Taboo: Topics Christians Should Be Talking About But Don't

by Mike Novotny

A one-stop resource for biblical truths on the toughest questions and most challenging situations including anxiety, depression, sexual intimacy, marriage, and more.
Hot-button issues dominating our culture can make speaking out feel taboo. Hiding from hard conversations won’t work. We need to know what God actually says about these issues, and by looking to Scripture, we can find the answers.

In Taboo, author Mike Novotny covers deeply personal, vulnerable, and emotional topics, handling them with grace and respect. It’s the ultimate resource for Christians looking to create change and deal with struggles in their own lives.

God’s Word gives us clarity, healing, and hope. Taboo is a must-read for Christians looking for a biblically based resource to modern questions.

Not talking is not helping! It’s time for believers to step gracefully into the Taboo and share God’s truth with a world in need.

Genres: Nonfiction, Faith, Christian, Religion, Christian Living, Spirituality, Church

364 pages, Paperback

Published January 30, 2024

About the author

Pastor Mike Novotny pours his Jesus-based joy into his ministry as a pastor at The CORE (Appleton, Wisconsin) and as the lead speaker for Time of Grace, a global media ministry that connects people to God through television, print, and digital resources. Unafraid to bring grace and truth to the toughest topics of our time, he has written numerous books, including 3 Words That Will Change Your Life, What’s Big Starts Small, Gay & God, How to Heal, and Sexpectations.

Mike lives with his wife, Kim, and their two daughters, Brooklyn and Maya; runs long distances; and plays soccer with other middle-aged men whose best days are long behind them. To find all of Pastor Mike's books, go to timeofgrace.store.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for a Bible study with close friends. (There is no way we could have discussed this book if they weren’t extremely close!)
The book contains ALL hot topics - sex, politics, divorce, LGBTQ+ and the author tries to give readers his best interpretation of the Bible’s view on these topics. A tough read, for sure. And tougher to discuss. Summary is: every one of us is a sinner - but Jesus died so that we could be saved from the wrath of those sins.

[Robyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any Christian who is trying to navigate this changing and challenging world must read this helpful book. I’ve given it to friends as a gift. So, so helpful, easy to read and apply to tough situations.

[Meredith Easley Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. Whew. I was absolutely LOVING this book all the way until one of the last chapters. The author was discussing alcohol abuse and basically said that if you’re struggling with alcohol “curb it back a few drinks”. Alcoholics cannot just “curb it back”. It’s an addiction. I truly think the author just doesn’t understand that because, as he stated, he is from a town that is very heavy on drinking. He also states that Jesus was considered a “drunkard” and that Jesus “wants to drink with us”. Pardon?? Times were so different back then! He drank SOME wine because that was pretty much all they had, and Jesus never sinned, therefore he never got drunk. It does not say anywhere in the Bible that Jesus got drunk or that Jesus wants to drink with us. I think that whole chapter of this book was the author trying to justify his drinking habits. If he doesn’t have a problem with alcohol, great, I’m so happy for him. But I’m so worried for the people who struggle with alcohol, pick up this book, and discover that they can just curb it back and drink with Jesus. They are going to fall back into temptation so easily.

The rest of this book was incredible. Great insight on hot topics that are backed by scripture. That one chapter really just ruined this for me.

[Adam Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really, really good

There are a few wonky and self-serving bents here, but spoiler alert: All Christian authors aren’t perfect. Every single one. Novotny’s efforts to discern tough topics using scripture are largely strong.

[Maria I. Zamudio · Rating 3 out of 5]

I applaud his attempt to educate Christians on what the Bible says about these taboo subjects. I know that I will continue to do my own research about more real life stories. There was something about each chapter that made me ask, “That’s it?” I had my own questions that weren’t fully answered or totally dismissed.

For example, the abuse chapters focused on physical abuse only. He implied sexual abuse in one sentence and made no mention of verbal, emotional and mental abuse. Even the link he gave in the book didn’t have material for people who are abused verbally, emotionally, and mentally. He glossed over that divorce due to abuse. He pushed grace over repentance. In fact, he never talked about repentance for any of the subjects, only try to not repeat your sin and confess them.

As a woman who divorced a covert narcissist, I find it that I was being asked to only offer grace and wait until he would be right with God with no repentance. Anxiety, depression and PTSD are results from me waiting for him to repent. Narcissistic abuse is strongly ignored in the church, if not encouraged, with telling the spouse to submit to the abuser.

