Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
*Is there a place for celibate, gay Christians in the church? * How do the gospel, holiness, and indwelling sin play out in the life of a Christian experiencing same-sex attraction? And how do brothers and sisters in Christ show love to them? Wesley Hill offers wise counsel that is biblically faithful, theologically serious, and oriented to the life and practice of the church. As a celibate gay Christian, Hill gives us a glimpse of what it looks like to wrestle firsthand with God's "No" to same-sex sexual intimacy. What does it mean for gay Christians to be faithful to God while struggling with the challenge of their homosexuality? What is God's will for believers who experience same-sex desires? Those who choose celibacy are often left to deal with loneliness and the hunger for relationships. How can gay Christians experience God's favor and blessing in the midst of a struggle that for many brings a crippling sense of shame and guilt? Weaving together reflections from his own life and the lives of other Christians, such as Henri Nouwen and Gerard Manley Hopkins, Hill offers a fresh perspective on these questions. He advocates neither unqualified "healing" for those who struggle nor accommodation to temptation, but rather faithfulness in the midst of brokenness.
Synopsis
Wesley Hill's personal experiences and biblical reflections offer insight into how a nonpracticing gay Christian can prove, live out, and celebrate the grace of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
For many who are on this path, it's a lonely one. The reality of loneliness and isolation of the celibate homosexual Christian is something that Hill lives and takes seriously in his pursuit of the gospel-centered life. To those on a similar journey, it's often a life of uncertainties and questions.
In Washed and Waiting, Hill explores the three main struggles that have been part of his daily effort to live faithfully:
- What exactly does the gospel demand of gay and lesbian Christians, and how can it enable them to fulfill its commands?
- How do Christians who experience homoerotic desires live with the loneliness such desires entail? Is there any relief for it? What comfort does the gospel offer?
- Can those of us who struggle with homosexuality please God and truly experience his pleasure in the midst of sexual brokenness?
Interspersed throughout these main sections are character sketches and stories of people who have experienced this journey's trials and triumphs.
Hill offers wise counsel that is biblically faithful, theologically serious, and oriented to the life and practice of the church. As a celibate gay Christian, he gives us a glimpse of what it looks like to wrestle firsthand with God's No to same-sex sexual intimacy and contemplate serious and difficult questions.
Synopsis
In Washed and Waiting, Wesley Hill writes for gay Christians and those who love them. Part-memoir, part theological reflection, he shares the struggles that gay Christians face as they seek to live faithful to God's "no" to homosexuality. This updated edition includes a new afterword by Hill that continues his story since the book first released.