Does the Bible really condemn same-sex relationships?
Many Christians wrestle with this question and the dilemma of whether to agree with traditional, conservative teaching or not. In his compassionate, cogent book, David Runcorn outlines how someone can support same-sex relationships on the basis of the Bible, not in spite of it.
The Church, in every time and place, finds itself working out the shock and surprise of God's unfolding ways – often scandalized by where holiness, goodness and the life of God are to be found.
Runcorn's insightful and moving reflections show how speaking in gospel friendship will help to dispel the anxiety and division that have tended to mark the Church's response to homosexuality. Covering sexual abstinence and celibacy, sexuality and the sacred, he leads us to one powerful conclusion:
love means love.
'The Bible speaks of God's faithful love for everyone. David unfolds this truth to a conflicted Church, and to a world in desperate need of that good news. Love Means Love is brim-full of gentle and clear wisdom. Highly recommended!' PAUL BAYES, BISHOP OF LIVERPOOL
'Too often phrases such as the "biblical view" or "Bible-believing Christians" are used to exclude the possibility that faithful same-sex relationships are consonant with scripture. David Runcorn challenges the reader to contemplate a different conclusion.' RACHEL TREWEEK, BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER
'Warm, reflective, surprising, challenging, scriptural, human and focused on Jesus, this is a different kind of book . . . Writing with a compassion and spiritual depth that encompasses a breadth of human experience, David Runcorn engages with key texts and traditional views, and comes to very positive and scripturally-based conclusions about God's gift of sexuality.' DAVID ISON, DEAN OF ST PAUL'S, LONDON