[Robert Klug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each person on earth can relate to this book. The book will aid you in relating to every situation you find yourself in. Whether something has happened to you or some one close to you....or you have never experienced such a trial and can't understand others...this book covers all.
Read it all, or dive directly to the pages of something you need to gain an understanding about. Use it as a reference. Use it has a guide to help others. Use it as a personal study. Read it with friends. Read it with your children.
We need to understand each other to be of help to each other within this culture. We don't need to be accused of being judgemental and uninformed. We need each other. We need Jesus, and we need to share him with each other.
Thank you for this book!

[Jack Darida · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novotny does a fine job of bringing Scripture to bear on modern issues in a compassionate tone. I find that these topics are addressed often in church contexts from the pulpit, so I don't consider them taboo. But I understand the need to promote a book that speaks to "untouchable hot topics." My critique which lowers the book to a 3.5 rating is that Novotny has a pattern to his sermons that often ends with happy examples. There are exceptions - but I think it is healthy to communicate that some of these issues are lifelong struggles for believers in Jesus, and that is OK. It is good to hear of some victory stories, but it is also honest and helpful to illustrate the ongoing struggle.

[Jennifer Ruwisch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this 4 stars instead of 5 because this is a hard read and I have trouble saying I “enjoyed” it. However, I definitely appreciated it. These are tough topics. The writing wasn’t hard to follow. It was an easy enough reading level but hard to work through because the content was controversial. It’s thought provoking. There was a great deal of clarity that the author guides the reader to with kindness and understanding. He really balanced love and truth, even hard truth both for those who feel judged and those who do judging, as well as those wrestling in the middle.

[Clayton Grow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike's candor is disarming and intriguing. His knowledge of the Bible is impressive. His ability to apply biblical concepts in relatable ways makes him truly unique. I've learned so much from "Taboo" about what the Bible says about topics I don't hear much about in a church setting. Every Christian and skeptic should read it.

[Ester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi, I haven't read much of the book I've been able to read on what God thinks about LGTBQ, and as a Christian, I love that it embraces the Real love of Christ and how our true love for Jesus should be shared through acceptance and how we approach people in general. It just opened a new POV for me. Thanks I enjoyed reading this so far!

[Haley Bulfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars easy. This book was so good. Did I get called out to love more and love better, yes. Did I feel the author brought tons of truth and bible to the topics, absolutely. The author did such a good job of finding the balance between truth and love. It was so interesting and it was hard to put down.

[Kathleen Finn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book that covers uncomfortable modern day topics explained from the lens of Christianity. This book was eye opening and helped me understand how to feel about these touchy subjects on a deeper level

[Lisa Vanoni]

I love this book! He states the truth clearly but with such love and he brings everything back to the cross. I highly recommend listening to it so you can hear the love and ocmpassion he has for the hurting.

[Stephanie Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

W🤩W! My first 5/5! The perfect blend of scriptural truth + research with an understanding of current cultural trends. No cramming the Bible down your throat. No apologies for what God has to say. Compassion + love abound.

[Jessica L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great guide for Christians seeking to understand how they should react and respond to the major struggles in society and in the church.

Biblical, insightful, well informed, no holier than thou attitude but Holy Spirit filled.

A hearty chicken soup for the Christian soul.

[Joshua Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biblical, compassionate, truthful, honest. I want to use this in a lot of different situations. Helpful personally and full of God's grace. Thanks.

[Nancy Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[John Boehne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thankyou Pastor Mike for another great eye opening book! It gives me compassionate answers to my questions based on biblical fact. A compass for the straight and narrow.

[Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encouraging, uplifting, and helped me alot to know the truth of some current events. I pick it up and read it when I need some encouragement.

[Myrriah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for St Peter book club.

[Kim Cochran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking

[Jenni Heins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written about pertinent world topics. I really appreciated the discussion questions that actually seem worthy of discussion. Too often that is not the case in Christian educational materials.

[mckenna hartley · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay so I have mixed feelings about this book. First, I can see the chapters about homosexuality being harmful to the lgbtq community. The way he reworks LGBTQ to fit his own agenda is harmful and belittling to the community. I believe he also mentioned being gay as being a choice, which I do not agree with. However, he did make a good point about how being gay shouldn’t be the “core of our being” but rather, Jesus should be. The other chapters aside from the ones on homosexuality were very insightful & I appreciate the use of Scripture when explaining things along the way. I learned many things, my mind has been opened to many things, but some of my feelings have stayed the same.

[Hailey Honea · Rating 5 out of 5]

So often Christians either don't know what to say or how to talk about things that really matter. Mike Novotny does an excellent job of approaching difficult topics. He does so with balance. He writes with the compassion and understanding of someone who has ministered to people in these very circumstances. At the same time, he doesn't cave to non-biblical wants and wishes. He clearly but delicately speaks the truth in a loving way. No matter what your issue, what your question, what your personal hurdle is, take Mike's words to heart.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Convicted...great author and pastor!