Review: Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships? Examining 10 Claims about Scripture and Sexuality by Rebecca McLaughlin

I have encountered Rebecca McLaughlin, the Cambridge PhD wife and mother now living in Boston, for several years through her books, podcasts and blog posts and now dig into anything of hers I find.  She reminds me of CS Lewis set for our moment in history.

With that, I was quick to order and read her latest book - Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships? Examining 10 Claims about Scripture and Sexuality - as soon as it was published on May 1, 2024.  CLICK HERE for Amazon link.

I think this is her best yet, and here is why:

• It is a well-written book - I spent about 90 minutes reading and underlining the 100 or so pages of this book.  One shortcoming: I underlined nearly every sentence.  EVERY one is packed with insight.
• She presents a succinct and fair statement of each of ten common arguments affirming Same-Sex Relationships - Whether you come to the conversation pro or con - or even confused and overwhelmed - I found her statements of these "affirming" positions clarifying. People who hold the "affirming" position on LGBTQ+ issues typically hold their position because it makes sense to them on some level even if they cannot clearly articulate the reasons.  It is only fair to understand the convictions of another person even before evaluating those convictions to agree or disagree.  You cannot honestly disagree with a position without first honestly understanding it.  McLaughlin helps both sides by clarifying each of ten positions for all to consider.
• She writes with compelling illustrations - You will meet real-life people making real-life decisions.  McLaughlin is very clear about her own life-long experience of same-sex attraction for example, as well as the "whys" and "hows" of her own convictions and practices.  The difference with this book is that the life-stories are NOT the arguments themselves put forth FOR a conviction but instead they are instead illustrations OF those various convictions.  In my experience, much of the affirming LGBTQ+ conversation is based on life-stories that appeal to my emotions and make every consideration personal.  With McLaughlin, the conversation is built on reasonging, reasearch and logic and then helpfully illustrated and humanized by the life-stories of real people that she knows.
• She provides helpful footnotes and resources if you want to go deeper on any given position - The footnotes are not obstursive to the reading, but they make readily available pathways to go deeper into any position or argument she presents.  Her single book is a good doorway to more on any given position that you might want to pursue.

For me personally, I have interacted with gay co-workers for 50 years, pastored people with same-sex attraction that they responded to in differing ways and observed or participated in debate/conversation with other Christians on these issues since entering seminary.  I read God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships when it first came out.  All that to say I am not a newcomer to the questions, convictions, authors and conclusions that you will encounter in Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships.

Full disclosure: I came to the book with the same conviction that McLaughlin presents here.  I do not believe that the Bible affirms same-sex relationships.  But she does a better job than me when it comes to making the case.  And she does more than "split-the difference" or offer a balanced options to two polar convictions.  She points to a distinct and different answer to a current divisive debate. I would call it "gospel-centered and am endebted to her work in that regard.

Who would I picture benefitting from reading this book?

• Folks who don't typically read, but are willing to invest some time to gain better understanding of LGBTQ+ issues.
• Folks who are not familiar with the foundational reasons of various "affirming" positions whether they currently consider themselves "affirming" or not.
• Folks who want a clear, reasonable and compassionate engagement of LGBTQ+ issues in light of the Bible and historic Christian belief.
• Folks who want to engage these issues, as well as the persons in their life that are affected by them, with something other than the fluff or vitriol or fear-mongering that seems so common in our moment.

Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships? by Rebecca McLaughlin is one of a limited few publications that I will give to a friend, family-member or congregation-member for conversations around these issues.  In this slim volume, the author gives us far more light than smoke or fire.  I highly recommend you purchase, read and consider it.  And then feel free to get in touch with me throught the Harderwyk office, and lets find a time for me to listen to your thoughts, questions and experiences.

