Enjoyed this book & the reader's perspective, interested in learning more about his past struggles with homosexuality.

In his book, Christians in a Cancel Culture, author and biblical counselor Joe Dallas sets out to equip readers to engage in dialogue with American culture while standing firm in biblical faith. Dallas helps readers understand what's at stake if they don't stand up for the authority of Scripture, encouragaing to know what they believe and why--standing upon the firm foundation of God's word. He also helps believers understand what's at the core of cancel culture, addresses several hot topics like abortion, homosexuality, race, sexual identity, and shares how cancel culture is invading so many aspects of society. More importantly, Dallas equips readers to dialogue with others in loving, but firm ways that remain true to biblical authority.

Overall, this book promises to help readers evaluate what they believe and why so that they can dialogue from a biblical worldview with others who do not share their view. It's non-academic, so it's easy for any reader to engage with, but that doesn't mean it's an easy read. It's a book to be read slowly, marinating on it and thinking it through. I found Dallas' book to be very insightly and helpful as I consider how I might lovingly engage in cultural dialogues in loving and respectful ways while remaining true to my faith.

Well this was an interesting read. It is also hard to review. I do love the quote from his book though that states "The fear of controversy, though understandable, is no excuse for evasion when truth is called for." I do think truth is called for but may not agree with all his statements. I think we live in a world where people are not going to agree and may even question my beliefs. Only God can change the hearts of others even when we speak Biblical truth. Joe Dalls does discuss some of the hot topics such as abortion, homosexuality, race and other current issues Most of the information is not new but includes a lot of Biblical truths.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Very informative read as well as being very timely one as well. A must read for all Christians. It's something we all must be aware of.

This book is a very educational and informative read during these deeply divided times in our country. The author does a really good job explaining the things we face presently as a culture, and also what the Bible says about them. As a Jesus-follower, I appreciated how Joe Dallas used Scripture all throughout the book. Even if one would disagree with the author on some points, it is very hard to disagree with the truth of the Bible if you are a believer. I found the book helpful in the way it discussed each "controversial" issue in our culture today, and specific things that Christians should be in agreement on. The good news of the Gospel is worth standing up for, and this book reminds the reader of that truth. I found it helpful to read this book as I try to navigate the waters of loving my neighbor as Jesus commanded, and standing up for the truths of the gospel in a loving way.

Christians in a Cancel Culture by Joe Dallas is informative and interesting. He covers many topics, and some might be more interesting to each reader than others.. The topics are clearly organized by chapters. He gives scriptures that he thinks apply to each topic. Some are very fitting, but a few seemed a bit of a stretch to apply.

What I liked best were the suggestions for dialog. I especially liked that he emphasized that even though people disagree on an issue, they should be able to discuss it and agree to disagree and continue to be friends. He tried to help the reader see the issue from the other person's perspective.

I do recommend this book.

I have been sitting on this because this book is a difficult one to review. I picked this up as an eARC from Harvest House Publishers via NetGalley and should have probably just passed on it and saved myself some headache.

Maybe let's start with what it does get right. When Dallas actually gets into the meat of the issues he wants to talk about (Abortion, Homosexuality, Race***, Gender, Progressive Christianity*) he sets out quite fairly the current views of the issue** and what God says about them in the Bible. There is no ambiguity, no obvious twisting of verses, no over-the-top bias. He presents a clear Christian worldview of how things were intended to be by God. And that's not a bad thing for someone who professes to follow Christ.

Contrary to popular opinion, Christians do still have the right to take a stance on their beliefs, and in this, I agree with Dallas. Practising or following a religion requires that you follow the standards set by that religion/faith, and stating that you personally believe a certain thing according to that faith is not a crime. Persecuting others for those personal beliefs are a crime, and this is true in both directions.

