Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would

A Fresh Christian Approach

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Outreach magazine Year's Best Award Winner, 2004

Chances are you know someone who is gay--a coworker, parishioner, family member, student, or friend. And chances are, as a Christian, you're not exactly sure how to relate to this person. Should you welcome him to church? Confront him? Avoid the topic altogether? While the church has been pretty good at "hating the sin," it hasn't really known how to love the sinner without homophobia or fear of condoning a homosexual lifestyle. Oddly, many Christians feel they need "permission" to love gay people.

In Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would, Chad Thompson, a man who has struggled with homosexual feelings, calls Christians to disarm the gay community by "loving first." Drawing from the life and words of Jesus, Thompson teaches readers how to love and befriend homosexuals before they change--and even if they never change--their sexual orientation. He addresses in detail many common questions surrounding homosexuality: Is being gay a choice, or is it genetically determined? Can homosexuals change their orientation? If so, how does it happen?

This book includes an appendix of additional resources as well as a useful list of endnotes. It will be a valuable tool for pastors, educators, therapists, and any Christian struggling with the controversy over homosexuality.


Endorsements

"There is a message here for all Christians. There is never a good excuse to not show love to those who struggle with homosexuality. Love is what Jesus did. Love is the choice that heals. But exactly how does one go about doing this? Chad's book will show you how."--Stephen Arterburn, author of Every Man's Battle

"Thoughtful Christians vary in our theological assessment of homosexual behavior, but shouldn't we all agree that hateful rhetoric and unkind behavior toward homosexual people are reprehensible? Chad Thompson's book will help those who oppose homosexual behavior to align their own behavior and attitudes with the teaching and example of Jesus. And it will provide a living counterexample for those who say that homosexual people can never change. Its tone is never shrill or harsh--it truly is a fresh approach."--Brian McLaren, author of A New Kind of Christian

"In our emerging culture Christians and church leaders can no longer ignore or hide from this issue or think it is out there and not in the church. We must be praying, studying, thinking, and relying on people like Chad who can help us understand how to love homosexuals as Jesus would. This book will help you move from being a defensive finger-pointer to having your heart broken and understanding how to love and minister to homosexuals without compromising your theology."--Dan Kimball, author of The Emerging Church and pastor of Vintage Faith Church

"Chad Thompson has highlighted aspects of the conservative approach to homosexuality that have needed both attention and correction for some time. This book is important reading for anyone concerned about an effective, Christ-like response to our homosexual friends and loved ones."--Joe Dallas, author of Desires in Conflict

"Chad Thompson is one of a new breed of writers who has the courage to confront conventional thinking about homosexuality. He challenges both the gay and lesbian community, as well as traditional Christians, to end the 'homophobia' that requires those who experience unwanted same-sex attractions to remain silent and shackled in a world of shame. This new book sounds a clarion call of liberation for all those who feel trapped by their feelings and want to find a way out."--David Pruden, Evergreen International

"Traditionalists warring with gay activists . . . is there hope for bringing two ideologically opposed camps together? Building bridges between these communities is Chad Thompson's goal-and in this book, he reminds us that those dealing with same-sex attraction need the full embrace of their church communities in order to confront their struggles with emotional transparency and integrity."--Joseph Nicolosi, founder of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH)

"This groundbreaking book is a wake up call to the church and its people about how to love homosexually oriented men and women. Chad Thompson gives us practical steps for compassionate outreach, to 'become flesh' as Christ did for us. For too long the church has been straight and late. Now Chad teaches us how to catch up and set the captives free."--Richard Cohen, author of Coming Out Straight

"A very readable view of a Christian who accepts the Gospel teaching of love and respect for persons with same sex attractions and for persons who struggle with bisexuality or transsexual feelings. I recommend this book."--John F. Harvey, OSFS, director of COURAGE

"Chad's desire to unite us all in bringing hope and good news to the homosexual community is refreshing, especially his wisdom in how to handle the teaching of homosexuality in our public schools. The time has come for an honest debate based on truth and compassion for the homosexual. This book will provide the guidance to get there."--Regina Griggs, PFOX (Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays)

"Thompson's work is one of the most provocative and accessible titles that Brazos has yet published."--Jeff Gentry, Christianbook.com

"Chad Thompson draws our attention to the most important but least-often considered dynamic in the cultural debates surrounding homosexuality in America: people. While the various sides clash over legislation and public opinion, this book reminds us that the real battle is for the eternal souls represented in the GLBT community, and, as Thompson concludes, 'Whoever loves first wins.'"--Dick M. Carpenter II, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

"If the church would love homosexuals as passionately as they strive to defeat the pro-gay movement, the movement might collapse from lack of members. Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would shows us how. With clarity, compassion, and conviction, Chad Thompson demonstrates a biblical approach to homosexuality the church must hear and heed."--Tim Wilkins, Cross Ministry

"This book presents a call for radical change in the way that the evangelical world approaches homosexuals and homosexuality. Thanks to Chad for taking us on a journey that starts in the vein of our culture's gay movement and ends right at the heart that our Lord Jesus has for those involved in homosexuality."--Alan Chambers, Exodus International

"Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would is an invaluable resource that challenges the church to examine stereotypes concerning ministry to those who struggle with same-sex attractions. Thanks to Chad for sharing from his heart the concern he has for those who are, or have been, homosexual."--Dr. Warren Throckmorton, producer of I Do Exist


The Author

  1. Chad W. Thompson

    Chad W. Thompson

    Chad Thompson is a writer and speaker living in Des Moines, Iowa. He is the founder of Inqueery, an organization that addresses homosexuality on high school and college campuses, and is the former media specialist for the Iowa Family Policy Center. Thompson is also...

    Continue reading about Chad W. Thompson

Reviews

Outreach magazine Year's Best Award Winner, 2004

"[An] excellent book of counsel and personal testimony. . . . [Thompson] parcels out his own story of turning away from homosexuality as he urges Christians to love gays by fighting antigay discrimination, bigotry, and violence, and, most important, by opening the church and their arms to them. . . . As the book proceeds, Thompson tells ever more of his own story, and with it much about psychologist Joseph Nicolosi's controversial reparative therapy for homosexuality. Doing so, he clarifies and strengthens his overall message of love without strings even as he defends reparative therapy."--Ray Olson, Booklist

"Chad Thompson openly tells his own story of conflicted sexuality in Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would: A Fresh Christian Approach, pointing out that he is not writing to teach Christians how to convince gay people they should change or how to convert them to Christ because, he writes, 'Only God can do these things.' . . . Tackling tough social issues, the author states that he does not subscribe to every item on the gay political agenda, but he believes that a person can take a stand against the mistreatment of homosexuals without supporting homosexuality."--Christian Retailing

"A refreshingly tolerant Christian take on the acceptance of homosexuality in modern society."--ForeWord

"[Thompson's] methods and ideas for outreach, described in Loving Homosexuals, may be controversial to some, but Thompson's knowledge in this area of evangelism deserves a closer look. . . . Thompson offers practical suggestions for reaching the LGBT community. . . . [An] understanding and practical outreach inspiration for church leaders, most notably youth and college pastors."--Outreach