Same Sex Relationships ebook

I found these words deeply compelling when I first read them as a very young Christian, just coming to terms with my sexuality, and they remain so today. There is no better short presentation of the Bible’s teaching marked, as always with John Stott’s writing, by faithfulness, clarity and compassion.

This re-release of John Stott's work on same-sex relationships is timely, thoughtful, compassionate, and Biblically compelling. He asks the right questions and walks the reader through a theological and pastoral treatise enabling every follower of Jesus to grasp the difficulties so many of our friends encounter

When it comes to combining truth and love, without diluting either, few can match John Stott. This freshly-edited book carries both the theological clarity and warm, practical wisdom Christians need to form firm convictions about the subject, to live faithfully under God’s Word and to relate winsomely to those mired in the murky waters of same-sex relationships.

Truthful words continue to shine. John Stott’s thoughts on this issue of homosexuality are very much needed, especially at this time when the church tends to surrender to the modern culture.

“No significant new territory has been opened up in the Church’s protracted discussions on human sexuality since [John Stott] wrote these words: they continue to speak with relevance into our contemporary debates”. So says Ed Shaw, a pastor of Emmanuel City Centre Church in Bristol and trustee of Living Out. That is why it is so important to have the re-edited and updated version of this chapter from John Stott’s Issues Facing Christians Today . For me it has been helpful to consider the 21st Century cultural scene, to re-visit the key Scriptural territory and to consider how this impacts all of us in local churches, way beyond those who experience same sex attraction, as we seek to live godly lives and proclaim the authentic Jesus to the ends of the earth.

This is magnificent: a collection of wise, biblical and thoughtful insights on a contentious topic, from a seasoned pastor and a distinguished theologian. Prescient, compassionate and true.

This is a wonderful presentation of Stott’s work, helping us engage our suppositions about relationships, companionship, belonging and marriage – all founded on scripture and sound thinking.  The contributions of personal experiences, updated information, and editor’s comments underscore the real-life applicability for all Christians.  It is a clear, helpful and relevant work for an important conversation.

The Apostle Paul challenged the New Testament church to speak the truth in love. How easy it is to lose truth in our quest for love, or to lose love in our passion for truth. John Stott writing over 30 years ago on the subject of same sex relationships provides us with a wonderful example of this exhortation out worked in practice.

Placing obedience to Christ above acquiescence to shifting cultural trends, this excellent resource gives a contemporary context for Stott's prophetic analysis. Pastoral in heart, but serious in mind, it outlines the inescapably clear teaching of the bible on sexual ethics and marriage. I commend it.

John Stott said of his book when first published: ‘I have sought with integrity to submit to the revelation of yesterday within the realities of today. It is not easy to combine loyalty to the past with sensitivity to the present. Yet this is our Christian calling: to live under the Word in the world’.
This is what we must do. I believe that the wisdom and insight the Lord gave John Stott will, through this republished work, help us to fulfil our calling in these days.
I pray it will be widely read.