I am not one who cares for the term 'queer' because of negative way it has been used. But in reading this book. and with the expalnation of the word provide by the author, my feelings have changed. I found this book to be a very good and informative book on scripture and the way we have misuunderstood it through history. The author provided a significant yet easily accessible and understandable explanation of how we misread/misinterpet scripture when we ignore the time it was written, who it was written for, and how different life is for us in the 21st century. An excellent boook to introduce queer theology.

It's safe to say that no one will ever accuse noted TikTok pastor and social activist Brandan Robertson of holding back when it comes to celebrating queer faith.

Let's be honest. You likely know right away if Robertson's "Queer & Christian: Reclaiming the Bible, Our Faith, and Our Place at the Table" is for you. For Robertson, there's no denying that every word in "Queer & Christian" is designed to embrace Jesus' radical message of inclusion and to counter the longtime weaponization of the Bible to exclude LGBTQ+ individuals. For Robertson, it's simple - he envisions a faith where all are unequivocally embraced.

As is so often true for individuals who are LGBTQ+, Robertson was ostracized at school and actively sought out a place to belong. For Robertson, that place was in church - where he truly believed he'd found a place of belonging until realizing that Christians were just as intolerant as his peers. After years of trying to repress his true identity and even surviving the horror that is conversion therapy, Robertson's own deep dive into Scripture led him to conclude that God's table always had a place for him.

If you don't believe this central concept in "Queer & Christian," that there's a place for those who are LGBTQ+ at God's table, then there's likely little reason for you to pick up "Queer & Christian." Truthfully, I'd imagine that Robertson is absolutely fine with that as there's little effort here to cater to those who believe the Bible is inerrant and those who embrace a more "literal" interpretation of Scripture. Robertson's writing first and foremost for those who are LGBTQ+ with "Queer & Christian" followed closely by those who embrace a more progressive theology.

For those who understand the roots of the word "queer," and it's not what you've been taught or led to believe, "Queer & Christian" will be a breath of fresh air as Robertson offers evidence-based counter arguments to respond to the usual "clobber verses" and also dives into biblical figures he refers to as the "queer saints within the Bible." There's much within the pages of "Queer & Christian" that will have you opening the Bible, researching these figures, and wanting to learn more even in those moments when you disagree (and yes, there were times in "Queer & Christian" when I disagreed with Robertson's conclusions).

While "Queer & Christian" isn't for everyone, that's an intentional approach by Robertson to create a safe space for queer folks and allies who've long not had a safe space within Christianity's theological walls. Toward the end of "Queer & Christian," Robertson addresses a handful of commonly asked questions that cements the thoughtful and sensitive way he approaches his faith and how he shares it. It's these questions, at least for me, that became the heart and soul of "Queer & Christian" along with the wealth of resources with which he follows them.

With "Queer & Christian," Robertson indeed aims to serve as a beacon of hope and encouragement for those aiming to reclaim the Bible, embrace faith, and discover that God's table is longer and wider than we've ever imagined and there's a place for all.