A Posture of Christlikeness
A Feature Review of
Christlike Acceptance across Deep Difference: Constructive Conversations on Sexuality and Gender
Edited by Ronald W. Pierce and Karen R. Keen
Paperback: Baker Academic, 2025
Buy Now: [ BookShop ] [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ]
Reviewed by Pete Ford
Christlike Acceptance across Deep Difference introduces and practices a model for Christian unity. The book grew out of the editors’ interest in the Winsome Conviction Project at Biola, seeking to apply those methods to the topic of LGBTQ sexuality. Rather than entering the debate between “affirming” and “non-affirming,” this book suggests a posture of “acceptance” despite disagreements. Including chapters from over twenty authors, it provides plenty to challenge readers, particularly those on the non-affirming side. I don’t “agree with” everything—and I don’t need to—but in reading this book, I got to listen to people who hold opposing viewpoints, and that formed me in Christlikeness.
The recurring refrain was; Despite where you are on the affirming/non-affirming spectrum, we can agree that it is Christlike to show love; acceptance does not require agreement. For example, author Amie Scott said, “Even if you believe that gender dysphoria is a result of the fall, any brokenness that trans people experience deserves deep compassion rather than moral blame.”
I found it interesting that the editorial voice was kept to a minimum to model this listening posture. Coeditors Ronald W. Pierce and Karen R. Keen wrote a brief introduction together and each contributed the first two chapters, modeling acceptance across their differences (a non-affirming professor from Biola and “an affirming, gay Christian woman” biblical scholar). Beyond that, there were neither part introductions nor conclusions to corral the voices of the writers. Whatever the editors did behind the scenes to shape the tone of the contributed chapters, in the final book, they let the chapter authors speak for themselves.
By including the voices of many Christians, both affirming and non-affirming, the editors undermined the assumptions that LGBTQ Christians automatically aren’t Christians or are inherently more sinful than heterosexual Christians. In fact, one author explains that “Anyone who identifies as LGBTQ or same-sex attracted and Christian has traveled a complex, confusing, and often painful journey to get there” (Eve Tushnet).
Part 1 explores hot-button Scripture passages from some new perspectives, asking, “What is the biblical wisdom in these texts that goes beyond the disputes?” Pierce’s opening chapter focuses on Paul’s command to “Accept one another as Christ accepted you” (Romans 15:7), showing that authentic love is more costly than mentally checking a box to be politically correct. While I appreciated the experimental attitude, I found some of the chapters in this part backing themselves into what they were trying to say, including Keen’s chapter on image bearing as empowerment to make ethical choices and David Bennett’s chapter on eunuchs in Scripture as theodicy.
One of the strongest chapters is Wesley Hill’s look at 1 Corinthians 6:9–10. Exploring Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthians that “Wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God,” Hill writes, “Threatening the Corinthian believers with exclusion seems not to be the point. What Paul wants to emphasize is that the Corinthian Christians are different now, no longer defined before God by the past or shame of indulgence, and free to live in an entirely new, unencumbered way.” On a related note, J. R. Daniel Kirk explores connections through the whole book of Romans, showing that Paul’s message in Romans 1 isn’t that “those people” are terrible people, but that we were all sinners who have been saved by Jesus.
Part 2 addresses navigating differences. The first few chapters seem to offer generic tips in the midst of conflict, such as encouragement to humanize the other and listen before speaking. While these tips are applicable to any disagreement and need to be practiced, they feel too simplistic. Given the book’s emphasis, it would have been interesting for more chapters to directly respond to each other. The coauthored chapter titled “Loving through Difference: Navigating Side A/B Friendship” seemed to attempt this, but also felt too general.
I was glad to find Brad Harper’s thought experiment as an example of how to wrestle. Harper is the coauthor with his son of Space at the Table: Conversations between an Evangelical Theologian and His Gay Son. In his chapter in this book, he asks how a non-affirming church can still welcome LGBTQ Christians, considering motives and conscience. His hypothesis: “If an individual does not know or believe that an act is sin, then the act cannot be done out of a heart of disobedience and, therefore, it does not display contempt for God.” However, he acknowledges that in practice, we cannot discern motives in others or even ourselves.
Part 3 focuses on ministry with LGBTQ people, with chapters such as “Black LGBTQ Ministry,” ministry in the Transgender community, and ministry to parents of LGBTQ children. However, some of the chapters seem to lose sight of Christlike acceptance. For example, I didn’t feel that the chapter presenting research on Christian sexual and gender minorities added much to the conversation.
As another example, Amie Scott overstepped “acceptance” in an argument for using chosen names. While there are robust arguments that using chosen names can be loving, Scott claimed that “God honors chosen names” and listed biblical characters who had name changes. However, Abram didn’t choose for himself the name Abraham; Saul/Paul isn’t a name change; and I don’t see evidence that God honored Naomi’s choice of the name Mara.
One of the clearest ways I saw the costly Christlike acceptance model played out was in the encouragement to risk being misunderstood. “Christians with a ‘traditional’ belief might fruitfully ask ourselves where we’ve talked ourselves out of opportunities for service because we feared that others might interpret our actions as offering moral approval of same-sex marriages” (Tushnet in “A Shared Pilgrimage”). In her chapter “Courage is Ministry,” Sally Gary explores this risk even more. She points to how Jesus welcomed an interruption on the way to Jairus’ house (Mark 5): “Jesus prioritizes the unclean woman’s request over the powerful community leader’s request.” Jesus was willing to risk reputation to be present with people; may we be shaped in Christlikeness.
Pete Ford
Pete Ford is a stay-at-home dad as well as a digital marketer for Christian publishers and nonprofits. By night, he is a reader, focusing on topics including nonviolence, time, the built environment, and spiritual practices like Sabbath.
 Reading for the Common Good From ERB Editor Christopher Smith "This book will inspire, motivate and challenge anyone who cares a whit about the written word, the world of ideas, the shape of our communities and the life of the church." -Karen Swallow Prior Enter your email below to sign up for our weekly newsletter & download your FREE copy of this ebook! |
Understanding Christian Nationalism [A Reading Guide] |
 Most Anticipated Books of the Fall for Christian Readers!
|
 Hilarious One-Star Customer Reviews of Bibles |