But this is also where Dallas muddies the waters. As I stated in my Rant Chapter 1, the whole angle of this book presumes several strange premises:
1. That passing laws to allow others to do what you disagree with is a law attacking you and your beliefs as a Christian;
2. That free speech equates to the right to be listened to no matter what and people not wanting to listen to you is an attack on your personal freedom and rights (???); and
3. USA is a Christian nation and all laws need to be Christian and therefore current society is attacking Christians.
(OMG the persecution complex there)

I mean, these three premises alone puts the book in a very weird, off-kilter position, where some of the things Dallas says are true, but the rest of it is very, very wrong. (Also, a note to global readers, most of the issues spoken to here arise out of specifically American problems related to US laws, so may not apply across the board.) One of the reasons this book really irks me, actually, is this uber American Evangelical stance of "what Christians believe should be made law for everyone else", even non-Christians, which in my part of the world, when done other faiths try to do it, is "[religion] is oppressing Christians! How dare they!" Think about that hypocrisy for a moment.

So on one hand, part of the book has its merits. But what Dallas gets terribly, terribly wrong is how he ends each of those chapters. And unfortunately, this is also the most crucial part. Because now that you know what God says about an issue, you also need to know what's the Christ-like way to react to that issue. And instead of anything useful, loving, or kind, Dallas just tells you how to continue digging your heels in and getting people to hate you for your beliefs. The assumption here is that "because I am a Christian, my opinions are right, and whatever you say or think or feel doesn't matter in light of that."

That bit is subtitled "Keep It Going", which I assume refers to keeping the conversation going, and it is just a horrible mess of gaslighting in the name of "discourse". An example would be where the response to "I need you to call me by my preferred name and pronoun" is answered by "Don't ask me to call you by names and pronouns that represent something I don't believe is real". Later on, in response to "If you can't accept me for who I am, then I have to keep my distance from you. I won't tolerate someone who's transphobic" is refuted by "unless I treat you with disrespect and hostility, I really think the transphobic label is way off base". (IDK, I kinda think not calling someone by the name they want to be called, transgender or not, is actually really disrespectful and hostile.)

Circling back to hypocrisy and doublespeak, the one thing that Dallas keeps bringing up over and over again is how hurt Christians feel when current society cancels them for their beliefs and how breaking family relationships and friendships over a difference in opinion is bad and wrong, and why can't everyone just STILL be friends despite them being a horrible, gaslighting person? Let me just end this review with this thought:

How is this any different from when churches and Christian families excommunicated and kicked out members, children, and friends over many of these issues? Did they not also feel hurt? Were they not left stranded and without support, especially when these were minors? Or is it okay to hurt others because you believe you are morally superior/in the right?

Or, as I wrote in a note:
"So, it's okay for the church to excommunicate the backsliders but not okay for the non-believers to return the favour?"


* I would have to note that this refers to a very specific Progressive Christianity that, according to Dallas, believes all paths lead to God and not "progressive" in the general terms of not-conservative.
** I did not fact check any specific examples quoted. If he presented any facts in bad faith, I am not aware of them.
*** Dallas does not believe in systemic racism and Needs You To Specify Each Individual Charge.

I’m going to highly recommend this book. There is plenty in it to get people riled up on both sides. Many different views on the content that is presented. These many views even come in to play in your own family!!!! I think what it showed me the most of was that I need to know where I am standing and know when I need to speak Truth with Grace. This book will help you see how to navigate a conversation with someone. I think I want to go read it again! Lots of highlights! This is one of those books you want to have discussions on after each chapter! I asked my husband to read it so we could discuss it.

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Joe Dallas writes biblical truth with love for scripture and the reader. He writes of deep things from personal experiences. This is a book for current times as the nation, and the world, encounter the discussions and off times confrontations from progressive cultural differences. He tackles the topics of the culture we read and hear of daily in the news with bible references and insights meant to help the believer form an informed response in living and truthful foundational way. Highly recommend for pastors and layperson.. Much to reflect on and highly informative.

Whether you agree with the views aired in this book or not it is a worthwhile book if you are at all interested in the dangers of cancel culture today. A fitting contribution to cancel culture debate with some strong views expressed.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harvest House for ARC.

“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”—Mark 8:38


People are getting cancelled left and right. Christians don’t corner the market on being cancelled. People who were considered liberals 10 years ago are apparently no longer liberal enough and the hammer comes down. People of all professions are finding themselves having to make difficult decisions in the workplace, fearing termination for failure to exhibit ‘company values’ that were not previously expected.

[I’ve read many really good, relevant books about engaging with a culture who disagrees with our views and about the more specific topics— they are linked at the end of this review.]


