Zondervan - Living in a Gray World: A Christian Teens Guide to Understanding Homosexuality

Im grateful for Prestons loving, biblical, and relevant treatment of such a controversial topic. Christians can no longer afford to be ignorant on this issue.

FRANCIS CHAN

This is the book I have been waiting for! Living in a Gray World approaches the issue of homosexuality biblically and yet with tremendous compassion and care. I wish every teen would read it.

SEAN MCDOWELL

Professor at Biola University and the author of fifteen books, including Ethix: Being Bold in a Whatever World

This book is hands-down the best resource Ive seen on this subject for Christian young peoplebiblical, grace-soaked, and incredibly practical. So many Christian teens (and their parents!) are confused about, scared of, and yet immersed in a culture where formerly black-and-white lines about sexuality have blurred gray. But rather than fear, judge, or ignore this shift, Preston guides us through Scripture to not only help us see Gods best plan for sexuality but, perhaps even more importantly, remind us that were talking about individual people with unique storiesnot just discussing an issue. I cannot recommend this book more!

JESSIE MINASSIAN

Resident big sis at LifeLoveandGod.com, and author of Crushed, Unashamed, and Backwards Beauty

Preston Sprinkle has given teenagers a light for the dark path of knowing how to think about homosexuality. He lovingly and winsomely explains what the Bible says about the LGTBQ community. This conversational style book is a needed and helpful resource for the church.

ELYSE FITZPATRICK

director of Women Helping Women Ministries

People to Be Loved

ZONDERVAN

Living in a Gray World

Copyright 2015 by Preston Sprinkle

This title is also available as a Zondervan ebook. Visit www.zondervan.com/ebooks.

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Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

ISBN 978-0-310-75206-6

Epub Edition November 2020 9780310752318

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Readers Version. Copyright 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 Biblica. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Published in association with the literary agency of Wolgemuth & Associates, Inc.

Cover design: Brand Navigation

Interior design: Denise Froehlich

Printed in the United States of America

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I want to thank the many parents, teens, youth pastors, and college students who encouraged me to write this book and who read previous drafts of it. In particular, Jesse Minassian first alerted me to the need for this type of book, and read through its first draft and offered many helpful comments. Thanks also to Bert Alcorn, Mattie Dodson, McKensey Wise, and Pam Wollam for reading over earlier drafts. Your incisive comments regarding readability and tone were invaluable. A special thanks to Dr. Mark Yarhouse for reading through and offering much-needed critical feedback. And thanksas alwaysto my wife, Christine, and my four children, Kaylea, Aubrey, Josie, and Cody, for your constant love and encouragement.

My heart goes out to the thousands of teens and students who are wrestling with their faith and sexualityoftentimes with no one to talk to. My hope and prayer are that this book will not only help you in your journey, but encourage others to journey with you.

T his book is written primarily for students between the ages of fifteen and twenty-two. Many parents therefore will wonder if their sons and daughters should read this book. So let me introduce myself and tell you what this book is all about.

Im a husband to my beautiful and energetic wife, Christine, and father of four children. Ive also been a college professor since 2008 and have a huge heart for the next generation of Christians. I received a PhD in New Testament and Ancient Judaism from Aberdeen University (Scotland) and have written several books about the Bible and theology. As a professor, I spend a lot of time with college students, and I sometimes speak to high school students as well. As a result, Ive developed a strong understanding of the questions and issues theyre wrestling with. And over the last few years, the topic of homosexuality is usually at the top of the list. Their questions have caused me to spend a considerable amount of time studying the topic as thoroughly as I can. I believeand most people would agreethat the question of homosexuality is one of the most important ethical questions facing the church today. One of the problems Ive encountered is that high school and college students are getting bombarded with opinions about homosexuality from the media, school, friends, and coworkers, but the church often stays silent. Maybe youve talked to them about the topic, or maybe you havent. My guess, though, is that even if you have, your voice is only one of many perspectives that are shaping their thinking on the issue. Hence, the reason for this book.

Let me tell you up front where I stand on the question of homosexuality. I believe that the Bible prohibits homosexual behavior. I dont believe this just because Ive been told to, nor do I believe it because of my Christian upbringing. I believe this because after studying the topic for a few years, Ive discovered that the so-called traditional view is correct. The Bible only endorses opposite-sex marriages and prohibits same-sex sexual relations. However, I also believe that Christians have not always reflected the love of Christ in the ways theyve dealt with the issue of homosexuality. And many gay and lesbian people have been greatly hurt by the churchs unloving and judgmental posture. We need to be truthful, but we also need to be loving. We shouldnt sacrifice the truth for the sake of love, or stop loving in order to be truthful. Jesus exemplifies both truth and love; therefore, so should we. And thats what this book is all about. How to be truthfully loving and lovingly truthful.

A few years ago, a friend of mine, who has a ministry with teen girls, told me that she gets questions about homosexuality almost daily. Shes looked for some sort of resource to give these students but hasnt found any. Knowing that Ive been studying the topic, she encouraged me to write a book for students. I also saw the need for this book, and the rest is history.