It's all very well to say that the Bible is clear when it talks about homosexuality. But is it realistic? Isn't it unrealistic and unfair to those who struggle with this issue? Doesn't it condemn them to loneliness, a lack of fulfilment and the loss of basic human satisfactions like sex and marriage? Is what the church teaches a plausible way of life? Ed Shaw experiences same-sex attraction, and yet he is committed to what the Bible says and what the church has always taught about marriage and sex. In this honest book, he shares his pain in dealing with these issues - but, at the same time, shows us that obedience to Jesus is ultimately the only way to experience life to the full. He shows that the Bible's teaching seems unreasonable not because of its difficulties, but because of missteps that the church has often taken in its understanding of the Christian life. We have been shaped by the world around us, and urgently need to re-examine the values that drive our discipleship. Only by doing this in the light of the Bible, can we make sense of its call on the lives of those who are attracted to their own sex. We have so often made Jesus' way sound like a bad deal. Only by reclaiming the reality of gospel discipleship, can we truly see and appreciate that life in Christ is the best way for any human life to be lived - whomever we are attracted to

Ed Shaw

Foreword

1. The plausibility problem

Peter

Jane

Our response

Peter and Jane's response

The plausibility problem

The solution

2. The plausibility problem and me

A personal statement

A changing context

A different world

Another personal statement

Misstep no. 1. ‘Your identity is your sexuality.’

Wordplay?

Labels matter

Sinners or saints?

Christ-esteem

Misstep no. 2. ‘A family is mum, dad and 2.4 children.’

Happy families?

Happy church families?

My church family

Your church family

Misstep no. 3. ‘If you’re born gay, it can’t be wrong to be gay.’

The origins of my sexuality

So it's in my genes?

Original sin

Same-sex attraction and original sin

Misstep no. 4. ‘If it makes you happy, it must be right!’

Be happy?

Why be unhappy?

True happiness

Lasting happiness

Misstep no. 5. ‘Sex is where true intimacy is found.’

Intimacy today

Intimacy matters

Intimate friendships

Intimacy creation

Misstep no. 6. ‘Men and women are equal and interchangeable.’

Gender equality

Gender difference

Exploring the difference

Grasping God's love

Living with difference

Explaining the difference

Misstep no. 7. ‘Godliness is heterosexuality.’

Gay prevention

Godliness promotion

A catalyst for real godliness

An end to sexual hypocrisy

Misstep no. 8. ‘Celibacy is bad for you.’

An image problem

Rehabilitating celibacy

Misstep no. 9. ‘Suffering is to be avoided.’

Suffering-averse

Self-sacrifice for self-interest

Why suffering?

Conclusion

Peter and Jane

A plausibility structure

Appendix 1. The plausibility of the traditional interpretation of Scripture

Act I: Creation

Act II: Rebellion

Act III: Redemption

Act IV: Perfection

Appendix 2. The implausibility of the new interpretations of Scripture

1. Emotion

2. Polarization

3. Doubt

1. They don't interpret passages in their full biblical theological context

2. They rely too heavily on extra-biblical sources

3. They pitch Scripture against Scripture

Last words

Acknowledgments

Notes

Misstep no. 1: 'Your identity is your sexuality.'

Misstep no. 2: 'A family is Mum, Dad and 2.4 children.'

Misstep no. 3: 'If you're born gay, it can't be wrong to be gay.'

Misstep no. 4: 'If it makes you happy, it must be right!'

Misstep no. 5: 'Sex is where true intimacy is found.'

Misstep no. 6: 'Men and women are equal and interchangeable.'

Misstep no. 7: 'Godliness is heterosexuality.'

Misstep no. 8: 'Celibacy is bad for you.'

Misstep no. 9: 'Suffering is to be avoided.'

Appendix 1: The plausibility of the traditional interpretation of Scripture

Appendix 2: The implausibility of the new interpretations of Scripture

__Can you be gay and Christian? Does the Bible really require celibacy outside of heterosexual marriage? Isn't it unrealistic and unfair, imposing loneliness and the loss of basic human satisfactions like sex and marriage? Is what the church teaches about homosexuality a plausible way of life?__

In this honest book, Ed Shaw shares his pain in dealing with same-sex attraction - and yet he is committed to what the Bible says and what the church has always taught about marriage and sex. He shows us that obedience to Jesus is ultimately the only way to experience life to the full.

He also challenges missteps that the church has often made in its understanding of the Christian life and of sexuality. We have been shaped by the world around us, and urgently need to re-examine the values that drive our discipleship in the light of the Bible.

Only by reclaiming the reality of gospel discipleship, can we truly appreciate that life in Christ is the best way for all of us to flourish - whoever we are attracted to.

\["A compelling &amp; fresh look at sexuality, the Church &amp; the Bible","In this deeply personal book, Ed Shaw shares a new blueprint for sexuality and Christianity","He argues for a way forward that reclaims the gospel with compassion and commitment"\]

In this deep &amp; personal reflection, Ed Shaw shares a new way forward for the Church as it discusses issues of sexuality and relationships

Plausibility Problem

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