In this book, Joe Dallas (former member of the gay community) has zeroed in on the impact and hostility cancel culture is having specifically on and toward the Christian community. The main cultural values at odds with our beliefs as Bible-believing Christians revolve around gender, marriage, abortion, Critical Race Theory, and ‘exclusive’ theological positions.

His heart for this book is to bolster Christians to stand firm in truth and conviction while showing compassion in our relationships. To encourage us to accept the cultural costs of declaring “the whole counsel of God”. (Acts 20:27) To offer some helpful statements or questions to use when talking about these topics with friends and family who may be pulling away from us as they find out our differing views. To caution us from becoming ‘ravers’ who resort to insults and sarcasm, loudmouths set on ‘winning’ an argument rather than listening and caring about the people who hold different viewpoints.

Or as he puts it: “equipping believers to provide reasonable answers and have effective dialogue with family members, close friends, and associates who take issue with their belief system.”


Dallas devotes a chapter each to the topics of abortion, homosexuality, race, transgenderism, and progressive Christianity. But before he gets into all of that he spends time highlighting what is happening with cancel culture right now. Using the definition of cancel culture found in the Cambridge dictionary he points out that cancel culture often goes beyond merely “to reject or stop supporting someone who says or does something to offend you."

“Too often cancelled really means silenced, forcibly shut down, or completely cut off by a friend or loved one.”

It’s worth noting (and many of the linked books I provide discuss this as well) that definitions have been changing. Tolerant doesn’t mean what it used to. We can no longer agree to disagree and have a civil discourse to consider other viewpoints. Over the years culture has progressed from holding many of the same beliefs as Christians today, to asking us to explain our beliefs, to asking us to defend our beliefs, and now we are forced not just to defend our beliefs but to defend our right to even teach or practice them.

The Coddling of the American Mind explores how institutions of higher learning are pro-diversity except when it comes to viewpoints that oppose the mainstream cultural agenda. To voice a differing viewpoint is now considered to be creating an unsafe space for people psychologically. And threatening psychological comfort is now considered and act of violence.

To exacerbate the shift in definitions that rounds out how morality is defined, we add in identity groups and the demonizing (or as Dallas has coined “starring”) of certain groups, we’re getting into dangerous territory: loss of rights and the ability to voice any dissenting opinion.

The implications of cancel culture are deep and far-reaching. We must figure out how to engage with people and maintain our relationships while still disagreeing with their view if it contradicts the truths of the Bible.


I won’t detail his points within each of the “issue-chapters” (for lack of a better phrase) but I will say that I found them to be Scripturally sound and in line with the beliefs of the other books I linked.


The writing style of this book is very informal which is good and bad. It’s very easy to understand and follow, but at times his word choice may not be the most tactful and is sometimes a bit cheeky. I think this may turn some people off.

For example, he says, “But when everyone’s behaving fairly (read “like adults”),” and uses the words ‘childish’ and ‘tantrum’ a few times. While these may ring true in many interactions, especially online, it’s an unfair broad stroke to make that could alienate readers. It belittles the context of many situations.

He also says, “we’re not the ones going on social media trying to silence people, or on Amazon trying to ban books, or on college campuses shouting down speakers we disagree with.” Again, in a lot of ways this is right, but worded like this it paints Christians as saints when I think a lot of readers will have had experiences with nominal Christians who actually do try to forcibly silence people or try to cancel people from the other side. Even though we believe we have the side the truth, we must sadly recognize that there are people wielding it inappropriately. Worded this way, it also emphasizes the ‘us vs them’ mentality that I believe is harmful to effective dialogue. We should not be behaving and treating people how we are asking not to be treated.

I don’t believe his intent is to belittle or divide, there is much he says in his book that is compassionate and a striving for unity. I found most of his book very helpful and truthful. I just think you have to look past some of his phrasings and not let it taint the truth and intent of what he is saying.


It is conspicuous and reputationally dangerous to take a countercultural stand right now. ‘Being nice’ is the golden rule, but just being nice, though it sounds like ‘the right side’ is not going to fix any of the real problems we have in the world. We need more than niceness. We need truths that bring life. Let this book be an encouragement to you to:

“be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us (1 Peter 3:15), speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), be unashamed of our Master’s words (Luke 9:26), act as ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), and contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).”