Journalism, Advocacy and Communicating the Gospel: Observations on NPR and Uri Berliner

I'll admit it publicly!  Several decades ago I found myself doing a lot more driving for work and it was not unusual for me to listen to both the Rush Limbaugh radio program and NPR's All Things Considered in the same afternoon.  Different persepectives for sure, but between them I felt like I could gather a few laughs and insights as I motored through my afternoon.

Around the turn of the century, my work situation had changed.  I also found myself listening less and less to Rush Limbaugh.  Too angry and vindictive.  Interestingly, the same thing began to play out with NPR over the past decade.  Now when I drive, it's classic rock, podcasts or whistling to myself.

Against that backdrop, I recently read "I've Been at NPR for 25 Years.  Here's How We Lost America's Trust by Uri Berliner."  Wow!  It is a bombshell that clarified my own experience.  You owe it to yourself to read it and ponder for yourself.  CLICK HERE

Berliner's post has started quite a public conversation and engulfed their new CEO - the one Berliner mentions in his post.  A few weeks after this post, Berliner resigned from NPR in a real "You can't quit me I'm fired!" sort of moment.

From his essay:

Back in 2011, although NPR’s audience tilted a bit to the left, it still bore a resemblance to America at large.  Twenty-six percent of listeners described hemselves as conservative, 23 percent as middle of the road, and 37 percent as liberal.

By 2023, the picture was completely different: only 11 percent described themselves as very or somewhat conservative, 21 percent as middle of the road, and 67 percent of listeners said they were very or somewhat liberal. We weren’t just losing conservatives; we were also losing moderates and traditional liberals.

An open-minded spirit no longer exists within NPR, and now, predictably, we don’t have an audience that reflects America.

Berliner then goes on for 3 pages to document three specific instances where NPR purposefully downplayed - even ignored - stories that turned out to be important.  Even when later identified as important stories or false reporting on their part, NPR moved on without learning, retracting or publicly acknowledging the miss.

He reviews his increasing resistance to the emerging culture of advocacy that he saw replacing the commitment to journalism.  Hmmmmmmm.  Advocacy or journalism?  Ponder that difference for a moment.

There’s an unspoken consensus about the stories we should pursue and how they should be framed. It’s frictionless—one story after another .  .  .  It’s almost like an assembly line.

Berliner's personal observations were multiplied and confirmed as he talked with people about his work at NPR:

Now the trajectory of the conversation is different. After the initial “I love NPR,"there’s a pause and a person will acknowledge, “I don’t listen as much as I used to.” Or, with some chagrin:“What’s happening there? Why is NPR telling me what to think?”

Finally he writes (on April 9, 2024):

A few weeks ago, NPR welcomed a new CEO, Katherine Maher, who’s been a leader in tech. She doesn’thave a news background, which could be an asset given where things stand. I’ll be rooting for her. It’s a tough job. Her first rule could be simple enough: don’t tell people how to think.

We now know that Brunner resigned from NPR six days after he shared his thoughts in this essay.  His resignation was accepted by the new CEO and, by my observation, she has led in NPR in damage control and avoidance.  There seems no change in direction or even the ability to breathe deep and invest time in organizational self-reflection.  

Two things have captured my attention through this sorry episode:

1) "Journalism replaced by advocacy."  When winning is more important than the truth, all sorts of things begin to grow dysfunctional.  This well describes the tsunami of information flooding our smartphones from all sides, don't you think?  Beware!

2) "Don't tell people how to think."  That approach makes me one advocacy voice lost in a massive chorus of advocacy singers.  Most are more creative, better funded and angrier than me.

So I have been reconsidering some things, not about message or content so much as delivery.  I'm willing to answer people's questions about the "what" and "why" of how I think on almost anything.  And with issues related to the Gospel, I will even hope to invite people to join me in that journey.

But there are multiple reasons to remember that I am not in a position tell people how they must think or what conclusions they must affirm in order to be respected by me or to get the entire story - which can include my own foibles and confusion.

CLICK HERE for my post of May 2021 entitled Both Content & Delivery Matter When The Church Answers Questions