His latest offering, What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?, is no different.
"Is homosexual activity a sin that must be repented of, forsaken, and forgiven, or, given the right context and commitment, can we consider same-sex sexual intimacy a blessing worth celebrating and solemnizing? That is the question this book seeks to answer."
This question is posed in the Introduction and in less than 150 pages, DeYoung answers it.
The first part of the book covers seven principal and plain biblical texts that condemn homosexuality as a sin (Genesis 1-2, 19; Leviticus 18, 20; Romans 1; 1 Corinthians 6; 1 Timothy 1). The second part answers seven common objections to the traditional view of marriage, including, "The Bible hardly ever mentions homosexuality" and "The God I worship is a God of love."
The final part is the appendix section, and there are actually three appendices: 1) "What About Same-Sex Marriage?", 2) "Same-Sex Attraction: Three Building Blocks," 3) "The Church and Homosexuality: Ten Commitments."
While some critics might argue that DeYoung is biased by his traditional view of marriage and conservative religious views, he does an astonishingly fair job of letting the Bible speak for itself. He is sympathetic toward his dissenters, but never soft on them.
Furthermore, he does not obscure or veil his conviction. He never tries to disguise himself as possibly being in the affirming camp, nor does he cloud his belief. Right from the outset, he states:
"I believe same-sex sexual intimacy is a sin. Along with most Christians around the globe and virtually every Christian in the first nineteen-and-a-half centuries of church history, I believe the Bible places homosexual behavior - no matter the level of commitment or mutual affection - in the category of sexual immorality. Why I believe this is the subject of the rest of this book."
DeYoung never hides behind anecdotes. What I love about this book is that DeYoung unashamedly does what he set out to do: instead of focusing on history, sociology, emotions, politics, or the media, he looks simply to what God says about homosexuality.
In this day and age, I think every Christian should pick up a copy of this book. If you want to be able to defend the traditional view of marriage from a singularly biblical perspective with grace and conviction, this book is for you.
Concise, clear, punchy, relevant, and staunchly biblical, What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? equips and encourages today's Christians for inevitable cultural engagement. Definitely pick a copy up.
Buy What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? here.
*I received this book through Crossway's Beyond the Page review system. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Image Credit: Gospel Coalition