“say no to yielding and yes to the outcome, be it personal heartache, social rejection, professional hardship, or criminal status. We’re all in, and we’ll stay all in so long as we value eternal truth over temporal convenience.”


One thing is made evident as you read this book. If we are truth-tellers, we need to be discerning of truth. How do we do that?

If the Bible is our authority for truth and the definer of morality, we need to know our Bible first and foremost. Secondly, we need to be readers. We cannot let social media, the news, or that one book everyone is reading be our only source of information. Discerning truth cannot be done in the vacuum of Facebook comment wars, retweets, CNN, or Babylon Bee articles.

Take ownership of your beliefs and be a learner.
Read the Bible.
Read more books (did I mention I linked books and reviews below???)
Be able to defend your beliefs. Not in rage but in conviction to truth. Just because you don’t know why you believe what you believe or your beliefs are unpopular does not mean they are not true.
Truth is not subject to the whims of flighty feelings and popularity contests.
Truth is there. Go find it.

Who knows how things will change in the years to come? Who knows what rights we will have? There are many unknowns. We can’t miss our opportunities to speak.

Our urgency is not driven by fear. It is driven by confident hope.

The truth cannot be cancelled.

“Our hope continues to be built on nothing less, because as long as the people of God are ready to speak the Word of God, and as long as the Spirit of God is ready to confirm the Word of God, then the people of God need never fear that the Word of God will be silenced. Some of us may be. But it, and He, will not.”

His Word is eternal, unfailing, and not subject to any man or government.

Amen.


Some quotes:

“When the voices surrounding you say you’re wrong, you might be tempted to reconsider your beliefs, especially if you never really examined and became grounded in them in the first place. That’s when you might think, Well, how can so many people be wrong? Maybe there’s something to what they say. That’s exactly why I think a number of not-too-well-grounded Christians have waffled on key issues.”

“To cave is not just to get along. It’s to value getting along above all else, even at the expense of honesty, integrity, or higher loyalties. Caving happens when a need for approval or an aversion to conflict or a fear of consequence overrides convictions.”

“Major social media platforms have decided they know what’s true, what’s moral, and what’s bigoted. Based on that knowledge, they define truth, morality, and bigotry, and thereby decide who should be allowed to speak, who should be silenced, who should be scrutinized whenever they post, and whose content and messaging should be given an unexamined green light.”

“To trust in the living God is to obey Him, since faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Obeying Him means fulfilling His commission to preach the gospel and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15). To make disciples is to teach them so they in turn will teach others (2 Timothy 2:2), and to teach is to give the full counsel of God from the Word of God in its entirety (Acts 20:27; 2 Timothy 3:16). That will include teaching what the Word says about sex, marriage, preborn life, prejudice, salvation, and judgment.”

“What is the primary reason the world hated Jesus? His words. What He said infuriated all the wrong people, who conspired to kill Him because they knew words have influence, and the influence of His words on the people would disrupt their agenda and control.”

“each political party has true believers. So does each social cause, and each faith counts them among its members. When true believers and truth go together, it’s a thing of beauty. But true believers anchored to something other than truth can be wrong, misguided, even scary.”

“Jesus didn’t shy away from declaring a truth just because someone else had declared it the wrong way. On the contrary, He took His positions all the more plainly, with love, authority, and clarity. He knew they were vital; He knew they were relevant. Even if they had been presented poorly in the past.”


Relevant (and really good) books:
[Visit www.shelfreflection.com for my full reviews of these books- too many to link here]

Today’s Culture:

- The Intolerance of Tolerance by D.A. Carson

- Fortitude: American Resilience in the Age of Outrage by Dan Crenshaw

- The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff

- The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to the Sexual Revolution by Carl Trueman

- Live Not By Lies by Rod Dreher

Gender and Marriage:

- What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? by Kevin DeYoung

- Gay Girl, Good God by Jackie Hill Perry

- What God Has to Say about Our Bodies: How the Gospel Is Good News for Our Physical Bodies by Sam Allberry

- Born Again This Way by Rachel Gilson (on my to-read)

- Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters by Abigail Shrier

The Church and Politics and Social Justice:

- Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask about Social Justice by Thaddeus J. Williams

- What is the Mission of the Church: Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission by Kevin DeYoung

- How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Faith and Politics in a Divided Age by Jonathan Leeman

- Finding the Right Hills to Die On: The Case for Theological Triage by Gavin Ortlund

- Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes Us Just by Timothy Keller

- Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian by John Piper

Talking points in terms of Progressive Christianity:

- The Secular Creed: Engaging Five Contemporary Claims by Rebecca McLaughlin

- Before You Lose Your Faith: Deconstructing Doubt in the Church by Ivan Mesa (on my to-read)

- Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College by Michael J. Kruger

- Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion by Rebecca McLaughlin

- Word-Centered Church: How Scripture Brings Life and Growth to God’s People by Jonathan Leeman

- The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity with the Gospel by Dean Inserra

- Fundamentalism and the Word of God by J.I. Packer (on my to-read)

**Received an ARC via NetGalley**

The ongoing growth of cancel culture and ‘wokeism’ is seen by many as an opportunity to be progressive and remove the dangerous attitudes and language from culture. And to some extent this is correct though often it goes beyond this practice. Enter Joe Dallas and his approach to the subject.

I want to be brutally honest here, there were very few parts of the book I enjoyed. Was he right in his analysis, yes, absolutely. But the tone used throughout tended to lean more to a violent stand strong or we will be defeated language than one of hope in Jesus regardless the cultural norm. We should remember that in Jesus day culture was doing much of the same as our current North American experience and he worked to spread hope consistently. The book seemed passive aggressive at moments and seldom spoke of the truth Christians need to lean on.

There were also moments where a condescending almost condemning tone was present only for Dallas to then tell us he is guilty of what he was speaking of.

I really don’t have much more to add, maybe I started reading the book with higher hopes and the tone drove me away from it. I won’t recommend it, but maybe you will see more hope within that I do.

*I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. These are my personal thoughts.

The topic of this book is timely indeed. Perhaps at no other time have the stakes been higher for believers because of the consequences of being canceled by the culture. Dallas gives a very fair treatment to both the issues that will cause one to be cancelled and the need to still speak up for the truth. It's the delicate balance of truth and grace that while isn't new, is certainly more on the forefront of the minds of today's believers. Those who sense that things are not right, but don't know how to handle the issues at play will find this book extremely helpful. I highly recommend it for those who are seeking to live the truth in an age that is increasing hostile to it.

Opposition to the gospel is nothing new. It could be direct persecution, like in the Early Church. It could also be indirect insinuation in the form of cynical comments or sarcasm. Both forms of hostility are alive and well today. While physical persecution happens mostly in closed countries like North Korea, open criticism and condemnation occur daily whenever Christians attempt to speak against worldly values. In the 60s, when Christians speak about a Christian perspective of a particular issue, it was generally accepted in a "business as usual" manner. Then comes the 90s culture of cynicism, where the same issues in the past need to be defended. Apologists grew in number as more people attempted to engage a generation of cynicism. Today, the tide has been turned completely around that Christians no longer can speak about such issues freely. Their rights to expressing the same views of the past are increasingly being "canceled." Author Joe Dallas has been observing such a "cancel culture" trend. He sees how Big Tech is playing the role of censorship to "streamline" views they deem unsuitable. At the same time, they are lenient toward those who mirror their views and "cancel" those who don't. While the natural instinct is to fight back forcefully, Dallas gently guides us toward a loving rational response. Convicted that the Bible today is alive, relevant, and potent, the primary purpose of this book is to equip Christians with skills to respond with grace in a hostile climate. The first five chapters provide some background on the formidable challenges of today that tend to blackmail Christians into silence. The second part of the book focuses on the knowledge of biblical truths and wisdom about rules of engagement. For thirty years, the author had encountered countless opposition and he shares from his wealth of real-world experience.

