ha scritto.

This book was easy to read, whimsical, probably because I've watched some of his videos. Some in-depth analysis of the bible, cultures of the times of Leviticus, and Paul's time and locations.

Muy recomendado, no solo para la persona que se identifica con el libro, sino también para la familia y amistades. El autor hace muy buen trabajo en hacer que la lectura no sea tediosa.

Author's hard work and research reflects in this book.Perfect book for someone looking to come interm with his\her orientation and faith.Loved it.

Educational, well researched and very helpful. Well written.