As a lesbian engaged to a Christian, I read this book in an attempt to understand both her and her religion better. I'm open to progressive churches and ideas and really liked a lot of the concepts Martin brought up in their book and their frankness about their growth in their own beliefs. Unfortunately, I felt the book could have been a bit tighter in its arguments, especially if the goal is to convince anti-LGBT people to open their minds.

Great read! As a gay man, I have always been astounded at how people use the bible as a weapon and seem to discount everything else about love and peace that the Bible mentions. I hope books like these open the eyes and minds of some of the more close minded people and show them that the Bible is a continuous translation and is best interpreted through the lens of the context at the time.

As both a Christian and a member of the LGBTQIA community, I still sometimes have trouble reconciling the two. I've read a book or two similar to this one, but I always enjoy a fresh perspective, particularly one that is willing to dig deeper into what the text says and doesn't say about not being straight with an objective perspective. It's nice to hear people remind you that God loves you when all of these people who are so called believers and Jesus followers spew nothing at hate for the things they don't understand and of which they are afraid.
Practices and beliefs should come from the text, and UnClobber looks directly at the text and offers a fresh perspective on the LGBTQIA community and the Church. Definitely recommend.

In this book Colby argues that homosexuality itself is not a sin taking the verses from the Bible that Conservative Christians use to preach that homosexuality is a sin. He also puts them into a historical context which Conservatives do not do unless it suits their needs such as the blended materials in clothing. He also tells his own personal story of how he had been fired from his conservative evangelical church over sharing an article on Facebook that had ended discrimination against homosexuals in the military. For example in the Bible story of Sodom and Gomorrah he argues against the popular theory that the sin of Sodom was homosexuality. Instead it is the sin of going against the rules of hospitality in the ancient world and wanting to humiliate the strangers that Lot had taken in. Of course Conservatives would not want to hear that since they wish to cut programs for the poor and needy as well as reduce the number of refugees coming into this country and deport those who came here illegally even as a child which would be today's equivalent of the sin of Sodom and not homosexuality which due to the way the Bible was translated which many Christians had believed for centuries and even today in Conservative circles. This is a good book which would give you a good basic argument against the sinfulness of homosexuals.

A very insightful exploration of the passages in the Bible that lead Christians to condemn homosexuality, and a powerful argument that those passages are misinterpreted. This book makes the case for acceptance.

I am not basing this review on my opinion or my beliefs.


I am not basing this review on my opinion or my beliefs.

The author takes great liberty in attempting to prove his argument. While I appreciated his research into the original language, semantics, translation, and culture, I felt he stretched his conclusions, or projected his conclusions. Research can be tweaked to "fit" one's bias.

I also found the structure to be disconcerting. The author kept stating that an issue would be addressed "later" or in " another chapter". This became frustrating as I thought an issue would be addressed, but then it abruptly was put on hold.

Finally, while the author uses scripture to " prove" his opinion, he fails to address the basic NATURE OF THE UNIVERSE. There is not another species that has homosexuals. In the natural order, homosexuality would insure the depletion of a species, as no procreation is possible. It would go against everything in the survival of the fittest principle. Therefore, homosexuality IS unnatural.

Book synopsis(via Goodreads):

Churches in America are experiencing an unprecedented fracturing due to their belief and attitude toward the LGBT community. Armed with only six passages in the Bible often known as the clobber passages the conservative Christian position has been one that stands against the full inclusion of our LGBT brothers and sisters. Unclobber reexamines each of those frequently quoted passages of Scripture, alternating with author Colby Martin's own story of being fired from an evangelical megachurch when they discovered his stance on sexuality.

UnClobber reexamines what the Bible says (and does not say) about homosexuality in such a way that breathes fresh life into outdated and inaccurate assumptions and interpretations.

***Many thanks to Westminster John Knox Press and Net Galley for the advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ***

This Insomniac's opinion:

This book came along at just the right time for me. I had left a church that i had attended for many years due the pastor's discrimination against an homosexual pastor. On the same day that i publicly denounced that pastor's actions, I saw a post by Glennon Doyle Melton(who wrote the forward of this book) about this amazing book. Then, again the same day, I saw that this book was available to me as an advanced reader's copy for free. Kismet.

This isn't necessarily the kind of book that one enjoys, per se. It is, however, full of information for those of us that are tired of "Christians" using what Mr. Martin calls the "clobber verses" of the bible to denounce and choose those who may identify as LGBTQ. It is a book that is full of kindness and compassion and gives the reader many things to ponder. I highly recommend it.

Rating:

4 stars

Worth staying up all night to read?

Yes

I bought copies of this book for about 10 people as soon as I finished. One of the kindest and most thorough conversations about this topic I've ever encountered - and I have my PhD from doing research with LGBTQ Christians.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate Colby Martin's efforts to dissect the Bible in terms of God's Word on homosexuality. It is impossible for us as humans to really know what His judgments will be on sin, and as all of us have sinned, we can all only hope to ask for forgiveness and turn to Jesus. No one sin is better or worse than any other in God's eyes.