He cuts a lonely figure at one televised interview against a host of openly gay advocates. He receives "Tantrum-Style" heckles from adult figures. Even pastors interviewed on secular TV could easily sense the negativity from frontline hosts to backroom staff. In one of his talks given at the University of Utah, he experiences non-stop heckling from an intimidating audience. In one situation, he lost his cool and reacted with a sharp retort. Then he realized the price of silencing the heckling. He might have lost the opportunity to overcome evil with good. Learning from that experience, he shares with us the need to be gentle but firm in the midst of an increasingly hostile environment. Calling the Cambridge Dictionary's definition of "cancel culture" (CC) as "incomplete," Dallas adds that the effects of CC don't just stop at rejection. It continues toward termination of one's speaking opportunities and severing of relationships. CC is also relentless in aggressively pushing its agenda. Not only do they caricature Christian viewpoints indiscriminately, but they also present lopsided views that tilt their own views as superior to the rest. Sometimes, they misrepresent opposing views mischievously. Dallas shows us how when CC becomes mainstream, devilish deceptions skyrockets. He then dedicates a chapter each to abortion, racism, homosexuality, transgenderism, sin, and judgment. He shows us not just on handling objections but learning to affirm biblical truth without being emotional.

My Thoughts
==============
The author is a brave man. Just writing a book on CC itself is challenging. Attaching his name to the topic is tantamount to opening himself for widespread attacks. If he is concerned about protecting his own name, he would have chosen to stay anonymous. Instead, he believes in letting the Word shine as they are, and not fearing human opinions and rejections. The calling of God is more important than the risk of callous accusations. Let me offer three thoughts about this book.

First, CC is a rising phenomenon, especially in the West. Dallas has been working as a biblical counselor since 1987 and he has seen the evolution of cultural reactions over the past few decades. Concerned about the importance to be faithful to the teachings of the Bible, he hopes to equip Christians to learn how to engage this new culture that is threatening the very voice of Biblical Truth. The world often accuses Christians of "homophobia, sexism, racism, transphobia, and judgmentalism." This book is a response to help us deal with these challenges. Newton's law teaches us that every action would lead to an equal and opposite reaction. In "cancel culture," each view offered in the name of Biblical Truth would evoke an overwhelming opposite reaction that snuffs out even the right to speak out. It is the hope that this book would enable Christians to learn how to respond with Truth and Grace in an increasingly hostile climate. Dallas is a wonderful guide to encourage us along in this response.

Second, it is important to know how to respond to CC. Dallas is concerned about Christians who fear the consequences of speaking up for the Truth. In such an environment, it is tempting for believers to just shut up and mind their own business. This would be yielding to the world. Dallas shows us how to maintain our testimony without being discouraged by the increasingly vocal and sometimes violent opposition. His specific responses should provide a lot of examples for us to disarm any tensions or tricky situations. We should not aim to win at all costs. If possible, remember that we are all sinners in need of grace. Even those who speak harshly at us need Jesus. A gentle spirit and a wise word could accomplish much more than eloquent words that sting opponents. Love comes not only in nice-sounding phrases but also through thoughtful engagement that builds up rather than cuts down.

Finally, the person is more important than the point. We need to differentiate between making a point and making a difference. The former is about winning arguments while the latter about winning people over. There are many hot-potato issues today. Adding to the complex ethical issues of abortion and human rights, are the increasingly militant stands on homosexuality, transgenderism, racism, and all manner of judgmentalism. Some have turned from defensiveness to vicious attacks, especially on anyone not sharing their point of view. Jesus has said that even when people revile us and say all sorts of evil against us because of Jesus, we are blessed. This book opens us to a whole new way of seeing and responding with wisdom and love.

Joe Dallas is an author, conference speaker, and ordained pastoral counselor. He directs a Biblical counseling ministry for those dealing with sexual and relational problems, and with their families as well. He received his Master’s Degree in Christian Counseling from Vision University, San Diego, CA, and is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. He is also the author of the daily blog Joe Dallas Online.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Harvest House Publishers and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

For all the traditional Christians out there. This is the book for you. If you have every had trouble with telling someone where you stand on very delicate issues and do not want to cause any offence then read this book.
Firstly Joe Dallas explains issues about race, adoption, transgender and homosexuality among others and then goes into using the bibles words and also how to answer those difficult questions in an easy step manner. This includes his own examples.
God bless

This book has so much truth. Good read.

Thanks to author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

Divided in eleven chapters, an introduction and conclusion and then, chapters with more subtle titles, by the middle it dives on the hot button topics, such as abortion, homosexuality, race, and transgenderism.
Most of this information is not new to me but I’m not the target audience. As an introduction it works well, and it gave me a few pointers on critical race theory, which I’m less familiar with since I’m not from the US and race is lived differently in my country.

Dallas is a biblical counselor and speaker addressing sexual issues since 1987, ministering people who want to follow Christian sexual ethics. His expertise and knowledge show through the book providing good examples and counter examples, some sample replies to common objections and biblical references.
I would say that one of the errors is to assume that feminism also began with critical theory since the feminist movement predates the existence of Marxism and its contemporary interpretations, though to be fair, both are intertwined in some cases, and not all of them embrace gender ideology.

I must note that Dallas emphasizes the good will of possible adherents, and this is important. We must not lose sight of the other person’s sincere convictions. While much of the aggression get to us, unprepared and obviously not expecting such hostility, we must not give the same in return and therein lies part of the importance of witness..

We also have a responsibility not to speak white lies, not to be unkind, but also to speak the truth and live it. It’s for this reason that the last part of the book is dedicated to our lack of commitment with a true Christian life and, as a Catholic, I was surprised to see Dallas endorse the need for accountability by confessing the sins to another person (though it was not in the same way as we have it, it was nice to see that level of understanding).

I'd have liked it more if he added the idea that the trans movement borrows language from the disability rights movement, but I think it's very good for an introduction like this book intends to be.

One of the most interesting bits of information I got from the book was this: Sisterhood is Powerful, a feminist book, criticizes the 10,000 women die of illegal abortions exaggeration: "A study made in the 1930s, before the development of antibiotics made even illegal abortion less deadly than it used to be, came up with this number of 10,000 deaths; but it is no longer anywhere near the truth and has no place in any serious discussion of abortion”.

Opposing some of the current focus on those hot button issues doesn’t mean neglecting their existence and implications: racism is real, abortion keeps happening even if it’s not the best outcome for the people involved, and homosexuality is an objective evil even if we can’t freely assume that just because we don’t do that kind of sexual immorality, we don’t have to work on our own sins.

I also should distance myself from the way he portrays college. Being a student or teacher there is a very different experience through the world and this as an US centric book, so it talks about their system, whose programs are determined by sponsors, and whose system relies on alienation from the family circle. Even in countries where college is overwhelmingly state owned and students aren’t as prone to distance themselves from their relatives, some of the ideological indoctrination he talks about happens, but could be correctly counter balanced.

Also, because of Protestantism, it must be hard to find a church from your own denomination that follows their declaration of faith and morals in the same way, something that doesn’t happen with Catholicism, and when it does, it’s more than a difference of criteria, which protects the faithful from this kind of situations.

DNF 18% of the way in. Thank you NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for the advanced copy.

I've been interested in learning more about cancel culture, and thought this could be an interesting take since I am also a Christian. However, this isn't a book on "how can we as Christians respond to a cancel culture" as much as a reaction of "how can we as Christians fight the cancel culture that is only treating us unfairly." It is a book complaining that conservative Christians are being attacked and wanting to cancel all culture that isn't ultra-conservative-Christian, and not an open two-way street of how to be a Christian in a cancel culture, as the title says.

Quote: "But when everyone's behaving fairly (read "like adults"), then declaring our beliefs won't trigger serious rational, professional, or legal consequences." ...except that if you make racist comments or treat people as less than human, honestly, that's not behaving fairly OR like an adult. Dallas puts politically correct into quotes when he uses the term, referred to Antifa influence over political leaders, said it was Christians experience cancel culture Uzi when being asked to call a transgender female "Elizabeth", and called George Floyd protests "throwing a lethal national fit." I think you can understand the type of thinking this writer has from these examples.

Dallas says "Will we faithfully- in our pulpits, homes, and lives- profess and steward the Word of God without adding to or detracting from it?" Hopefully, yes, and hopefully, that will mean actually reading the Bible and learning how to act and treat people instead of reading this book.

This ain't it.

I found this offensive and not representative of Christianity or Jesus. I should have been tipped off by the title, but I was curious to see what the book had to say and whether it would make interesting, thoughtful points or not. This type of stance is why younger generations are turning away from Jesus.